Nursing News Flash

Nicotine e-cigarettes and two prescription medications that curb symptoms of withdrawal are the most effective stop-smoking aids, according to a comprehensive, multinational review by a team of scientists, including a University of Massachusetts Amherst public health and health policy researcher.

Researchers observed an increase in antibiotic prescribing for respiratory tract infections in winter vs. summer months — likely driven in part by inappropriate prescribing.

The age-adjusted overall cancer death rate in the United States decreased by 33 percent from 1991 to 2020, according to the annual AACR Cancer Progress Report 2023, published online Sept. 13 by the American Association for Cancer Research. The annual report provides the latest statistics on cancer etiology, mortality, and survivorship, as well as updates and context regarding the latest research in cancer.

During the COVID-19 public health emergency, COVID PCR and antigen tests were required to be covered by insurance so that they were of no cost to insured patients. But since then, decisions about coverage have moved back to either the states, employers, or insurance companies. "Those on private insurance are finding that COVID testing now looks like flu testing in terms of cost," said Christina Silcox, PhD, a policy fellow at the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy in Washington, DC.

The El Niño phenomenon began in June this year. It will last at least until September and maybe slightly longer. Its effects on human health are sufficiently significant that the World Health Organization has drawn up a report about it.

When a patient goes to their primary care clinic for a regular checkup, they expect to talk about preventing health problems and managing their health risks. But a new study suggests that a large portion of adult patients, and their primary care providers, may stop short of discussing one source of potentially serious risk: firearms.

The CDC on Sept. 12 recommended the updated monovalent COVID-19 vaccines for people aged older than six months. "We have more tools than ever to prevent the worst outcomes from COVID-19," CDC Director Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH, said in a press release after signing off on a recommendation from advisors.

In May, some hospitals started reporting a positive trend: Former nurses who left their full-time positions for travel gigs or earlier in the pandemic were interested in returning. "The boomerang nurses have returned," Gail Vozzella, DNP, Houston Methodist's chief nursing executive, told The Wall Street Journal at the start of May. At that time, the hospital had seen about 60 nurses return since the start of the year.

The proportion of visits delivered by nurse practitioners and physician assistants increased from 2013 to 2019 in the United States, according to a study published online Sept. 14 in The BMJ.

Oct. 6-7, 2023 | Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel | Lincoln, Nebraska Register now to participate in the 2023 Nebraska Nurses Association (NNA) Annual Convention — Coming Together! This year's event will be held on Oct. 6-7 at the Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln, Nebraska. The 2023 Convention theme is "Developing Nurse Leaders Across the Healthcare Continuum," and we are thrilled to be able to host the Convention this year in person. As reinforced by recent history, strong and effective leadership is a must for the U.S. healthcare system. From novices to experienced leaders, join us for opportunities to gain skills and learn from successful leaders in a variety of practice settings at the 2023 NNA Annual Convention. Get inspired and start or continue your leadership journey! We hope you choose to join us in Lincoln. For full details (presentations, speakers, etc.) and to register, please click here. Registration Early bird registration closes Sept. 1. Individuals are allowed to register after Sept. 1 but registration fees increase. No registrations accepted after Sept. 25, 2023. Accreditation Participants meeting the successful completion requirements will receive a maximum of 7.0 contact hours. The Midwest Multistate Division is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. Questions? Please contact Sara Fry at with any questions.

October 10, 2023 | Capitol Plaza Hotel | Jefferson City, MO The Missouri Nurses Association (MONA) and Missouri Nursing Students' Association(MONSA) would like to invite you to participate in the 2023 MONA/MONSA Fall Conference, scheduled for Oct. 10 at Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City, Missouri. Register now to join your colleagues in Jefferson City! For full details (presentations, speakers, etc.) and to register, please click here. Registration Pre-registration is required for participation in the event. No registrations are accepted after Oct. 2, 2023. Accreditation Participants meeting the successful completion requirements will receive 3.5 contact hours. The Midwest Multistate Division is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. Questions? Please contact Sara Fry at with any questions.

KSNA is committed to mentoring nursing leaders for today and tomorrow. This year we will begin a series of leadership webinars that may be taken on demand. The KSNA Leadership Series will focus on topics for current and emerging leaders. Quarterly educational sessions will be provided on-demand over the next year: Part 3: Nurse Leaders Bridging the Gap: Novice to Expert — Adam Tebben, BSN, RN, CEN Available on-demand from October 1-31 Part 4: Title TBD — Dustin Baker, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, NE Available on-demand from January 1-31, 2024 Register now to participate in the 2023 KSNA Leadership Series! Pre-registration for each part of the series is required. Registration Fees $29.00 KSNA Member $49.00 Non-Member For full details or to register online please visit the KSNA website — click here! Disclosures Successful Completion — Participants must register, participate in the entire educational session and complete an online evaluation to receive a certificate of completion for each session of the series. Relevant Financial Relationships — This educational activity does not include any content that relates to the products or services of an ineligible company/organization, which would require identification and mitigation. Accreditation 1.0 contact hour per session. The Midwest Multistate Division is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. Questions? Please contact Sara Fry at with any questions. We hope you will choose to join us!

October 13, 2023 | Eugene M Hughes Metropolitan Complex, Wichita State University | Wichita, Kansas Register now to participate in the 2023 Kansas State Nurses Association (KSNA) Fall Conference & Membership Assembly! This year's event will be held on Oct. 13 at the Eugene M Hughes Metropolitan Complex at Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas. The 2023 conference theme is "Safe Waters: Navigating Legal Storms," and we are thrilled to be able to host the event in person this year. The conference offers a unique opportunity to explore the intricacies of legal pitfalls, and learn strategies to avoid being caught in the legal storms of malpractice and intentional torts. Discover the hard numbers behind malpractice claims and awards, what happens if you are sued, the role of expert witnesses, and how to protect yourself with safe documentation and a knowledge of the standards of nursing. We hope you can join us in Wichita! For full details (presentations, speakers, etc.) and to register, please click here. Registration Early bird registration closes Sept. 1. Individuals are allowed to register after Sept. 1 but registration fees increase. No registrations accepted after Oct. 2, 2023. Accreditation Participants meeting the successful completion requirements will receive a maximum of 4.5 contact hours. The Midwest Multistate Division is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. Questions? Please contact Sara Fry at with any questions.

Nurses, doctors and other healthcare workers have long struggled with their mental health, and now those challenges are gaining more attention. While clinicians aren't facing the constant chaos of when COVID-19 hospitalizations peaked, healthcare workers are struggling amidst staffing shortages, workplace violence, and the stress of seeing sick and dying people on a daily basis.