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The intensive care unit (ICU) can be a place of stress, anxiety, and emotional instability for both patients and families. Medical and nursing care during this acute time is patient focused, and family members are often left in the dark. Unintentional exclusion from information results in high levels of stress, anxiety, and uncertainty for families. Due to the acuity of illness, family members of cardiac surgery patients experience the highest levels of stress. Spouses may experience intense psychosomatic symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and fear for several months after the surgery. The purpose of this study was aimed at decreasing those feelings of anxiety in family members with postcardiac surgery through the use of a cardiac surgery tool kit. The study was a quality improvement project utilizing a convenience sample of 83 participants 18 years and older. Participants were asked to use the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) Form Y-1 (state anxiety) to rate their anxiety level preintervention and then again postintervention. Data were collected over a 6-month period. Descriptive data including age, education level, ethnicity, relationship, experience in the ICU, and active diagnoses of mental disorders did not affect the changes in the preand posttest data. A paired t test was conducted on the sample to assess changes in state anxiety, using the STAI Form Y-1. The results were statistically significant (t = 11.97, df = 81, P < .001). Respondents-scores decreased significantly from pre intervention (mean = 53.01, standard deviation = 12.19) to postintervention (mean = 37.38, standard deviation = 10.94). The data suggest that the use of a postcardiac surgery tool kit is a low-risk measure that can decrease the anxiety in family members of postcardiac surgery patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1.6 million new cases of cancer were diagnosed in 2015. Anxiety levels in individuals diagnosed with cancer are high, with the highest levels occurring at the time of diagnosis. A cancer diagnosis and the associated chemotherapy are life-altering events for patients and their families. In addition to managing the devastating news about the disease, patients are tasked with learning to manage the impact of chemotherapy and its impact on their bodies and sense of well-being. These authors report the development of an education video aimed at addressing typical questions and concerns about treatment regimens. Results of their studies to determine the effectiveness of their video indicate significant value for the patient, especially anxiety reduction and enhanced ability to absorb new information and instructions from their caregiving team. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current literature supports outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT). This article presents results from a research study that evaluated an OPAT program that treated communityacquired pneumonia. If patients had the opportunity to receive outpatient intravenous antibiotics for community-acquired pneumonia, would this prevent future hospitalization? Was there a decrease in hospital admissions? An informal cost-benefit analysis comparing OPAT with inpatient hospital admissions for the same disease was also reviewed to provide evidence whether there was a change. What was the overall health care cost savings? The medical charts of 50 patients with confirmed pneumonia who had received OPAT in a 3-month period were reviewed. A retrospective medical record review was performed. All patients were evaluated by the in-house OPAT team. The resulting analysis provided evidence that an estimated savings of approximately $2100 per day would be achieved by decreasing hospital readmissions for patient who had been treated with OPAT. The conclusion of this study provides evidence that the implement of an OPAT program was, and is, essential for patient care and evidence-based best practice adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinically valid cardiac evaluation via treadmill stress testing requires patients to achieve specific target heart rates and to successfully complete the cardiac examination. Methods; A comparison of the standard Bruce protocol and the ramped Bruce protocol was performed using data collected over a 1-y period from a targeted patient population with a body mass index (BMI) equal to or greater than 30 to determine which treadmill protocol provided more successful examination results. Results; The functional capacity, metabolic equivalent units achieved, pressure rate product, and total time on the treadmill as measured for the obese patients were clinically valid and comparable to normal-weight and overweight patients (P < 0.001). Data gathered from each protocol demonstrated that the usage of the ramped Bruce protocol achieved more consistent results in comparison across all BMI groups in achieving 80%-85% of their age-predicted maximum heart rate. Conclusion: This study did not adequately establish that the ramped Bruce protocol was superior to the standard Bruce protocol for the examination of patients with a BMI equal to or greater than 30. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Life is full of transitions, changes, and adaptations. In this article, we will describe the developmental process and transition steps of a baccalaureate degree program in nuclear medicine technology (NMT). We will introduce a living document that was created by the leadership of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Technologist Section (SNMMI-TS). This article suggests that the SNMMI-TS Baccalaureate Transition Resource Manual should be considered in programmatic degree criteria related to practitioner preparedness. We believe other institutions may benefit from this experience in the development of their own baccalaureate program. Our experiences may allow other institutions to have insights that will facilitate their own process for new program development. The resource manual delivers an innovative curriculum emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration on degree content among science courses, general education courses, and additional NMT didactic completion courses. The Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology did incorporate many of the recommendations from the Curriculum Guide for Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology, fourth edition, from the SNMMI-TS. The resource manual in conjunction with data on the transitioning of the first 3 pilot schools is the first step the SNMMI-TS has made in helping schools transition to the baccalaureate level. The manual is intended to be a living document and will be changed as additional programs make the transition and new models are created. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the process by which the Society of Nuclear Medicine Technology Section (SNMTS) is assisting educators as they transition to comply with the fourth edition of the Curriculum Guide for Educational Programs in Nuclear Med-icine Technology. Methods: An electronic survey was sent to a list of nuclear medicine technology programs compiled by the educational division of the SNMTS. The collected data in-cluded committee member demographics, goals and objectives, conference call minutes, consultation discussions, transition examples, 4- and 2-y program curricula, and certificate program curricula. Results: There were 56 responses to the survey. All respondents were program directors, with 3 respondents having more than one type of program, for a total of 59 programs. Of these, 19 (33.93%) were baccalaureate, 19 (28.57%) associate, and 21 (37.5%) certificate. Forty-eight respondents (85.71%) had accreditation through the Joint Review Commission on Educa-tional Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology, 6 (10.71 %) had regional accreditation, and 2 (3.57%) were accredited through other entities. Thirteen categories of required general education courses were identified, and the existing program curricula of 9 (69.2%) courses were more than 50% compliant with the fourth edition Curriculum Guide. The fact that no measurable gap could be found within the didactic professional content across pro-grams was due to the lack of a degree requirement and content standardization within the profession. The data indicated that the participating programs offer a minimum of 1-15 contact hours in emerging technology modalities. The required clinical hours ranged from 765 to 1,920 for degree or certificate completion. The average number of clinical hours required for all programs was 1,331.69. Conclusion: Standardization of the number and types of courses is needed both for current baccalaureate pro-grams and for clinical education. This standardization will guide programs in transitioning from a certificate or associate level to the baccalaureate level. The greatest obstacle is in expanding curricula to meet the recommendations of the fourth edition Cur-riculum Guide. Such expansion to entry-level competency may be met by incorporating hybrid imaging courses, secondary-level [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on nuclear medicine, the role of nuclear medicine technologists and several studies on pediatric nuclear medicine imaging. It discusses a case study, of 28 nuclear medicine technologists performing pediatric imaging, which analyzed perspectives on allowing parents in the imaging suite. 68 percent of the study respondents stated that policies were verbal indicating the need for written clear and concise policy to avoid misunderstanding of policy goals and requirements.

Diagnosis, early intervention, and treatment of patients who have an infection are the basic foundations of patient care. Early, appropriate interventions are associated with decreased patient morbidity and mortality. Diagnostic procedures with clinical information and laboratory results are integral in the assessment of inflammatory diseases and the prevention of sepsis. Some of the imaging modalities currently used for the assessment of inflammation include computed tomography, plain radiography, positron emission tomography, technetium Tc 99m bone scintigraphy, magnetic resonance imaging, and leukocyte scintigraphy. In the case of patients who exhibit signs of osteomyelitis, it is necessary to understand that acute and chronic conditions are not based on the duration of the disease but on the histopathologic features of the disease. Although several imaging modalities are considered appropriate, there is not one singular procedure that is considered ideal. Rather, it is a combination of procedures and various other clinical factors. This article addresses some of the advantages and disadvantages of the modalities, with a focus on molecular imaging and the assessment of osteomyelitis.