In this issue, we're proud to present an article on preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) by James Sauter, RN. The article addresses a significant nursing issue-urinary tract infections account for more than 30% of healthcare-associated infections reported by acute care hospitals.1 According to the CDC, CAUTIs can lead to numerous complications, including cystitis, Gram-negative bacteremia, pyelonephritis, and endocarditis.1 CAUTIs also cause patient discomfort, increased length of stay, increased cost, and increased mortality (more than 13,000 deaths annually).1 These facts make CAUTI a patient safety issue and subject for nurse advocacy.
This article is the result of a mentorship between our editorial staff and faculty at the University of Pittsburgh's School of Nurs ing RN Options program. Several students submitt ed articles for publication, including Anthony H. Chao, BA, RN, CCRN, EMT-P, whose article on a computerized change of shift reported appeared in the November Tech Talk department. Our editorial staff, in collaboration with the nursing faculty, is mentoring the rest of the students through the publication process, and you'll see the remaining articles in upcoming issues.
If your organization is interested in developing a similar collaboration with our editorial team, we'd love to hear from you. Please contact us at Nursing [email protected]. Our feature articles are typically 2,000 to 2,500 words and address a variety of clinical topics in critical care areas. Our departments range from 750 to 1,500 words and are focused on specific topics such as ethics and technology.
So what do you say? What do you have to lose? We're looking forward to hearing from you. Until the next time, be healthy, be happy, be great advocates for your patients, and stop CAUTIs!
AnneMarie Palatnik, MSN, RN, APN-BC
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