Home healthcare nowPub Date : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-05-04DOI: 10.1097/NHH.0000000000001448
Nancy Moureau, Lisa A Gorski
{"title":"Needleless connectors: A small device with big consequences.","authors":"Nancy Moureau, Lisa A Gorski","doi":"10.1097/NHH.0000000000001448","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/NHH.0000000000001448","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Vascular access devices (VADs), including both peripheral intravenous (IV) catheters and central VADs, are used across the continuum of health care to administer IV fluids, medications, and diagnostics. Needleless connectors (NCs) are a critical component of the infusion system providing needle-free access to VADs yet many nurses are unaware of their significant impact on VAD-related complications, including infection, thrombotic occlusion, and catheter malfunction. This article provides a review of the critical role of the nurse in identifying risks and applying best practices in NC care, including disinfection, clamping, flushing, and timely replacement. Proper technique and adherence to evidence-informed protocols are vital to maintaining VAD performance and reducing adverse events.</p>","PeriodicalId":37842,"journal":{"name":"Home healthcare now","volume":"44 3","pages":"176-183"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147844131","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Home healthcare nowPub Date : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-05-04DOI: 10.1097/NHH.0000000000001443
{"title":"Early Detection of Ototoxicity in Home Healthcare.","authors":"","doi":"10.1097/NHH.0000000000001443","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/NHH.0000000000001443","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":37842,"journal":{"name":"Home healthcare now","volume":"44 3","pages":"E3"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147843962","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Home healthcare nowPub Date : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-05-04DOI: 10.1097/NHH.0000000000001438
Lisa A Gorski
{"title":"Trust the Wings by Barbara Schultze.","authors":"Lisa A Gorski","doi":"10.1097/NHH.0000000000001438","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/NHH.0000000000001438","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":37842,"journal":{"name":"Home healthcare now","volume":"44 3","pages":"212"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147844076","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Home healthcare nowPub Date : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-05-04DOI: 10.1097/NHH.0000000000001430
Hannah Borguilla Delacaudra
{"title":"Early Detection of Ototoxicity in Home Healthcare.","authors":"Hannah Borguilla Delacaudra","doi":"10.1097/NHH.0000000000001430","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/NHH.0000000000001430","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hearing is a vital part of human experience. It serves as a medium for communication, shapes perception of the world, and facilitates the formation of meaningful relationships. Thus, when hearing loss occurs, it can have a profoundly life-altering and detrimental impact on an individual. Hearing loss can be attributed to a variety of causes, including genetics, aging, medications, and disease processes. Commonly used medications, such as antibiotics, diuretics, and antineoplastics, can damage the inner ear's delicate internal structures, leading to hearing loss-a condition known as ototoxicity. Early recognition and treatment are crucial in preventing irreversible damage from these medications, and nurses play a vital role in this process. In the home healthcare setting, nurses serve as advocates, fostering trusting relationships with patients to promote patient safety and ensure effective monitoring and education. Numerous studies have discussed ototoxicity and emphasized the need for consistent monitoring, guidelines, and protocols; however, there is a notable lack of research investigating nursing-based interventions and acknowledging the critical role of nurses in implementing these preventive measures in home healthcare. The objective of this manuscript is to discuss an individual's experience with permanent hearing loss due to ototoxicity, highlighting the vital role nurses play in preventing these devastating effects. It emphasizes expanding the nurse's role in home healthcare to improve the timely detection and monitoring of ototoxicity. Proposed strategies include nursing assessment checklists, structured patient education handouts, and symptom diaries. By outlining key nursing interventions and proposed evaluation strategies, this manuscript raises awareness of how medication-induced, irreversible hearing loss can be mitigated through proper patient education and nursing-based monitoring in the home healthcare setting.</p>","PeriodicalId":37842,"journal":{"name":"Home healthcare now","volume":"44 3","pages":"139-147"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147843977","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Home healthcare nowPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-03-03DOI: 10.1097/NHH.0000000000001414
Sean Finstrom, Sara Arena
{"title":"Predictive Qualities of the Timed Up and Go Test in Home Healthcare.","authors":"Sean Finstrom, Sara Arena","doi":"10.1097/NHH.0000000000001414","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/NHH.0000000000001414","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":37842,"journal":{"name":"Home healthcare now","volume":"44 2","pages":"119-120"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147327426","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Home healthcare nowPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-03-03DOI: 10.1097/NHH.0000000000001415
Carlie Liseo, Daniel Martin
{"title":"Investigating the Role of Occupational Therapy in Palliative Care: A Literature Review.","authors":"Carlie Liseo, Daniel Martin","doi":"10.1097/NHH.0000000000001415","DOIUrl":"10.1097/NHH.0000000000001415","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Occupational therapy's (OT) scope of practice aligns with the services provided for clients receiving palliative care (PC). Despite this, other home healthcare professions do not well understand OT interventions or their efficacy. As such, it is essential to review existing literature to define the roles and functions of OT in PC and to better clarify their role in the home healthcare multidisciplinary team. The objective of this review was to define the themes of effective OT within PC and identify how OT may benefit clients with serious illness using an extensive review of the literature. To explore this question, databases including PubMed, the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE Ultimate, Consumer Health Complete, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect were searched. Thirty studies met the criteria addressing OT in PC and were analyzed for common themes. Three themes regarding the provision of OT services to PC patients were identified: engaging in meaningful activities to increase quality of life (QOL), symptom management and comfort, and supporting caregivers and client environments. OT can play a pivotal role in catering to PC clients' needs by promoting occupational engagement, alleviating symptoms, and modifying environments. This review offers recommendations for OT service provision in palliative care, clarifying the profession's role within multidisciplinary home healthcare teams.</p>","PeriodicalId":37842,"journal":{"name":"Home healthcare now","volume":"44 2","pages":"97-104"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147327403","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Home healthcare nowPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-03-03DOI: 10.1097/NHH.0000000000001424
Nancy J Linscheid, Russell F Byrne
{"title":"An Outcomes-Based Comparison of Nurse Residency Graduates to Their Peers in Home Health Setting.","authors":"Nancy J Linscheid, Russell F Byrne","doi":"10.1097/NHH.0000000000001424","DOIUrl":"10.1097/NHH.0000000000001424","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study serves as a review of quality outcome scores for graduates of accredited nurse residency programs (NRP) compared with their case management peers. Although accredited NRPs have been shown to provide organizational benefits, the focus of this study centers on patient outcomes. We reviewed outcomes including Total Normalized Change (TNC) mobility, TNC self-care, Potential Preventable Hospitalization (PPH), 60 Day Acute Care Hospitalization (ACH), Discharge Function Score (DFS), Oral Meds, Ambulation, Dyspnea, Bed Transfers, and Bathing to determine the effectiveness of NRP graduates. Through our review and comparison, we determined that graduates of an accredited NRP perform at the same level or better than their case manager peers who have more experience in nursing. Our study indicates that organizations that benefit from improved retention and job satisfaction related to NRPs may also benefit from improved outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":37842,"journal":{"name":"Home healthcare now","volume":"44 2","pages":"105-109"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147327614","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Home healthcare nowPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-03-03DOI: 10.1097/NHH.0000000000001425
{"title":"Different Paths, One Purpose: Enhancing and Improving Home Care.","authors":"","doi":"10.1097/NHH.0000000000001425","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/NHH.0000000000001425","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":37842,"journal":{"name":"Home healthcare now","volume":"44 2","pages":"73-74"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147327353","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Home healthcare nowPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-03-03DOI: 10.1097/NHH.0000000000001423
Linda Krulish
{"title":"When AI Writes the Note: Ensuring the AI Dividend Strengthens, Not Replaces, Clinical Reasoning.","authors":"Linda Krulish","doi":"10.1097/NHH.0000000000001423","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/NHH.0000000000001423","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":37842,"journal":{"name":"Home healthcare now","volume":"44 2","pages":"125-126"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147327410","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}