Geriatric Nursing
Volume 27, Issue 1 , Pages 11-12, January 2006

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GeroNurseOnline.org Is Awarded World Wide Web Health Award 

GeroNurseOnline.org, the Web site of the Nurse Competence in Aging (NCA) initiative, was selected as a winner in the spring/summer 2005 World Wide Web Health Awards. This program recognizes the best health information Web sites for consumers and professionals. GeroNurseOnline.org was conceived and created by the 3 organizations that make up the Nurse Competence in Aging initiative: the American Nurses Association, American Nurses Credentialing Center, and the John A. Hartford Foundation Institute for Geriatric Nursing in the New York University College of Nursing. The Web site offers a resource for nurses who which to learn more about geriatric syndromes, their possible causes, and various treatments, and how to translate that knowledge for the immediate benefit of their patients.

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Grant Opportunities 

Proposals Invited for Aetna Foundation Regional Community Health Grants Program 

Deadline: Various. The Aetna Foundation is inviting proposals for its Regional Community Health Grants Program. The program provides funding focused on reducing disparities in health care among racial and ethnic populations in eligible geographic areas. In 2005, Aetna will devote up to $2.6 million to regional initiatives to address this issue. Grant requests ranging from $25,000 to $50,000 that address one of the following areas will be considered: 1) cultural competency and 2) disease prevention, awareness, and delivery of culturally sensitive care and services related to dental care, diabetes, or depression. See the foundations Web site at www.aetna.com/foundation/ for complete program guidelines, eligible geographic areas, regional deadlines, and application procedures.

Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation Offers Quality of Life Grants 

Deadline: April 1 and October 1, annually. The Quality of Life Grants Program offers grants to nonprofit organizations that address the needs of persons living with spinal-cord injuries, their families, and caregivers or health promotion of paralysis caused by spinal-cord and other injuries as well as diseases and birth defects, including but not limited to stroke, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Health-promotion grants are intended for programmatic activities and not solely for the purchase of equipment for use by individuals. For more information, visit www.christopherreeve.org.

AHRQ Grants for Health Services Research Dissertation 

Application Receipt Dates: February 17, June 15, and October 15 annually through 2006. AHRQ continues its support for the health services dissertation research small grant program. This program supports research undertaken as part of an academic program to qualify for a doctorate. The dissertation should focus on areas relevant to HSR, with emphasis on methodological and research topics that address the mission of AHRQ. For more information, visit www.grants.nih.gov/grants/.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Offers Grants to Expand Faith in Action Volunteer Health Care Program 

Deadline: Open. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is offering grants to expand Faith in Action, an interfaith volunteer caregiving program that helps to better the lives of people with long-term health needs. The program provides start-up grants of $35,000 for a 30-month period to help communities organize new coalitions for volunteer caregiving; technical assistance on coalition building, board development, program management, strategic planning, volunteer recruitment and training, communications, and fund-raising; and the support of a nationwide network of Faith in Action coalitions. Visit www.rwjf.org for complete program information and application instructions.

Multiple Grant Opportunities 

The federal government recently unveiled a comprehensive Web site with information on all federal grant programs, making the application process vastly simpler for state and local governments. The site, developed in conjunction with state and local officials, has details on more than 800 grant programs from 26 federal agencies. Features include a search feature to “Find Grant Opportunities” and downloadable applications in the “Apply for Grants” section. The site is located at www.grants.gov.

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Music Reduces Anxiety for Day Surgery Patients 

Although music is often thought of as a valuable relaxation technique, it is underutilized by medical professionals. Few studies have focused on music therapy to relieve anxiety. Adding to the literature, an Australian study published in the October 2005 issue of Journal of Advanced Nursing evaluated 180 patients who underwent outpatient surgery. The study found that patients who listened to 30 minutes of music preoperatively were statistically significantly less anxious than those patients who did not listen to music. Importantly, intervention patients used headphones and listened to music of the own choosing.

The randomized control trial design was conducted to assess anxiety before and after listening to patient preferred music. Participants were allocated to an intervention (n = 60), placebo (n = 60), or control group (n = 60). The placebo group used headphones but received no music, and the control group received routine care only. Nurses who provided care were blinded to group assignments for the intervention and placebo groups. Pretest and posttest measures of anxiety were carried out using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.

Music provides an easy, practical, nonlabor strategy that nurses can initiate independently. With future projections of 60% or more increase in outpatient surgeries and relatively shorter time periods of nursing care, listening to music is an activity that is adult-centered that promotes patient autonomy and self-care.

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Quality Gap Widens Between America’s Best and Worst Hospitals 

The eighth annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America Study analyzed 37 million Medicare hospitalization records from the years 2002 through 2004, rating the quality of care at more than 5,000 hospitals. The hospitals were rated based on 28 procedures and diagnoses.

The study found that the “quality chasm” in hospital care is growing. Although overall death rates at the hospitals improved 12%, the best-performing hospitals lowered their death rates 45% faster than the lowest-ranked hospitals over the study period.

Better outcomes were associated with higher hospital volumes and higher numbers of intensivist (doctors who specialize in critically ill patients) in intensive care. The full study can be found at www.healthgrades.com.

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Government Puts New Long-Term Care Report Online 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Labor have issued a new report titled “Measuring Long-Term Care Work: A Guide to Selected Instruments to Examine Direct Care Worker Experiences and Outcomes.” It is available online at http://aspe.hhs.gov/daltcp/reports/dcwguide-file.htm.

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Bioethics Newsletter Available at No Charge 

“The Soul of Bioethics,” an e-newsletter covering topics such as end-of-life care, dementia, family obligations, ethics and aging, and dilemmas of autonomy, is currently welcoming new subscribers. The newsletter is published by the International Longevity Center—USA, headed by Dr. Robert Butler. For a sample copy or free subscription, send a message to soulofbioethics@yahoo.com.

PII: S0197-4572(05)00460-X

doi:10.1016/j.gerinurse.2005.11.003

Geriatric Nursing
Volume 27, Issue 1 , Pages 11-12, January 2006

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