Editorial

Everybody’s Business–The Environment of Care
Verena Briley-Hudson, MN, RN

 
President’s Message

Transitions
Cathy Parsa, MA, RN

 
Featured Articles

Secondary Conditions of Spinal Cord Injury Health Education Video Series
Phil Klebine, MA; James F. Roper, MD, MS; Susan Camp, ARNP; Cheryl Lane, CRNP, CWCN; Beth L. Dinoff, PhD; and Marcalee Sipski Alexander, MD

Active Listening: Techniques to Promote Communication
Johnnie Lynn Brophy, RN-BC, […]

Verena Briley-Hudson, MN, RN
Nursing leadership at all levels is needed to continue improving the quality of patient care. It is old news now, but we’ve all read and heard––through various media frenzies––about the patient neglect scandal which resulted from a series of allegations of unsatisfactory conditions and management at the “premier” Walter Reed Army […]

Cathy Parsa, MA, RN
Last September, upon assuming the presidency and in between congratulatory messages, I also received a few well-meaning, but odd, condolences. I think the implications were that with all the impending changes in our financial situation and United Spinal’s reorganization, it was bound to be a difficult year. Certainly throughout the […]

Phil Klebine, MA; James F. Roper, MD; Susan Camp, ARNP; Cheryl Lane, CRNP, CWCN; Beth L. Dinoff, PhD; and Marca L. Sipski, MD
Abstract
Management of secondary conditions is one of the more significant concerns of individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI). With shorter hospitalization lengths of stays following acute injuries, health care professionals have less time […]

Johnnie Lynn Brophy, RN-BC, BSN, MSN
Abstract
The ability of health care workers to communicate with patients and their significant others is a vital component of competent patient care. One technique that can strengthen the communication process is “active listening.” This article examines components of the Karkoff Technique. A case study of a person with a spinal […]

Christine Boldt, MSc, RN; Inge-Marie Velstra, MSc, OT; Alarcos Cieza, PhD, MPH; Monika Scheuringer, MPH; and Gerold Stucki, MD, MS
Editors Note:
    I am pleased to share with you a description of an international Delphi study that is currently taking place. This study is designed to identify nursing intervention catagories for patients with spinal cord injuries […]

Mary Ann Reilly, BSN, MS, CRRN

When I joined the AASCIN Board of Directors, I was assigned to the Editorial Board. As the Board Representative to this journal, it is now my responsibility to be a contributor to the Leadership column. As a reader of journals, I never attempted to contribute to a journal […]

Joy Bailey, MSN, CRRN, BC

According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC, 2006) the estimated annual incidence of spinal cord injury (SCI) is around 11,000 new cases per year. Of these, approximately 50% sustain injuries at the cervical level, and the average age is 38.0 years. Life expectancy for ventilator-dependent […]

Kimberly Costello, RN, BSN

Introduction
Each year in the United States approximately 20% of the spinal cord injuries (SCI) that occur affect children and adolescents (DeVivo & Vogel, 2004). Etiologies of SCI include: motor vehicle accidents, accidental falls, violence, medical surgical complications, and sports-related injuries (DeVivo & Vogel). These children’s lives are preserved […]

Matthew Sorenson PhD, RN

For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again,
and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
(Job 14:7, King James Version)

In the lobby of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago hangs a tapestry by Marc Chagall called Job. On the back of the tapestry […]