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.

Progressive functional decline and behavioral disturbances in people with dementia place sustained emotional and practical demands on family caregivers, often resulting in chronic stress, anxiety, depression, and a high perceived caregiving burden. This pilot study examined the effects of an 8-week online Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program on psychological burden and well-being among family caregivers of people with dementia. Data from 39 caregivers (78.0%) who completed the intervention were analyzed. Participants had a mean age of 53.18 ± 13.33 years, with 30.8% being men; 61.5% were adult children and 38.5% were spouses or siblings of the person with dementia. At baseline, more than half of the caregivers (53.8%) reported moderate to severe psychological distress. Following the intervention, caregivers demonstrated significant improvements, including reduced perceived burden, lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, and improved functional engagement. These findings indicate that online MBSR is a feasible and accessible intervention that may meaningfully reduce psychological burden among family caregivers of people with dementia. Given its virtual delivery and low resource requirements, MBSR has the potential to be integrated into routine caregiver support services, particularly for those with limited access to in-person interventions. Further research involving larger and more diverse caregiver populations is needed to confirm the durability of these benefits and to guide broader implementation.

This concept analysis explores cultural stigmatization and its impact on home care, using Walker and Avant's eight-step method and reviewing 49 peer-reviewed articles. Cultural stigmatization is identified as a key barrier, causing discrimination and negatively affecting patient outcomes. The home care implications of addressing cultural stigmatization include interventions that address clinician biases, enhance cultural sensitivity, and reduce stereotypes to improve care quality. These implications highlight the need for targeted strategies to address cultural stigmatization in home care settings, ensuring equitable and effective services for all patients.

TeamSTEPPS is a patient safety model that uses a collection of tools and best practices to optimize team performance. It has been widely adopted in the inpatient setting but clinician autonomy has been a barrier in its use. A home healthcare agency began using TeamSTEPPS® and found that it has a positive impact on nurse retention through the use of situational awareness and mutual support tools. Small improvements were made in OASIS outcomes and 30-day hospital readmissions through the use of handoffs and huddles.