Nursing journal names text co-edited by RU professor "Book of the Year"

Burggraf_Ginger

Ginger Burggraf

"Healthy Aging: Principles and Clinical Practice for Clinicians," co-edited by Radford University Distinguished Professor of Nursing, Virginia Burggraf, has been named a Book of the Year by the American Journal of Nursing (AJN).

The book will be featured in the January 2015 edition of the AJN in its "Book of the Year" section as one of the most valuable texts of 2014. Co-edited by Dr. Kye Kim, medical director of Catawba Hospital and professor at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, and Dr. Aubrey Knight, associate dean of Student Affairs and professor of medicine at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, "Healthy Aging" earned AJN's "Book of the Year designation" in the gerontological nursing category, one of its 20 categories.

The AJN is the oldest, broad-based international nursing journal. Peer reviewed and evidence-based, AJN promotes excellence in nursing and health care through the dissemination of clinical information and original research, discussion of relevant and controversial professional issues and promotion of nursing perspectives to the health care community and the public.

Carla Graf, judge of the gerontological nursing section, wrote: "Providing expert care for older adults across multiple settings can be challenging . . . this outstanding text addresses both the physical and psychosocial issues faced by older adults." Graf is transitions of care manager, Delivery System Reform Program, Innovations in Population Health at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center.

Graf lauded "Healthy Aging" for its comprehensiveness, user-friendly style and outstanding resources and references in a variety of modes, such as websites, PDF documents, e-books and videos.

She added: "I especially appreciated the comprehensive chapter on medication

safety, which includes a review of medication adherence and health literacy issues and addresses the significant adverse effects (such as falls and delirium) of commonly prescribed medications for older adults."

"Healthy Aging," published by Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, was released in March 2014. The 29-chapter book incorporates a holistic framework for collaborative geriatric care between physicians, gerontologists and nurses.

RU's Katie Katz, assistant professor of nursing, wrote the book's final chapter "End-of-Life Care" and Burggraf wrote the opening two chapters "Advanced Practice for Geriatric Clinicians" and "Healthy People 2020: Implications for Practice." Joni Goldwasser and Carey Cole, graduates of RU's Doctor of Nursing Practice program, wrote chapters on pulmonary disease and diabetes.

Jan 20, 2015