During the Spring 2007 semester, Kathryn McLaughlin's synthesis assignment was in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CICU) of Children's Hospital Boston. Katie's preceptor, Erin Callahan, just happened to have recently transferred to the CICU from a floor where she cared for the cystic fibrosis population.  This was a terrific opportunity for Katie and Erin to partner in providing needed information to the CICU nursing staff via their biweekly newsletter, The Pulse.

According to Lisa McCabe, Educational Coordinator of the CICU, "Katie has done a fabulous job on her synthesis project for us in the CICU.  This has been one of the most meaningful projects completed by a senior student! In the near future, we will be receiving all of the patients undergoing lung transplantation.  The greater percentage of this group of patients will be children with cystic fibrosis, a disease many of us have not considered clinically since nursing school."
 
"I think it is important to highlight truly effective collaboration between students and the nursing staff with whom they work in their clinical experiences," Ms. McCabe adds. We certainly agree. To date, The Pulse has published two of Kathryn's three "excellent" articles, which can be downloaded by clicking the links below:

Cystic Fibrosis: Overview »

Respiratory Complications for Cystic Fibrosis Lung Transplant Patients »

Cystic Fibrosis: Gastrointestinal Issues and Lung Transplantation »