Nursing professionals have talked a lot about the aging nursing workforce and the looming catastrophic shortage of nurses that will emerge as more baby boomers retire. At a New Jersey Association of Healthcare Recruiters (NJAHR) Executive Leadership Conference, on April 18 in Princeton, N.J., attendees learned the impending nursing shortage brings other equally critical concerns.
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Please see the flyer for DVDs and CD-ROM containing selected special presentations from the 2007 National Magnet Conference that was held in Atlanta, GA. Additional items available at: http://www.associationarchives.com/servlet/Categories?category=Magnet
Research conducted jointly by the AONE Institute for Patient Care Research & Education, ARAMARK Healthcare, and the Studer Group was presented this week at the American College of Healthcare Executive’s 2008 Congress on Healthcare Leadership. The study, which examined nurse perceptions of hospital support service functions, reveals key behaviors for collaborative relationships between these groups and identifies areas in which service can be improved. Findings show that nine key themes are important to nurses when working with support service groups: communication; team work and adaptability; availability and accessibility of staff and resources; timeliness of response; compassion, consideration, positive approach and professionalism; knowledge of the job; proactive behavior; coordination of care; and responsibility and accountability. The research was designed to augment The Guiding Principles for Relationships among Nursing and Support Services in the Clinical Setting, a series of principles driven by AONE and ARAMARK Healthcare, aimed at helping hospitals improve relationships among nurses and support service groups. (AONE, press release, 3/12/08)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention yesterday released two guides to help communities develop effective fall prevention programs for seniors.
In addition, the agency announced an initiative with 26 organizations to help adult children and other caregivers prevent, recognize and respond to fall-related traumatic brain injury in seniors. According to a CDC study released this week, about 5% of U.S. seniors report seeing a health care provider or restricting their activity due to a recent fall. (AHA News online 030708)
Reducing distractions during medication administration cut errors in half at one California hospital, and now nurses are spreading the concept, sharing with other facilities safer medication-pass processes.
“It’s so simple and it came from front-line nursing staff,” said Becky Richards, RN, BSN, MA, adult clinical services director at Kaiser South San Francisco Medical Center and a leader of the initiative.
Read full article at NurseZone.com: http://www.nursezone.com/Nursing-News-Events/more-news.aspx?ID=18693
Surveys among various institutions indicate that nurses believe part of the nursing shortage could be overcome if they had more technology to reduce time spent on paperwork. Specifically, they want electronic records, computerized order entry systems, touch-screen or voice-activated technology for documentation, and interoperable systems that don’t interrupt their workflow.
Read More: http://www.govhealthit.com/blogs/ghitnotebook/350291-1.html
FDA informed healthcare professionals and consumers of the correct way to use Spiriva and Foradil inhalation powder capsules. FDA and the National Poison Control Center have received many reports of patients swallowing Spiriva and Foradil capsules rather than placing the capsules in the inhalation devices. Both products are to be used in the HandiHaler (Spiriva) and Aerolizer (Foradil) devices to deliver the medicine to the lungs to improve breathing in patients with asthma, and in individuals affected by chronic obstructive lung disease and bronchitis. Both products will not treat a patient’s breathing condition if the contents of a capsule are swallowed rather than inhaled. Healthcare professionals should discuss with patients how to correctly use the Spiriva HandiHaler or Foradil Aerolizer. See the Public Health Advisory for important information on the correct use of both products.
Read the complete 2008 MedWatch Safety Summary, including a link to the FDA’s Public Health Advisory regarding this issue at: http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2008/safety08.htm#Spiriva
Are you looking to reduce reimbursement denials and excessive lengths of stay, while using resources more efficiently? This white paper provides strategies and recommendations for how case managers can streamline processes and use technology to improve clinical documentation and the quality of care.
FDA notified dental healthcare professionals and patients of the risk of serious allergic reactions in users of denture cleansers. These adverse events, including abdominal pain, vomiting, seizures, hypotension and difficulty breathing, have occurred both when the product has been used properly as well as from improper use. These events can occur soon after first use or after years of use. FDA believes that the ingredient responsible for these reactions is persulfate, a known allergen. Persulfates are used in most denture cleansers to help clean and bleach the dentures. FDA has provided specific recommendations for dental healthcare professionals and an ‘Advice for Patients’ document.
FDA is recommending that all manufacturers of denture cleansers modify their labeling to include warning information that the product contains persulfates and recommends improving the directions for use on their labeling in order to reduce misuse.
See the MedWatch 2008 safety summary, including links to the Public Health Notification and “Advice for Patients”, at: http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2008/safety08.htm#Denture
Women who live in areas with lots of nighttime illumination are at greater risk of developing breast cancer, according to a new study that adds to the theory that too much light exposure at night can interfere with the brain’s ability to produce a tumor-suppressing hormone. The Washington Post (2/20)