Nurses working in emergency departments can be more aware of hand hygiene in certain situations. A new study found that nurses were less likely to follow proper hand hygiene in particular circumstances: when patients are being treated in hallway beds, and when patients are being transported between departments or rooms. With overcrowded EDs increasing, nurses […]
There are many reasons why a nurse might want a more flexible work schedule. The pressures of kids, taking care of a relative, going to school, or even just wanting to have a less hectic work life are all big motivators for seeking different hours. If you’re one of those nurses, you might want to […]
Another set of eyes might be watching health care workers. Patients in intensive care need increased supervision; responding to this need, some critical care units are installing cameras in their ICUs. The idea is not to replace health care workers “on the ground,” but to support them. “Tele-ICU” nurses can monitor multiple patients at once […]
A recent study found unsurprising results regarding the contamination of nursing uniforms and scrubs. Over 50% of nursing uniforms were found to harbor at least one pathogen. Pockets were especially contaminated. The bottom line? Scrubs and uniforms do harbor bacteria, and while no studies yet prove that contaminated uniforms spread infection amongst patients, researchers caution […]
Are you a good communicator? In a nurse’s daily interactions with patients, the ability to communicate in a clear manner is vital. The next time you communicate with a patient, be mindful of these suggestions from NurseZone: Communication goes both ways. Engage patients in a dialogue; help them understand and come to a decision about […]
An interesting opinion piece by Bill Santamour at Hospitals and Health Networks discusses the ever-present generational issues that healthcare professionals face. Today, however, Santamour notes that there is an increased diversity amongst age groups, with coworkers ranging from just-graduated 20-something Millenials to the “Matures” born before 1946. While the assumption is that this “generation gap” […]
For nurses specializing in end-of-life care, empathy and education is critical to helping patients and their families. An article on NurseZone by Debra Wood, RN, outlines how nurses can help families navigate some new hospice trends and improvements. While death might be routine for healthcare workers, Wood writes that the process is often new for […]
Nurses will be critical to meeting the increased healthcare demands that insurance reforms bring in the coming years, writes Deloras Jones, RN, in a recent article. While California has seen increases in nurse school enrollment and increased its nursing workforce, the state is still “ranked 47th in the nation for RNs per capita.” Increased insurance […]
A study in the journal Nursing Outlook found that a home-based care program for the elderly called “Aging in Place,” which integrates personalized health services and nursing care coordination, improved outcomes and reduced costs compared with assisted home living and nursing home care. Program participants also had improvements in their mental and physical health, data […]
It is essential that nurses never assume that their patients understand anything you say. It is imperative to actually confirm that a patient knows what to do when they get home, regardless of whether we think they do, or even if we think we did a good job of explaining it. Read more on patient […]