What great changes have not been ambitious?"
--Melinda Gates,
co-founder of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
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| ANA SmartBrief |
| December 8, 2008 |
Survey: Hospital EDs short on space, nursing staff
A survey of 3,562 emergency department nurses and doctors in 65 hospitals found that staff have concerns about staffing and safety in EDs. The HHS-funded study found two-thirds of respondents said EDs did not have enough space to deliver patient care and did not have sufficient nursing staff to handle patient loads during busy times. HealthNewsDigest.com (12/5)
Students taught clowning around can be good nursing
New York University's College of Nursing brought in the Big Apple Circus to help teach nurses that clowning around can be good clinical practice. The clowns talk about the importance of having a keen sense of observation and using playful exercises to lighten the mood and make youngsters more comfortable. NYTimes.com (12/4)
Experts support wider access to stimulant drugs
Healthy people should have access to brain-boosting pills, such as Ritalin, experts write in an online commentary for the journal Nature. They say that college students already take such stimulants illegally to help them study and that the demand for the drugs is likely to grow. The researchers called for more research into the use, risks and benefits of such drugs, as well as policies to govern their use. Houston Chronicle/The Associated Press (12/7)
Study: Early CF detection may help preserve lung function
Early detection of cystic fibrosis in infants may help control progression of the disease, according to an Australian study. Researchers found infants with CF had declining lung function sooner than previously thought, despite a normal diagnosis of lung function after birth. Researchers said early intervention may stop some of the lung function reduction in early infancy. Yahoo!/HealthDay News (12/5)
TalkLight helps nurses keep a lid on noise levels
TalkLight may look like a traffic signal but it's really a sound-level meter that helps hospital units maintain a calm and healing environment for patients as well as staff. Bayhealth Medical Center's Kent General Hospital in Dover, Del., has installed the TalkLight as well as a wireless telephone and messaging system to reduce overhead pages, and have received positive feedback from patients. Nurse.com (12/8)
RN says hospice nursing is what she was meant to do
"This is the kind of nursing that I was meant to do; this is how I envisioned my life," Tyna Hartman says of her job at St. Elizabeth Hospice in Red Bluff, Calif. She is able to spend time in each patient's home, ensuring they receive the services and care they need and helping families prepare for death. Hartman says her job has changed the way she interacts with her own family. Redding.com (12/7)
Indiana nursing homes face critical RN, aide shortage
An Indiana Health Care Association survey found nursing homes in the state had the nation's highest RN vacancy rate and the eighth highest rate of vacant aide positions last year. The association is asking the incoming Obama administration to provide education incentives and Medicaid reform to help ease the shortage. Chicago Tribune/The Associated Press (12/5)
Experts criticize ASU nursing school cuts
Arizona State University has announced it will cut undergraduate nursing program admissions by 26% next year. Nursing and other medical experts say the cuts could worsen the state's nursing shortage, increasing emergency department wait times and impacting patient care quality. The Arizona Republic (Phoenix) (12/7)
Obama team applies lessons learned in health reform
The incoming Obama administration hopes that by giving Americans a say in the process for reforming the health care system and pushing forward with a clear-cut plan they can avoid mistakes made by the Clinton administration 15 years ago. HHS Secretary nominee Tom Daschle says the health reform movement must be inclusive, fast-acting and focused. The Washington Post/The Associated Press (12/6)
State budget cuts could add to nurse shortage
Tennessee budget cuts could exacerbate the existing nurse shortage problem in the state by forcing universities to further reduce the number of nursing students they accept. The money crunch also has meant delays in construction of new buildings to accommodate more students. The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tenn.) (free registration) (12/7)
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--Melinda Gates, |
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