Penn Highlands Healthcare announces โReturn to Workโ Nursing Residency program
Editor's Note On April 3, Penn Highlands Healthcare, DuBois, announced its new โReturn to Workโ Nursing Residency program for nurses who have taken an extended leave from their nursing careers, but want to return to work. Residency students participate in 5 weeks of courses that begin with didactics and progress…
The Joint Commission releases sentinel event data for CY 2022
Editor's Note The Joint Commission, on April 4, released its Sentinel Event Data 2022 Annual Review, which covered serious adverse events from January 1 through December 31, 2022. There were 1,441 sentinel events reported in 2022, a 19% increase over 2021, and a 78% increase over 2020, with COVID-19 continuing…
Effect of professional coaching on surgeon well-being
Editor's Note This randomized, controlled study led by researchers from the University of Colorado, Denver, and the Mayo Clinic, finds that 6 months of professional coaching can reduce burnout, improve quality of life, and increase resilience among surgeons. A total of 80 surgeons were included in the analysis. At the…
Good managers the answer to workplace incivility
Editor's Note A new meQuilibrium Self Check survey finds that good managers are pivotal to retaining employees in the face of rising rates of workplace incivility, the March 29 HealthLeaders Media reports. Of 5,483 employees surveyed, the most common forms of incivility identified were: Being ignored (26.1%) Having oneโs judgment…
Work overload linked to HCW burnout, intent to leave during COVID-19
Editor's Note This study led by researchers from Brigham and Womenโs Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, found high rates of burnout and intent to leave the job across all healthcare workers (HCWs), including physicians, nurses, support staff, and healthcare teams during COVID-19. A total of 43,026 HCWs from 206…
New Omicron subvariant emerging
Editor's Note The World Health Organization on March 30 reported that although there is an overall downward trend in COVID-19 cases and deaths, 21 countries are reporting increases in cases of Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16, particularly India. XBB.1.16 has a similar profile to XBB.1.5, which is the dominant strain in the…
Datascope/Getinge expands recall of certain IABPs for risk of unexpected shutdown after PCBA communication loss
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on March 31 identified the recall by Datascope/Getinge of certain Cardiosave Hybrid and Rescue Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumps (IABPs) for risk of unexpected shutdown after PCBA communication loss as Class I, the most serious. On March 17, the FDA also identified Datascope/Getingeโs recall…
Missouri latest state to introduce legislation to curb travel nursing rates
Editor's Note The state of Missouri is the most recent stateโout of 11โto propose legislation and/or regulations to curb or cap โprice gougingโ on travel nursing from healthcare staffing agencies, USA Today March 16 reports. The proposed legislation out of Missouri would reportedly allow for felony charges to be brought…
Cluster of mycobacteria infections after total joints traced to OR nurse
Editor's Note This investigation by the Kentucky Department for Public Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of eight cases of rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM) infections in a Kentucky hospital after total joint replacement procedures found that the presence of a particular OR nurse was significantly associated with the…
ASA urges public to learn to recognize opioid overdose and how to use naloxone
Editor's Note The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), on March 29, issued a news report urging the public to learn to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose, now that the Food and Drug Administration has approved naloxone for sale over the counter. Naloxone, which is commonly sold as a…