FDA: Class I recall of certain Accula SARS-CoV-2 Tests
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 9 identified the recall by Mesa Biotech, Inc, of certain Accula SARS-CoV-2 Tests as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated because certain lots of the PCR test have an increased risk of giving false positive results because…
Nursesโ march to shine light on workplace violence, staffing
Editor's Note A peaceful nursesโ march protest, called United โMillionโ Nurses March and sponsored by Nurses Against Violence, is set to take place in Washington DC on May 12, according to HealthLeaders February 17. The protest is set to focus on two key issues plaguing the profession: workplace violence and…
Study: Divergent drinking patterns acquired by US adults during COVID-19
Editor's Note In this study from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, researchers identify distinct demographic subpopulations with diverging drinking trajectories during the first 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 8,130 US adults were surveyed biweekly from March 2020 to January 2021 on their past-week alcohol…
FDA limits use of J&J COVID-19 vaccine because of TTS risk
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 5 announced that it has limited the authorized use of Johnson & Johnsonโs Janssen COVID-19 vaccine to those 18 years of age and older for whom other COVID-19 vaccines are not accessible or clinically appropriate and to those who would…
LAST CHANCE! OR Business Management Conference Kicks Off Monday, May 16
Register now to secure your spot among the brightest minds in OR business leadership! OR Business Management Conference Delivers the Keys You Need to Maximize Profitability You will not want to miss the valuable information and networking opportunities, available at OR Business Management Conference, including: Tried and tested strategies, real-world…
Call for OR manager focus group participation
Editor's Note Rose O. Sherman, RN, EdD, NEA-BC, FAAN, emeritus professor at Florida Atlantic University, will be keynoting a session at the OR Manager Conference in Denver and doing a pre-conference workshop on perioperative recruitment and retention. In preparation for these sessions and to ensure that your biggest leadership challenges…
COVID-19 experiences of CNOs
Editor's Note This study by nurse researchers at Baptist Health Lexington, Kentucky, describes both emotional and administrative challenges chief nursing officers (CNOs) in the US faced during the COVID-19 crisis. Interviews conducted with 9 CNOs revealed they: were frustrated with constant change were saddened by the volume of death felt…
Healthcare employment up in April
Editor's Note Overall healthcare employment in the US was up in April to a seasonally adjusted 16,240,800 workers, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on May 6. Thatโs up 34,000 since March. Hospital employment also was up by 4,500 jobs. The overall unemployment rate for March was 3.6%, for a…
Risk of hearing loss after COVID-19 vaccination inconclusive
Editor's Note According to JAMA Network May 3, two recent studies examined the risk of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) after COVID-19 vaccination; however, the statistical value of the US-based study was not significant and the absolute risk remains inconclusive. In the first study, JAMA explains, COVID-19 vaccination was associated…
Report: 20% of US rural hospitals risk closing, losing services
Editor's Note According to a Bipartisan Policy Center report, titled โThe Impact of COVID-19 on the Rural Health Care Landscapeโ and published on May 4, 441 out of 2,176 rural hospitals in the USโjust over 20%โโface three or more risk factors, putting them at risk of service reduction or closure,โ…