HHS purchases 100 million additional doses of Modernaโs COVID-19 vaccine
Editor's Note The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on December 11 that it would purchase 100 million additional doses of Modernaโs COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine, which was developed by Moderna with scientists from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), is scheduled for a December…
Illuminating infection risks in urologyโA spotlight on COVID-19
Now that facilities are returning to performing urology cases, what should staff be aware of regarding COVID-19 and urology in general? This was the question Lane Jacobs, an expert in global product solutions for Boston Scientific, Marlborough, Massachusetts, asked Cori L. Ofstead, MSPH, president and chief executive officer, Ofstead &…
Interim leadership: A challenging but rewarding career alternative
Demand for interim executive leadership services in 2018 increased by 113%, according to a 2019 Nurse Leader article. โWe are experiencing a gap for qualified and trained nursing leaders at all levels, but especially the chief nursing officer level,โ says Ila Minnick, MS, BSN, RN, president, Interim Leadership Associates. โBecause…
Editorial
A November 2020 survey from National Nurses United, the largest union of RNs in the US, rang some alarm bells about the preparedness of healthcare facilities bracing for influenza season along with COVID-19 case surges. Among the more than 15,000 nurses surveyed by the union, 30% named staffing shortages as…
The sharp end of safety: The fight to reduce needlestick injuries
Each December, the international medical community marks Sharps Safety Awareness Month, which serves as a powerful reminder of the significant risks from injuries caused by needlesticks and surgical sharps faced by surgeons, nurses, and other clinicians in their daily lives. Every needlestick injury incurred in the OR comes with a…
How does lifelong learning in sterile processing affect patient care?
Editorโs Note. Developing and sustaining competent sterile processing staff is critical for patient safety, yet there is a dearth of formal educational programs for this function. Whitman Partners, a Portland, Oregon-based specialty search firm dedicated to placing directors of surgical services at hospitals and surgery centers nationwide, asked former surgical…
COVID-19 has hastened outpatient surgery migration
The latest surge of COVID-19 cases has put many hospitals in a precarious position, with shortages of staff, space, and supplies. Lessons learned earlier in the pandemic cannot necessarily shore up systems that have been overwhelmed with patients. Throughout most of 2020, some patients postponed medical or surgical care. When…
ICU nurse receives first Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in US
Editor's Note After the Food and Drug Administration issued an Emergency Use Authorization for Pfizer/BioNTechโs COVID-19 vaccine on December 11, the company began shipping 2.9 million doses to 636 sites throughout the US. (https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-takes-key-action-fight-against-covid-19-issuing-emergency-use-authorization-first-covid-19). On December 14, the first dose of the vaccine was administered at 9:23 am to an…
Effect of intubation barrier devices on aerosol exposure
Editor's Note Barrier devices used for intubation may reduce operator exposure to infectious droplets and aerosols, but there is wide variation in aerosol containment, this study finds. Fully enclosed barrier devices reduced vapor and aerosol content in the area of the operator. If no barrier device was used, aerosol content…
Safety, efficacy of BNT162b2 mRNA (Pfizer/BioNTech) COVID-19 vaccine
Editor's Note This study reports the safety and efficacy findings of the phase 2 and phase 3 parts of the clinical trial of the BNT162b2 mRNA (Pfizere/BioNTech) vaccine in preventing COVID-19 in persons 16 years of age or older. These results are the basis for an application for emergency use…