Study: Findings describe nurse manager role preparation, competency
Editor's Note Nurse executives need to evaluate the strength of their nursing leadership talent pool and develop policies and strategies that promote nurse manager competence, this study finds. A survey of 647 nurse managers, who manage 964 patient care units in 54 hospitals found the following: They rated themselves as…
FDA: Class I recall of Brainlab Spine & Trauma 3D Navigation Software
Editor's Note The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on April 15 identified the recall of Brainlab's Spine & Trauma 3D Navigation Software as Class I, the most serious. The Software is being recalled because of the potential for incorrect information to display during surgery, which may prevent the surgeon from…
David Wyatt is AORNโs new president-elect
Editor's Note Congratulations to the newly elected AORN officers for 2019-2020: President-elect: David A. Wyatt, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, CNOR Treasurer: Vangie Dennis, BSN, RN, CNOR, CMLSO Board of Directors: Nakeisha M. Archer, MBA, RN, NE-BC, CNOR, CSSM; Vicki J. Barnett, MSN, RN, CNOR; William Duffy, MJ, RN, CNOR, FAAN; Brenda…
New care pathway reduces delirium, readmissions for frail elderly trauma patients
Editor's Note A new interdisciplinary care protocol for frail elderly trauma patients significantly decreased delirium and 30-day readmission risk in this study. Researchers at Brigham and Womenโs Hospital, Boston, compared the care of 125 patients who were treated before the pathway was implemented with 144 patients after the pathway was…
Hospital employment up 13,600 jobs in March
Editor's Note USย hospitals added 13,600 jobs in March to a seasonally adjusted 5,223,400, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on April 5. Thatโs up 108,500 more employees than a year ago. Overall, healthcare employment has increased 397,500 in the past year. The overall unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.8%.
Using machine learning for preop prediction of postop mortality, ICU admission
Editor's Note Machine learning can be used to improve surgical risk prediction compared to traditional risk calculators, this study from Singapore finds. The traditional Combined Assessment of Risk Encountered in Surgery and the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status models were compared with machine learning models in the prediction of…
FDA to require label changes on how to safely decrease opioids in physically dependent patients
Editor's Note The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on April 9 issued a Drug Safety Announcement saying it has received reports of serious harm in patients who are physically dependent on opioid pain medications and suddenly have them discontinued or rapidly decreased. Because of these reports, the FDA is requiring…
Cultural, generational factors influencing RN retention
Editor's Note Generational and cultural differences may affect an RNโs job satisfaction and intent to stay, and nurse leaders must reassess staff satisfaction beyond mandatory annual staff engagement surveys, this study finds. An online survey of 309 RNs at a tertiary care hospital in south Texas found that: Millennials anticipate…
ECRI Institute announces Healthcare Supply Chain Achievement Award winners
Editor's Note The ECRI Institute on April 1 announced the 11 US healthcare organizations that received its 2019 Healthcare Supply Chain Achievement Award. The winners demonstrated excellence in overall spend management in their supply chain processes, and include: Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, MA Cooperative Services…
Hospital safety culture linked to surgical patient outcomes
Editor's Note A hospitalโs safety culture may influence certain surgical patient outcomes, finds this study. A Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ), sent to administrators, quality improvement teams, nurses, anesthesiologists, and surgeons in 49 hospitals participating in the Illinois Surgical Quality Improvement Collaborative, found that OR safety culture had the highest scores…