Tag: Occupational Hazards

Motor vehicle driving performance of anesthesia residents after overnight work shifts

Editor's Note After six consecutive night shifts, anesthesia residents experienced significantly impaired control of all driving variables including speed, lane position, throttle, and steering in a driving simulator. They also were more likely to be involved in collisions. In addition, reaction times increased with a significant increase in the number of minor…

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By: Judy Mathias
April 18, 2016
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Medtronic, AORN partner on campaign to remove surgical smoke from the OR

Editor's Note AORN announced April 5 at the Surgical Conference & Expo in Anaheim, California, the creation of the Go Clear Award program, which will recognize health care facilities committed to a surgical smoke-free environment. The program, sponsored by Medtronic, is a 3-year national health education effort to raise awareness…

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By: Judy Mathias
April 11, 2016
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FDA proposes ban on most powdered gloves

Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on March 21 announced a proposal to ban most powdered gloves in the US. The proposed ban applies to powdered surgeons' gloves, powdered patient examination gloves, and absorbable powder for lubricating surgeons' gloves. Powdered gloves pose an unreasonable and substantial risk of…

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By: Judy Mathias
March 22, 2016
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Long work hours tied to higher risk of CVD

Editor's Note Working 46 hours per week or more increases the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), this study finds. Beginning at 46 hours, increasing work hours were progressively associated with increased risk of CVD (ie, angina, coronary disease, heart failure, heart attack, high blood pressure, or stroke). Compared to…

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By: Judy Mathias
March 7, 2016
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Editorial

Workplace violence reached a whole new level with the San Bernardino mass shooting earlier this month that left 14 dead just a week after three people died in a shooting at a Planned Parenthood facility in Colorado Springs. These incidents occurred for different reasons, but both cut short people’s lives…

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By: OR Manager
December 16, 2015
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Use of data set to assess risk of sharps-related blood and body fluid exposure

Editor's Note In this study from Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, researchers used a unique multicomponent administrative data set to examine the risk of percutaneous blood and body fluid exposures in the OR over a 10-year period. Of some 333,000 surgical procedures performed, 2,113 blood and body fluid exposures were…

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By: Judy Mathias
October 13, 2015
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Hiding in plain sight: Surgical smoke threatens health of OR staff

Research has shown that electrosurgical smoke presents a serious health hazard for the OR team. However, many remain skeptical of its harmful effects, and compliance with smoke evacuation recommendations is not consistent. Electrosurgical smoke results from the vaporization of tissue, fluid, and blood into a gaseous form by electrosurgical instruments.…

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By: Judith M. Mathias, MA, RN
August 17, 2015
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Joint Commission: New, updated resources for preventing surgical fires

Editor's Note The Joint Commission has partnered with the Food & Drug Administration, Council for Surgical & Perioperative Safety, and others in the Preventing Surgical Fires Initiative, which has released new, updated resources for preventing surgical fires. These include: A presentation on “Preventing Surgical Fires and Burns in Healthcare Facilities”…

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By: OR Manager
August 13, 2015
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Night shifts, overtime linked to injuries in new RNs

Editor's Note New RNs working night shifts and overtime are at increased risk for injury, this study finds. Those working weekly overtime were associated with a 32% increase in the risk of needle sticks. New nurses working night shifts correlated with a 16% increase in the risk of sprain and…

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By: OR Manager
July 30, 2015
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Ebola surgical protocols enhance safety of patients and personnel

In the months since Ebola patients were first treated in US hospitals, much progress has been made in establishing protocols to protect patients and healthcare workers from harm. Though the number of Ebola patients in the US remains small compared with the thousands in African countries, the disease continues to…

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By: OR Manager
March 26, 2015
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