OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study were to: (1) identify local barriers to nursing presence on patient- and family-centered rounds (PFCR); and (2) increase nursing attendance during PFCR. METHODS An electronic survey needs assessment was administered to nursing staff on a single acute medical care unit to identify local barriers to nursing presence on PFCR. Daily tracking of nursing pres...

Hands are awesome. Hands are marvelous in every sense of the word, and are as important to us collectively and individually as are our intellects. Hands are the difference between thinking and doing. There may be other creatures in this world that have intelligence, but if they don’t have hands, they cannot act on that intelligence. They cannot make things and place things. Without hands, they ...

The exponential growth of OR technology during the past 10 years has placed increased demands on perioperative nurses. Proficiency is required not only in patient care but also in the understanding, operating, and troubleshooting of video systems, computers, and cutting edge medical devices. The formation of a surgical team dedicated to robotically assisted cardiac surgery requires careful sele...

For the past few decades, researchers have been evaluating the effects of self-help/mutual aid groups on participants. Most research studies of self-help groups have found important benefits of participation. Unfortunately, few of these studies have gotten into the hands of self-help group members, clearinghouse staff and others who wish to advocate for selfhelp/mutual aid. The purpose of this ...

Methods A prospective 1 year study was conducted within the ICU of two UK hospitals. Conventional sampling techniques were used to recover MRSA from the air and from high contact sites located within the ward environment. All patients were screened for MRSA on admission and weekly during their stays. Samples from other sites were cultured when clinically indicated. MRSA was considered nosocomia...

comparisons be possible. The real differences in surgical mortality that do exist between surgeons and centres may teach important lessons. One study compared mortality between a teaching hospital and its adjacent district hospital and led to a proper intensive care unit being provided in the district hospital. 14 The confidential inquiry into perioperative deaths emphasised the value of regula...

UNLABELLED This study was designed to assess the degree of risk of bacterial transmission from physician to patient through hands, equipment and enclosing surfaces (shoe soles). MATERIAL AND METHODS The study was conducted in the Clinical Department of General and Oncological Surgery UM in Łódź. In days 16.10.2013, 17.10.2013, 18.10.2013 there were done swabs from hands, stethoscopes and sole...

BACKGROUND Mobile phones (MPs) have been an essential part of the lives of healthcare professionals and have improved communication, collaboration, and sharing of information. Nonetheless, the widespread use of MPs in hospitals has raised concerns of nosocomial infections, especially in areas requiring the highest hygienic standards such as operating rooms (ORs). This study evaluated the incide...

BACKGROUND Nurses tend to wash their hands more often than physicians, and among nonhealth care workers, women tend to wash their hands more often than men. This study examined the influence of gender on the handwashing rates of health care workers (HCWs). The null hypotheses were that there would be no intergender difference in (a) handwashing rates in HCWs across professions and (b) within pr...

A main concern for women giving birth is the risk of obstetric anal sphincter injuries. In our department the incidence of sphincter injuries was around 8 % among vaginally delivering first time mothers. We aimed to halve the incidence to 4 % or less. A prospective interventional program was instituted. We implemented a hands-on technique with four elements in a bundle of care together with a c...