Burnout and the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner: Who Is Experiencing Burnout and Why?

IntroductionA sexual assault nurse examiner role exemplifies the high-stress and highly emotional patient interactions that are often associated with burnout. The purpose of this study was to examine the frequency of burnout among sexual assault nurse examiners in North Carolina.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was an anonymous survey of practicing sexual assault nurse examiners within North Carolina using the Maslach Burnout Inventory and additional demographics. Results were analyzed with odds ratios, confidence intervals, Fisher exact, chi-square, and Kruskal Wallis tests as appropriate.ResultsAmong 95 respondents, burnout was more frequent in sexual assault nurse examiners who stopped both emergency and nurse examiner work (55.6%, odds ratio 4.41, 95% confidence interval 1.07-18.06) and in dual function nurses (both emergency and nurse examiner work, 35.7%, odds ratio 2.71, 95% confidence interval 1.04-7.06). Sexual assault nurse examiners who had a high percentage of pediatric cases (above the median of 40%) were more likely to meet burnout thresholds for emotional exhaustion scores > 26 (48.78% vs 25.93%, χ² = 5.30, P = .02) and more likely to meet burnout thresholds for depersonalization scores > 9 (48.78% vs 24.07%, χ² = 6.28, P = .01).DiscussionHigher frequency of burnout threshold criteria was found in those people who worked concurrently as a sexual assault nurse examiner and an emergency nurse and in those who had retired from both specialties. We also found that sexual assault nurse examiners with a higher case mix of pediatric cases had higher emotional exhaustion scores and higher depersonalization scores.     

Clinical presentation,management, screening and surveillance for colorectal cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic

Management of colorectal cancer (CRC) was severely affected by the changes implemented during the pandemic, and this resulted in delayed elective presentation, increased emergency presentation, reduced screening and delayed definitive therapy. This review was conducted to analyze the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on management of CRC and to identify the changes made in order to adapt to the pandemic. We performed a literature search in PubMed, Medline, Index Medicus, EMBASE, SCOPUS, Reference Citation Analysis (https://www.referencecitationanalysis.com/) and Google Scholar using the following keywords in various combinations: Colorectal cancer, elective surgery, emergency surgery, stage upgrading, screening, surveillance and the COVID-19 pandemic. Only studies published in English were included. To curtail the spread of COVID-19 infection, there were modifications made in the management of CRC. Screening was limited to high risk individuals, and the screening tests of choice during the pandemic were fecal occult blood test, fecal immunochemical test and stool DNA testing. The use of capsule colonoscopy and open access colonoscopy was also encouraged. Blood-based tests like serum methylated septin 9 were also encouraged for screening of CRC during the pandemic. The presentation of CRC was also affected by the pandemic with more patients presenting with emergencies like obstruction and perforation. Stage migration was also observed during the pandemic with more patients presenting with more advanced tumors. The operative therapy of CRC was altered by the pandemic as more emergencies surgeries were done, which may require exteriorization by stoma. This was to reduce the morbidity associated with anastomosis and encourage early discharge from the hospital. There was also an initial reduction in laparoscopic surgical procedures due to the fear of aerosols and COVID-19 infection. As we gradually come out of the pandemic, we should remember the lessons learned and continue to apply them even after the pandemic passes.     

2006—2020年四川省疾病预防控制中心因公出国(境)任务现状分析及发展建议

目的回顾四川省疾病预防控制中心"十一五""十二五""十三五"期间因公出国(境)任务现状,为强化新时期疾病预防控制国际交流与合作提供依据和建议。方法通过Excel 2013软件录入2006—2020年的因公出国(境)档案资料并建立数据库,从任务类型、业务领域、出访国家(地区)、经费来源等方面进行描述性分析。结果2016—2020年("十三五")四川省疾控中心因公出国(境)共223人次,2011—2015年("十二五")较2006—2010年("十一五")下降14.29%,2016—2020年较2011—2015年下降51.19%,实地考察出访人次2016—2020年较2006—2010年下降80%,任务占比下降约52.18%;业务领域方面,传染性疾病防治领域出访129人次(57.85%),非传染性慢性疾病防治14人次(6.28%)、卫生检验10人次(4.48%)、免疫规划8人次(3.59%);出访高收入国家(地区)人次"十三五"时期较"十一五"时期下降76.47%,占比下降43.76%,对外援助增加7人次。结论2006—2020年四川省疾控中心因公出国(境)出访人次总体呈下降趋势,实地考察任务下降幅度最大;出访任务集中于传染性疾病防治领域,在业务领域分布上存在较为明显的比例失衡现象;出访高收入国家(地区)人次(占比)下降,对外援助大幅增加。     

辐射事故应急演习准备与实施的规范化

通过回顾2014年以来全国各省辐射事故应急演习工作的成果和经验，结合国际原子能机构（IAEA）、生态环境部关于辐射事故应急演习的相关指导文件，总结了综合性辐射事故应急演习的开展流程。此外，基于演习实战化的要求，详细介绍演习规划、准备、实施、评估等环节的技术要求和规范方法，为开展辐射事故应急演习提供参考和借鉴。     

Novice nurses’ experiences from teamwork in the emergency department: A qualitative content analysis

Background and aimTeamwork is assumed crucial in nursing. Nevertheless, nursing shortages in medical centers have thus far compelled nurse managers to use novice nurses. The present study aimd to explaining the challenges and experiences of novice nurses regarding teamwork in emergency departments.Materials and methodsUsing qualitative content analysis, 11 novice nurses working at emergency department, participated in this study. Data were collected with semi structured interview and analyzed by Graneheim and Lundman.ResultsThe data analysis led to the emergence of four themes of “essential teamwork skills development”, “contradictory relationships between team members”, “unpleasant feelings and experiences”, and, “personal growth and maturation during teamwork”.ConclusionFostering different personal aspects as prerequisites for teamwork, novice nurses will be able to deal with unpleasant feelings and experiences as well as contradictory relationships between team members in an effective manner. This challenging experience will thus give rise to personal growth and maturation during teamwork among them in emergency department.     

Psychological immune competency predicts burnout syndrome among the high-risk healthcare staff: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundBurnout and psychological immune competency have not been investigated together among employees of high-risk specializations such as emergency medicine, intensive care or surgery.AimIn this study we aim to examine the prevalence of burnout among high-risk clinical staff and explore whether the strength of psychological immune competency predict burnout.DesignA cross-sectional design utilizing a self-administrated questionnaire was used to collect data from the participants (n = 216). Nurses (n = 145) and physicians (n = 71) from emergency medicine, intensive care and surgery departments participated in the study.MethodBurnout syndrome was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory, while psychological immune competency was measured using the Psychological Immune Competency Questionnaire. The data collection started in June of 2018 and was finished in March of 2019.ResultsParticipants with higher psychological immune competency reported lower levels of burnout: emotional exhaustion (r = −0.478; p < 0.001), depersonalization (r = −0.459; p < 0.001) and personal accomplishment (r = 0.543; p < 0.001). Multiple linear stepwise regression analysis revealed the psychological immune competency to be a stable predictor of burnout on all three scales.ConclusionPsychological immune competency shows a strong relationship with scales of burnout syndrome and as such should be further examined due to development of successful intervention and prevention programs.     

Evaluating a Food Pantry–Based Intervention to Improve Food Security,Dietary Intake,and Quality in Midwestern Food Pantries

BackgroundVoices for Food was a longitudinal community, food pantry–based intervention informed by the social ecological model, and designed to improve food security, dietary intake, and quality among clients, which was carried out in 24 rural food pantries across 6 Midwestern states.ObjectiveOur objective was to evaluate changes in adult food security, dietary intake, and quality from baseline (2014) to follow-up (2016), and to assess the role of adult food security on dietary outcomes.DesignA multistate, longitudinal, quasi-experimental intervention with matched treatment and comparison design was used to evaluate treatment vs comparison group changes over time and changes in both groups over time.Participants/settingAdult food pantry clients (n = 617) completed a demographic food security survey, and up to three 24-hour dietary recalls at baseline (n = 590) and follow-up (n = 160).InterventionCommunity coaching served as the experimental component, which only “treatment” communities received, and a food council guide and food pantry toolkit were provided to both “treatment” and matched “comparison” communities.Main outcome measuresChange in adult food security status, mean usual intakes of nutrients and food groups, and Healthy Eating Index-2010 scores were the main outcome measures.Statistical analyses performedLinear mixed models estimated changes in outcomes by intervention group and by adult food security status over time.ResultsImprovements in adult food security score (–0.7 ± 0.3; P = .01), Healthy Eating Index-2010 total score (4.2 ± 1.1; P < .0001), and empty calories component score (3.4 ± 0.5; P <.0001) from baseline to follow-up were observed in treatment and comparison groups, but no statistically significant changes were found for adult food security status, dietary quality, and usual intakes of nutrients and food groups between the 2 groups over time. The intervention effect on dietary quality and usual intake changes over time by adult food security status were also not observed.ConclusionsFood pantry clients in treatment and comparison groups had higher food security and dietary quality at the follow-up evaluation of the Voices for Food intervention trial compared with baseline, despite the lack of difference among the groups as a result of the experimental coaching component.