Disabling back injuries among nursing personnel: research needs and justification

The need for more research on the problem of work-related back injuries among nursing personnel is documented by two comparisons based on the ratio of back injury workers' compensation claims to eligible employees. The first analysis of occupations across industries indicated that nursing aides, licensed practical nurses, and registered nurses all had high back injury ratios compared to other occupations. The second analysis of occupations within four parts of the health care industry indicated that aides in nursing and personal care facilities had the greatest problem with disabling back disorders. The article concludes with a list of research needs and suggested research methodologies.     

The use of TRISS methodology to validate prehospital intubation by urban EMS providers

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of field orotracheal intubation (OI) by urban emergency medical technician-paramedics (EMT-Ps) on outcome compared with trauma score and injury severity score (TRISS) expectations. The records of all trauma patients intubated by EMT-Ps or hospital personnel were abstracted for OI attempts/successes, use of neuromuscular blockade (NMB), scene time, discharge neurological status, and hospital survival compared with TRISS. EMT-Ps attempted 43% of all intubations; 81% were successful versus 98% by hospital staff (P < .05). NMB was used by 76% of hospital intubations versus none by EMS (P < .05). Scene time was 10.3 ± 3.2 minutes versus 11.6 ± 2.1 for patients intubated by emergency medical services (EMS) and hospital staff (P < .05). Sixty percent of patients intubated by EMS versus 68% by hospital staff had good/moderate discharge neurological status. Survival for patients intubated by EMS versus hospital staff was 11% and 40%, respectively, compared with 2% and 45% expected by TRISS. Field OI by urban EMT-Ps has a favorable impact on survival with good neurological outcome (P < .05).     

Variables related to job satisfaction among professional care providers working in brain injury rehabilitation

Purpose : To examine variables that contribute to work satisfaction among rehabilitation professionals involved in brain injury rehabilitation.

Method : One hundred and thirty-three respondents completed a job satisfaction questionnaire and qualitative questions regarding sources of stress and satisfaction in working with individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI).

Results : Factor analysis yielded four factors relating to intrinsic satisfaction, perceived importance to the organization, organizational support and training support. Although intrinsic satisfaction was significantly related to the three other factors, it was best predicted by training support, particularly training that addressed the management of intrusive and/or aggressive behaviours. Qualitative correlates of both work stress and satisfaction were also identified with respect to personal issues, client-related issues, and organizationally-related issues.

Conclusions : Satisfaction with work in ABI rehabilitation is derived from multiple sources, but it appears to be largely dependent on feeling important to, and valued by, the organization and on the level of support and training provided in the workplace.     

Sharps injuries and job burnout: A cross-sectional study among nurses in China

The present study investigated the relationship between sharps injuries and job burnout in nurses. Sharps injury questionnaires and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) questionnaires were used to investigate and analyze job burnout among 468 nurses, of which 458 effective questionnaires were collected, for a response rate of 97.86%. A total of 292 nurses had at least one sharps injury (63.76% of the 458 nurses). The dimension scores were higher for injured nurses compared with non‐injured nurses. The difference between the dimensions of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization for nurses with sharps injuries was statistically significant (P < 0.05). A rank correlation analysis showed that these two dimensions had a positive correlation with sharps injuries (r = 0.69–0.78). The prevalence of sharps injuries in nursing is associated with depersonalization, as measured by the MBI. Nursing administrators should pay more attention to clinically burned‐out nurses, and provide more opportunity to nurses for training and education to reduce the prevalence of sharps injuries.