Reducing the barriers to RN educational mobility

How can the needs of RN students be met without compromising the quality of the educational experience? The model of flexible clinical scheduling described here has built-in safeguards to preserve quality and promote flexibility. The author discusses the benefits for both students and faculty.     

An electronic educational resource for ready reference in the OR

Nurses and surgical technologists working on weekends or after hours may not always be familiar with a specific setup for an emergent surgical procedure. At St. Vincent Healthcare, Billings, Mont., an electronic tool was developed to address this concern. The Powerpoint-based Electronic Education Resource (PEER) system provides staff members with a quick, educational overview of surgical setup, patient positioning, and procedural steps.     

Reducing the risks of sharps injuries in health professionals

Sharps injuries can transmit blood-borne infections and are a serious health risk to nurses and other health professionals. However, there is limited data on the incidence of these injuries in the UK, and low awareness of the risks they pose. New products with enhanced safety features are becoming available but their introduction should be accompanied by education and training to improve practice in relation to sharps and their disposal.     

手术室护士锐器伤调查与防护

目的 探讨手术室护士锐器伤原因,以寻求有效的防护措施.方法 对2009年5月至2011年7月上报的手术室护士锐器伤148例(82名护士)进行统计分析.结果 手术室护士锐器伤的主要类型为手术缝针刺伤,占30.4％,损伤程度以轻度最多,占80.4％,主要原因为工作忙乱,占54.7％.结论 加强职业防护教育,严格执行安全操作...     

Reducing one source of pediatric head injuries

Evaluation of a school-based, bicycle helmet program was conducted using the PRECEDE model. The intervention targeted schools with low income, high minority, and nonurban fourth grade children. A repeated measures design was used with schools randomly assigned to each treatment: classroom, parent-classroom, or control. Reported helmet use was approximately 18% prior to the program. Following the intervention, between 34% and 98% of intervention students reported helmet use, with the best results reported in schools with parental contact. This educational intervention coupled with the provision of bicycle helmets increased reported helmet use, especially when parental contact was added.     

Reducing the risk of injuries to staff from insulin pens

This article describes problems in the use and disposal of sharps used in the administration of insulin therapy in a hospital setting. Subsequent investigation and action taken to reduce the risk of needlestick injuries in staff who administer insulin therapy with an insulin pen delivery system are also discussed.     

Reducing physical restraints: developing an educational program.

1. Philosophical premises for an educational program aimed at restraint reduction include beliefs about quality of care, commitment to understanding the meaning of behavior, and desire to shift practice from control of behavior to individualized approaches to care. 2. If change is to occur, an educational program aimed at restraint reduction must recognize the potential contributions of all staff members, use an interactive teaching style, and promote discussion and problem solving. 3. Results of testing a Restraint Education Program suggested that altering staff beliefs and increasing knowledge produced a change in restraint practices, at least in the short term.     

Reducing staff injuries and violence in a forensic psychiatric setting

Despite the attention given to the issue of violence in the psychiatric literature, very little progress has been made towards improving our understanding of violence by the mentally ill and programs aimed at the prevention of violence are rare. This report describes the administrative and clinical efforts of the staff in a maximum security psychiatric facility when addressing an alarming increase in violence and serious staff injuries. Evaluation data include measures of aggression and violence, seclusion and restraint data, staff injuries, and incident report data.     

Reducing pain and discomfort following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

Although percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) has been found to be an effective alternative to open-heart surgery for patients with coronary artery disease, the procedure itself can be associated with severe anxiety and discomfort for the patient. The authors report the discomfort patients experience during recovery from PTCA and suggest nursing interventions to reduce pain for these patients.