Nurse staffing, work environment linked to readmissions after total joints
Editor's Note Readmissions after total hip and knee replacements are associated with nurse staffing levels and poor nurse work environments, finds this study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia. The study analyzed data on more than 112,000 Medicare patients in nearly 500 hospitals. Adjusting for patient and…
Lower patient-to-nurse ratios tied to better patient survival
Editor's Note This study from the UK found that a patient-to-nurse ratio of no more than six patients per nurse on medical wards was associated with 20% lower patient mortality than when each nurse was responsible for at least 10 patients. Results also showed a 17% reduction in mortality with…
Managing disruptive behavior will remove bullies from the OR
Hundreds of nurse leaders filled the room for a presentation on dealing with difficult people during the annual OR Manager Conference in October 2015—a testament to the prevalence of bullies and disruptive behavior in the OR environment. “In early 2011, a Google search was run using the terms ‘nurse bullying’…
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…
Lower patient satisfaction associated with nurses educated abroad
Many countries, including the United States and United Kingdom, rely on nurses trained abroad during times of nursing shortages. However, little is known about how this practice affects quality of care and patient satisfaction. A new study examines whether patient satisfaction with nursing care in National Health Service hospitals in…
Active listening lowers stress, builds confidence
The use of storytelling and listening to staff stories can be a valuable tool to help OR managers understand and mitigate workplace challenges and incivility. These are the findings of a doctoral study by Patricia Littlejohn, MBA, RN, CNOR, director, neurosciences and program development, Regional Medical Center, San Jose, California.…
Professional peer review compels staff to improve performance and quality--Part 1
The most successful perioperative services leaders are those who have built excellent teams that balance individual responsibility and accountability with respect for all team members, regardless of the roles they play. To create that culture, OR leaders must model the behavior and attitudes they expect from their staffs. One way…
ST to RN program speeds nurse orientation and bolsters perioperative workforce
When it comes to filling OR nursing positions, finding candidates who can fit into that environment is one challenge, and getting them up to speed quickly is another. Perioperative nurse leaders and educators at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, have found it worthwhile to invest in their surgical technologists…
ANA report highlights optimal nurse staffing
Editor's Note Appropriate nurse staffing is associated with improved quality of care and patient outcomes. This is the conclusion of a new white paper by the American Nurses Association and Washington, DC-based consulting firm Avalere, in collaboration with nurses and policy experts. The white paper is the first in a…
Editorial
Future shortfalls in the number of healthcare providers are widely anticipated as baby boomers retire and people live longer, thereby increasing the patient population. Last year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projected more than a million openings for RNs and advanced practice RNs in the coming years and a 19%…
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- Mental health, violence top list of concerns in biennial nursing report
- Joint Commission identifies most cited certification performance requirements
- Special rates extended for OR Manager event, publication subscription
- OR Manager survey-takers earn gift cards, free event passes
- FDA warns of continued cardiac pump safety concerns after series of recalls
- Study: Knee arthritis surgery neither delays nor hastens total replacement
- Study: Reverse total shoulder replacement long-term outcomes similar to traditional surgery
- Wearables could help surgeons maintain healthy posture during lengthy procedures
- Robotic-assisted total knee replacements: Improved outcomes, higher costs
- Analyzing impact of long COVID on cognitive health, surgical outcomes