In the OR, precision and focus can mean the difference between life and death. However, surgical patient outcomes hinge on more than the competence of those working in these inherently intense environments. Every procedure also depends on the laborious, behind-the-scenes efforts of the people responsible for ensuring every surgical instrument…
Editor's Note A recent article in HealthLeaders profiles an innovative approach to alleviating nurse burnout—one that the outlet calls “a four-legged answer to nurse wellbeing.” Launched in 2020 at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, the Buckeye Paws program brings certified therapy dogs directly to nursing units, offering nonjudgmental,…
Editor's Note Nearly 140,000 nurses have left the workforce since 2022, and 40% of the remaining workforce plans to exit by 2029, according to the 2024 National Nursing Workforce Study from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). According to an April 17 announcement from NCSBN, the survey…
Leadership and business skills are deeply intertwined—to some, that makes nurse-led ventures a sort of natural fit. The long-standing trend has been nurses becoming entrepreneurs after retirement, but that is changing. Today, more nurses are exploring entrepreneurship while maintaining their clinical roles, a shift that is reshaping traditional career pathways.…
Editor's Note Optimizing surgeon stress could enhance surgical performance and patient outcomes, according to a large cohort study published January 15 in JAMA Surgery. Researchers focused particularly on physiological markers of surgeon stress during the first 5 minutes of a procedure, revealing a significant inverse relationship with major patient complications.…
Editor's Note A scoping review of 15 studies reveals that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted oncological abdominal surgery (OAS), leading to postponed or canceled procedures, adoption of alternative treatment plans, and increased psychological stress among surgical teams. Published November 5 in the American Journal of Surgery, the findings emphasize the…
Editor's Note A study analyzing data from the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) revealed that nursing-sensitive quality indicators (NSIs) worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic and remain elevated years after the onset of the pandemic, reflecting ongoing challenges in nursing practice. Published in the journal Nursing Research, the findings…
Editor's Note A new meta-analysis of 85 studies reveals a significant association between nurse burnout and negative outcomes in patient safety, satisfaction, and care quality. The findings underscore the impact of burnout—characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment—on healthcare performance globally, with implications for organizational and policy interventions,…
Editor's Note Less than half of physicians surveyed by the American Medical Association (AMA) in 2023 reported feeling burned out—the first time the figure has dropped below the 50% mark since 2020. These findings evidence continued decline in burnout from the record-high 62.8% in 2021 and 53% in 2022, according…
Editor's Note Nearly half of hospital executives report that their hospitals are not fully prepared to cope with patient volumes, Becker’s Hospital Review reported June 13. Citing the June 12 Hospital Operations Outlook Survey from FTI Consulting, Becker’s reports that nursing and mental and behavior health specialists represent the greatest…