Bloglist page

Many terms are used to describe septic disorders, but they are not interchangeable. Here is a guide to recognizing the difference between sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock. 

What if something simple, like say a peanut, could put your life in danger? This is a reality for as many as 40 million people in the United States who suffer from allergies that put them at risk for anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening allergic response to specific triggers, such as foods, medications, insect venom or latex. It can take only a minute or two for a mild allergic reaction to escalate to anaphylaxis, so quick recognition and intervention is critical. Each year, more than 57,000 Americans experience anaphylaxis.

In September 2009, Anne Mitchell and Vickilyn Galle were arrested after reporting the bad medical practices of a doctor at their rural hospital to authorities. The case drew national attention and is the inspiration behind this year’s Perioperative Nurse Week- to empower nurses worldwide to speak out in support of patient safety in the OR.

When the economy took a nosedive last year, everyone began to feel the economic fallout. Now, not just auto dealers and retailers are feeling the pinch. The recession has affected healthcare organizations, too. Recent reports indicate two service areas in particular— elective services and infection control—have been affected by the recession.

The American Heart Association (AHA) recently released their 2010 Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Following these guidelines can help anyone save lives- from trained doctors, nurses and caregivers, to those without any formal training. In fact, the biggest change in the AHA guidelines is aimed at making it even easier for those who are untrained perform CPR and save lives.

Elsevier | MC Strategies, a pioneer in providing e-learning solutions to more than 1,300 healthcare organizations, has partnered with the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) to develop the latest module for Mosby’s Nursing Skills: Perioperative Collection, the only perioperative-specific set of nursing skills approved by AORN to be consistent with the Standards and Recommended Practices.

As part of its hospital accreditation program, The Joint Commission recently approved new and revised requirements to improve communication between patients and healthcare providers. These changes are designed to increase quality and safety through effective communication, cultural competence and patient- and family-centered care.

More than ever, nurses’ job satisfaction—and retention—is directly related to the environment in which they work. Today, healthcare organizations that create and foster a collaborative atmosphere and value nurses’ contributions are considered the best places to work. In these organizations, nurses’ job satisfaction has increased, turnover has decreased and other nurses are attracted to the organization. But how does a nurse find one of these best places to work?

When a magnitude 7.0 earthquake devastated Haiti in January 2010, it left more than 200,000 Haitians dead, 300,000 injured and 1,000,000 homeless. From celebrities to civilians, thousands of volunteers rushed to Haiti’s aid. Michael Beach, DNP, was one of many nurses who traveled to Haiti to help earthquake victims.

As every staff educator knows, each learner has different learning preferences and abilities. These differences pose a challenge: Educators must work to ensure that learners master certain skills and acquire the knowledge they need to practice safely in the healthcare environment. Fortunately, educators can develop quality educational programs that reach a diverse group of learners through a blended learning approach.