...Considerable resources are wasted if operating room is not used effectively. | | |Effective management of operating room is paramount when operating room is a | | |“bottleneck”. By increasing use of operating room, patient flow improves and waiting | | |list can be reduced. | | | | | |Direct measure of optimal use of the capacity. Increasing surgical theatre use maybe | | |achieved by better work organization, such as better preparation by the team of | | |anaesthetic, theatre and surgical staff, however, may also require higher staffing | | |levels. Improving the performance of operating theatres is key to achieving shorter | | |waiting times for treatment, implementing booking of elective operations and reducing | | |cancelled operations....
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...Implementation of Evidence-Based Practice Throughout history, nursing practice has experienced change. Florence Nightingale initiated the greatest change in nursing in the mid-1800’s when she gathered data regarding the morbidity and mortality of soldiers (Chitty & Black, 2007). Nightingale recognized there was a need for change to improve patient outcomes. Her determination to provide the best possible care, based on the evidence she gathered, has inspired a profession. Today, the process of using research to care for patients is referred to as evidence-based practice. The purpose of this paper is to define and explain the importance of evidence-based practice, discuss qualitative and quantitative research studies which affect medical-surgical areas, and barriers preventing research utilization and how they may be overcome. Definition of Evidence-Based Practice There are numerous definitions of evidence-based practice (EBP). EBP is defined by Boswell and Cannon (2007) as, “A research-based, decision-making process used to guide the delivery of holistic patient care by nurses” (p. 340). Cope (as cited in Chitty & Black, 2007), defines EBP as “using the best available research findings to make clinical decisions that are most effective and beneficial for patients” (p. 275). It is clear throughout the spectrum of definitions that research is important for making the best possible clinical decisions for patient care. The Importance of Evidence-Based Research Evidence-based...
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... Graphic Background Information | The purpose of this article was to identify patient perceptions of bedside handover through directly asking patients about their care. The study was done on a two in-patient medical-surgical departments at Borgess Medical Center in Michigan. They had implemented bedside handoff at shift change 18 months prior to this study. Then a sample of patient participants was chosen from the two nursing departments for the study. They had to meet certain criteria to be a participant and they had to experience three handoffs. Then they were given a survey to fill out after the beside handovers. Participants were positive about the RN bedside handoff process. The overall mean from the survey was 3.32 on a scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to a 4 (highly agree). | Review of Literature | There were multiple references that provided statistics and facts during this study. Most of these studies have focused on implementing bedside handoffs and nurse perceptions of the handoff. Published studies that focused on patients’ perceptions of beside handoff have been mainly qualitative. Recently, researchers have published studies that seek to measure bedside handover quantitatively. Whether qualitative or quantitative, all studies report an increase in patient satisfaction with bedside handover. | Methodology | This quantitative study was to identify patients’ perceptions of the bedside handoff. This was a quantitative study because they used a survey...
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...environment.” (Stair & Reynolds, 2012, p. 337) Virtual reality applies sights and sounds in an artificial environment where human actions determine to an extent, what occurs inside the environment. Today, virtual reality is used in communication, training, and treatment in a spectrum of areas including the medical field, entertainment, and education. Medical VR systems “provide a new human-computer interaction paradigm in which users are no longer simply external observers of images on a computer screen but are active participants within a computer-generated 3D virtual world.” (G & B, 2002) Inside the world of virtual reality, medial applications such as three dimensional visualization of anatomy, telepresence surgery, complex medical database visualization, rehabilitation, surgical simulators and virtual surgical equipment as well as virtual operating rooms are emerging. Facilitated through computer interface, these medical applications of virtual reality are essential in the field of medicine. These applications allow individuals to learn human anatomy by “flying inside and around organs.” (Satava, 1995) The purpose of VR systems in the medical field is to ultimately develop a digital physician. Virtual reality will allow individuals to perform actively in a virtual operating room. These methods of learning “will come to play a routine part of hospitals.” (Volter & K, 1995) “The entertainment industry is one of the most enthusiastic advocates of virtual reality...
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...The statistics of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) in United Kingdom is just about 50,000 cases every year, in that, during 2008–2009, there were 36,097 reported cases of Clostridium difficile (Health Protection Agency, 2009). Almost the same rate is listed for Germany, highlighting a clear need for decisive action. This research examines the main causes if HCAIs, and discusses the relationship between compliance with hand hygiene guidelines and stress among nursing professionals in one German hospital (Knoll, Lautenschlaeger, & Borneff-Lipp, 2010). This paper explores the factors associated with hand hygiene compliance of nurses during routine clinical practice. The purpose of this research was to clarify whether external factors such as ward capacity, or level of nursing intensity had an influence on nursing staff compliance with hand hygiene guidelines. The research questions in this study are; does hand hygiene between healthcare workers decrease healthcare associated infections (HCAIs)? Does exterior factors influence on nurses compliance with hand hygiene guidelines? The hypothesis of this study is; workload factors like maximum ward capacity, severity of patient cases, have an influence on nurse’s compliance with proper hand hygiene guidelines. Study Variables A total of nine variants were used in this paper. Records from the descriptive interviews were used as dependent variables. The ward-specific workloads considered on one side as the rate of...
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...An Assessment of Medical Waste Management in Bawku Presbyterian Hospital of the Upper East Region of Ghana. Francis Abugri AKUM, Ghana (MPH, CEMBA, PhD Public Health Student of Texila American University) Email: akumfrancis@gmail.com Mob: +233 244 767 431 Abstract Background Medical waste unlike other ordinary waste poses serious health risk to the handlers, health staff, patients and the community. The area of medical waste management is neglected in most health care facilities in Ghana. The main objective of the study was to assess the Medical Waste management practices in Bawku Presbyterian Hospital of the Upper East Region of Ghana. Methods The study used structured questionnaires, observation checklist and key informant interview guide to collect data from management staff and waste workers. Results It was observed that there was low knowledge about medical waste among waste workers. Medical waste is not segregated, waste containers not coded/labelled, no secured storage area for waste, no budget specifically for medical waste management and no waste management manual in the hospital. Conclusion This study has shown that, waste management in the hospital is poor and has health implications to the handlers, staff, patients and visitors. Keywords: medical waste, Bawku Presbyterian Hospital, waste segregation, waste storage. Introduction Health care services generates waste just like other human activities which has to be managed and dispose...
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...Description: Register Nurse Alexia Hogle, Courtney Nessel, Tristin Gibson, Kyle Armstrong Registered Nurse Job Purpose: Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their family members. Registered Nurse Duties: • Record patients' medical histories and symptoms • Give patients medicines and treatments • Set up plans for patients’ care or contribute to existing plans • Observe patients and record the observations • Consult with doctors and other healthcare professionals • Operate and monitor medical equipment • Help perform diagnostic tests and analyze results • Teach patients and their families how to manage their illnesses or injuries • Explain what to do at home after treatment Education: In all nursing education programs, students take courses in nursing, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology and other social and behavioral sciences, as well as in liberal arts. BSN programs typically take four years to complete; ADN and diploma programs usually take two to three years to complete. All programs also include supervised clinical experience in hospital departments such as pediatrics, psychiatry, maternity, and surgery. A number of programs include clinical experience in extended and long-term care facilities, public health departments, home health agencies, or ambulatory (walk-in) clinics. Bachelor's...
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...Home Health Aide Job Responsibilities: Enables patients to stay in their homes by monitoring and recording patient condition, providing support and personal services, teaching families. Home Health Aide Job Duties: * Monitors patient condition by observing physical and mental condition, intake and output, and exercise. * Supports patients by providing housekeeping and laundry services; shopping for food and other household requirements; preparing and serving meals and snacks; running errands. * Assists patients by providing personal services, such as, bathing, dressing, and grooming. * Helps patients care for themselves by teaching use of cane or walker, special utensils to eat, special techniques and equipment for personal hygiene. * Helps family members care for the patient by teaching appropriate ways to lift, turn, and re-position the patient; advising on nutrition, cleanliness, and housekeeping. * Records patient information by making entries in the patient journal; notifying nursing supervisor of changing or unusual conditions. * Maintains a safe, secure, and healthy patient environment by following asepses standards and procedures; maintaining security precautions; following prescribed dietary requirements and nutrition standards; * Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities. * Protects the home care agency by adhering to professional standards, home care policies and procedures, federal, state, and local...
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...Sociological Effects by Rebecca Pistillo…….26 9. Implications for the Environment by Michael Plesnarski………………………33 10. Moral & Ethical Implications by Karen Quaderer…………………………… 39 11. Bibliography…………………………………………………………………….47 Abstract In this research paper our team will look at the use of Robotic Technology in the medical field, more specifically in the surgical field as well as discuss the issues and implications surrounding the topic. Our discussion will include topics ranging from the history and development of robots that can be found in surgical rooms, political concerns regarding the Food and Drug Administration and their requirements to approve use of these robots, the legal aspect of robotic technology on how to determine which party is held liable in case of accidents or malfunctions that can lead to injury and a legal case that shows the difficulty to prove fault against a manufacturer. Also discussed will be the economic ramifications on our society, psychological, sociological, cultural, moral and ethical impacts on human life, in particular the patients that undergo surgery involving a robotic surgical system, and the environmental impacts of robotics in surgery. It is our hope that through this research paper that we are able to explain to and educate our readers on the impacts of Robotic Surgery as this type of surgery is becoming more popular with doctors in order to...
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... The Advantages of Nursing Informatics and Quality Improvement The world of nursing is changing on a daily basis and we, as nurses need to adapt and change in order to provide our patients with the ultimate care they deserve. The hospital environment as a whole has changed over the years and is now a business and the patients are our customers. The advances and advantages of nursing informatics in my opinion will deliver safe and superior quality care for our customers in the health care industry. In 2008 a landmark report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, "Nursing Time and Motion Study" it was revealed through a 36 hospital study, how important the workflow optimization is in the nursing field. I found this to be a very eye opening report as it revealed that less than 20% of a nurses' time is spent on patient care activities and only 7 % of the nurse's time was spent on the patient assessment and observation (Stevens, 2010). I am of the believe that if we as nurses spend more time with our patients and less time on paperwork, the patient benefits greatly and we as nurses are more satisfied with our workplace environment and will increase and define our nursing skills. The conclusion of this study was that changes in technology, work...
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...known as Mazor Robotics, Ltd. (below “Business Enterprise”) as of September 30, 2014 for the purpose of learning and exploring the valuation of the subject as a part of the semester paper. This estimate of value analysis is based on the use of fair market value as the standard of value. For the point at the matter of this analysis, fair market value is defined as the expected price at which the business would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller1, based on its future evaluation income, neither being under a constraint to close the deal and both having full conversance of all the relevant facts. This is nearly similar to the market value basis definition as it is stated under the International Valuation Standards2. The report was conducted under the basis of value in on-going activity as a going concern business company. We have based our analysis on the business financial statements, which were available as a public data. We have employed one of methodologies for which to measure valuation. Some of the of limited size medical technology companies do not turn profitable immediately as they...
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...DESIGNING A STUDY TO GENERATE EVIDENCE FOR NURSING * The choice of research method is dictated by the problem statement and goal of the research. Because research goals and problem vary, research methods also vary. Research design can be thought of as the structure of research, the “glue” that holds together all of the elements in a research project. One of the biggest challenges of a nurse researcher is to decide which research design and method to use. * Research Design is the researchers overall plan of how the study will be conducted. The plans contains such details as the type of data to be collected, the techniques or the means to be used to obtain these data, the basis for the choice of the subjects, the manner of determining sample size, the instruments to be used and their validation, and the data analysis scheme which includes the application of the statistical tools for treatment of data. Criteria for choice of Research Design * Logically sound * Comprehensive enough to solve the problem * Reasonably clear & precise * Clearly spelled out * Free from weaknesses Elements to consider in the choice of Research Design * The total population from which to select the study samples * The method of selecting the samples or study respondents * The alternative versions of independent variable under study * The criterion measures evaluating the effects of the independent variables * The statistical treatment of data, using...
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...WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care: a Summary First Global Patient Safety Challenge Clean Care is Safer Care a WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care: a Summary © World Health Organization 2009 WHO/IER/PSP/2009.07 All rights reserved. Publications of the World Health Organization can be obtained from WHO Press, World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland (tel.: +41 22 791 3264; fax: +41 22 791 4857; e-mail: bookorders@who.int). Requests for permission to reproduce or translate WHO publications – whether for sale or for noncommercial distribution – should be addressed to WHO Press, at the above address (fax: +41 22 791 4806; e-mail: permissions@who.int). The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the World Health Organization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Dotted lines on maps represent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement. The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers’ products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the World Health Organization in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. Errors and omissions excepted, the names of proprietary products are distinguished by initial capital letters. All reasonable...
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...handover emerges as a risk; that information tools can have an impact but that any tools need to be designed carefully so as not to weaken complex functions of handover that could lead to poorer patient outcomes. Yonge (2008) conducted an exploratory ethnographic study of nursing shift handover in an adolescent residential psychiatric unit in Canada. Results found that verbal, informal shift reporting allows for an environment that was important for nursing care. The study argues that certain socio-cultural aspects of nursing handover and nursing care are important and involve a ‘ritual play’ around core values, roles and relationships that are important in supporting good practice. Ye et al (2007) conducted a prospective study involving observations and surveys at 3 large Australian metropolitan emergency departments to determine problems, deficiencies and risks from shift to shift handover. Results found in 15.4% of cases, not all required information was provided. Among these cases, 56.9% lead to adverse effects for emergency department doctors and 30.3% to adverse effects on patient care. No adverse medical events were reported. 3.6 IMPROVING THE HANDOVER PROCESS 3.6.1 Handover Quality Foster and Manser (2012) completed a systematic review of the available evidence to determine handover characteristics and subsequent impact on safety outcomes. Handover outcomes were defined as any events that occurred after completion of the handover or were related to patients who had been handed...
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...What is a brain aneurysm? A brain (cerebral) aneurysm is a bulging, weak area in the wall of an artery that supplies blood to the brain. In most cases, a brain aneurysm causes no symptoms and goes unnoticed. In rare cases, the brain aneurysm ruptures, releasing blood into the skull and causing a stroke. When a brain aneurysm ruptures, the result is called a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Depending on the severity of the hemorrhage, brain damage or death may result. The most common location for brain aneurysms is in the network of blood vessels at the base of the brain called the circle of Willis. What causes a brain aneurysm? A person may inherit the tendency to form aneurysms, or aneurysms may develop because of hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and aging. Some risk factors that can lead to brain aneurysms can be controlled, and others can't. The following risk factors may increase your risk of developing an aneurysm or, if you already have an aneurysm, may increase your risk of it rupturing:1 • Family history. People who have a family history of brain aneurysms are twice as likely to have an aneurysm as people who don't. • Previous aneurysm. About 20% of patients with brain aneurysms have more than one. • Gender. Women are twice as likely to develop a brain aneurysm or to suffer a subarachnoid hemorrhage as men. • Race. African Americans have twice as many subarachnoid hemorrhages as whites. • Hypertension. The risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage is greater...
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