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Faced with the alarming worldwide spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), which has affected more than 1,500 people in 13 countries, public health authorities alerted hospitals to safeguard health care workers, visitors, and other contacts. As of March 15, more than 90% of the cases had occurred in health care workers caring for SARS patients.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta issued the following guidance for infection control measures when caring for a patient with a suspected case of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
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When Joe Jolliff, administrator of the Wyandot County Nursing Home in Upper Sandusky, OH, first brought in a sit-to-stand lift, nursing assistants didnt even want to try it. Today, nursing assistants tell Jolliff they cant imagine going back to life without it.
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Despite reports about a possible link between heart problems and the smallpox vaccine, most vaccination sites have reported little more than discomfort among the vaccinees. At one Omaha, NE, hospital, prescreening and preparation led to a smooth, problem-free experience.
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For a few days last fall, a hospitalist in Duluth, MN, came to work with a lingering cough that he thought was a stubborn case of bronchitis. In fact, he had an active case of tuberculosis and had inadvertently exposed patients and co-workers.
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Targeted enforcement of the most hazardous workplaces, including nursing homes, would increase in the proposed FY 2004 budget for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA also announced an enhanced enforcement policy for employers who expose their workers to serious safety and health hazards and who continue to defy worker safety and health regulations.
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Screening adds safety to smallpox vaccination. Despite widespread fears about the smallpox vaccine, there were few serious adverse reactions and no known spread to contacts in the first month of the vaccination program.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that these adverse events after smallpox vaccination be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting Systems and to state health departments.
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Hospitals that give more autonomy to nurses and have less hierarchy qualities that gained them designation by the Magnet Recognition Program of the American Nurses Credentialing Center in Washington, DC have lower levels of emotional exhaustion and burnout, lower rates of needlestick injuries, higher job satisfaction, and better retention and recruitment of nurses, according to several recent studies.
