Recently in Health Care Workers Category

Source: Jeanne Geiger-Brown, Alison M. Trinkoff, Journal of Nursing Administration, Vol. 40 no. 3, March 2010
(subscription required)

From the abstract:
Shift durations of 12 hours or more are now ubiquitous in hospitals, with currently working staff nurses reporting satisfaction with this shift length, although others who prefer shorter work hours have generally left hospital nursing. Nurse administrators are beginning to question the wisdom of having nurses work extended hours. In part 1 of this 2-part series, the authors provide an update on recent findings that challenge the current scheduling paradigm that supports unsafe long work hours. Part 2 discusses obstacles that nurse administrators face when they "buck the 12-hour trend" and offers guidance for introducing work schedule changes

Source: John Commins, HealthLeaders Media, March 9, 2010

A new study (subscription required) found that patients admitted to full or near-full hospitals increased their risk of dying by 5.6%.

University of Michigan Health System researchers evaluated four factors that can affect hospital deaths: occupancy, nurse staffing levels, weekend admissions, and seasonal flu.

Source: Denise A. Tyler, Hye-Young Jung, Zhanlian Feng, Vincent Mor, The Gerontologist, published online: February 25, 2010
(subscription required)

From the abstract:
This report shows that the prevalence of CNA training programs within the nursing home setting dropped from 1997 to 2007. Consequently, aspiring CNAs are increasingly forced to seek outside training. The report describes two main problems with this scenario. First, it creates a disincentive to join the direct-care field, since CNAs must pay a larger share of their own training costs. Second, outside training programs are harder to monitor than training provided within nursing homes.

Source: Gifty Kwakye, Peter J. Pronovost, Martin A. Makary, Academic Medicine, Volume 85 Issue 3, March 2010

From the abstract:
Health care is one of the largest contributors to waste production in the United States. Given increased awareness of the environmental and financial costs associated with waste disposal and its public health impact, many hospitals are adopting environmentally friendly practices that reduce waste production and offer equally effective, yet less expensive alternatives. Reprocessing of medical equipment is one such practice that has gained popularity in recent years and has led to major cost savings across several medical disciplines. In this commentary, we seek to take a closer look at the practice of reprocessing, explore the evidence surrounding its safety, and suggest implications of reprocessing for medical centers.

Source: Susan Kreimer, AMN Healthcare, March 3, 2010

Verbal and physical abuse continues to escalate in the whirlwind of healthcare change, compelling some nurses to question their calling.

A new survey found that the abuse nurses confront on the job often goes unreported.

Source: National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems, Policy Brief, February 2010

Since the beginning of the economic recession, safety net health systems have treated more patients overall, including 23 percent more uninsured patients. These health systems have also
provided 10 percent more uncompensated care to low-income populations.This research brief explores how safety net organizations remain critical to the nation's health care system.

Source: Victoria Stagg Elliott, American Medical Association, February 22, 2010

Experts say nurses are leading a trend toward more organized labor in the medical setting -- mostly in hospitals

The number of medical personnel covered by some form of collective bargaining agreement or registered as union members is edging up, according to numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

This is partly because the health care sector now employs many more people than do traditionally unionized industries such as manufacturing. But the trend also marks a backlash against some of the belt-tightening by hospitals in response to the recent economic downturn, experts said. Uncertainty around health system reform is also playing a role.

Source: Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute, February 18, 2010

FACTS 1 (Occupational Projections for Direct-Care Workers 2008-2018) - presents the latest occupational employment projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for the three official job titles that make up the direct-care workforce: nursing assistants, home health aides, and personal and home care aides. These projections continue to suggest that, over the next decade, the nation's direct-care workforce will constitute the largest, fastest-growing group of jobs in the country.

FACTS 3 (Who Are Direct-Care Workers?) provides a detailed overview of the current demographic and economic characteristics of the direct-care workforce. PHI experts compiled FACTS 3 from several sources, but the fact sheet particularly highlights data on direct-care workers available in the March 2009 Supplement of the Current Population Survey.

New in this year's update are state-by-state employment figures for direct-care workers, and also a one-page insert called "The Direct-Care Worker at a Glance, 2008".
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Chart Gallery

Source: Andrew Steptoe, European Heart Journal, Vol. 30 no. 21, November 2009
(subscription required)

From the http://eurheartj.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/extract/30/21/2560:
The cardiovascular risks associated with night shift work in medical staff have been suspected for several years. Kawachi et al. analysed coronary heart disease (CHD) incidence in 79 109 women from the Nurses Health Study, and observed raised rates among night shift workers, particularly those who had worked for ≥6 years on rotating shifts (51% increased risk). Effects remained significant after controlling for smoking, history of hypertension, body mass, and other factors. Prospective studies have also demonstrated an increased incidence of the metabolic syndrome in shift workers.
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Source: Inga M. Zadvinskis, Susan L. Salsbury, Western Journal of Nursing Research, Vol. 32 No. 1, published on February 1, 2010
(subscription required)

From the abstract:
Nursing staff are at risk for musculoskeletal injuries because of the physical nature of patient handling. The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of a multifaceted minimal-lift environment on reported equipment use, musculoskeletal injury rates, and workers' compensation costs for patient-handling injuries. The pilot study consists of a mixed measures design, with both descriptive and quasi-experimental design elements. The intervention consists of engineering (minimal-lift equipment), administrative (nursing policy), and behavioral (peer coach program) controls. The comparison nursing unit has received engineering controls only. The convenience sample includes nursing staff employed on two medical-surgical nursing units, who provide direct patient care at least 50% of the time. Nursing staff employed in a multifaceted lift environment report greater lift equipment use and experience less injury, with reduced worker's compensation costs.