Recently added articles from AORN Journal:
Mutual accountability for the common goal of patient safety.(PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE)(Column)
Jul 01, 2008; ... In the United States, Independence Day is the highlight of July. For children, it is the promise of picnics, parties, cookouts, and fireworks. For adults, it is also a day on which we celebrate the freedom we all enjoy as a result of the monumental sacrifices of courageous men and women. ...
New opportunities.(EDITORIAL)
Jul 01, 2008; ... I am honored to be the new Editor-in-Chief of the AORN Journal, and it has been so much easier to step into this role with the assistance of former Editor-in-Chief Nancy Girard, PhD, RN, FAAN, who has been a mentor, a colleague, and a friend. During the past six years, Dr Girard and the ...
Hospital stay may affect mortality rates after discharge.
Jul 01, 2008 ... The length of hospital stay after a diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) affects mortality rates, according to an April 14, 2008, study in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Researchers found that a hospital stay of four days or fewer increased mortality rates among patients with PE ...
Nasal surgery improves steep apnea symptoms.
Jul 01, 2008 ... Septomeatoptasty can improve quality of life in patients who suffer from obstructive steep apnea and nasal obstruction, according to a study in the April 2008 Archives of Otoloryngology--Head & Neck Surgery. Correcting an obstructed nasal airway appears to significantly improve ...
Using bar-code technology to assist with counting.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)(Clinical report)
Jul 01, 2008; ... After reading the answer to the question on counting sterile towels in the April 2008 Clinical Issues column, (1) I was disappointed that no information was included on the use of bar-code technology for counting gauze, laparotomy sponges, and towels. Your answer highlights only ...
Cancer treatment efficacy may depend on surgeon experience.(Report)(Brief article)
Jul 01, 2008 ... Minimally invasive radial prostatectomy (MIRP) may be less effective for treating prostate cancer than open radical prostatectomy, according to a May 10, 2008, news release from Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. A study of more than 2,700 men who underwent surgery for ...
Exercise lowers heart disease risk in overweight women.
Jul 01, 2008 ... While a high body mass index (BMI) increases the risk of heart disease, exercise may reduce that risk in overweight and obese women, according to the April 28, 2008, issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. Physical activity improves blood vessel function and reduces the risk for blood ...
Using principles of health literacy to enhance the informed consent process.(Report)
Jul 01, 2008; ... Health care today exposes consumers to a significant amount of critical information, ranging from prescription bottle labels to insurance forms and from dietary guides to procedural consents. The complexity of the information prevents a significant number of patients from fully ...
Perioperative nursing care of the bariatric surgical patient.(6.0 ce)
Jul 01, 2008; ... Approximately 60% of the US population is overweight and 30.5% of the population is obese. (1,2) Obesity ranks second to cigarette smoking as a preventable cause of death in the United States. (3) Approximately 300,000 adult deaths each year are attributable to unhealthy diets, physical ...
A perioperative team approach to treating patients undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery.(Report)
Jul 01, 2008; ... Obesity is a disease that is recognized as a major public health problem in the United States. (1) According to a 2006 article in JAMA, "In 2003-2004, 17.1% of US children and adolescents were overweight and 32.2% of adults were obese." (2(p1549)) Increased body weight is associated with ...
Humor in the OR: a stitch in time?(Report)
Jul 01, 2008; ... The use of humor by health care professionals including perioperative nurses is widespread. Humor serves multiple purposes and provides numerous benefits. This article explores the use of humor in the perioperative setting. WHAT IS HUMOR? The definition of humor has ...
Studies show stenting as effective as surgeries.
Jul 01, 2008 ... Stenting may be as effective as two types of surgery for heart disease, according to studies published in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) on April 10, and April 24, 2008. Research showed that stenting has similar long-term outcomes both to endarterectomy and coronary-artery ...
The increased incidence of anesthetic adverse events in late afternoon surgeries.
Jul 01, 2008; ... Health care in the United States is provided all day, every day of the week. The provision of health care never stops, and anesthesia care is no exception. Surgery is performed at all hours of the day and night in a variety of settings from rural hospitals to major trauma centers. Any ...
Fatigue and charting errors: the benefit of reduced call schedule.
Jul 01, 2008; ... The OR is a high-pressure, dynamic environment in which a variety of practitioners work together to ensure a successful outcome for every patient. This complex system relies on the competent performance of all surgical team members. Providing care for patients requiring urgent or emergent ...
US hip and knee replacements increasing rapidly.(united states)(Brief article)
Jul 01, 2008 ... The number of primary hip and knee replacement procedures has increased substantially in the United States since 1997, according to an April 14, 2008, news release from Arthritis Care & Research. The health care community needs to prepare for increasing surgical demands and the economic ...
Leaving the nest and joining the flock: OR residency programs and learn mentoring.
Jul 01, 2008; ... Entering a specialty area in the field of nursing can be an intimidating process for new nurses. The journey may seem impossible in the beginning, and the journey to expertise is even longer. With each new bend in the road, choices and circumstances mold individuals on their personal paths ...
Mopping between procedures.(CLINICAL ISSUES)
Jul 01, 2008; ... QUESTION: We are updating our policy for room decontamination, and the 2008 edition of AORN's Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices no longer states that the OR bed should be moved during between-procedure mopping. Should the bed only be moved during terminal cleaning? Should ...
Individual radiation dosimeters.(CLINICAL ISSUES)
Jul 01, 2008; ... QUESTION: Recently, I moved from a large, trauma teaching facility to a smatter, rural facility. My previous facility used intraoperative fluoroscopy daily. All surgical team members wore dosimeters at their neckline, and protective shielding devices were examined every six months. At the ...
Protective radiation-shielding devices.(CLINICAL ISSUES)
Jul 01, 2008; ... QUESTION: Staff members at the health care facility where I work do not know when the protective radiation-shielding devices were last examined. Who is responsible for monitoring the examination of shielding devices? Do protective radiation-shielding devices need to be examined annually? ...
Evidence-based practice for hospital-acquired conditions.(CLINICAL ISSUES)
Jul 01, 2008; ... QUESTION: I have been asked to take the lead in forming an evidence-based practice task force to deal with the hospital-acquired conditions for which the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will no longer provide payment to health care institutions. Could you suggest a method to ...