Study Finds Lower Nurse-to-Patient Ratios Save Lives, Help Nurses
May 6th, 2010By Glenna Murdock, RN, contributor
“Are lower nurse-to-patient ratios a life saver or a money waster? That debate has been going on for years. Now, a new study of surgical patients in New Jersey and Pennsylvania has found that as many as 14 percent fewer patients would have died if hospitals in those states had required the same number of nurses as in California’s law. “ Click here to read more.
Joint Policy Statement—Guidelines for Care of Children in the Emergency Department
April 15th, 2010Children who require emergency care have unique needs, especially when emergencies are serious or life-threatening. The majority of ill and injured children are brought to community hospital emergency departments(EDs) by virtue of their geography within communities. Click here to read more.
“Natalie Nicholson Balances Nursing, Family and Olympic Competition”
April 1st, 2010By Glenna Murdock, RN, contributor
“Natalie Nicholson, MSN, FNP, RN, admits that she loves a challenge. Whether she is confronted by a challenge in her job as a nurse practitioner in a fast track emergency room or while balancing her roles as wife, mother, nurse and elite athlete, she meets it head on.” Click here to read more.
10 Best Practices for Patient Safety
March 25th, 2010By Susan Kreimer, MS, contributor
“Just before the new millennium, health care began building a foundation to advance patient safety. The catalyst: a 1999 landmark Institute of Medicine report that highlighted safety problems and paved the way for reducing medical errors. Since then, many evidence-based practices have evolved to offer effective solutions to common adverse events. ” Click here to read more.
Head Injury Discharge Advice
March 11th, 2010“We all know it so well, the weekend incoming wounded surge of donks, bonks, and plonks to the head following accidents, assaults and sporting injuries. Typically a mild head injury consists of some sort of direct blow to the head or an acceleration / deceleration injury.
There is often a transient loss of consciousness and some amnesia surrounding the incident.” Click here to read more.
The Effects of Health Care Reform, or No Reform, on America’s Nurses
March 4th, 2010By Jennifer Larson, contributor
Along with insurance issues and patient protections, the documents spelling out the plans for health care reform contain several provisions to increase the supply of nurses and support nursing education and training. What will happen to these provisions–and the future nursing workforce–if reform isn’t passed in the near future? Click here to read more.
“Real Stories From the ER”
February 25th, 2010Fact and fiction in the hospital’s emergency room
By Rich Maloof, for MSN Health & Fitness
America loves a good emergency-room drama on television. Just give us a few good-looking doctors and some romantic tension, plus a patient with a gardening tool stuck in his abdomen, and we are glued to the tube. Click here to read more.
“How Nurses Can Change Health Care”
February 10th, 2010By Susan Kreimer, MS, contributor
Studies have shown that nurses are highly-trusted by the general public and have a substantial impact on patient outcomes and satisfaction ratings. Health leaders believe they should also have more influence on making wide-scale changes to health systems and services, a new Gallup survey reveals. Click here to read more.



