Adventures in virtual meetingsOctober 11, 2006Tired of unproductive staff meetings held at inconvenient times? Had it up to here with being interrupted when trying to express your opinion? Maybe it’s time to explore…
An evidence-based approach to creating a new nursing dress codeJanuary 11, 2008How should nurses dress? Should you wear a white uniform? Is jewelry appropriate on the job? A survey reveals what patients really think.
Applying a systematic approach to new-product assessmentFebruary 11, 2010Take the spontaneity out of new-product purchases to control costs and keep patients safe.
Applying a systematic approach to new-product assessmentSeptember 11, 2008Take the spontaneity out of new-product purchases to control costs and keep patients safe.
Applying the Magnet™ model to improve medication safetyMarch 11, 2011A Baltimore hospital used the five Magnet components as a framework for transforming its bedside medication administration process. Involving directcare nurses in decision making was a key aspect…
Are 12-hour shifts safe?October 11, 2010Is working 12 consecutive hours in a fast-paced, high stress, physically and mentally demanding environment a good idea? Click here to read this exciting blog posting.
Are Accountable Care Organizations doomed to fail?February 11, 2013The value of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) is a hot topic in health care today. The authors of a Wall Street Journal editorial argue that ACOs are likely…
Battery recycling: Nursing’s roleDecember 11, 2007A battery recycling program can decrease the health and environmental risks of inappropriate battery disposal.
Beasts, gods and FaceTime: The anguish of visitor limitations during the COVID-19 pandemicDecember 8, 2020For the foreseeable future, efforts to minimize human contact will remain in place as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is an important step in…
Behavioral emergency response team improves safetyNovember 16, 2017A behavioral emergency response team helps de-escalate behavioral emergencies, thereby reducing assaults and use of restraints, according to a study in Worldviews on Evidence-based Nursing. (more…)
Beyond an interesting “read”May 11, 2008Nurse authors call on educators to incorporate IOM findings into education, practice.
Body cameras in health care: The debateDecember 11, 2017Is it appropriate for healthcare professionals to wear body cameras? Here are some pros and cons, according to those debating this issue: Pros Provide evidence in malpractice litigation…
Caring and advocating for school childrenSeptember 11, 2008When we think about RN staffing issues, most of us immediately think about these issues in the context of hospitals or long-term care facilities. There is another, less…
Central venous catheter dressings put to the testApril 11, 2008A nursing team’s research findings lead to hospital-wide savings.
Choosing wisely: Resources for selecting sharps safety devicesSeptember 11, 2012An essential part of a sharps safety program is selecting appropriate devices, such as safety needles. While no one device, feature, or mechanism of action addresses all clinical…
Continuous insulin infusion therapy: It’s not just for the ICU anymoreNovember 11, 2006Administering continuous insulin infusions on every hospital unit improves glycemic control and patient outcomes.
Dangers of the 12-hour shiftFebruary 11, 2013Rose Sherman has a thoughtful blog on nursing’s “third rail”—the 12-hour shift. In the blog, she notes that although nurses like 12-hour shifts, they create a patient safety…
Disposal dilemmas in home health careAugust 11, 2012Learn the proper way to dispose of sharps and waste pharmaceuticals used in the home.
Elevated upper body position after childbirth improve respiratory safetyApril 29, 2015An elevated upper body position might improve respiratory safety in women early after childbirth without impairing sleep quality, according to a study in CHEST. Read more and read…
Enabling the ordinary: More time to careNovember 11, 2013The value of technology in automating and improving patient care
Environment, health & safetyNovember 11, 2010In the market for new scrubs or uniforms? Before you buy, read this column to learn about the environmental implications of nursing attire.
Environment, health & safetyJuly 11, 2009Read about the new guide to choosing safer products and chemicals.
Environment, health, & safetyJanuary 11, 2010Is widespread triclosan use leading to microbial resistance? ANA urges nurses to take a cautionary approach toward using triclosan-containing products at home.
Environment, health, & safety – Nurses have the power to protectSeptember 11, 2011To reduce the impact of seasonal influenza, ANA urges all RNs to get vaccinated annually and to encourage patients to do the same
Environmental health and the pediatric patientJanuary 11, 2009Save the children. Every pediatric assessment should include a complete environmental health history.
Environmental wellnessSeptember 17, 2018YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO FAR to experience nature—it can be in your own backyard, a community park, or walking trail. You also can venture miles from home for…
Essential elements of a comprehensive sharps injury-prevention programSeptember 11, 2012The steps outlined below can help facilities significantly reduce sharps injuries.
Evidence-based strategies to prevent enteral nutrition complicationsJune 2, 2021Enteral nutrition (EN), commonly called tube feeding, is defined by the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) as a system of providing nutrition directly into the…
Evidence: The first word in safe I.V. practiceMay 11, 2007Learn how these nurses changed the procedures for dressing I.V. sites and stabilizing peripheral I.V. lines based on their research.
Examining nurse comfort eatingFebruary 11, 2010Many years ago I found myself standing in the frozen food section flirting with the prospect of buying a mouth-watering strawberry cheesecake. I rationalized buying it by convincing…
Exposed to patient’s body fluids? Now what?December 11, 2013Learn how to protect yourself by taking the right steps if you are exposed to a patient’s body fluids.
FDA encourages prescribers to seek education on prescribing opioid pain medsMarch 11, 2013On March 1, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it is joining health professional organizations in encouraging prescribers to seek education to safely prescribe…
FDA issues safety communication for HeartStart AEDsDecember 11, 2013On Nov. 25, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety communication stating that certain HeartStart automated external defibrillator (AED) devices made by Philips Medical Systems,…
FDA posting postmarketing drug safety evaluationsJuly 11, 2010You can access U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) postings on postmarketing drug safety evaluations online. For more information, click here.
FDA proposes new policy for some devicesJune 11, 2011The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed a new policy that reduces premarket notification requirements related to devices that have had their safety and efficacy well…
Football Players and Concussions – Do They Realize the Risk?January 8, 2021Athletes underestimate risk of injury, concussions A recent survey-style study of 296 male college-aged football players revealed that some 43 percent of these athletes underestimate their risk of…
Free radicals: What are they and why should nurses care about them?April 11, 2011Understanding free radicals at the cellular level can help focus our care practices.
From our readers…Three elephants for safetyDecember 11, 2010A familiar safety protocol in hospitals is the time-out. Mandated for many invasive procedures, this “work stop” ensures the right site, right procedure, and right patient are verified…
From Your ANA PresidentSeptember 11, 2012HAVING WORKED in an emergency department for more than 20 years, I know what it’s like to have to think fast and move fast to save a life.…
Glutaraldehyde and ethylene oxide: Health and safety precautionsDecember 11, 2008Learns about the hazards of glutaraldehyde and ethylene oxide.
Health, safety, & wellnessJanuary 11, 2014A sneak peek at the new Implementation Guide to the Safe Patient Handling and Mobility Interprofessional National Standards
Healthcare immunization: Protecting coworkers and the communityOctober 5, 2014Health care professionals are at high risk for exposure to vaccine-preventable diseases and infections. Safeguard yourself, your patients, and your family members. Make sure you and your patients…
Healthcare’s role in reducing gun violenceFebruary 20, 2024The 1980s and 1990s were full of neon bracelets, side ponytails, and kids playing in the streets until dark. Parents held babies on their laps in moving cars.…
High-alert drugs: Strategies for safe I.V. infusionsNovember 11, 2006About 80% of all deaths from medication errors are caused by some 20 drugs. This article gives you evidence-based strategies for preventing errors with these deadly drugs.
How a “just culture” can improve safety in health careJune 11, 2011In April, reports surfaced of air traffic controllers asleep on the job. Frightening audio clips of airline pilots hearing nothing but silence from the control tower went viral,…
How Magnet® designation affects nurse retention: An evidence-based research projectMarch 11, 2014A positive work environment and nurse satisfaction can improve nurse retention.
Infections associated with reprocessed duodenoscopesApril 2, 2015The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken several steps in response to infections associated with reprocessed duodenoscopes, including issuing a safety communication that warned it is…
Investigating nurses’ dressing change techniquesApril 11, 2007Original nursing research explores nurses’ rationales for using sterile technique instead of clean technique in particular circumstances – and reveals wide practice discrepencies.
ISMP issues guidelines for standard order setsJune 11, 2010Access guidelines, developed by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, for standard order sets here.
ISMP releases IV push meds guidelinesAugust 20, 2015The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) has released new safe practice guidelines for adult IV push medications. Read more.
Joining the fight for safe staffing: Q&A with Congresswoman Ginny Brown-WaiteMay 11, 2008Interview by Michelle M. Artz, MA Last November, Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL) joined with Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA) to introduce H.R. 4138, the RN Safe Staffing Act. H.R.…
Leaders’ role in stopping workplace violenceSeptember 6, 2020Develop a sustainable plan that includes support and follow-up. Takeaways: The key to a successful workplace violence prevention program begins at the top with strong policies endorsed by…
Leapfrog Group says hospital safety improvements too slowOctober 11, 2013The Fall 2013 update to The Leapfrog Group Hospital Safety Score shows many hospitals are making headway in addressing errors, accidents, injuries, and infections that kill or hurt…
List of Supporting Organizations for Moving the Sharps Safety Agenda Forward in the United States: Consensus Statement and Call to ActionSeptember 11, 2012Background: The International Healthcare Worker Safety Center (IHWSC) at the University of Virginia drafted and began circulating the consensus statement on sharps safety in the summer of 2011.…
Managing mental health emergencies in the EDNovember 22, 2017The most important consideration when caring for this special population is ensuring, first and foremost, staff and patient safety. Both psychiatric patients and the staff caring for them…
Moving the Sharps Safety Agenda Forward: Consensus Statement and Call to ActionSeptember 11, 2012Note: This Consensus Statement and Call to Action was drafted by members of the steering committee* for the conference “Tenth Anniversary of the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act:…
Moving toward a restraint-free environmentAugust 11, 2010Sherry, age 17, is admitted to a behavioral health residential facility by her adoptive parents. She has mild mental retardation and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Recently, she reported…
New FDA regulation for improving safety reporting in clinical trials discussed in The New England Journal of Medicine.June 11, 2011The June 8 edition of The New England Journal of Medicine includes “New FDA Regulation to Improve Safety Reporting in Clinical Trials.” Read here.
New guidelines on healthcare personnel attireJanuary 11, 2014The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America has issued guidance for “Healthcare Personnel Attire in Non-Operating-Room Settings,” published in the Journal of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology. The…
Night shift workers may be more at risk for car crashesDecember 29, 2015A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has found an increased risk of drowsy driving related motor vehicle crashes, as well as an increase…
No drugs down the drainFebruary 11, 2013You can use the questions and answers below when teaching patients about proper medication disposal. Question: Why should I clean out my medicine cabinet? Answer: It’s good to…
Nurse Advocacy for chemicals policy reform gains exposureJune 11, 2008Through resolutions, partnerships, and conferences, ANA’s advocacy for chemicals policy reform is gaining wider exposure.
Nurse fatigue: Short on sleep, short on safetyJanuary 3, 2020Shift work, organizational barriers, and nurse preferences continue to challenge nurse wellness. Takeaways: Shift work—including long shifts, rotating shifts, double shifts, evening and night shifts—has the potential to…
On the CUSP: How to implement a comprehensive unit-based safety programMarch 11, 2014This five-step program empowers staff to change unit culture and improve patient safety.
OSHA launches new safety websiteJanuary 11, 2014The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has launched its Worker Safety in Hospitals website, which include many resources to help hospitals to prevent worker injuries. Access the…
OSHA takes new steps to protect nursesJuly 2, 2015The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has released inspection guidance that targets musculoskeletal disorders related to patient or resident handling; workplace violence; bloodborne pathogens; tuberculosis; and slips,…
Our “knowing-doing” gapMarch 11, 2010Something as simple and low – tech as the checklist can help healthcare providers close the knowing – doing gap.
Patient handling: Fact vs. FictionJuly 11, 2010Although the hazards of manual patient lifting and transferring are well known, misinformation persists.
Patient-centered innovationJune 9, 2023Improving safety, access, and outcomes The American Nurses Association (ANA) and the American Nurses Foundation revealed the 2023 ANA Innovation Awards winners, sponsored by Stryker, a leading global…
Practical strategies to prevent surgical sharps injuriesSeptember 11, 2012Many facilities still don’t follow sharps safety best practices and continue to underreport needlestick injuries.
Preventing feeding tube misconnectionsJuly 11, 2013The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a website dedicated to the issue of tubing and Luer misconnections. The website includes a special section on prevention. Read…
Principles to live and work by: ANA Crafts document to guide RNs in environmental health practiceJune 11, 2007ANA issues principles delineating RN’s rights and responsibilities toward improving environmental health.
Professional dress: Keep it simple and functionalJanuary 11, 2008At the first mention of writing or revising a dress code, my blood pressure rises. My view is that nurses should be responsible for making appropriate judgments about…
Protect yourself and your patients with vaccinationSeptember 11, 2010Why is immunization so crucial for nurses? Which vaccinations should all nurses get? Find out with this educational handout focusing on national efforts to reduce vaccine-preventable disease through…
Putting ANA’s Safe Patient Handling and Mobility Standards into practice: The Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center’s journeyAugust 14, 2014The Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center (CNVAMC) Safe Patient Handling and Mobility Program (SPHM) began in 2008 as a Veterans Health Administration initiative to provide a safer environment…
PyelonephritisOctober 13, 2021Early identification results in a positive outcome. Candance Walker* is a 28-year-old woman who arrives in a wheelchair in the emergency department accompanied by her husband. She’s crying…
Rebuilding teamwork after a turbulent timeNovember 2, 2022Focus on safety and trust. Takeaways: Research indicates that many nurses who joined teams during the pandemic feel less connected to other team members. With intentional work that…
Reducing sharps injuries in non-hospital settingsSeptember 11, 2012No matter how small the facility or agency, all employers are required to take measures that reduce employees’ exposure risks.
Safe patient handling equipment and workplace cultureAugust 21, 2018Just this past week, I encountered two situations that I found to be interesting. The first has to do with recommendations suggested by a committee member in an…
Safe sharps disposal in the homeJune 11, 2013Nurses can easily dispose of sharps in the hospital, but it’s not so easy for patients at home. Learn how you can educate patients to keep them safe…
Safe staffing saves livesJune 11, 2008ANA’s “Safe Staffing Saves Lives” campaign fights for safe nurse staffing legislation.
Safe staffing saves lives – ANA advances RN Staffing billAugust 11, 2008Recent studies have demonstrated what most healthcare consumers already know: nursing care and quality patient care are inextricably linked. Reduced nursing budgets combined with a growing nursing shortage…
Safe Staffing: Evidence demonstrated dailyMarch 24, 2009The chief programs officer explains ANA’s position on safe staffing.
Save a life-wash your handsJanuary 11, 2007Did you grow up with your mother insisting you wash your hands? She was right! As nurses, we all know that the simple act of washing our hands…
Say it isn’t so: Eradicating the fear of retaliationJuly 11, 2013Many patients are too intimidated to ask a healthcare provider about their care, fearing retaliation if they’re seen as confrontational or complaining.
Seizing the momentFebruary 17, 2017Horace Gunner,* a 65-year-old man with hypertension and type 2 diabetes, is admitted to the hospital after a fall at home. His computed tomography (CT) scan shows a…
Slips, trips, and falls of healthcare workersMarch 24, 2009Preventing the slips, trips, and falls of healthcare workers.
Speak to be heard: Effective nurse advocacyOctober 11, 2012Learn how to be a more effective advocate.
Special Supplement to American Nurse Today – Best Practices for Falls Reduction: A Practical GuideOctober 11, 2012Learn the facts about patient falls and find out how to overcome obstacles to creating safer care environments.
Springing into action: How one procedural area kept working during COVID-19December 7, 2020As COVID-19 hit Georgia in early March 2020, Emory University System made the difficult decision to stop all surgeries and procedures unless they were deemed life-threatening or emergent.…
Stay informed to stay safeMarch 11, 2010To be there for your patients, you need to take care of yourself.
Study: Surgical checklist reduces 30-day morbidityNovember 11, 2012Using a surgical safety checklist, including providing comprehensive training on it, significantly decreases 30-day morbidity, according to a study in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.…
Take Note – Sept/Oct 2009September 11, 2009Patients lose when nurse staffing is insufficient Heavy workloads and insufficient staffing affect patient care, according to about 2,000 nurses surveyed worldwide by the International Council of Nurses…
Teaching patients about FDA recommendations for proper medication disposalFebruary 11, 2013Accidental exposure to medication in the home is a major cause of unintentional poisoning in children. Recent data show even child-resistant containers can’t completely prevent a child from…
Teaming up to improve the quality of surgical careMay 11, 2008Using Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) to produce better patient outcomes
The drive to improve syringe safety and labelingJune 11, 2008ANA’s “Safe Needles Save Lives” campaign strives to improve syringe safety and labeling.
The personal risks of advocating for patientsAugust 11, 2008Most people take pledges at some point in their lives: They promise to live by the Girl Scout law or swear to tell the whole truth and nothing…
The power of perspectiveMarch 9, 2021Christine Pacini wants nurses’ expertise to drive change. Takeaways: When frontline nurses feel empowered to lead, patient outcomes improve, work flow is safer and more efficient, and nurses…
To reduce sharps injuries, all of us must create a culture of safety in our workplacesSeptember 11, 2012In the 12 years since passage of the federal Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act (NSPA), much progress has been made to reduce the risk of healthcare worker exposure…
Too tired to be safe? ANA position statements call for RNs and employers to prevent working fatiguedApril 11, 2007Two recent ANA position statements discuss the dangers of worker fatigue and recommend solutions.
Transforming culture through resiliency and teamworkFebruary 26, 2019Support positive relationships and value each team member. Takeaways: A resilient workforce is the foundation for positive change within an organization. When healthcare organizations make resilience intentional, they…
Understanding FDA’s Risk Evaluation and Mitigation StrategyAugust 11, 2011FDA’s REMS program is one more way the agency is trying to reduce drug risks.
Understanding the dangers of waste anesthetic gasesApril 11, 2008Exposure to volatile anesthetic gases poses a hazard to anyone who works in an operating or recovery room.
Understanding the new standards for patient restraint and seclusionJune 11, 2007The federal government recently made important changes to the rules and regulations on patient restraint and seclusion. Here’s what you need to know.
Ventilator-associated events: A new outcome measureAugust 14, 2014Learning objectives 1. Differentiate the three tiers used to identify ventilator-associated events (VAEs). 2. Identify key elements of VAE surveillance. 3. Discuss the practice implications of VAEs. Purpose/goal:…
Victory on BPA ban in baby bottles, dishwareApril 11, 2010On March 3 the Washington State House overwhelmingly passed the “Safe Baby Bottle Act” (SSB 6248), a bill to eliminate the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) from baby bottles,…
Viewpoint: Putting money at the bedsideSeptember 30, 2015Teamwork has proven to be effective in creating strategies to improve patient outcomes. The Joint Commission, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS), clinical professionals, healthcare providers, hospital associations,…
When patient privacy endangers staffJanuary 11, 2007Examine the ethical and legal issues of patient privacy.
Why my nursing practice is driven by Memorial DayMay 22, 2018Memorial Day is one of those holidays that seem to welcome warm weather, barbecues, and time with family. For me and many others, Memorial Day also brings up…
Why should we care? Metrics that matterJanuary 13, 2016In my December editorial, I discussed dress codes for nurses and why they matter. In response, several readers asked me if I’d consider writing a series of editorials…
Your choice but staff’s voiceOctober 23, 2018It’s common for those who see demonstrations of mechanical patient-lift equipment to praise them as excellent tools.But when it comes to using this equipment in clinical practice, do…
Beasts, gods and FaceTime: The anguish of visitor limitations during the COVID-19 pandemicBy: By Carolina Starr-Manning, MSN, RN, OCN
Continuous insulin infusion therapy: It’s not just for the ICU anymoreBy: Michelle M. Jonas, RN, MA, CCRN-CSC
Environmental wellnessBy: Megan Amaya, PhD, CHES; Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk, PhD, RN, APRN-CNP, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN; Susan Neale, MFA
Evidence-based strategies to prevent enteral nutrition complicationsBy: By Peggi Guenter, PhD, RN, FAAN, FASPEN, and Beth Lyman, MSN, RN, CNSC, FASPEN, FAAN
Leaders’ role in stopping workplace violenceBy: John M. Demming, MPM, CPP, CHPA, and Lynn O’Neill, BSN, RN, MBA, NEA-BC, FACHE
List of Supporting Organizations for Moving the Sharps Safety Agenda Forward in the United States: Consensus Statement and Call to ActionBy:
New FDA regulation for improving safety reporting in clinical trials discussed in The New England Journal of Medicine.By:
Nurse fatigue: Short on sleep, short on safetyBy: Stephanie R. Brown, DNP, MS, MEd, RN, CPN; Donna Purviance, DNP, RN, FNP-BC; and Erik P. Southard, DNP, RN, FNP-BC
Putting ANA’s Safe Patient Handling and Mobility Standards into practice: The Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center’s journeyBy:
PyelonephritisBy: Alnita Jackson, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, CNE; Angela Stewart, DNP, APRN, FNP-C; and Monique Wallace, MSN, RN, CEN, CPEN
Rebuilding teamwork after a turbulent timeBy: Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, and Tanya M. Cohn, Ph.D., MEd, RN
Special Supplement to American Nurse Today – Best Practices for Falls Reduction: A Practical GuideBy:
Springing into action: How one procedural area kept working during COVID-19By: Kathleen Diatta, PhD, RN, NE-BC
Too tired to be safe? ANA position statements call for RNs and employers to prevent working fatiguedBy:
Transforming culture through resiliency and teamworkBy: Tammi P. Hicks, DNP, RN, CEN, NE-BC; Melissa Sullivan, MHA, BSN, RN, CPPS; J. Bryan Sexton, PhD; Kathryn C. Adair, PhD
