Hospital Employee Health – March 1, 2013
March 1, 2013
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EHPs share a common symptom this flu season: ‘Headache’
This years influenza season spread fever and chills across the country, but for hospital employee health professionals, it was just one big headache. A new requirement to report influenza vaccination rates proved time-consuming and challenging for many EHPs. -
New norovirus strain a threat in hospitals
A novel strain of norovirus is posing new challenges for hospitals and underscores the importance of vigilant hand hygiene and environmental cleaning. -
VHA tackles risks of HC violence
There is predictability in unpredictable violence. Clear warning signs emerge as a patient progresses from unhappy to agitated to aggressive, and health care workers can learn to defuse the situation before an incident turns violent. -
Many states banning mandatory RN overtime
As concern grows about fatigue and its impact on patient safety, 17 states have enacted laws or regulations to restrict mandatory overtime. But that alone may not reduce nurses work hours or even end the use of mandatory overtime. -
See one, do one — and save your back
The most dangerous patient handling task is also the most frequent and the most mundane. Nurses and nursing aides reposition patients throughout their shift, and that repositioning often leads to back and shoulder injuries. By focusing on strategies to reduce the risk, Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis demonstrated that those injuries can be reduced dramatically. -
Nurses suffer high rate of depression
Nurses suffer from depression at twice the rate as the general population, a problem that contributes to nurse burnout, low productivity and staff turnover, nursing researchers say.