Night Shift Work and Its Health Effects on Nurses.

The purpose of this research was to study night shift work and its health effects on nurses. This was a quantitative study using descriptive design; it also incorporated three qualitative open-ended questions to complement the study. The data were collected using Survey Monkey, with an Internet based confidential data collection tool. The population of relevance to this study was nurses employed in hospital settings in the United States. E-mail addresses and Facebook were used to recruit participants. Results indicated that there is an increased risk of sleep deprivation, family stressors, and mood changes because of working the night shift. Rotating shifts were mentioned as a major concern for night shift nurses. Respondents agreed that complaints about fatigue and fatigue related illnesses in night shift workers were ignored. There was also a general perception among nurses working the night shift that sleep deprivation leads to negative health consequences including obesity; however, they were not as high a concern as rotating shifts or fatigue.

Night Shift Work and Its Health Effects on Nurses.

The purpose of this research was to study night shift work and its health effects on nurses. This was a quantitative study using descriptive design; it also incorporated three qualitative open-ended questions to complement the study. The data were collected using Survey Monkey, with an Internet-based confidential data collection tool. The population of relevance to this study was nurses employed in hospital settings in the United States. E-mail addresses and Facebook were used to recruit participants. Results indicated that there is an increased risk of sleep deprivation, family stressors, and mood changes because of working the night shift. Rotating shifts were mentioned as a major concern for night shift nurses. Respondents agreed that complaints about fatigue and fatigue-related illnesses in night shift workers were ignored. There was also a general perception among nurses working the night shift that sleep deprivation leads to negative health consequences including obesity; however, they were not as high a concern as rotating shifts or fatigue.

Patient education cards for skin cancer detection and treatment.

Over 1.3 million cases of skin cancer occur annually in the USA, but no uniform or evidence-based screening guidelines exist. During a 1-year intervention, a patient education tool was distributed to patients. Billing records were utilized to compare detection and treatment rates for cancerous and precancerous skin lesions during the intervention to a historical control. No significant change in detection rates was demonstrated (RR = 1.0, p = 0.88). However, the number of procedures performed for malignant and pre-malignant skin lesions increased significantly (RR = 2.4, p < 0.0001). The patient education tool created clinically significant behavioral change at a low monetary and time cost.

Traumatic benign paroxysmal positional vertigo caused by cannon fire.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common cause of vestibular vertigo. BPPV is characterised by brief episodes of vertigo that occur with movement of the head. Almost a quarter of cases of BPPV have a traumatic cause, but no cases of traumatic BPPV due to indirect trauma were found in the English literature. A 37-year-old woman presented for episodic vertigo that occurred with position change, which started after she was exposed to cannon fire. She had a positive hallpike which confirms the diagnosis of BPPV. Her BPPV was successfully treated using the Epley manoeuvre. The diagnosis of BPPV is made from a careful history and physical exam. Traumatic BPPV can occur with indirect trauma such as being downrange during cannon fire. The treatment of both idiopathic BPPV and traumatic BPPV is with canalith repositioning procedures.

Transoral excision of the submandibular gland: techniques and results of nine cases.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: We will discuss the transoral surgical approach to excising the submandibular gland, the relevant anatomy, the indications, and the risks and benefits of the procedure. We will present our case series of nine patients. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of a series of nine patients in which transoral submandibular gland excision was attempted over the past 10 years was performed. METHODS: The series of nine patients who underwent transoral submandibular gland excision was examined for age, indication for operation, complications, length of stay, and postoperative pathology. Relevant indications, risks, and benefits are also discussed in conjunction with relevant surgical anatomy and approach utilized. RESULTS: Of nine patients who underwent attempted transoral submandibular gland excision, eight operations were completed transorally. Only one operation was converted to a standard external approach due to severe scarring. Six of nine patients presented with chronic sialadenitis, three of nine having obstructing sialoliths. Three patients presented with other benign cystic lesions consistent with a ranula, an infected mucocele, and a cystic teratoma. There was only one patient with a complication of incision breakdown and delayed healing in an irradiated field. There were no long-term complications involving the lingual or hypoglossal nerves, and there were no hemostatic complications. CONCLUSIONS: Transoral excision of the submandibular gland is a viable and safe approach to be utilized. There are no external scars caused, there is minimal risk to the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve, and skin incisions through irradiated fields are avoided. Although the surgical anatomy is somewhat novel, the transoral approach has been used effectively and without complication in removing benign submandibular gland pathology in our series.