Incidence and cost of nurse workplace violence perpetrated by hospital patients or patient visitors.

INTRODUCTION: Workplace violence against nurses is a serious problem. Nurses from a US urban/community hospital system employing more than 5,000 nurses researched the incidence of workplace violence against nurses perpetrated by patients or visitors in their hospital system. METHODS: Survey research and retrospective database review methods were used. Nurse participants (all system-employed nurse types) completed a 34-item validated survey in electronic format. Retrospective database review provided annual nurse workplace violence injury treatment and indemnity charges. Institutional review board approval was received. RESULTS: Survey research participants (N = 762) were primarily white female registered nurses, aged 26 to 64 years, with more than 10 years of experience. Over the past year, 76.0% experienced violence (verbal abuse by patients, 54.2%; physical abuse by patients, 29.9%; verbal abuse by visitors, 32.9%; and physical by visitors, 3.5%), such as shouting or yelling (60.0% by patients and 35.8% by visitors), swearing or cursing (53.5% by patients and 24.9% by visitors), grabbing (37.8% by patients and 1.1% by visitors), and scratching or kicking (27.4% by patients and 0.8% by visitors). Emergency nurses (12.1%) experienced a significantly greater number of incidents (P < .001). Nurses noted more than 50 verbal (24.3%) and physical (7.3%) patient/visitor violence incidents over their careers. Most serious career violence incidents (n = 595, 78.1%) were physical (63.7%) (60.8% by patients and 2.9% by visitors), verbal (25.4%) (18.3% by patients and 7.1% by visitors), and threatened physical assault (10.9%) (6.9% by patients and 4.0% by visitors). Perpetrators were primarily white male patients, aged 26 to 35 years, who were confused or influenced by alcohol or drugs. Per database review, annual workplace violence charges for the 2.1% of nurses reporting injuries were $94,156 ($78,924 for treatment and $15,232 for indemnity). DISCUSSION: Nurses are too commonly exposed to workplace violence. Hospitals should enhance programs for training and incident reporting, particularly for nurses at higher risk of exposure, caring for patients with dementia or Alzheimer disease, patients with drug-seeking behavior, or drug- or alcohol-influenced patients.

Comparative effectiveness of standard endotracheal tubes vs. endotracheal tubes with continuous subglottic suctioning on ventilator-associated pneumonia rates.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) accounts for the majority of nosocomial pneumonias, which may increase intensive care and prolonged hospital stays. Endotracheal tubes allowing continuous subglottic suctioning may reduce VAP; however, they are more expensive than standard endotracheal tubes not allowing continuous suctioning. he objective of this study was to measure the comparative costs associated with continuous subglottic suctioning endotracheal tubes (CSS-ETT) versus standard endotracheal tubes (S-ETT) among intubated patients and whether cost differential is offset by the occurrence of VAP in patients receiving either type of intubation. A retrospective chart review was conducted for 154 intubated adult patients (77 = S-ETT; 77 = CSS-ETT). The S-ETT group had one case of VAP; the CSS-ETT group had none. The mean total hospital charges were higher for the S-ETT group ($103,600; CSS-ETT= $88,500) (p = 0.3). Although the average number of intubation days and ICU days were greater for the CSS-ETT group, there were no cases of VAP compared to the S-ETT group. ased upon the one S-ETT VAP case and the VAP attributable costs, it is cost effective to use the CSS-ETT.

A comparison of the quality of blood specimens drawn in the field by EMS versus specimens obtained in the emergency department.

INTRODUCTION: Emergency Department (ED) acceptance of blood specimens drawn by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) staff is not a consistent standard of practice across hospitals. The literature does not address acceptance of pre-hospital phlebotomy specimens drawn by EMS staff. The purpose of this study was to compare specimen redraw rates and ED throughput times for specimens drawn by EMS versus ED staff. METHODS: Data was collected on 400 patients regarding phlebotomist type, intravenous (i.v.) site, i.v. angiocatheter size, number of i.v. attempts producing blood specimens, redraw reason, undue blood exposure to phlebotomist, diagnosis, and length of stay. RESULTS: In this study of 400 patients (EMS=200; ED=200), the redraw rate was higher for the ED group (11.5%) than the EMS group (9.5%). The primary reason for redraw in the EMS group was insufficient quantity (52.6%; ED=8.7%, p<.05). The primary reason for redraw in the ED group was hemolysis (52.2%; EMS=31.6%). Median ED throughput time was 17 minutes less for the EMS group (163 minutes) than for ED group (180 minutes). There were no incidences of undue blood exposure in either group. DISCUSSION: Based on no statistically significant differences between the two study groups in redraw rates, a decreased ED patient throughput time, and no undue blood exposure incidences, pre-hospital phlebotomy by EMS in the field and subsequent ED acceptance of samples is a standard of practice that can be implemented.

A 2-tier study of direct care providers assessing the effectiveness of the red rule education project and precipitating factors surrounding red rule violations.

As a safety initiative, Inova Loudoun Hospital implemented a Red Rule policy and educated 100% of its staff. The policy consisted of 2 Red Rules: critical requirements for safety associated with an activity or a procedure. The purpose of tier 1 of this 2-tier survey research project was to determine the effectiveness of the educational effort in 13 departments of the hospital. Of the 128 participants, 61% provided a correct or partially correct definition for Red Rule 1 and 12% for Red Rule 2. From an evidence-based practice viewpoint, study results concluded that the Red Rule Education Project required reinforcement. The purpose of tier 2 was to quantify factors that contributed to safety events in the departments of the hospital. Employees violating a Red Rule were asked to complete a survey identifying the factors influencing their behavior. Of the 13 participants (RNs = 100%), the order of frequency of factors influencing errors was interruptions (77%), rushing (69%), inadequate staffing (39%), fatigue (31%), and poor communication (38%). Respondents did not report an awareness of committing an error during the time of the error occurrence. Awareness of specific factors contributing to an error can facilitate process improvement and future counseling and educational efforts.

Factors affecting hemolysis rates in blood samples drawn from newly placed IV sites in the emergency department.

INTRODUCTION: To decrease the number of hemolyzed samples in the emergency department, performance improvement activities were implemented, including phlebotomy classes for staff, evaluation of blood draw equipment, and a study to evaluate factors attributed to hemolysis of blood samples when drawn at the time a new intravenous catheter is inserted. METHODS: In a study with an observational design conducted in June and July 2004, researchers examined the cases of 100 randomly chosen patients who had blood drawn through newly placed peripheral intravenous access. RESULTS: In this study, the blood draw collection factors with the highest hemolysis rates included blood samples drawn between 12:00 am to 5:59 am; samples drawn by patient care technicians; right-hand site; 22-gauge intravenous catheters; syringe draws; blue tubes; 6.0 mL tubes; difficulty drawing blood; 2 tries for intravenous placement; resistance when aspirating blood using a syringe; and respiratory discharge diagnoses. Statistically significant (P < .05) blood draw factors included intravenous placement sites of right hand/forearm and antecubital; intravenous catheter size 22 gauge; blood drawing categorized as difficult; number of tries for intravenous placement; blood tube size 1.8 mL; and discharge diagnoses of respiratory, gastrointestinal, reproductive, dermatologic, and endocrine. DISCUSSION: Clinically meaningful factors associated with hemolysis rates included the use of a 22-gauge intravenous catheter size, which resulted in a hemolysis rate of 60%; in addition, intravenous placement sites on the right side had statistically significant higher hemolysis rates than the left side, a finding that merits further research. As a result of the study we modified our standard operating procedure to discontinue the use of a 22-gauge or smaller intravenous catheter in adults. If required for small vein sticks, the use of a straight needle stick to obtain blood samples should be considered. The results of this study underscore the importance of education and training and the consideration for regular competency testing for staff with phlebotomy responsibilities.