Comparative analysis of signal accuracy of three SpO2 monitors during motion and low perfusion conditions.

To compare pulse oximetry performance during simulated conditions of motion and low perfusion in three commercially available devices: GE HealthCare CARESCAPE ONE TruSignal SpO2 Parameter, Masimo RADICAL-7 and Medtronic Nellcor PM1000N. After IRB approval, 28 healthy adult volunteers were randomly assigned to the motion group (N = 14) or low perfusion (N = 14) group. Pulse oximeters were placed on the test and control hands using random assignment of digits 2-5. Each subject served as their own control through the series of repeated pair-wise measurements. Reference co-oximetry oxyhemoglobin (SaO2) measurements from the radial artery were also obtained in the motion group. SpO2 readings were compared between the test and control hands in both groups and to SaO2 measurements in the motion group. Accuracy was assessed through testing of accuracy root-mean squared (ARMS) and mean bias. In the simulated motion test group the overall Accuracy Root Mean Square (ARMS) versus SaO2 was 1.88 (GE), 1.79 (Masimo) and 2.40 (Nellcor), with overall mean bias of - 0.21 (Masimo), 0.45 (GE), and 0.78 (Nellcor). In the motion hand, ARMS versus SaO2 was 2.45 (GE), 3.19 (Masimo) and 4.15 (Nellcor), with overall mean bias of - 0.75 (Masimo), - 0.01 (GE), and 0.04 (Nellcor). In the low perfusion test group, ARMS versus the control hand SpO2 for low PI was 3.24 (GE), 3.48 (Nellcor) and 4.76 (Masimo), with overall bias measurements of - 0.53 (Nellcor), 0.96 (GE) and 1.76 (Masimo). Experimental results for all tested devices met pulse oximetry regulatory and testing standards requirements. Overall, SpO2 device performance across the three devices in this study was similar under both motion and low perfusion conditions. SpO2 measurement accuracy degraded for all three devices during motion as compared to non-motion. Accuracy also degraded during normal to low, very low, or ultra low perfusion and was more pronounced compared to the changes observed during simulated motion. While some statistically significant differences in individual measurements were found, the clinical relevance of these differences requires further study.

Oral health status and the etiology and prevention of nonventilator hospital-associated pneumonia.

Nonventilator hospital-associated pneumonia has recently emerged as an important preventable hospital-associated infection, and is a leading cause of healthcare-associated infection. Substantial accumulated evidence links poor oral health with an increased risk of pneumonia, which can be caused by bacterial, viral, or fungal pathogens, each with their own distinct mechanisms of transmission and host susceptibility. These infections are frequently polymicrobial, and often include microbes from biofilms in the oral cavity. Evidence documenting the importance of oral care to prevent nonventilator hospital-associated pneumonia is continuing to emerge. Reduction of oral biofilm in these populations will reduce the numbers of potential respiratory pathogens in the oral secretions that can be aspirated, which in turn can reduce the risk for pneumonia. This review summarizes up-to-date information on the role of oral care in the prevention of nonventilator hospital-associated pneumonia.

INNOVATE: Preparing Nurses to Be Health Care Innovation Leaders.

A new certificate program has been designed that augments the traditional undergraduate nursing education with a curriculum of innovation and entrepreneurship. The goal of the Integrated Innovation & Entrepreneurship Certificate in Nursing Program (INNOVATE) is to empower nurses to collaboratively solve health care challenges and become thought leaders in health care products, technologies, and processes, as well as service and delivery methods, with a particular focus on the needs of vulnerable populations. Toward this goal, INNOVATE is built on an integrative, immersive curriculum, experiential learning, intentional cohort building, peer and faculty support, real-world connections, and the prioritization of diversity, inclusivity, and equity to build of a cohort of nursing students ready for careers in clinical and health care innovation. In this article, we provide the outline for the proposed curriculum, program strategies, anticipated outcomes, and evaluation criteria that we believe can serve as a national model for innovation and entrepreneurship in undergraduate nursing education.

Nurse and Pharmacist Knowledge of Intravenous Smart Pump System Setup Requirements.

OBJECTIVE: The primary purpose of this research was to describe nurse and pharmacist knowledge of setup requirements for intravenous (IV) smart pumps that require head height differentials for accurate fluid flow. METHODS: A secondary analysis of anonymous electronic survey data using a database of prerecruited clinicians was conducted. A survey was sent by email to 173 pharmacists and 960 nurses. The response rate for pharmacists was 58% (100 of 173), and the response rate for nurses was 52% (500 of 960). After removing respondents who did not provide direct care and who did not use a head height differential IV infusion system, the final sample for analysis was 186 nurses and 25 pharmacists. RESULTS: Overall, less than one-half of respondents (40%) were aware that manufacturer guidelines for positioning the primary infusion bag relative to the infusion pump were available. Slightly more (49.5%) were aware of the required head height differentials for secondary infusion. Only five respondents selected the correct primary head height, eight respondents selected the correct secondary head height, and one respondent selected both the correct primary and secondary head heights. CONCLUSION: The results of this study identify a substantial lack of knowledge among frontline clinicians regarding manufacturer recommendations for accurate IV administration of primary and secondary infusions for head height differential infusion systems. Both increased clinician education and innovative technology solutions are needed to improve IV smart pump safety and usability.

Sustaining Quality Improvement: Long-Term Reduction of Nonventilator Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Hospital-acquired pneumonia is now the number one hospital-acquired infection. Hospitals have addressed ventilator-associated pneumonia; however, patients not on a ventilator acquire more pneumonia with significant associated mortality rates. LOCAL PROBLEM: In our hospital, non-ventilator-associated pneumonia was occurring on all types of units. METHODS: The Influencer Model was used to reduce nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia rates. Statistical process control R and X-bar-charts were monitored monthly. INTERVENTIONS: After a gap analysis, an interdisciplinary team implemented enhanced oral care before surgery and on the units, changed tube management, and monitored stress ulcer medication. RESULTS: We achieved a statistically significantly reduction (P = .01) in pneumonia rates that have been sustained over 4 years. CONCLUSIONS: Sustaining change requires (a) a continued team-based, collaborative approach, (b) ongoing stakeholder and executive leadership engagement, (c) monitoring that easy-to-use protocols and required equipment remain in place, and (d) embedded analytics to monitor results over a prolonged period.

Incontinence-Associated Dermatitis, Characteristics and Relationship to Pressure Injury: A Multisite Epidemiologic Analysis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to measure the prevalence of incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) among incontinent persons in the acute care setting, characteristics of IAD in this group, and associations among IAD, urinary, fecal, and dual incontinence, immobility, and pressure injury in the sacral area. DESIGN: Descriptive and correlational analysis of data from a large database of IAD, and pressure injuries of sacral area and heels. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: The sample comprised 5342 adult patients in acute care facilities in 36 states representing all regions of the United States. Facilities used a variety of products for prevention of IAD and sacral area pressure injuries. METHODS: Data were collected for use in a national quality improvement study evaluating current practices related to the prevention of IAD and pressure injuries affecting the sacral area and heels. Data were exported to a spreadsheet, and triple checked for accuracy before being imported to a statistical analysis software program. Descriptive statistics were used to describe prevalence rates for incontinence, types of incontinence, IAD, characteristics of IAD, and pressure injuries. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted on the end point of facility-acquired sacral/buttock pressure injury and the risk factors of immobility and type of incontinence. RESULTS: More than one-third of patients (n = 2492 of 5342 patients; 46.6%) were incontinent of urine, stool, or both. The overall prevalence rate of IAD was 21.3% (1140/5342); the prevalence of IAD among patients with incontinence was 45.7% (1140/2492). Slightly more than half of the IAD was categorized as mild (596/1140, 52.3%), 27.9% (318/1140) was categorized as moderate, and 9.2% (105/1140) was deemed severe. In addition, 14.8% (169/1140) of patients with IAD also had a fungal rash. The prevalence of pressure injury in the sacral area among individuals with incontinence was 17.1% (427/2492), and the prevalence of full-thickness pressure injury in this population was 3.8% (95/2492). Multivariate analysis revealed that both presence of IAD (odds ratio [OR], 4.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.68-5.65) and immobility (OR, 3.56; 95% CI, 2.73-4.63) was associated with a significantly increased likelihood of developing a sacral pressure injury. Multivariate analysis also revealed that presence of IAD (OR, 2.65; 95% CI, 1.74-4.03) and immobility (OR, 6.05; 95% CI, 3.14-11.64) was associated with a significantly increased likelihood of developing full-thickness sacral pressure injury. CONCLUSION: Our study findings are consistent with prior research, supporting a clinically relevant association between IAD and pressure injury of the sacral area. This risk persists even after controlling for presence of immobility, suggesting that IAD functions as an independent risk factor for pressure injury occurrence.

Impact of Frequent Interruption on Nurses' Patient-Controlled Analgesia Programming Performance.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose was to add to the body of knowledge regarding the impact of interruption on acute care nurses' cognitive workload, total task completion times, nurse frustration, and medication administration error while programming a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump. BACKGROUND: Data support that the severity of medication administration error increases with the number of interruptions, which is especially critical during the administration of high-risk medications. Bar code technology, interruption-free zones, and medication safety vests have been shown to decrease administration-related errors. However, there are few published data regarding the impact of number of interruptions on nurses' clinical performance during PCA programming. METHOD: Nine acute care nurses completed three PCA pump programming tasks in a simulation laboratory. Programming tasks were completed under three conditions where the number of interruptions varied between two, four, and six. Outcome measures included cognitive workload (six NASA Task Load Index [NASA-TLX] subscales), total task completion time (seconds), nurse frustration (NASA-TLX Subscale 6), and PCA medication administration error (incorrect final programming). RESULTS: Increases in the number of interruptions were associated with significant increases in total task completion time ( p = .003). We also found increases in nurses' cognitive workload, nurse frustration, and PCA pump programming errors, but these increases were not statistically significant. APPLICATIONS: Complex technology use permeates the acute care nursing practice environment. These results add new knowledge on nurses' clinical performance during PCA pump programming and high-risk medication administration.

Improving Patient Safety through the Use of Nursing Surveillance.

Surveillance and monitoring each represent a distinct process in patient care. Monitoring involves observation, measurement, and recording of physiological parameters, while surveillance is a systematic, goal-directed process based on early detection of signs of change, interpretation of the clinical implications of such changes, and initiation of rapid, appropriate interventions. Through use of an illustrative clinical example based on Early Warning System scoring and rapid response teams, this article seeks to distinguish between nurse monitoring and surveillance to demonstrate the impact of surveillance on improving both care processes and patient care. Using a clinical example, differences between surveillance and monitoring as a trigger for deployment of the rapid response team were reviewed. The use of surveillance versus monitoring resulted in a mean reduction in rapid response team deployment time of 291 minutes. The median hospital length of stay for patients whose clinical care included using surveillance to initiate the deployment of the rapid response team was reduced by 4 days. Monitoring relies on observation and assessment while nursing surveillance incorporates monitoring with recognition and interpretation of the clinical implications of changes to guide decisions about subsequent actions. The clinical example described here supports that the use of an automated surveillance system versus monitoring had a measurable impact on clinical care.

The Relationship Between Nurse Staffing and 30-Day Readmission for Adults With Heart Failure.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to better understand the relationship between nurse staffing and 30-day excess readmission ratios for patients with heart failure in the top US adult cardiology and heart surgery hospitals. BACKGROUND: Heart failure is the most common cause of hospitalization for patients older than 65 years and is the most frequent diagnosis associated with 30-day hospital readmission in the United States. METHODS: A secondary data analysis was conducted using nurse staffing data from 661 cardiology and heart surgery hospitals from the 2013 US News & World Report "Best Hospitals" survey. These data were combined with excess readmission ratios from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Hospital Compare database from 2013. An independent-samples t test was used to compare staffing (low/high) and excess hospital readmissions rates. RESULTS: A significant difference (P = .021) was found between the low nurse staffing group (n = 358) and the high nurse staffing group (n = 303). Hospitals with a lower nurse staffing index had a significantly higher excess readmission rate. CONCLUSION: These data provide further support to the body of research showing a positive relationship between nurse staffing and positive outcomes.

Empowerment Through Academia.

This is the sixth article in a series on nurse innovators, which focuses on nurse-engineer partnerships and outlines working, replicable models of collaboration between the two disciplines. In this installment, we describe the role of academia in building the next generation of nurse-engineers, highlighting three novel academic programs that have reimagined nursing and engineering education to promote interdisciplinary partnership and innovation.

Data-based program management of system-wide IV smart pump integration.

PURPOSE: Smart pump bidirectional interoperability offers automated infusion programming and documentation that can improve patient safety and workflow efficiency. This technology has been poorly implemented across US hospitals, and there is little guidance on the tracking or monitoring of interoperability systems. The purpose of this report is to describe the successful implementation of intravenous (IV) smart pump interoperability in a large health system. SUMMARY: Bidirectional IV smart pump interoperability and compliance monitoring were implemented across a large Midwestern health system using ICU Medical's Plum 360 and LifeCare PCA devices and Smith Medical's MedFusion 4000 Syringe Pump devices. The hospital system's experience in implementing and monitoring IV smart pump compliance using automated reports and a dedicated medication safety integration nurse is described. Compliance trends suggest that the implementation of IV smart pump interoperability has achieved a reduction in programming outside of the dose error reduction system, manual overrides, and IV medication administration error rates. CONCLUSION: The monitoring of smart pump compliance has had demonstrated benefits in investigating usability concerns, recognizing system errors, and identifying increased needs for nurse training. This program can serve as an example for other healthcare systems adopting IV smart pump interoperability.

Impact of hospital-acquired pneumonia on the Medicare program.

OBJECTIVE: Patient safety organizations and researchers describe hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) as a largely preventable hospital-acquired infection that affects patient safety and quality of care. We provide evidence regarding the consequences of HAP among 2019 Medicare beneficiaries. DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study. PATIENTS: Calendar year 2019 Medicare beneficiaries with HAP during an initial hospitalization, defined by International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) coding on inpatient claims (n = 2,457). Beneficiaries with HAP were matched using diagnosis-related group (DRG) codes with beneficiaries who did not experience HAP (n = 2,457). METHODS: The 2019 calendar year Medicare 5% Standard Analytic Files (SAF), for inpatient, outpatient, physician, and all postacute hospital settings. The case group (HAP) and control group (non-HAP) were matched on disease severity, age, sex, and race and were compared for hospital length of stay, costs, and mortality during the initial hospitalization and across settings for 30, 60, and 90 days after discharge. The 2019 fiscal year MedPAR Claims data were used to determine Medicare costs. RESULTS: Medicare beneficiaries with HAP were 2.8 times more likely to die within 90 days compared with matched beneficiaries who did not develop HAP. Among those who survived, beneficiaries with HAP spent 6.6 more days in the hospital (69%) and cost the Medicare program an average of $14,487 (24%) more per episode of care across initial inpatient and postdischarge services. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of higher mortality and cost among Medicare beneficiaries who develop HAP suggest that HAP prevention should be prioritized as a patient safety and quality initiative for the Medicare program.

Improving Bruise Detection in Patients with Dark Skin Tone.

This is the fifth article in a series on nurse innovators, which focuses whenever possible on nurse-engineer partnerships and outlines working, replicable models of collaboration between the two disciplines. In this installment, we profile Katherine N. Scafide, a forensic nurse and researcher, who has partnered with engineers over many years to improve bruise detection in patients with dark skin tone.

Nurse-Engineer Partnerships in Academia.

This is the fourth article in a series on nurse innovators, which focuses whenever possible on nurse-engineer partnerships and outlines working, replicable models of collaboration between the two disciplines. In this installment, we explore the work of four engineers who are forging a path to strengthen nurse-engineer partnerships through their work in academia. Their experiences exemplify the work of nurse-engineer teams, inform ways to employ these teams, and reveal the insights that result when these disciplines collaborate in real time to solve health care problems.

The association between accessing dental services and nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia among 2019 Medicaid beneficiaries.

In this 2019 cross-sectional study, we analyzed hospital records for Medicaid beneficiaries who acquired nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia. The results suggest that preventive dental treatment in the 12 months prior or periodontal therapy in the 6 months prior to a hospitalization is associated with a reduced risk of NVHAP.

Incidence, mortality, and cost trends in nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia in medicaid beneficiaries, 2015-2019.

Nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia is associated with substantial morbidity, mortality, and costs during an episode of acute care. We examined NVHAP incidence, mortality, and costs of Medicaid beneficiaries over a 5-year period (2015-2019). Overall NVHAP incidence was 2.63 per 1,000 patient days, and mortality was 7.76%, with an excess cost per NVHAP case of $20,189.

The role of clinical decision support tools to reduce blood pressure variability in critically ill patients receiving vasopressor support.

Current monitoring systems for patients receiving vasopressor support generally rely on bedside monitors with audible alarms that are activated when blood pressure declines below pre-established thresholds, which can result in fluctuations that may increase risk of myocardial ischemia. This pilot study evaluated the effects of three bedside monitors on mean arterial blood pressure and percentage of time at mean arterial pressure among critically ill patients. The monitors were the standard display with audible alarm or one of two types of clinical decision support systems including Intellivue Horizon Trends (Philips Healthcare, Andover, MA) and Horizon Trends and ST Map (Philips Healthcare). Patients in the two groups monitored with Horizon Trends had significantly higher mean arterial pressure (72.8 ± 7.0 mm Hg) compared with those monitored with the standard monitor (68.1 ± 6.8 mm Hg; P= .004). Patients monitored with Horizon Trends also spent a significantly higher percentage of time within their target mean arterial pressure range compared with those in the standard monitor group (P = .031). These findings suggest that further study is needed to assess the impact of clinical decision support tools on management of blood pressure variability in critically ill patients receiving vasopressor therapy.