Pandemic preparedness from the perspective of Occupational Health professionals.

BACKGROUND: Prior to any infectious disease emergence as a public health concern, early occupational preparedness is crucial for protecting employees from novel pathogens- coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is no different. AIMS: This study ascertains how occupational safety and health (OSH)/Human Resource (HR) professionals in the Republic of Ireland had managed to prepare their workplaces prior to the advent of COVID-19. METHODS: As part of a larger COVID-19 workplace study, online focus groups were conducted with OSH/HR professionals. Collected data were transcribed verbatim and entered into NVivo for thematic analysis incorporating intercoder reliability testing. RESULTS: Fifteen focus groups were conducted with OSH/HR professionals (n = 60) from various occupational settings. Three levels of organizational preparedness were identified: 'early awareness and preparation'; 'unaware and not ready' and 'aware, but not ready'. Most organizations were aware of the COVID-19 severity, but not fully prepared for the pandemic, especially stand-alone enterprises that may not have sufficient resources to cope with an unanticipated crisis. The experiences shared by OSH professionals illustrate their agility in applying risk management and control skills to unanticipated public/occupational health crises that arise. CONCLUSIONS: General pandemic preparedness such as the availability of work-from-home policies, emergency scenario planning and prior experience in workplace outbreaks of infectious diseases were helpful for workplace-associated COVID-19 prevention. This is the first study conducted with OSH/HR professionals in Ireland regarding COVID-19 preparedness in workplaces, which provides valuable insights into research literature, as well as empirical experience for the preparation of future public health emergencies.

Infant physiological responses to noxious stimuli of circumcision with anesthesia and analgesia.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of dorsal penile nerve block (DPNB) and eutectic mixture of local anesthetic (EMLA) for attenuation of neonatal pain during circumcision. METHOD: A total of 20 infants born at a United States upper Midwestern hospital were involved in the study. Measurements of blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation were obtained along with a Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS) grading at five separate intervals (baseline, restraint, incision, Gomco clamp application, and post circumcision) throughout the circumcision procedure. A comparison was done between the two groups regarding response to the noxious stimuli. FINDINGS: Infants demonstrate physiological and behavioral response to pain. These physiological and behavioral responses are observable and measurable. In addition, results show less response with the DPNB as compared to the EMLA. CONCLUSIONS: There is a trend toward better pain control with the DPNB as compared to EMLA.

Self-reported sexual behaviors of high school juniors and seniors in North Dakota.

The period of adolescence is characterized as a time of experimentation during which adolescents may engage in adult behavior in the absence of understanding the consequences of these behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine the self-reported sexual behaviors of late adolescent junior and senior high school students (N = 7,699). The study indicated a significantly high and disconcerting frequency of self-reported risk-taking sexual behavior.

Neonatal intensive care nurse stressors: an American study.

The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of selected stressors and the level of associated stress experienced by neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses in the USA, and to identify their responses/coping mechanisms. The research instrument consisted of demographic data (education, location of practice, age, years in practice, gender) and a modification of the Stress Audit tool developed by Popoff and Funkhouser (1975). Participants were randomly chosen from health-care units located in the upper Midwest of the USA. Fifty-nine nurses (35%) responded to the postal survey. In terms of scale items, floating out of the unit (ability to staff other units when necessary) was the most stressful item and routine procedures the least stressful item. From a subscale perspective, knowledge was the least stressful and management the most. Subscale scores did not differ by marital status, number of years of practice as a registered nurse, or years of practice in NICU. Coping with stress was best facilitated by discussion with coworkers. Consistency of care, inservice education, mental health days (time off for stress relief, paid or unpaid) and staff support groups were reported as helpful in coping with job-related stress.

Transcultural healthcare: a phenomenological study of an educational experience.

This phenomenological study was undertaken for the purpose of describing the meaning of transcultural health care. A phenomenological approach was utilized to elicit the essence of meaning attached to the experience. Students in an upper midwestern university, enrolled in a transcultural health care course participated in the educational experience presented in this paper. While the course was multidisciplinary in nature, nursing represented the majority. The purpose was to identify and describe students' perception and definition of culture at the beginning and end of the course and to utilize an inductive process to formulate a descriptive structure depicting the meaning of transcultural health care. It was concluded that students' perception and definition of culture changed via the transformational process influenced by the passage of time and by the particular experiences students were exposed to.

Dying babies and associated stress in NICU nurses.

Death is a reality in the neonatal intensive care setting. This adds to the job stress nurses experience. Although the literature is replete with topics on death and dying, few of these articles are empirically based. The purpose of this study was to determine the stress associated with taking care of babies who die in NICU settings. The responses/coping mechanisms of NICU nurses were also identified. Fifty-nine nurses in an upper mid-western state participated in this study. Nurses reported feelings of helplessness and intense sorrow when a baby dies. As a result, they experienced the physio-emotional responses of chronic fatigue, decreased interest in exercise, irritability, and being overcritical. The greatest help in coping with grieving came through discussion with coworkers, a chaplain, the patient's family, and the nurse's own family. For some, attending the funeral or memorial services also helped. Implications for practice include fostering planned discussion sessions and continued education to improve counseling skills related to bereavement.