No differences in job perceptions amongst Dutch nurse anaesthetists with and without nursing background.

BACKGROUND: In the Netherlands, the employment as a "nurse anaesthetist" is comparable to that of a registered nurse anaesthetist in the Scandinavian countries and Poland. However, the Dutch healthcare system employs nurse anaesthetists both with and without nursing backgrounds. This study has investigated whether a nursing background influences the attitudes and perceptions of nurse anaesthetists in the Netherlands. METHODS: A survey was distributed to all nurse anaesthetists working in Dutch hospitals to discover differences in their perceptions of their work context, job satisfaction, and work climate, as well as health and turnover intention. The questionnaire also sought basic information on socio-demographic factors and psychosomatic symptoms. Descriptive statistics, factor analyses and independent T-tests were computed. RESULTS: Overall 923 of a total of 2,000 questionnaires were completed and analysed (response rate of 46%). Independent T-tests showed no significant differences between nurse anaesthetists with and those without nursing backgrounds in all the areas examined. CONCLUSION: Dutch nurse anaesthetists with and without nursing backgrounds reported similar perceptions of and information about their work context, job satisfaction, work climate, psychosomatic symptoms, burnout, sickness absence, general health and turnover intention. Both academic tracks appeared to produce individuals who functioned similarly as professionals.

Work climate related to job satisfaction among Dutch nurse anesthetists.

Finding ways to retain nurse anesthetists in the profession to meet the increasing demands of the healthcare system is of paramount importance. The present study investigates the relationship between work climate and job satisfaction among Dutch nurse anesthetists. A questionnaire was distributed to Dutch nurse anesthetists to assess their perceptions of their work climates, and their levels of job satisfaction. Multiple regression analyses were performed to obtain the predictive value of work climate for job satisfaction. All of the work climate characteristics had statistically significant correlations to job satisfaction, and explained 20% of the variance in job satisfaction. To achieve a higher level of job satisfaction among nurse anesthetists, it is necessary to improve some essential work climate characteristics, such as: (1) making the nurse anesthetist feel an important part of the organization's mission statement, (2) discussing progress at work, (3) giving recognition for delivered work, (4) encouraging development, and (5) providing sufficient opportunities to learn and to grow.

Understanding nurse anesthetists' intention to leave their job: how burnout and job satisfaction mediate the impact of personality and workplace characteristics.

BACKGROUND: The retention of nurse anesthetists is of paramount importance, particularly in view of the fact that the health care workforce is shrinking. Although many health care providers find their work satisfying, they often consider leaving their jobs because of the stress. Are there ways to improve this situation? PURPOSE: This study investigated how work environment characteristics and personality dimensions relate to burnout and job satisfaction and ultimately to turnover intention among Dutch nurse anesthetists. METHODOLOGY: An online self-reporting questionnaire survey was performed among Dutch nurse anesthetists. The questionnaire included scales to assess personality dimensions, work climate, work context factors, burnout, job satisfaction, and turnover intention. The research model stated that personality dimensions, work climate, and work context factors, mediated by burnout and job satisfaction, predict turnover intention. Structural equation modeling was used to test the research model. FINDINGS: Nine hundred twenty-three questionnaires were completed (46% response rate). Burnout mediated the relationship between personality dimensions and turnover intention; job satisfaction mediated the relationship of work climate and work context factors to turnover intention. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: To retain nursing staff and to maintain adequate staff strength, it is important to improve job satisfaction by creating a positive work climate and work context and to prevent burnout by selecting the most suitable employees through personality assessment.

Clinical and electrophysiologic effects of calcium channel blockers in patients receiving ibutilide.

BACKGROUND: Ibutilide is indicated for the acute termination of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. Recent work concludes that ibutilide activates a late inward sodium current that is blocked by nifedipine. Because calcium channel blockers are commonly used in patients with atrial fibrillation, it is important to exclude an antagonistic effect on ibutilide in the clinical setting. METHODS: We performed a retrospective electrocardiographic (ECG) review of patients enrolled in 3 clinical trials of ibutilide (2 atrial fibrillation conversion protocols and 1 ventricular tachycardia suppression protocol) to determine clinical efficacy and ECG effects of ibutilide in patients receiving and not receiving calcium channel blockers. Calcium channel blockers were administered as clinically indicated. A meta-analysis of the effects of calcium channel blockers on the conversion efficacy of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter by ibutilide was also performed for studies in the literature. RESULTS: One hundred thirty patients were included in the ECG analysis (106 from atrial fibrillation protocols and 24 from the ventricular tachycardia protocol). Sixty-eight of the 130 patients were taking calcium channel blockers at the time of ibutilide administration. There were no differences in the QT or QTc intervals, conversion rate for atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, or suppression of ventricular tachycardia between patients taking and not taking calcium channel blockers. In the meta-analysis of 4 studies, there was no difference in the conversion rates between patients taking (52%, n = 221) and not taking (45%, n = 402) calcium channel blockers (P =.09). CONCLUSIONS: In the clinical setting, the concomitant use of calcium channel blockers does not alter the ECG effects or efficacy of ibutilide for the treatment of atrial or ventricular arrhythmias.