Nursing Documentation Environment in the Hospital Setting

Nurses often document in open nurses’ stations exposed to frequent interruptions. Much has been written on the need to limit distractions while collecting and administering medications but little has been published on the effects interruptions have on nursing documentation. The purpose of this study was to examine the environment in which nurses chart and to gather their perceptions of the documentation environment. Marilyn Ray’s Theory of Bureaucratic Caring was the guiding framework for this study. A review of the literature revealed the effects open work spaces, noise, and interruptions can have on work performance. This study, a focus group discussion, involved seven nurses who worked, or have worked, in medical-surgical nursing. Results of the discussion revealed nurses are displeased with the noise and interruptions in their charting environments. Additionally, they feel that nursing leadership should provide a charting environment that is more compatible to timely and accurate documentation

Improving Use of Research in the Third Sector: A Journey with Apex Scotland

This case study describes a project to improve research use in Apex Scotland, and to share the learning with others. It includes details about the problem addressed through the project, what we did, what we found, the challenges faced and what was learnt about supporting the use of research in third sector organisations

Can I Have Your Attention? Implications of the Research on Distractions and Multitasking for Reference Librarians

The media have identified the last decade as “the age of distraction.” People today find it harder to work on long, sustained tasks because distractions are eroding their attention span, fostering a culture of discontinuity. Fields as diverse as psychology, business, education, human-computer interaction, and communication studies have produced a wealth of studies on interruptions, distractions, and multitasking–research that has important implications for reference librarians. The nature of our jobs invites interruptions by the public, requires familiarity with the latest technology, stimulates curiosity about a broad range of subjects, and demands adeptness at multitasking–all factors which can atomize attention

Using an integrated information system to reduce interruptions and the number of non-relevant contacts in the inpatient pharmacy at tertiary hospital

Patient care is provided by a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals intended for high-quality and safe patient care. Accordingly, the team must work synergistically and communicate efficiently. In many hospitals, nursing and pharmacy communication relies mainly on telephone calls. In fact, numerous studies have reported telephone calls as a source of interruption for both pharmacy and nursing operations; therefore, the workload increases and the chance of errors raises. This report describes the implementation of an integrated information system that possibly can reduce telephone calls through providing real-time tracking capabilities and sorting prescriptions urgency, thus significantly improving traceability of all prescriptions inside pharmacy. The research design is based on a quasi-experiment using pre-post testing using the continuous improvement approach. The improvement project is performed using a six-step method. A survey was conducted in Prince Sultan Military Medical City (PSMMC) to measure the volume and types of telephone calls before and after implementation to evaluate the impact of the new system. Beforehand of the system implementation, during the two-week measurement period, all pharmacies received 4466 calls and the majority were follow-up calls. Subsequently of the integrated system rollout, there was a significant reduction (p > 0.001) in the volume of telephone calls to 2630 calls; besides, the calls nature turned out to be more professional inquiries (p > 0.001). As a result, avoidable interruptions and workload were decreased

Inefficiency in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit: A Quality Improvement Initiative

Background: The post anesthesia care unit (PACU) is a busy environment in which nurses communicate with patients, family members, and a large team of perioperative professionals. PACU nurses were experiencing an unmanageable number of work interruptions due to a higher patient census which increased the daily surgical caseload. Aim: The purpose of this project was to improve efficiency and nurses’ job satisfaction by making work interruptions manageable in the PACU. Methods: Based on Kotter’s Change Theory, a quality improvement initiative was implemented using a change in the communication process. Qualitative and quantitative data was gathered in the PACU and on other units with the intervention roll-out. A pre and post-intervention survey was used to evaluate work interruptions and their effects experienced by nurses in the PACU environment. Results: The use of communication technology impacted work interruptions, but not significantly enough to improve nursing efficiency and nurse satisfaction in the PACU. Conclusion and Implications for CNL® Practice: The next step is to recommend adding a CNL® as a surgical nurse liaison (SNL) to the perioperative team. Ideally, a CNL® with excellent communication and quality improvement skills will exemplify the roles of lateral integrator and patient advocate to improve efficiency. This physical solution, coupled with the communicative technology tool being widely integrated to all members of the perioperative team is expected to influence work interruptions and improve nurse satisfaction more dramatically

An Exploratory Study into the Accessibility of a Multi-User Virtual World for Young People with Aphasia

This paper describes an exploratory study into the accessibility of the virtual world Second Life for two young people with aphasia. Aphasia is a communicative disorder most commonly caused by a stroke. It affects both written and spoken language, is frequently accompanied by right-sided paralysis and people with aphasia can experience isolation and social exclusion. Multi-user virtual worlds are a potential source of fun and contact with others, but how accessible are such worlds to those with communication issues? We report an investigation into the accessibility and potential of Second Life for people with aphasia. This was accomplished through a critique and an empirical study involving two young people: Ann was in her mid twenties and Bob in his early thirties. They were selected because both were comfortable with computer technologies before their strokes and each continues to use them, albeit in a more limited capacity. We discuss implications of the results for people with aphasia interacting with multi-user virtual worlds

Pediatric Nurses\u27 Perspectives on Medication Teaching in a Children\u27s Hospital

Purpose To explore inpatient pediatric nurses\u27 current experiences and perspectives on medication teaching. Design and Methods A descriptive qualitative study was conducted at a Midwest pediatric hospital. Using convenience sampling, 26 nurses participated in six focus groups. Data were analyzed in an iterative group coding process. Results Three themes emerged. 1) Medication teaching is an opportunity. 2) Medication teaching is challenging. Nurses experienced structural and process challenges to deliver medication teaching. Structural challenges included the physical hospital environment, electronic health record, and institutional discharge workflow while process challenges included knowledge, relationships and interactions with caregivers, and available resources. 3) Medication teaching is amenable to improvement. Conclusion Effective medication teaching with caregivers is critical to ensure safe, quality care for children after discharge. Nursing teaching practices have not changed, despite advances in technology and major changes in hospital care. Nurses face many challenges to conduct effective medication teaching. Improving current teaching practices is imperative in order to provide the best and safest care. Practice Implications This study generated knowledge regarding pediatric nurses\u27 teaching practices, values and beliefs that influence teaching, barriers, and ideas for how to improve medication teaching. Results will guide the development of targeted interventions to promote successful medication teaching practices

Extracts from the test plan for in-flight evaluation of the NT-33A peripheral vision display

The Peripheral Vision Display (PVD) which presents the pilot with a gyro stabilized artificial horizon projected onto his instrument panel by a laser light source is outlined. During instrument flight conditions, such a display allows the pilot to gain attitude awareness by sensing the horizon line through his peripheral vision. The pilot can detect changes to aircraft attitude without continuously referring back to his flight instruments. A second generation PVD unit was installed in the USAF/Calspan NT-33A during late 1982. An NT-33A flight evaluation of the display provides a unique opportunity to utilize a Workload Assessment Device (WAD) to obtain quantitative data regarding the utility of the PVD in reducing pilot workload. The experimental design and procedures for a two phase NT-33 PVD flight evaluation program is described

Assistive Technology at Work

[Excerpt] Although an immediate transition into an institution of higher learning is ideal for some students who relied on assistive technology in high school, many make the decision to enter the workforce after graduation. It is estimated that about 85 percent of students with learning disabilities (LD) transition directly from school to work.1 Furthermore, statistics addressing employment among people with disabilities indicate that the workplace consists of approximately 18.6 million people with disabilities, ranging in age from 16 to 64. This represents about 56% of all people with disabilities in this age category.2 Given the vast number people with disabilities in the workplace, the potential for assistive technology (AT) to increase productivity is great