Nurse employment contracts in Chinese hospitals: impact of inequitable benefit structures on nurse and patient satisfaction

PURPOSE: Ongoing economic and health system reforms in China have transformed nurse employment in Chinese hospitals. Employment of ‘bianzhi’ nurses, a type of position with state-guaranteed lifetime employment that has been customary since 1949, is decreasing while there is an increase in the contract-based nurse employment with limited job security and reduced benefits. The consequences of inequities between the two types of nurses in terms of wages and job-related benefits are unknown. This study examined current rates of contract-based nurse employment and the effects of the new nurse contract employment strategy on nurse and patient outcomes in Chinese hospitals. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used geographically representative survey data collected from 2008 to 2010 from 181 hospitals in six provinces, two municipalities, and one autonomous region in China. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between contract-based nurse utilization, dissatisfaction among contract-based nurses, nurse intentions to leave their positions, and patient satisfaction, controlling for nurse, patient, and hospital characteristics. PRINCIPAL RESULTS: Hospital-level utilization of contract-based nurses varies greatly from 0 to 91%, with an average of 51%. Contract-based nurses were significantly more dissatisfied with their remuneration and benefits than ‘bianzhi’ nurses who have more job security (P <0.01). Contract-based nurses who were dissatisfied with their salary and benefits were more likely to intend to leave their current positions (P <0.01). Hospitals with high levels of dissatisfaction with salary and benefits among contract-based nurses were rated lower and less likely to be recommended by patients (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest a high utilization of contract-based nurses in Chinese hospitals, and that the inequities in benefits between contract-based nurses and ‘bianzhi’ nurses may adversely affect both nurse and patient satisfaction in hospitals. Our study provides empirical support for the ‘equal pay for equal work’ policy emphasized by the China Ministry of Health’s recent regulations, and calls for efforts in Chinese hospitals to eliminate the disparities between ‘bianzhi’ and contract-based nurses

P uptake by rye-grass in saline soils

13 Pags.Peer reviewe

Carences en Zn et Mn chez l'avocatier à Ténérife (Iles Canaries)

On à étudié le statut des oligo-éléments Zn et Mn en vergers d'avocatiers où l'on observe des symptômes de carences minérales. On à identiflé les symptômes de carences en Zn et Mn par l'analyse foliaire. Les symptômes visuels de carence en Zn apparaissent sur les arbres dont la teneur foliare est comprise entre 8 et 18 ppm ; les niveaux foliaires en Mn d'arbres qui montrent des symptômes de carence en Mn se situent entre 20 et 41 ppm. Dans la plupart des arbres sans symptômes, de ces plantations, les niveaux de Zn et Mn sont bas. Les carences en Zn et Mn sont indépendantes de la composition granulométrique des sols. Les faibles niveaux foliaires de Mn sont associés à des pH éléves ; les concentrations foliaires de Zn et Mg varient inversement.Peer reviewe

The criteria for studing the tolerance to the salts of avocado rootstocks

Wiht the idea of determining the most suitable criteria for studing the relative tolerance to the salts of some avocados rootstocks it was carried out an irrigation assay with salts waters, five concentrations of NaCl, and three race of rootstocks were utilized. It was concluded that to evaluate the sensibility to the salts we must consider all the following aspects: visual symtomps, plant growth (weight and height) and foliar levels of Cl and Na$.Peer reviewe

The effect of irrigation with chlorinated and bicarbonated waters of high salinity on the yields of the yields of the rose bush

Since the application of poor-quality irrigation water is frequently the cause of the salinization of the soils given over to the cultivation of roses in Tenerife we carried out an irrigation trial with two waters of high salinity at concentrations of 15,70 meq/l of Cl-, and 13,60 meq/l of CO$H- respectively. Both types of water caused a significant reduction in the yields of the cultivar "Sonia", which was greater in the treatment with chlorinated water. The quality of the flower (expressed as a percentage of extra flowers) decreased considerably in the plants treated with bicarbonated water, and was reduced by 50% in relation to the control, in the case of rose bushes treated with chlorinated water. In neither of the two cases were visible symptoms of salt toxicity noticed.Peer reviewe

Retención de fósforo en suelos canarios en función del tiempo y concentación. III. A tiempo de 24 horas

That is a study related to the determination of maximum P adsorption and bindinging constant between P and some soils of Tenerife and Gran Canaria Islands. The shaking is 24 hours, after that P and pH are determined in soil extracts. These parameters are evaluated by the Shapiro-Fried, maximum P adsorption values obtained are: (360-1300), (1075-2400), 2300-3000 ppm) for salinized soils, alfisol, oxisols and andosol respectively. The correlation coefficients between this parameter and Al, Al + Fe soluble forms in oxalate are significant at 2 and 5% levels. It seems that in the oxisol of Poleo a secondary fixation was produced during this shaking time of 24 hours.Peer reviewe

Foliars levels of the plantations of avocados of the Occidental Canaries Islands

Fertilidad de suelosA study of the nutritional state of the avocado crops of the Islands of Tenerife, La Palma, Gomera and Hierro was carried out by means of foliar analysis. The foliar ranges for the varieties Fuerte and Hass on West Indian roostocks were determined, high N levels in relation to those obtaining in other areas being found, and in addition low concentrations of Zn, although apparent symptoms of deficiebcy were not observed.Los autores agradecen al Cabildo Insular de Tenerife y a la Mancomunidad Provincial la ayuda económica prestada para la realización de este trabajoPeer reviewe

An effect of various nitrogen forms used as fertilizer on Lupinus albus L. yield and protein, alkaloid and α-galactosides content

The influence of various forms of nitrogen supplied to the ground as N 2, NH4+, NO3-, [NH 4+ + NO3-], -NH2, and Nd (N-deficiency) on Lupinus albus L. cvs. Butan (sweet) and Bac (bitter) yield and protein, alkaloid and α-galactoside biosynthesis in their seeds were studied. The experiments were performed in a greenhouse on perlite using, in all cases, the same dose of P, K, Mg and micronutrients (B, Zn. Mn, Cu, Mo, Fe). The Nd treatment contained only macro- and micronutrients without any nitrogen support. We found that different nitrogen forms used as a fertilizer had a significant influence on the development and yield structure of both lupin cultivars. It was found that the plants developed most favourably when nitrogen was supplied as N2 and [NH4+ + NO 3-]. For the other forms, the anomalies like necrosis, chlorosis, leaves with small surface of assimilation were noticed. However, these observations were not always reflected by all parameters of yield structure. The forms of nitrogen had a pivotal influence on yield of generative and vegetative parts of lupin. Moreover, significant differences in protein, alkaloid and α-galactoside content in seeds were observed. © 2005 Blackwell Verlag