A comparison between the risk of needle stick injuries among nurses in emergency wards and nurses in other wards of hospitals

Background and Aim: Nursing work in emergency departments is tangled with unbearable hardship and high working pressure as well as an increased risk of occupational injuries. Needle stick injury is among such risks. Incidence of these injuries differs in different hospital wards. This study aimed to determine needle stick injury risks in emergency ward in comparison with other wards of Qazvin hospitals in 2010. Materials and Methods: This historical cohort study was done on nursing staff working in Qazvin hospitals. Statistical population included nursing staffs at Qazvin hospitals who were responsible for direct patient care. From among nurses working in the emergency wards, 52 were selected. Control group consisted of 258 nurses who had worked in other wards of the same hospitals. The research instrument was a self-administered questionnaire. To determine validity and reliability of the Instrument, content validity and test-retest were performed. The collected data was analyzed using Independent t test, Mann-Whitney, Chi-Square, Fisher Exact Test, and Logistic Regression through SPSS (version 16) at 0.05. Results: Risk of injury in emergency ward was three times more than other wards (p<0.01). The average numbers of beds in emergency wards and in other wards were 24.2±.6.7 and 18.1± 10.7 respectively. Nonetheless, number of nurses on different shifts in emergency wards, especially in the evening shift, was significantly lower (p<0.05). However, according to logistic regression analysis, the work in emergency ward was an independent risk factor for needle stick injuries (p<0.05). Conclusion: The risk of needle stick injuries among nurses in emergency wards is dramatically higher than other wards. It seems that more beds per nurse affects this increased risk. It is proposed that the number of nurses in emergency departments be increased, especially in the evening shift so that the risk of this serious injury may be reduced

The Effect of Foot Massage on the Consciousness Levels in Comatose Patients With Brain Injury Hospitalized in Intensive Care Unit (Icu): A Randomised Control Trial

Introduction: Coma results from traumatic or non-traumatic brain injuries. Foot massage can influence the level of consciousness in comatose patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of foot massage on the level of consciousness in comatose patients due to brain injury who were hospitalized in the ICUs of selected hospitals in Qazvin. Methods: This study was a clinical trial which was conducted on 40 patients with coma who were hospitalized in the ICUs of Shahid Rajaee and Razi hospitals in Qazvin in 2014. Patients were assigned to case and control groups, using randomize blocked allocation. Massage of both feet was performed in a Stroke manner (5 minutes for each foot) and once a day for 14 days. Then, the level of consciousness was recorded using Glasgow Coma Scale. Statistical tests (chi-square, Independent t-test, dependent t-test and Repeated Measures variance analysis) were used for analysis. Results: The results showed that there is significant difference between the mean of consciousness level before (5.80±1.58) andafter (10.6±2.41) massage in the intervention group(P=0.001). While the mean of consciousness level was (5.3±1.72)before and (6.94±3.03)after the intervention in the control group andit was not statistically significant (P=0.06). Conclusion: Foot massage could increase the level of consciousness among patients in comatose patients due to brain injury. It is recommended to use this intervention for increasing patientsconsciousness level

Assessing the topical high pressure oxygen therapy in healing of bedsore

2 2 and 28.724 cm 2 , respectively. The average size of bedsore after treatment was 30.02 cm in control group and 13.37 cm 2 in experimental group. There was a significant difference between two groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, the topical high pressure oxygen therapy was found to be highly effective in healing of bedsore. Hence, the application of topical high pressure oxygen therapy as an auxiliary method of treatment is recommended

Factors affecting nurses' coping with transition: an exploratory qualitative study

v6n6p88 Abstract Aim: One of the most important factors contributing to staff shortage is nurses’ ineffective coping with transitions. Changes in nurses’ official positions are usually associated with varying degrees of transition. Identification of affecting factors on nurses’ coping in responding to transition can promote quality of nursing activity and prevent nurses’ shortage. So the aim of this study was to explore factors affecting nurses’ coping with transitions. Methods: The participant of this exploratory qualitative study consisted of sixteen nurses that were work in medical wards of four hospitals in Qazvin, Iran. Data collected by semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed by qualitative content analysis approach. Results: The main theme of the study was ‘inadequate preparation for transition’. This theme consisted of six categories including “staff training and development”, “professional relationships”, “perceived level of support”, “professional accountability and commitment”, “welfare services”, and “nursing staff shortage”. Conclusion: Nursing managers and policy makers need to pay special attention to the affecting factors on nurses’ coping with transition and develop effective strategies for facilitating it