Journal of nursing care quality
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This evidence-based project was undertaken to implement research-based preventive protocols to decrease the negative outcomes associated with delirium/acute confusion. After implementation, the medical-surgical unit experienced a 62% reduction in falls and a 100% decrease in sitter usage the first year. The use of medications known to cause acute confusion was decreased by more than 50%. Since implementation, the fall rate as well as the use of restraints has decreased by 25%.
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Cervical collars are necessary to stabilize the cervical spine of trauma patients but are known to contribute to the development of occipital pressure ulcers. A quality improvement project that began on one nursing unit stimulated the development of evidence-based practice guidelines and a multidisciplinary research study. As a result, a standardized plan of care and cervical collar recommendations were implemented, resulting in a sharp decline in the incidence of occipital pressure ulcers.
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The aim of this study was to investigate construct validity and internal consistency of a modified version of the Consumer Emergency Care Satisfaction Scale used on persons accompanying emergency department patients. The sample comprised 128 persons. The results showed satisfactory reliability, and an exploratory factor analysis revealed 3 factors: caring, teaching, and clinical competence. The modified version of this scale seems feasible and may be a useful tool for measuring satisfaction in persons accompanying patients in the emergency department.
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Comparative Study
Effectiveness of Chloraprep in reduction of blood culture contamination rates in emergency department.
Contaminated blood cultures result in increased healthcare utilization. Poor skin preparation is usually the cause of contamination. Our study results showed a significant decrease in contamination rates using 2% chlorhexidine and 70% isopropanol (Chloraprep) versus tincture of iodine. Adoption of this technique throughout our institution is expected to result in a savings of 875000 dollars per year, as well as decreased discomfort for the patient.
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Noise has been shown to interfere with the healing process and can disrupt the patient's experience. This study assessed patients' and staff's perceptions of noise levels and sources in the hospital environment and identified interventions to reduce the noise level. The interventions significantly reduced noise as perceived by patients and staff. Identification of a structured process to identify noise sources and standardization of noise measurement methods can improve the patient hospital experience.