New Study Examines Link Between Nurse Burnout and Care

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania (INQRI's home) examined the relationship between nurse-burnout and potential harm to patients. The study, which was published on Monday in the American Journal of Infection Control, utilized 2006 infection data linked with two separate surveys examining hospital work environments and nurse burnout. The research team found that by adding a single patient to a nurse's workload, there was an increase of nearly one infection per 1,000 patient. Additionally, the authors also found that a 10 percent increase in a hospital's proportion of burned-out nurses raised urinary tract infections about the same amount but surgical site infections more than 50 percent, from 4.2 per 1,000 patients to more than six.

To read more about the study, click here.

To read the research article, click here (subscription required).

First Lady, Michelle Obama and Second Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, Announce Nursing Intiative To Improve Treatment of PTSD

Yesterday, the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing was honored to host Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden. The First and Second Ladies of the United States announced an expansion of their Joint Forces initiative, which was celebrating it's one year anniversary yesterday, that included 150 nursing organizations and 450 nursing schools pledging to train current and future nurses to treat soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental issues that plague military families. Previously, education on post-traumatic stress disorder was only part of specialized nursing curriculum but with this new initiative, training and education on this issue will be expanded into standard nurse education.

Click here to read more about this announcement by the First and Second Ladies of the United States.

For those of you looking for a little humor, Stephen Colbert also hosted Michelle Obama on his show last night where she spoke about the Joining Forces Initiative. You can see both parts of the interview here: Part 1 Part 2.

Why The Florida Nursing Shortage Matters

Earlier today, Kathleen Long, Dean of the University of Florida College of Nursing, was featured as a guest columnist in The Gainesville Sun. Dr. Long discussed the future implications of the nursing shortage in Florida, citing the work of University of Pennsylvania's nurse staffing expert, Dr. Linda Aiken, as well as the IOM's Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health report.

Click here to read the full article.

Click here to read other blogposts relating to the IOM's report.

Video: Function Focused Care: Optimizing Function and Activity Among Older Adults

Two weeks ago, INQRI grantee, Barbara Resnick, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, guest lectured at the University of Pennsylvania's Institute of Aging. Dr. Resnick's presentation focused on her work addressing function focused care and the outcomes associated with this cost-effective intervention. We encourage all of you to view this candid lecture on how function focused care can improve the lives of elderly individuals in assisted living, skilled-nursing facilities as well as acute care.

Click here to view the video.