Intensive care units demonstrating excellence in the care of acutely and critically ill patients from childbirth to young adulthood now have the opportunity to be recognized by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) as part of the prestigious Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence program. Applications for the new Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence-Pediatrics are now being accepted. The criteria for this new Beacon category have been exhaustively vetted to reflect standards and benchmark data in the pediatric environment, and the application contains more family-centered and age-related language and messaging.
Units selected to receive this award will have demonstrated quantitative and qualitative success in the following areas that impact patient care, measured specifically for the pediatric environment:
- Recruitment and retention
- Education, training and mentoring
- Research and evidence-based practice
- Patient outcomes
- Leadership and organizational ethics - Healing environment
Studies show that units achieving Beacon Award status rate higher on key indicators related to nursing satisfaction, quality of care, leadership and work environment. In addition, this award allows units to measure their systems, outcomes and environment against evidence-based criteria.
Since 2003, out of an estimated 6,000 intensive care units in the United States, 120 units in 33 states have been recognized with the Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence. 17 have received the award twice, one has received the award three times and, in the spring of 2008, one unit had achieved the award four times.
Beacon Award units realize many benefits of having met rigid criteria for excellence, high-quality standards and exceptional care of patients and patients' families:
- Influence and Recognition: Units that participate in the Beacon Award process help set the standards for what constitutes an excellent acute or critical care environment through the collection of evidence-based information. Patient safety and quality programs, such as the Leapfrog Group Hospital Quality and Safety Survey, consider Beacon achievement in their evaluation process.
- Credibility: Consumers, who are paying much closer attention today to quality-of-care factors with respect to their own healthcare, take this level of recognition into consideration when choosing a hospital for care or treatment.
- Recruitment and Retention: Prospective employees recognize a Beacon Award unit as a healthy work environment, a place where quality of care is tied directly to quality of staff. Nurses who work in these units recognize that their skills and expertise are appreciated and valued, boosting employee morale.
"AACN has always advocated for excellence in the care of acutely and critically ill children," said Dave Hanson, RN, MSN, CCRN, CNS, president, AACN. "AACN considers pediatric care to be a fundamental part of the continuum of critical care, and is committed to supporting nurses who provide care in the pediatric environment. This new Beacon Award category demonstrates this commitment."
For more information on the Beacon Award or AACN, please call (800) 899-2226. Applicants are not required to be a member of AACN to apply for the Beacon Award. Application information and requirements are available at http://www.aacn.org.
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is the largest specialty nursing organization in the world, representing the interests of more than 500,000 acute and critical care nurses. Its international headquarters are located in Aliso Viejo, Calif. Founded in 1969, the association has more than 240 chapters worldwide and is working toward a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families, where acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Darzi To Get Bill
Hospitals will face cash incentives to improve care and treatment, the Prime Minister said yesterday.
The government announced it is setting aside time for an NHS Reform Bill to put in place legislative changes needed by minister Lord Darzi.
According to the department of health, this is likely to strengthen public involvement in primary care trusts.
There would also be "greater scope" for patients to shape the care they receive.
And the idea of an NHS Constitution, setting out rights and responsibilities of staff and patients, will also be implemented.
According to the Prime Minister, hospitals will also face cash incentives to improve their services.
He told MPs yesterday: "For the first time, payments to NHS hospitals will be adjusted according to patient satisfaction and health outcomes, deepening our commitment to a patient-focused NHS."
Lord Darzi is due to publish his final report in the summer.
Health secretary Alan Johnson said: "This is a momentous year for the NHS. The 60th anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on the huge improvements in healthcare over the past sixty years while the Next Stage Review will provide a vision for the future - a health service ready to meet the challenges of the next decade, led by clinicians and patients, not driven from Whitehall.
"This week NHS local health authorities have started publishing their visions for providing the best quality care for patients in their communities.
"Every proposal that is emerging is the result of what local clinicians, NHS staff and patients have determined is needed across every aspect of healthcare, based on the best clinical evidence."
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The government announced it is setting aside time for an NHS Reform Bill to put in place legislative changes needed by minister Lord Darzi.
According to the department of health, this is likely to strengthen public involvement in primary care trusts.
There would also be "greater scope" for patients to shape the care they receive.
And the idea of an NHS Constitution, setting out rights and responsibilities of staff and patients, will also be implemented.
According to the Prime Minister, hospitals will also face cash incentives to improve their services.
He told MPs yesterday: "For the first time, payments to NHS hospitals will be adjusted according to patient satisfaction and health outcomes, deepening our commitment to a patient-focused NHS."
Lord Darzi is due to publish his final report in the summer.
Health secretary Alan Johnson said: "This is a momentous year for the NHS. The 60th anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on the huge improvements in healthcare over the past sixty years while the Next Stage Review will provide a vision for the future - a health service ready to meet the challenges of the next decade, led by clinicians and patients, not driven from Whitehall.
"This week NHS local health authorities have started publishing their visions for providing the best quality care for patients in their communities.
"Every proposal that is emerging is the result of what local clinicians, NHS staff and patients have determined is needed across every aspect of healthcare, based on the best clinical evidence."
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Boost For Palliative Care Nurses
Nurses who run palliative care teams are to get access to funds to buy new beds and establish facilities for grieving relatives, it was announced yesterday.
Some one million pounds has been set aside for the project, in 19 NHS Trusts and one prison.
The cash is to be channelled through the King’s Fund as part of its Enhancing the Healing Environment programme.
As well as receiving £40,000 in cash for improvements, team members will take part in King’s Fund programmes to improve their leadership skills and share ideas.
King’s Fund chief executive Niall Dickson said: "We are still not doing enough for patients at the end of life. Dying patients and their families, like recovering patients, deserve dignity and a caring environment, but too often they are not experiencing this.
"This new programme is an important step towards better care for a much neglected group."
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Care services minister Ivan Lewis said: "The Government is committed to improving care and people’s choices at the end of life, regardless of their condition or their location. We are taking this work forward through the development of a national End of Life Care Strategy for adults, which will be published in the summer.
"These projects will help to ensure that all people are treated with dignity and respect at the end of their lives and that pain and suffering amongst people approaching the end of life is kept to an absolute minimum."
Some one million pounds has been set aside for the project, in 19 NHS Trusts and one prison.
The cash is to be channelled through the King’s Fund as part of its Enhancing the Healing Environment programme.
As well as receiving £40,000 in cash for improvements, team members will take part in King’s Fund programmes to improve their leadership skills and share ideas.
King’s Fund chief executive Niall Dickson said: "We are still not doing enough for patients at the end of life. Dying patients and their families, like recovering patients, deserve dignity and a caring environment, but too often they are not experiencing this.
"This new programme is an important step towards better care for a much neglected group."
Best pills shop
Care services minister Ivan Lewis said: "The Government is committed to improving care and people’s choices at the end of life, regardless of their condition or their location. We are taking this work forward through the development of a national End of Life Care Strategy for adults, which will be published in the summer.
"These projects will help to ensure that all people are treated with dignity and respect at the end of their lives and that pain and suffering amongst people approaching the end of life is kept to an absolute minimum."
Allergy Help From Pharmacies
A new allergy screening service is set to become available through pharmacies.
Allergy UK is launching the service to help the estimated 20 million people in the UK who will suffer from an allergy at some point in their life.
What will help you whit Allergy.
The charity says it is often very difficult for sufferers to get the advice they need in order to discover what they are allergic to and how they can avoid the problem.
Allergy UK is regularly contacted for advice on how to get a reliable diagnosis, so they set up the service which will be available through local pharmacies from May 19, the first day of National Allergy Week. It will offer a consultation by a pharmacist who will have had special training in allergy. Further support and information will then be provided by Allergy UK.
CEO Muriel Simmons said: "This is an exciting development for people with allergy and we have listened to those who contact us desperate for help. They want a local, affordable service where they can feel confident in the advice being given.
"We are delighted to be working with the National Pharmacy Association to introduce this much needed service. The local pharmacy is often the first place that people turn to for advice with a health problem and it is therefore logical to establish a high quality allergy screening service within the pharmacy."
Deputy CEO of Allergy UK, Jules Payne, added: "Any sufferer going to a pharmacist bearing the Allergy UK accreditation can be assured that the person they are seeing is a highly trained healthcare professional."
Allergy UK is launching the service to help the estimated 20 million people in the UK who will suffer from an allergy at some point in their life.
What will help you whit Allergy.
The charity says it is often very difficult for sufferers to get the advice they need in order to discover what they are allergic to and how they can avoid the problem.
Allergy UK is regularly contacted for advice on how to get a reliable diagnosis, so they set up the service which will be available through local pharmacies from May 19, the first day of National Allergy Week. It will offer a consultation by a pharmacist who will have had special training in allergy. Further support and information will then be provided by Allergy UK.
CEO Muriel Simmons said: "This is an exciting development for people with allergy and we have listened to those who contact us desperate for help. They want a local, affordable service where they can feel confident in the advice being given.
"We are delighted to be working with the National Pharmacy Association to introduce this much needed service. The local pharmacy is often the first place that people turn to for advice with a health problem and it is therefore logical to establish a high quality allergy screening service within the pharmacy."
Deputy CEO of Allergy UK, Jules Payne, added: "Any sufferer going to a pharmacist bearing the Allergy UK accreditation can be assured that the person they are seeing is a highly trained healthcare professional."
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Nurses Applaud Positive Indigenous Health Initiatives On Close The Gap Day, Australia
The Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) is calling on the federal government to implement successful Indigenous health models to help close the 17 year life expectancy gap existing between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
Ged Kearney, ANF Federal Secretary said there were a number of successful nurse lead programs that could be applied nationally in consultation with Indigenous communities. "There are some wonderful nursing programs throughout Australia's Indigenous communities that, through a combination of cultural, family and community support, are seeing the achievement of improved health outcomes."
The ANF highlighted Monica Lawrence's nurse lead pilot project in South Australia as a positive example of how practical measures can deliver vast health improvements to Indigenous Australians.
Ms Lawrence piloted a remote area cardiac liaison nurse position through Flinders Medical Centre to ensure that Indigenous Australians from remote communities were properly informed and physically prepared for impending cardiac surgery.
In the past less than 50% of these patients had surgery, either failing to present to hospital or having to be cancelled at the last minute. With simple strategies that improved communication between the hospital and local communities Ms Lawrence ensured that all patients were properly informed about and fit for surgery, and that they all attended.
Ms Lawrence said it was important to have well supported, culturally sensitive programs involving family, the local community, and skilled remote area nurses.
The ANF also highlighted the work of the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses (CATSIN) in increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people choosing nursing as a career.
"The ANF and CATSIN continue to endorse programs that aim to facilitate the education of Indigenous nurses in their own communities, like the aged care initiative at Pulkapulkka Kari." Ms Kearney said.
The ANF and CATSIN also encourage universities offering a Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery to continue to work towards including core-curriculum subjects to further educate both Indigenous and non-Indigenous nurses on Indigenous history, health and culture.
"It is through these types of programs that we will begin to address the national shame of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people dying 17 years earlier than other Australians."
The ANF, representing nearly 160,000 members, is the professional and industrial voice for nurses and midwives in Australia.
Ged Kearney, ANF Federal Secretary said there were a number of successful nurse lead programs that could be applied nationally in consultation with Indigenous communities. "There are some wonderful nursing programs throughout Australia's Indigenous communities that, through a combination of cultural, family and community support, are seeing the achievement of improved health outcomes."
The ANF highlighted Monica Lawrence's nurse lead pilot project in South Australia as a positive example of how practical measures can deliver vast health improvements to Indigenous Australians.
Ms Lawrence piloted a remote area cardiac liaison nurse position through Flinders Medical Centre to ensure that Indigenous Australians from remote communities were properly informed and physically prepared for impending cardiac surgery.
In the past less than 50% of these patients had surgery, either failing to present to hospital or having to be cancelled at the last minute. With simple strategies that improved communication between the hospital and local communities Ms Lawrence ensured that all patients were properly informed about and fit for surgery, and that they all attended.
Ms Lawrence said it was important to have well supported, culturally sensitive programs involving family, the local community, and skilled remote area nurses.
The ANF also highlighted the work of the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses (CATSIN) in increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people choosing nursing as a career.
"The ANF and CATSIN continue to endorse programs that aim to facilitate the education of Indigenous nurses in their own communities, like the aged care initiative at Pulkapulkka Kari." Ms Kearney said.
The ANF and CATSIN also encourage universities offering a Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery to continue to work towards including core-curriculum subjects to further educate both Indigenous and non-Indigenous nurses on Indigenous history, health and culture.
"It is through these types of programs that we will begin to address the national shame of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people dying 17 years earlier than other Australians."
The ANF, representing nearly 160,000 members, is the professional and industrial voice for nurses and midwives in Australia.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Missing South African Nurse Found in Jail
RIYADH, 10 March 2008 — A South African nurse who has been missing since November has been found imprisoned in a Saudi jail and is expected to return to her country within the next few days.
Dannelene Noach disappeared after allegedly discovering corruption at the hospital where she worked. “The South African Embassy has managed to trace the nurse, and the mission is rendering all consular support to her,” said South African Ambassador John Davies.
“Dannelene will be repatriated to South Africa in a few days from now... I can only tell you this much at the moment... The mission is working with the Saudi authorities and her employer to facilitate Dannelene’s return as soon as possible,” he added.
According to the South African press, Noach was in good health and spirits, and that her family still knew nothing about the circumstances surrounding her arrest.
“Dannelene doesn’t feel comfortable in talking over the phone,” the report said quoting the nurse’s daughter Lee-Ann Noach-Pienaar.
The nurse, a clinical coordinator at a Riyadh hospital for the past seven years, was apparently being held on bribery charges. Noach was asked in May last year to conduct an audit of her department and had discovered financial discrepancies. As soon as she submitted her report, she was sacked.
In November last year, Noach filed a complaint in the labor court against the hospital for sacking her.
The case was transferred from the labor court to the high court as a civil case against the employer. The judge ruled that Noach should receive compensation and when she appeared in court again on Nov. 20, the judge was on an emergency leave and the case was postponed to Nov. 27. It was then that the nurse went missing.
Noach has spent three months in prison and contacted her family only in January since her disappearance.
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