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So You've Been Named In A Lawsuit? What Happens Next?

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Does your facility have a smoking cessation counseling protocol established for patients diagnosed with myocardial infarction?

Dear NursingCenter eNews,

Patient safety is foremost in our work. Medication errors, knowledge errors and procedural errors can cause patient injury and have significant legal ramifications. Because nurses usually spend more time with patients than other disciplines, we are more prone to these errors ourselves, or to witness others' errors.

Current advances in information technology (IT) have the potential to make both patients and nurses safer. Newer technology systems, such as computerized charting and bar coding for medication administration, were developed to minimize errors and improve nursing practice. While the introduction of new programs can be time-consuming and overwhelming, it is important to remember the goal of these programs is to protect patients.

Ethics and Information Technology: How Nurses Balance When Integrity and Trust are at Stake INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: Automation: The Vanguard of EBN HIGH TECH/HIGH CARE: Measuring Healthcare Information Technology Success IT Takes A Care Team Patient and Nurse Safety How Information Technology Makes a Difference The Potential Use of "Blogs" in Nursing Education

Read more on this topic by exploring the articles in NursingCenter's "More Resources."

Don't miss our next issue with a focus on career management and recent articles and CEs.

Lisa Bonsall, MSN, RN, CRNP
Clinical Editor

More than half a million new cases of heart failure are diagnosed each year. Educate yourself about practice guidelines for Managing Systolic Heart Failure.
(2.5 contact hours) Nursing2006

Would the addition of LPN staff be helpful in your work setting? Review one comprehensive study and specific policy recommendations on this topic by reading Can the Use of LPNs Alleviate the Nursing Shortage?
(3.5 contact hours) AJN, American Journal of Nursing

Age-related changes may increase the risks associated with surgery. Learn how to minimize complications and optimize recovery in Age-Smart Care: Preventing Peri-Operative Complications In Older Adults.
(2.5 contact hours) Nursing Made Incredibly Easy!

It is estimated that one person dies from a stroke every 3 minutes. Update your knowledge of acute ischemic stroke by exploring The Clot That Changes Lives.
(3 contact hours) Nursing2006 Critical Care

Our Recommended CEs include articles on HAI prevention, patient-safety survey report, nurse's extended work schedule...

Do you carry your own professional liability insurance? Should you? Find this answer and more in So You've Been Named In A Lawsuit? What Happens Next?
Nursing2006

Nurses are critical in providing pain relief for hospitalized patients, and in the past, the use of range orders has been within our scope of practice. However, hospitals now have 3 options when it comes to range orders, including forbidding their use. Read more in Pain Control: A Call to Action to Protect Range Orders.
AJN, American Journal of Nursing

Guillain-Barré syndrome is a neuromuscular disorder that is commonly preceded by a viral-like illness. Learn more about this disease by reading The Ascension of Guillain-Barré Syndrome.
Nursing2006 Critical Care

An Svo₂ monitor measures the oxygen saturation of venous blood as it returns to the right side of the heart. It allows us to assess the balance between oxygen supply and demand. Find out more, including what abnormal values signify, in Diagnostic Update: Improve Assessments With Mixed Venous Oxygen Saturation.
Nursing2006 Critical Care

Browse our Recommended Readings on emerging infections, the power of pain, Understanding hearing loss and deafness, and more.

Read the articles in the latest Featured Journal online only on NursingCenter. The Featured Journal gives you the opportunity to get acquainted with the kind of coverage and clinical information the journal has to offer. Get to know our journals. The current Featured Journal is...

When coming to the aid of someone suffering from an insect sting, all of the basics of first aid apply. Be aware of the following signs of an allergic reaction:

• Hives
• Itching
• Dyspnea
• Bronchospasm
• Edema, especially of the face or throat
• Tachycardia
• Hypotension
• Diarrhea
• Unconsciousness
• Cardiovascular collapse

Read more, including ways to extract the stinger in PHOTO GUIDE: First Aid For Bee, Wasp, & Hornet Stings.

Magnesium sulfate is a drug on the ISMP List of High Alert Medications because errors with this drug have the potential for devastating effects. This drug is commonly used in obstetrics to treat preeclampsia and preterm labor. Errors leading to overdose can cause toxicity and respiratory arrest. To reduce the risk of harm when administering magnesium sulfate to obstetrical patients:

• Use standard premixed solutions.
• Label the I.V. tubing near the pump.
• Aid in the development of and follow established protocols.
• Use double-checks.
• Monitor the patient frequently and assess for toxicity.
• Ensure that staffing is adequate.
• Be prepared in an emergency.

See Drug Updates for more information on medication errors.

If you know what you want, then you have a much better chance of finding the perfect job. Finding that dream position starts with researching the options available to you at our Job Center. Also, count on the Job Center resources to help you save time and focus your efforts. Currently, there are more than 12,000 job opportunities.

Also visit our Featured Facilities and OR specialties for more choices.

Kelley writes, "My hospital is currently using GRASP as a tool to measure workload & determine adequate staffing. We are in the process of reevaluating the effectiveness of it. What are some of the other tools used in acute care facilities? Do you find them to be effective? We are HFAP accredited and are currently moving towards electronic documentation through Meditech." To respond, please go to the end of the thread in the AREAS OF PRACTICE: MEDICAL-SURGICAL Forum.

If you can spare the time, become a Mentor now by visiting our Mentor Connection.

Recently, the American Nurses Association (ANA), along with the New York State Nurses Association and the Washington State Nurses Association, filed a lawsuit against the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The ANA and the two state organizations claim that HHS is endangering patients by allowing hospitals that fail to meet federal staffing requirements to participate in Medicare. More>>

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