No abstract

Patients and families desire compassionate care from healthcare providers. In today’s healthcare environment, challenges exist for all providers, including nurses, with balancing the delivery of consistent, compassionate care and maintaining a professional quality of life (QOL) that incorporates overall wellness and a healthy work environment. A literature review indicated no available research related to compassion satisfaction and fatigue and work environment by RN type. The aims of this study were to quantify differences in compassion satisfaction (CS) and compassion fatigue (CF) scores, including burnout and secondary traumatic stress (STS), by four registered nurse (RN) employment-types and to study work environment factors. Our methods included a survey of a random sample (n = 208) of RNs by type. Study results indicated that significant differences existed by RN type for CF (burnout and STS) scores; nurse leaders had the most CF and other nurses the least. Significant differences also existed for some shared governance activities and workplace violence measures. Our discussion concludes that opportunities exist for evaluation of interventions for healthier work environments, particularly for nurse leaders, including supporting shared governance activities for all RN types, as well as zero-tolerance for workplace violence.

We evaluated the use and cleaning of x-ray aprons and thyroid shields by surveying rural hospital system health care workers who wear x-ray aprons and thyroid shields. One hundred fifty-five of the 173 respondents were RNs (89.6%), and 94 respondents were from inpatient or outpatient surgical settings (54.3%). One hundred thirty-five respondents (78.0%) reported soiled x-ray aprons or thyroid shields, and 52 (30.1%) reported shield odors. Eighty-three participants (48.0%) indicated they never spot cleaned. Standard department cleaning never occurred for 37 x-ray aprons or thyroid shields (21.4%); and 114 x-ray aprons or thyroid shields (65.9%) contacted a patient or patient item 1 to 10 times per shift. Twenty-six participants (15%) specified there were policies and procedures for cleaning x-ray aprons and thyroid shields. Use of evidence-based cleaning guidelines and manufacturer's requirements for effective spot and standard cleaning of the protective aprons and thyroid shields are warranted.

Staphylococcus infections are a global issue that can seriously impact the health of the communities. The presence of staphylococcus infections have traditionally been observed within the healthcare settings. Although, recently there has been an increase on the diagnosis of staphylococcus infections throughout the community. The development of this community acquired epidemic may be due to the lack of the public's education involving the infection, the empirical prescribing of antibiotics by healthcare providers, and the patient's misuse or misunderstanding of antibiotics. The purpose of this paper is to provide insight on community acquired methicillinresistant staphylococcus (CA-MRSA), its impact on the global community, and how the community health nurse can help provide awareness on CA-MRSA.