for Perioperative Nurses, NPs and RNFAs
September 22, 2011 Vol. 4, No. 8 |
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Friday
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Have questions about RNFA training, credentialing, reimbursements, state issues, or just want to "talk shop" between cases? Call us on the NIFA HOT LINE! Emily Haas or one of our other helpful staff members will answer your question or immediately direct you to the right person. Call 1-800-92ASSIST, press 1.
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From the Editor
Happy autumn, everyone! NIFA is in the midst of another Denver-based SutureStar Summit this week, so we'll keep this short and sweet. Read on for some medical news and this month's Student Spotlight: Dollie Adams of New Richland Hills, Texas, who attended the July 2011 Summit. Julie Lancaster, Editor |
 | Top-Performing Hospitals Named |
On September 20, The Joint Commission released its annual report on quality and safety, Improving America's Hospitals. The report identifies 405 top-performing hospitals that excelled in accountability measure performance during 2010. Click the above link for a PDF copy of the report. |
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New Study: Hospital Staff Uniforms Harbor Potential Pathogens
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A team of researchers in Israel studied the presence of bacteria on doctor and nurse uniforms in a busy university hospital and found that some 60% of staff uniforms were colonized with potentially pathogenic bacteria, including drug-resistant organisms.
The study is reported in the September 2011 issue of the American Journal of Infection Control. Click on the link to read an abstract of the article or to gain access to the entire article. The study did not examine transfer of these bacteria to patients or resulting infections, but it did point out that the presence of bacteria on uniforms, especially on sleeves, may indicate even greater contamination on nearby areas, such as bedrails.
In an MSN news story about the report, the author, JoNel Aleccia, quotes Ramona Carter, RN, manager of standards and recommended practices for AORN, who said, "We do know that antibiotic-resistant organisms have been found to survive for extended lengths of time on hospital materials, including clothing and linens." AORN recommends that hospitals provide laundry services and prohibit workers from wearing scrubs home.
"The Israeli researchers . . . recommended that health workers change into clean uniforms daily, boost their hand hygiene practices and use plastic aprons for messy jobs that may involve splashing or contact with bodily fluids," Alleccia added |
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Student Spotlight: Dollie Adams
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 Name: Dollie Adams Credentials: RN Student Status: Current student, RNFA program City and State: North Richland Hills, Texas
Current Position: Unit Supervisor, North Hills Hospital Path to RNFA: My grandmother always wanted to be an RN and I spent my entire childhood listening to her talk about her dream and how she would never be able to accomplish that. It disappointed me to know that she would never be able to live her dream. I loved the hospital shows as a child on TV and always loved seeing them put the body back together, so between my grandmother and my love of the body it was only natural that I became a nurse in my adult life. I received my degree from Jefferson College of Health Sciences in Roanoke, VA. After beginning my career in the Operating Room more than seven years ago I could only envision myself being an assistant to the surgeon. Every time I scrubbed on a case, it was just a natural feeling that I would somehow get my hands in on the surgery. I knew from my first week on the job in the OR that I would become an RNFA someday. |
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Disclaimer: The views expressed in this newsletter are strictly those of their respective authors and do not necessarily represent the views of NIFA. NIFA does not give any express or implied warranty as to the
accuracy of statements made by our contributors and does not accept any liability for error or omission. It is the responsibility of all perioperative personnel to work within and adhere to their facility bylaws and individual state scope of practice.
 The National Institute for First Assisting (NIFA) is the nation's leader of distance learning RNFA programs. NIFA students receive over 34 hours of simulated skills hands-on lab training at our 3-day SutureStarXpress Workshops (or over 54 hours of simulated skills hands-on lab training at our 6-day SutureStar Workshops). NIFA's RNFA programs are CCI-accepted and meet all standards as set forth by the AORN for formal RN First Assistant programs, taking Perioperative Nurses and NPs to expert levels in the expanded role of Registered Nurse First Assistant. |
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