Physio Control, Inc., issued a recall of LifePak CR Plus Automated External Defibrillators (AED), used by emergency or medical personnel to treat adults in cardiopulmonary arrest. The product was recalled because the AED instructs the responder by voice prompts to press the shock button which is not visible because it is covered, thereby making the responder unable to provide shock therapy. The AED device should be removed from service or the manufacturer-provided diagram should be consulted to remove and discard the shock button cover.

Read the entire 2008 MedWatch Safety Summary, including a link to the manufacturer's Recall Notice regarding this issue: www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2008/safety08.htm#LifePakCR

ANA poll reveals serious concerns about quality of care

An American Nurses Association poll of registered nurses nationwide reveals their significant concerns over how nurse staffing affects the quality of care, and contributes to the growing nursing shortage. The results highlight the need for adequate nurse staffing critical to the delivery of quality patient care.

The poll of more than ten thousand nurses nationwide shows the nurses’ perspective on how staffing levels impact their work environment:

• 73% of nurses asked don’t believe the staffing on their unit or shift is sufficient.

• 59.8% of those asked said they knew of someone who left direct care nursing due to concerns about safe staffing.

• Of the 51.9% of respondents who are considering leaving their current position, 46% cite inadequate staffing as the reason.

• 51.7% of respondents said they thought the quality of nursing care on their unit has declined in the last year

• 48.2% would not feel confident having someone close to them receiving care in the facility where they work.

“Safe nurse staffing has been linked to more positive patient outcomes, decreased length of hospital stay, and decreased number of medical errors and patient falls. It has also been shown to improve nurse satisfaction and decrease burnout, both significant factors contributing to nurses leaving the profession. It benefits the patient by improving care, the hospital by reducing cost and the nurse by improving the work environment. That is why it’s vital to enact legislation that will set safe staffing levels, and why ANA is such a strong advocate for the Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act,” said ANA President Rebecca M. Patton, MSN, RN, CNOR.  

The Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act (S.73/H.R. 4138) is consistent with the ANA’s Principles for Nurse Staffing. It holds hospitals accountable for establishing valid, reliable, unit level nurse staffing plans. These plans would be developed in consultation with direct care RNs and be based on each unit’s needs and characteristics. Hospitals would also be required to post daily public reports of staffing levels and provide whistleblower protections for RNs and others who might file a complaint about staffing.

To view more results of ANA’s Staffing Poll, or to learn more about the issue of safe staffing please visit www.safestaffingsaveslives.org/results.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing has just finalized their data for Texas Nursing School enrollment in 2007. I would like to thank Robert Rosseter, Associate Executive Director with AACN, for sharing these numbers with Nurses' Lounge before they have been officially published.

It looks like even though the enrollments are increasing, they are still moving at a slower pace than demand.

In Texas in 2007:

3,306 qualified applicants were turned away from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs, including 2,926 from entry-level baccalaureate programs

Enrollment in entry-level baccalaureate programs increased by 4.1% over the previous year

Enrollment in RN to baccalaureate programs increased by 5.0% over the previous year

Enrollment in master's programs increased by 1.8% over the previous year

Enrollment in research-focused doctoral programs decreased by 6.3% over the previous year

"Given the calls to strengthen the nursing workforce," says Rosseter, "AACN is pleased to see that enrollments in baccalaureate nursing programs have increased for the seventh year in a row. In Texas, the 4.1% increase in entry-level nursing programs is actually lower than the national average of 5.4%."

"Despite the good news," Rosseter continues, "enrollments are not growing fast enough to meet the projected demand, and much more must be done at the federal and state levels to ensure that all citizens have access to nursing care and essential healthcare services."

You can read more about the report on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's website.