Paula Camposano-Robinson, RN

Sanitasole recently received their final Certificate of Occupancy from the City of Marco Island and is now one step closer to opening an Assisted Living Facility on Marco Island.  Sanitasole has been providing healthcare services to seniors for more than three years. “The ALF will be a tremendous asset to our community,” said Paula Camposano Robinson, RN, co-founder and owner with her husband Richard P. Robinson.

The idea of an Assisted Living Facility came about after Sanitasole’s Adult Day Services were opened. The Robinsons designed and developed the current facility after extensive research traveling across the U.S., and opened their doors in 2007. An extensive application and survey process is required as centers who serve seniors, especially those that offer healthcare, must be licensed by the state of Florida through the Agency for Healthcare Administration.

“After careful planning, we realized we could accommodate ten one-bedroom, one-bath units,” said Richard Robinson. “The second floor of Sanitasole was completely gutted and has been going through a lengthy renovation process. We now have ten spacious residential suites ready for occupancy. Each unit has one bedroom and a private bath; however several of the larger units can accommodate a husband and wife. The suites are furnished, and are decorated beautifully, ensuring that every resident will feel comfortable and ‘at home’ at Sanitasole.”

Now that they have the C/O in hand, they are able to file their application with the ACHA, who in turn will review a specific set of criteria  and set up an onsite inspection. They will be the agency to approve and issue the license. “We have clients waiting to move in“, said VP of Clinical Services, Camposano Robinson. “We hope the state (AHCA) will be expeditious in reviewing our application and be on site in the very near future.”

Marco Islanders have supported having an ALF on Marco for many years, but with several false starts by other developers over the years going back to the Sarazen Center at the Marco Health Care Center, most others proposed to build “independent” living condos rather than assisted living nursing care units. With the opening of the assisted living facility, family members will no longer need to cross the Judge S.S. Jolley Bridge to Naples to evaluate choices for elder care. Loved ones will be only minutes away from each other.

Sanitasole is non-institutional facility that is very home-like. For additional information about Sanitasole, please call (239) 389-6100, email probinson@sanitasole.net, or go to www.Sanitasole.net

Summer is upon us and so is the heat. Heat can be a problem at any age, but especially for those in their mid-sixties and older. At this age, the body does not adjust to changes in temperature as easily, and people are more likely to have health conditions or be taking medications that further inhibit their ability to regulate body temperature and/or perspire, which is the body’s way of cooling off. Studies have shown the most dangerous kind of heat is not simply a very hot day, but heat that is unrelenting, that persists through the day and night giving no relief, that is responsible for the majority of deaths in the elderly, the very young, and those with illnesses due to heat. If your home is not air conditioned, consider going to an air-conditioned mall or some other air-conditioned location at least part of the day, and take cool showers or baths. The highest number of deaths due to heat in 2009 occurred in permanent homes with little or no air conditioning, with the next highest occurring outside.   Deaths from heat in Florida occur in May through September, with the highest reported in August.

This is the time of year when people are heading to water parks and amusement parks and other outdoor activities, and it’s important to enjoy the summer and the outdoors, but do it safely.  Before heading outside on a hot, sunny day, check the heat index as opposed to just the temperature; remember to take plenty of non-alcoholic beverages (alcoholic drinks act as a diuretics, causing dehydration); and wear lightweight clothing and a wide-brimmed hat to protect from the sun. Take care not to exert yourself, take breaks and rest periodically, seek air-conditioned locations for respite, and know a few danger signs to watch for to protect yourself and loved ones from heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Heat stroke is by far the most dangerous reaction to the heat and can occur rapidly.  If someone is not able to deal with the heat, their body temperature can rise to 106 degrees and higher within 10-15 minutes. The person’s body loses its ability to sweat and so is unable to cool down and brain death begins to occur quickly, leading to permanent disability or even death if emergency treatment is not provided quickly.

If someone has the following symptoms in the heat, they need immediate treatment and should be taken directly to the hospital:

• An extremely high body temperature (above 103°F)
• Red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)
• Rapid, strong pulse
• Throbbing headache
• Lethargy or even unconsciousness
• Seizures
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Nausea

People in this condition need to have their temperature reduced quickly!  It’s best to call 911 (EMS) immediately to have them taken to the hospital. Meanwhile, the use of ice packs can help reduce their temperature, and they need immediate fluids for rehydration.  If EMS takes too long to arrive, call the hospital emergency room for further advice. A few days in the hospital may be needed, as many different body organs can fail in heat stroke.

There are some milder problems due to heat that should be watched for as well, as these problems can lead to serious conditions if left unchecked.  Dehydration is by far, the most common problem of heat, leading to other serious conditions.  Plenty of water is needed throughout the day and frequently while in the heat.  Some of the signs of dehydration are:  thirst, dry mouth, loss of appetite, fatigue or weakness, chills, dizziness, dry skin, and/or dark colored urine. Replenish fluids quickly with water or sports drinks.

Another heat condition is heat exhaustion.  This milder problem of the heat occurs usually after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate fluid intake.  Symptoms can include heavy sweating, tiredness, weakness, paleness, dizziness, headache, nausea or vomiting, fast and shallow breathing, fast and weak pulse, fainting, and a moderately increased temperature (101-102 degrees F).  Getting the person to a cool environment or cooling them down with ice packs, getting them to rest and  giving them plenty of fluids can help, but if exhaustion is severe, the person may need IV fluids.

Heat and dehydration can also cause cramps that occur in the calf muscles that are forceful and painful.  These usually improve with rest, fluids and a cool environment.

If you have elderly relatives or neighbors, you can help them avoid these problems by visiting them at least twice daily and watching them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.  Encourage them to drink plenty of non-alcoholic beverages and drive them to a cool place if they have trouble with transportation.

With care taken, the outdoors can still be enjoyed even in the hot weather! Prepare yourself and your families and be safe this summer!

Paula Camposano-Robinson, RN

Paula Camposano Robinson, RN, is co-founder and owner of Sanitasole Senior Health Services. In healthcare for more than 30 years she and Jason Mark Young, MS, Director of Activities and Mental Health at Sanitasole will be discussing critical issues facing seniors and those who care for them. This is an information-only column and is not intended to replace medical advice from a physician. Email me www.sanitasole.net for more information. Phone: 239.394.9931.

Original content published HERE.

INPEA Announces 5th World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2010

Mark your calendars!  The International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) announces the 5th Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on Tuesday, June 15, 2010.

Communities and municipalities will make proclamations declaring June 15, 2010 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) and hold events designed to raise their communities’ awareness of elder abuse.  The first Awareness Day in 2006 involved several hundred organisations and governmental bodies at international, national, regional, local, community and neighbourhood level, in every continent in the world. The day is in support of the United Nations International Plan of Action which recognizes the significance of elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue. Governments, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, religious groups, professionals in the field of aging, interested individuals as well as older persons themselves will promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by organizing activities around the world to raise awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect.

Throughout the world, abuse and neglect of older persons is largely under-recognized or treated as an unspoken problem.  Unfortunately, no community or country in the world is immune from this costly, public health and human rights crisis.  Research indicates that public education campaigns like World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) are vital for informing people in a growing number of countries about elder abuse and active involvement of the media is central to its success.

All countries, communities, neighborhoods and organizations interested in working to help bring recognition and ultimately an end to elder abuse and neglect are urged to take part in the 5th Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15, 2010.  Awareness activities may encompass volunteer or educational programs, cultural and art events, use of information technology, or any activity that aims to create awareness of elder abuse and neglect.  Raising awareness of elder abuse and neglect is a challenge and no effort is too small.  To learn more, and to download a free copy of the Community Guide World Day Tool Kit, please visit www.inpea.net/weaad.html.

The International Network for the Prevention for Elder Abuse (INPEA) was founded in 1997 and is dedicated to global dissemination of information as part of its commitment to world-wide prevention of elder abuse.  Acknowledging the diversity of culture, background, and life style of the world population, the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) aims to increase society’s ability, through international collaboration, to recognize and respond to the mistreatment of older people in whatever setting it occurs, so that the latter years of life will be free from abuse, neglect and exploitation.  For more information, please see our website at: www.inpea.net.

For help with an aging loved one in the Marco Island FL area, visit http://sanitasole.net.

Thanks to all the nominees and winners for Healthcare Twitizen of the week in May – you make the world a better place through you efforts to inform the public within your particular specialty and we salute you.

Paula Camposano-Robinson, RN

#MedicalMonday is used to give props to healthcare workers tweeting useful information, thus making the conversation better for everyone involved. Hash #MedicalMonday for doctors, physicians assistants, naturopaths, allied health professionals, clinics and hospitals and they might be selected as healthcare Twitizen of the week, helping to draw thousands of eyes to their online efforts. Voting is based on the number of Tweets and Retweets in favor of the nominee or posts on the eyeinfo blog by friends or followers of the nominee. One winner each month will be selected to win a prize.

Courtesy of the Doctors at Shady Grove Eye and Vision Care; Optometrists, Ophthalmologists and Opticians serving the Rockville, Potomac and Gaithersburg Maryland suburbs of Washington DC. For more information visit www.youreyesite.com. Follow us on Twitter @EyeInfo

For help with an aging loved one in the Marco Island FL area, visit http://sanitasole.net.

Paula Camposano-Robinson, RN

What Can You Do to Prevent Falls?

By Paula Robinson

Are you part of the America that is going gray as the Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) are moving into their 60s? I must admit, I am. And to think that Americans are now living into their 80s and 90s and are coping with more age-related challenges than ever before. Health care issues continue to emerge as many struggle to care for elders diagnosed with diseases such as Dementia, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s to name a few. However, a critical issue facing older adults today is a fall.

Falls are among the most common and serious problems affecting seniors today. At least 30 percent of adults over age 65 living at home fall at least once per year with 60 percent of these falls being fatal. A gait imbalance is not an inevitable accompaniment of old age though gait disturbances like those in Parkinson’s disease and diseases associated with immobility, falls can markedly impair your quality of life and even cause traumatic brain injury in some individuals.

Have you ever started to lose your balance or feel as though you have a gait issue? What about a slip or even a fall? If it was due to muscle weakness, previous studies have found this to be a major risk factor for fall prediction. Often we may just stumble or trip over an item on the floor or on an outdoor surface, miss a step, or may just not be paying attention or watching what we are doing as we move hurriedly throughout our seemingly busy day. Falls don’t just happen to seniors; I have a personal story for another column – my own falls for no apparent reason; finally a diagnosis of a rare autoimmune disease.

With financial issues becoming increasingly important due to the cost of care for seniors in a volatile economy, and in some instances decreasing insurance coverage and government benefits, fall prevention awareness should be enhanced through an overall increase in observation, reporting, and communication. Concerns about independence should remain in the forefront of our minds as our nation’s seniors struggle to be on their own – in their own homes trying to balance a quality of life that they value. As a first step, be sure to check the following areas in your home for possible hazards:  floors, stairs and steps; the kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, and lighting. Many detailed inspection checklists are available to help you to identify environmental issues in your home.

According to the National Council on Aging, nearly 60 percent of falls happen at home and even when injuries are minor, experiencing a fall can have a significant impact on an older adult’s sense of well being, safety and independence.  One out of three seniors in the U.S. experiences a fall each year, and every 18 seconds an elder is treated in an emergency room for a fall. Unintentional falls are the leading cause of injury deaths and nonfatal injuries for those 65 years of age and greater. It has been reported that more than 500,000 of these patients were hospitalized in 2009 with more than $19 billion spent for non-fatal injuries. By 2020, the annual direct and indirect cost of fall injuries is expected to reach a staggering $54.9 billion according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Although the rate of fatality is certainly of critical concern, non-fatal injuries that lead to a hospital stay or even more alarming a nursing home placement, restriction on activities, or decline on functioning or activity level are also significant  If an individual sustains a hip fracture from a fall, about one out of five patients dies within a year of their injury, but up to one in four adults who had lived independently before their hip fracture has to stay in a nursing home for at least a year after their injury. A reduced quality of life and premature death have been documented.

Certain subgroups are at an increased risk for both falls resulting in injury according to recent studies. There is an increase of danger with age and at a higher percentage and seriousness for women. Non-fatal fall-related injuries disproportionately affect older women with injury rates occurring 40-60 percent higher than men of similar age. Accordingly, hospital admission rates for fall- related injuries in older women are 81 percent higher than admission rates for men of the same age.

A fall can certainly happen to any one of us; with some of the most common injuries from falls being of a serious nature— i.e., fractures of the spine, hip, forearm, pelvis and even traumatic brain injuries. We put ourselves at risk by moving too quickly and not being in good physical condition.

Often although many people may have a fall, even those who are not injured can develop a fear of falling. This fear may cause them to limit their engagement in activities. Unfortunately, this often results in loss of strength and a downward cycle of decreasing activity and vitality – which can in itself, lead to increased risk of falling.

The best steps to take in maintaining your independence and reduce the risk of falling is by educating yourself about fall risks and participate in community exercise programs to increase strength and balance. Continually review your medications to reduce side effects and interactions, and check your home to evaluate if you may need modifications to reduce fall hazards (risk factors). The health care community needs to participate in the prevention at the outset by being responsive to the needs of adults in our community, thus helping to provide such services as:

• Individualized health assessments in individual’s homes to identify fall risk factors.
• Educating physicians throughout various communities about fall prevention.
• Reducing risks through such means as monitoring changes in medical conditions, vision testing, medication use, social support, physical functioning and most importantly, facilitate fall prevention efforts through existing medical care and adjusting home environments.

By paying attention to common risk factors, falls can be avoided and injury from falls can be minimized. Please, watch your step!

Paula Camposano Robinson, RN, is co-founder and owner of Sanitasole Senior Health Services. In healthcare for more than 30 years she and Jason Mark Young, MS, Director of Activities and Mental Health at Sanitasole will be discussing critical issues facing seniors and those who care for them. This is an information-only column and is not intended to replace medical advice from a physician. Email me or jyoung@sanitasole.net or visit http://sanitasole.net for more information. Phone: 239.394.9931.

This article originally appeared at http://coastalbreezenews.com/2010/06/03/what-can-you-do-to-prevent-falls/

Paula Camposano-Robinson, RN

Congratulations to Paula Camposano-Robinson, RN, @PaulaRobinsonRN, this weeks recipient of the Healthcare Twitizen of the Week, sponsored by the creators of the #MedicalMonday Hash, @EyeInfo.

Boston native Paula Camposano-Robinson brings a wealth of both clinical and managerial healthcare experience to her role as Vice President of Clinical Services at Sanitasole, Marco Island’s Premier Place for Senior Health. With her husband, Richard, she is co-founder and owner of the Adult Day Health Services Company.

Paula is a registered nurse with over 30 years in the healthcare industry. The depth of such professional exposure enabled her to gain an astute grasp of the ever-changing complexities of the present healthcare system while cultivating an empathic eye to Senior Care in particular. She has witnessed their increasing impact on the population of Southwest Florida and the challenges that have accompanied them.

Following her graduation in 1977 from Lasell College, Newton MA with a degree in Nursing, Paula moved to Marco Island and began her nursing career at Naples Community Hospital (NCH). The hospital was then in its infancy and determined to keep pace with the unprecedented growth occurring throughout the state. The demand for healthcare services of every type –especially for Seniors- was escalating. Such an environment provided the perfect challenge for Paula as she seized every opportunity to gain mastery of the vast array of healthcare services offered in Collier County.

Over the next decade Paula served clinical rotations in critical care, long-term care, ambulatory care -as well as working in home health. Throughout her clinical experiences she maintained a passion for “hands-on” patient care and with it, the dream of owning her own healthcare company began to grow. Although leadership roles in nursing administration became her public trademark, she never stopped nurturing her own entrepreneurial spirit.

When NCH inaugurated its first community affiliate, the Marco Island Urgent Care Center in 1985, Paula was appointed Head Nurse/Manager of the 24/7 ambulatory care center. She steadily advanced to become Executive Director, maintaining ongoing interface with the Board of Trustees, auxiliaries, an extensive network of referral sources and the community at large. After serving on the capital campaign committee to actualize an expansion to bring additional medical services to the Island, Paula spent two years as a Development Officer with the NCH Healthcare Foundation. After 28 years of service with NCH, she made the critical decision in 2004 to resign and pursue her dream.

Paula has continued to strengthen her clinical expertise while keeping a trained eye on the healthcare continuum for seniors. “I see seniors at risk within the present system- but it doesn’t have to be this way,” she asserts. “They can become vulnerable so quickly. They break a hip, have a stroke, suffer a heart attack – or become forgetful. Such events are often clear signals of an overall decline in their physical and emotional health. And so often those needing assistance are alone.”

Camposano-Robinson credits these insights to her belief in a model of Preventive Care that focuses directly on Seniors; a model also endorsed by her husband and partner, Richard Robinson. It has inspired their collaborative vision and compelled them to visit facilities on the cutting edge of such advocacy throughout the nation. “It’s a proactive model that anticipates client needs in a comprehensive manner,” Paula explains. “We designed Sanitasole to create a sense of warmth, wellness and empowerment for all our clients. There’s nothing like it in Southwest Florida -or the state. We aspire to having Sanitasole become a flagship facility.”

Thank you Nurse Camposano-Robinson, for taking the time and energy to disseminate your expertise in the interest of improving public health through Twitter and social media in general.  Don’t forget to Tweet your award proudly and to vote encourage your followers to vote for other health care professionals they feel may be deserving of future awards!  Mays Healthcare Twitizen of the month will be announced Monday. The winner will receive a free pair of Maui Jim sunglasses, courtesy of Shady Grove Eye and Vision Care of Rockville, Maryland.

Read more HERE.

When 100-year-olds make the news, it’s usually in the human-interest pages. Last year Emma Hendrickson, 101, became the oldest person ever to compete in the U.S. Bowling Congress Women’s Championships, when she rolled a 318 series in Reno, Nev. Harriet Ames, 100, of Concord, N.H., earned her bachelor’s degree in January, then died the next day. Providence political operative Frank DiPaolo Jr., 103, still holds down his job as a doorman at the Rhode Island State House.

We’ll likely hear many more such stories in the coming years, because centenarians—people who have reached 100 years of age—are one of the fastest growing groups in the U.S. The number of triple-digit Americans zoomed from about 37,000 in 1990 to more than 84,000 in 2008, and is expected to reach 580,000 by 2040, according to the Census Bureau. But we should learn a lot from these stories too, because when it comes to independence, money and health, centenarians stand apart from younger seniors.

Read more: Why Centenarians Are So Content – Personal Finance – Retirement – SmartMoney.com

For information and assistance with elder care for an aging loved one in the Marco Island FL area, visit us at http://sanitasole.net.

Older Americans Month 2010

Age Strong! Live Long!

May is Older Americans Month—a tradition dating back to 1963 to honor the legacies and ongoing contributions of older Americans and support them as they enter the next stage in life.

This year’s Older Americans Month theme—Age Strong! Live Long!—recognizes the diversity and vitality of today’s older Americans who span three generations. They have lived through wars and hard times, as well as periods of unprecedented prosperity. They pioneered new technologies in medicine, communications, and industry while spearheading a cultural revolution that won equal rights for minorities, women, and disabled Americans.

These remarkable achievements demonstrate the strength and character of older Americans, and underscore the debt of gratitude we owe to the generations that have given our society so much. But the contributions of older Americans are not only in the past.

Older Americans are living longer and are more active than ever before. And with the aging of the baby boomer generation—the largest in our nation’s history—America’s senior population is expected to number 71.5 million by 2030.

While keeping the growing population of older Americans healthy and active will increase the demand for senior services, what is remarkable is the extent to which older Americans themselves are supporting each other. As the new generations of seniors become better educated and more financially secure than their predecessors, they are spending more time making significant contributions in their communities through civic and volunteer opportunities.

In fact, older Americans are a core component of service delivery to seniors—embodying and modeling the drive to Age Strong! Live Long! They volunteer at group meal sites and deliver food to homebound seniors; they act as escorts and provide transportation for older adults who cannot drive; they help seniors with home repair, shopping and errands; and they provide vital counseling, information and referral services. Their energy and commitment reminds all Americans—not just senior citizens and their caregivers—to do their part to enhance the quality of life for older generations.

The annual commemoration of Older Americans Month is our opportunity to recognize the contributions of older citizens and join them in providing services and support that empower the elderly. Americans of all ages and backgrounds can volunteer with programs that improve health literacy, increase access to quality health services, offer food and nutrition services, provide financial and housing counseling, sponsor social activities and community engagement, and more.

Contact your local Area Agency on Aging by visiting http://www.eldercare.gov or calling 1-800-677-1116 to find out what you can do to strengthen services for older Americans, this month and all year round.

For elder care in the Marco Island FL area, visit http://sanitasole.net.

F.A.S.T.

FACE – Ask the person to smile? Does one side of the face droop?

ARMS – Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one side drift downward?

SPEECH – Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred?

TIME – Call 911 or to get to a hospital fast. Brain cells are dying.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

If you are in need of caregiving assistance for an aging loved one in the Marco Island FL area, visit us at http://sanitasole.net.

National Nurses Week Facts

Did you know…?

* There are nearly 3.1 million registered nurses in the United States. And, 2.4 million of them are actively employed.

* National Nurses Week has a distinctive history.

* The American Nurses Association was founded in 1896

* Isabel Adams Hampton Robb was the first president of the American Nurses Association

* According to projections released in February 2004 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, RNs top the list of the 10 occupations with the largest projected job growth in the years 2002-2012. Although RNs have listed among the top 10 growth occupations in the past, this is the first time in recent history that RNs have ranked first. These 10-year projections are widely used in career guidance, in planning education and training programs and in studying long-range employment trends. According to the BLS report, more than 2.9 million RNs will be employed in the year 2012, up 623,000 from the nearly 2.3 million RNs employed in 2002. However, the total job openings, which include both job growth and the net replacement of nurses, will be more than 1.1 million. This growth, coupled with current trends of nurses retiring or leaving the profession and fewer new nurses, could lead to a shortage of more than one million nurses by the end of this decade. (For details, see www.bls.gov/emp/#outlook .)

* The nation’s registered nurse (RN) workforce is aging significantly and the number of full-time equivalent RNs per capita is forecast to peak around the year 2007 and decline steadily thereafter, according to Peter Buerhaus of Vanderbilt University’s nursing school. Buerhaus also predicted that the number of RNs would fall 20 percent below the demand by 2010. (Journal of the American Medical Association, June 14, 2000)

* Schools of nursing were forced to reject more than 147,000 qualified applications to nursing programs at all levels in 2005 – an increase of 18 percent over 2004, according to a report by the National League for Nursing (NLN). The NLN Blamed the problem in part on a continuing shortage of nursing educators. Meanwhile, nursing colleges and universities denied 32,617 qualified applicants in 2005, also resulting primarily from a shortage of nurse educators, according to survey data released by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). The AACN survey also reveals that enrollment in entry-level baccalaureate nursing programs increased by 13.0 percent from 2004 to 2005. According to AACN, this is the fifth consecutive year of enrollment increases with 14.1, 16.6, 8.1 and 3.7 percent increases in 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. Prior to the five-year upswing, baccalaureate nursing programs experienced six years of declining enrollments from 1995 through 2000.

* There are over 240,400 advanced practice nurses in the United States. Of these, approximately 144,200 are nurse practitioners, 69,000 are clinical nurse specialists, 14,600 are both nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists, 13,700 are nurse midwives, and 32,500 are nurse anesthetists.

* The Congressional Nursing Caucus – a bi-partisan initiative, co-chaired by U.S. Reps. Lois Capps (D-CA) and Steven LaTourette (R-OH), with 56 congressional members — was formed in March 2003. The purpose of the caucus is to educate Congress on all aspects of the nursing profession and how nursing issues impact the delivery of safe, quality care. The caucus was formed after consultation between congressional leaders and ANA.

* Research indicates that advanced practice registered nurses can provide 60 to 80 percent of primary care services as well as or better than physicians and at a lesser cost.

* 49 states and the District of Columbia allow advanced practice nurses to prescribe medications.

* The January 5, 2000, edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reported the results of a study which revealed patients fared just as well when treated by nurse practitioners as they did when treated by physicians.

* The nation’s nurses rank first for their honesty and integrity, with 82 percent of Americans rating them “high” or “very high,” according to a 2005 Gallup Poll. Nurses have consistently rated first every year but one after being added to the list in 1999.

* The American Nurses Association (ANA) is the only full-service professional organization representing the interests of the nation’s 3.1 million registered nurses through its constituent member nurses associations, its organizational affiliates, and its workforce advocacy affiliate, the Center for American Nurses. The ANA advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the rights of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Congress and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.

* A study published in the January/February 2006 journal Health Affairs provides new evidence that if hospitals invest in appropriate Registered Nurse (RN) staffing, thousands of lives and millions of dollars could be saved each year. Specifically, the study shows that if hospitals increased RN staffing and hours of nursing care per patient, more than 6,700 patient deaths and four million days of care in hospitals could be avoided each year. In addition to the immense societal benefits of adequate nurse staffing, the anticipated financial benefits of savings per avoided patient death or hospitalization may also be significant. This study is important because it highlights the fact that people suffer and die when nursing care is inadequate. It is the latest study in a growing body of evidence that clearly demonstrates that nurses make the critical, cost-effective difference in providing safe, high-quality patient care.

* A study, published Sept. 23, 2003, in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and conducted by Linda Aiken of the University of Pennsylvania, determined that the educational level of RNs working in hospitals has a significant impact on whether patients survive common surgeries. The study probed the impact not only of the numbers of RNs providing bedside care, but how the educational preparation of RNs impacts patient mortality. Among the study’s most significant findings: that raising the percentage of RNs with bachelor’s degrees from 20 percent to 60 percent would save four lives for every 1,000 patients undergoing common surgical procedures.

* A study on the nursing shortage by Linda Aiken of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing found that an estimated 20,000 people die each year because they have checked into a hospital with overworked nurses. The study also found that Americans scheduled for routine surgeries run a 31 percent greater risk of dying if they are admitted to a hospital with a severe shortage of nurses. That’s approximately one-fifth of the up to 98,000 deaths that occur each year as a result of medical errors. Nurses in the study cared for an average of four patients at a time, with the risk of death increasing by about 7 percent for each additional patient cared for over that baseline number. (Source: “Hospital Nurse Staffing and Patient Mortality, Nurse Burnout, and Job Dissatisfaction,” study; Journal of the American Medical Association, Oct. 23-30, 2002.)

* The link between adequate and appropriate nurse staffing and positive patient outcomes has been shown in several ANA publications and studies, including ANA’s Nurse Staffing and Patient Outcomes in Inpatient Hospital Settings. This report, published in May 2000, found that shorter lengths of stay are strongly related to higher RN staffing per acuity-adjusted day and that patient morbidity indicators for preventable conditions are inversely related to RN skill mix.

* A 2001 ANA Staffing Survey revealed that America’s RNs feel that deteriorating working conditions have led to a decline in the quality of nursing care. Specifically, 75 percent of nurses surveyed felt the quality of nursing care at the facility in which they work has declined over the past two years, while 56 percent of nurses surveyed believe that the time they have available for patient care has decreased. In addition, over 40 percent said they would not feel comfortable having a family member or someone close to them be cared for in the facility in which they work, and over 54 percent would not recommend the profession to their children or their friends. These statistics reveal a disturbing trend.

* America’s registered nurses report that health and safety concerns play a major role in their decisions to remain in the profession, according to findings from a Health and Safety Survey released in 2001. In the survey, over 70 percent (70.5 percent) of nurses cited the acute and chronic effects of stress and overwork as one of their top three health and safety concerns. Yet nurses continue to be pushed harder — with more than two-thirds reporting that they work some type of unplanned overtime every month.

* The American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet Nursing Services Recognition Program offers guidelines designed to shift hospital administrators’ focus from expensive, short-sighted recruitment efforts to meaningful retention strategies. Hospitals that have been designated as “magnets” have been found in studies to attract and retain professional nurses who experienced a high degree of professional and personal satisfaction through their practice. “Magnet” criteria can be used by nurses and administrators to assess their own facilities for improvements. For details regarding this program, see www.nursecredentialing.org/magnet.

Original content HERE.

Visit http://sanitasole.net for elder care in the Marco Island FL area.