Nurses' Accuracy in Estimating Backrest Elevation

Background. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recommended that the head of the bed of mechanically ventilated patients be elevated to between 30o and 45o to decrease the risk of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) Compliance with this recommendation may be affected by nurses' knowledge of the recommendation and their accuracy in estimating the backrest elevation. Objectives. To determine the difference between nurses' estimation of backrest angle and the actual measured angle; to determine the relationship between nurses' demographic characteristics and the accuracy of estimation; to determine nurses' knowledge of why this recommendation has been made. Methods. A convenience sample of 39 nurses working in the selected ICUs of the study hospital was used. The angles of elevation were preselected in each area. Estimated angles were correlated with measured angles and this was correlated with demographic characteristics. Results. Forty-two per cent of the nurses were accurate in their estimation of bedrest angle (correlation 0.6232). Demographic characteristics had little effect on accuracy. Conclusion. Nurses could benefit from assistance in accurately estimating backrest elevation angle; as well as from education regarding strategies to decrease the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia

Bed utilization indices in the general hospitals in state of Kuwait 2004

Hospitals are an important part of the health care system and hospital costs are the largest component of the health care spending. This study aims to analyze and compare the hospital bed utilization indices in the general hospitals in Kuwait for year 2004. Review of the records of some departments of the general hospitals in Kuwait [which are general surgery, internal medicine and pediatrics departments] was done. Calculation and comparison of the hospital bed utilization indices was performed for the year 2004. An analysis of bed complement [B. C.] at the various general hospitals for the year 2004 revealed that Mubarak Al Kabir, Amiri and Sabah hospitals had the maximum B.C. Jahra and Adan hospitals had the maximum bed occupancy rate [B.O.R]. Sabah, Amiri and Mubarak Al-Kabir had the maximum average length of stay [A.L.S]. Farwania hospital has the maximum turn over interval [T.O.I], while Jahra hospital has the minimum T. O. I. [regarding generral surgery] and the maximum Turn over rate [T. O. R] regarding all selected departments [general 2Preral medicine and pediatric department]. Farwania, Amen and Sabah hospitals have the minimum surgery, internal medicine and pediatric departments respectively]. The results of this study can be valuable in providing scientific and effective example that highlights some gaps in the indices between various general hospitals for better achievements on the developmental scale