ABSTRACT
An inexpensive method of determining the staffing requirements for a labor and delivery unit is described. Data were collected hourly by an independent observer to determine the workload by hour of day in this unit. By matching RN staffing with the pattern of activity, implementing cost training and developing guidelines to respond to volume changes, the cost per delivery has increased only 16% since 1988.
Subject(s)
Delivery, Obstetric/nursing , Nursing Staff, Hospital/supply & distribution , Personnel Staffing and Scheduling/organization & administration , Workload , Cost Control , Female , Health Services Needs and Demand , Humans , Nursing Staff, Hospital/economics , Pregnancy , Time FactorsABSTRACT
The experienced Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurse is a crucial member of the delivery room resuscitation team. In a survey of tertiary centers, the neonatal nurse was the most consistent member of the team in attendance at high risk deliveries. This nursing role, including rationale, preparation for, and future potential, is explored in this article.
Subject(s)
Delivery, Obstetric , Intensive Care Units, Neonatal , Pediatric Nursing , Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Patient Care Team , Pregnancy , RoleABSTRACT
With the current nursing shortage and changing health care climate, nursing administrators are concerned with the effective and efficient use of supplementary staffs such as internal resource teams (RTs) or float pools. This article describes a telephone survey of 20 leading hospitals nationwide, which identified organization structure, personnel use, and the main characteristics of state-of-the-art resource teams.
Subject(s)
Nursing Service, Hospital , Nursing Staff, Hospital/supply & distribution , Personnel Management , Personnel Staffing and Scheduling , Clinical Competence , Employee Performance Appraisal , Humans , Sampling Studies , Surveys and Questionnaires , WorkforceABSTRACT
A 1-year prospective survey of obstetric and pediatric management of meconium staining of the amniotic fluid in 464 patients was undertaken. Pharyngeal suctioning before delivery was performed using bulb syringe (N = 130), De Lee suction catheter (N = 186), or both (N = 98); endotracheal intubation after delivery was also done in 413 instances. Using any of the three suctioning techniques, no differences were seen in Apgar scores, respiratory rates, presence or absence of meconium on or below the vocal cords, or development of meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS). If meconium was present on the vocal cords, it was present below the vocal cords in 76% of the cases. If no meconium was visualized, it was found below the vocal cords in only 7% of the cases. Of the 142 infants with meconium below the vocal cords, 10% developed MAS and all 14 survived.
