Elderly trauma.

Across the world, the population is aging. Adults 65 years and older make up one of the fastest growing segments of the US population. Trauma is a disease process that affects all age groups. The mortality and morbidity that result from an injury can be influenced by many factors including age, physical condition, and comorbidities. The management of the elderly trauma patient can present some unique challenges. This paper addresses the differences that occur in the management of elderly patient who has been injured. This paper also includes a discussion of how to prevent injury in the elderly.

Research and quality improvement experience and knowledge: a nursing survey.

AIM: To assess nursing staff's background and research and quality improvement (QI) experience. BACKGROUND: In this corporation, participation in research and QI is encouraged, but little is known about nurses' experiences. METHODS: A web-based survey was distributed. Nursing staffs from an academic/teaching medical centre and other intra-corporation non-academic facilities were compared. RESULTS: Respondents included: 148 (52.9%) medical centre and 132 (47.1%) non-medical centre subjects. Medical centre respondents had a higher proportion previously engaged in research, currently engaged in research and previously engaged in QI. Productivity (grant, published and presented) was low for both groups but statistically lower for the non-medical centre group. Medical centre employees used research resources more often than the non-medical centre. Time was the most frequently mentioned barrier to participation in research and QI initiatives. CONCLUSIONS: A moderate proportion of respondents had research and QI experience, yet productivity and use of resources was low. Nurses at non-academically focused facilities were in most need of assistance. Familiarizing nurses with resources and providing protected time may increase productivity. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Developing an infrastructure to support nursing research is a worthy goal. Information about interest and experience of nurses can aid management in determining how to focus financial resources.

Difficult airway simulator intubation success rates using Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport systems training standards.

OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to evaluate difficult airway simulator intubation success rates using Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) initial and maintenance intubation training standards on transport-RN novice intubators over a 1-year period. METHODS: Twelve transport nurses were blinded to and randomly assigned five or six of 64 different difficult airway simulator scenarios. Intubation success rates were measured 1 month before training, 1 month after training, and 1 year later, following CAMTS initial and maintenance intubation standards. Outcome measurements included first attempt intubation rate, overall intubation success rate, number of attempts to intubation, time per attempt, time to intubation, and time between attempts. During the study, participants received no additional training or opportunities to intubate. RESULTS: First-attempt intubation rates significantly improved (P 5 .022) from 19% 1 month before training to 36% 1 month after training, but did not significantly change (P > .999) 1 year later following CAMTS maintenance standards (34%). Mean cumulative success rates did not significantly improve after four attempts or after 3.5 minutes. The overall mean time per attempt and time between attempts declined with subsequent intubation attempts. CONCLUSIONS: Using initial and maintenance CAMTS standards, simulator difficult airway intubation success rates are low in novice intubators. Our results suggest that one intubation/quarter may be enough to maintain difficult airway intubation success rates. Training significantly improves intubation rates. Little advantage occurs in intubation rates after four attempts or 3.5 minutes.