Abstract: Goals: the presentation of importance of the enactment of safe staffing that concerns nurse to patient ratios, in relation to quality of patient care given, to the promotion of healthy work environments for nurses and in relation with the reduction of health cost, as well as the presentation of countries that legislated law about the guaranteed and safe nurse staffing.
Plan: methodology of subjective content analysis was followed.
Data Sources: electronic bases of Blackwell-synergy and Medline (1970-2007) with key words: nurse, registered nurses, safety, staffing, nurse to patient ratio. Supplemental bibliography has been reached through other internet search machines as well as through bibliographic references of retrieved articles.
Method of review: methodology of subjective content analysis that call for a close âup reading, identification of the subjects repeated and classification in greater categories. The procedure resulted in setting two subject categories: safe nurse staffing in relation to the patient, the nurse and the organization and the legislation of countries about nurse staffing.
Results: Staffing ratios have been first recommended in Belgium in 1987, using a minimum data set of 12 nurses to 30 beds. In the Australian state of Victoria in 2000 specific nurse-to-patient ratios have been implemented, according to the hospital category. In 2005 the American state of California established 1:5 nurse to patient ratio, in wards.
Conclusions: safe and sufficient staffing is the key for quality and safety in healthcare. The definition of the right synthesis of personnel is important.
Abstract: Aim: Τhe investigation of the frequency of the burnout syndrome among the nursing personnel of all rungs in a Regional University Hospital.
Methods: Τhe research was conducted in a Regional University Hospital. The questionnaire was distributed to 150 Registered Nurses (RN) and Nurses Assistants (NA) and the response rate was 42,6% (N=64). MBI questionnaire was used in order to identify levels of burnout syndrome. The analysis was made with the use of SPSS (version 15). Student t-test, ANOVA one way, chi-square (Ï2) was performed.
Results: Generally occupational burnout appears to be in moderate levels. 9,37% of the sample experienced a high degree of burnout while 6,24% experienced a low one. Emotional exhaustion correlates significantly with working a rotation shift (p=0,05). Emotional exhaustion correlates significantly with resignation from hospital (p=0,002). Depersonalization correlates significantly with the multidisciplinary cooperation (p=0,05).
Conclusions: Environmental factors such as shift work, multidisciplinary cooperation are shown to be related with the appearance of the syndrome.
Abstract: Objective This study examines the relationship between anxiety, depression and pain intensity in patients with lower back pain. (LBP).
Method In this descriptive correlation study we present the preliminary result of forty (40) patients with chronic low back pain receiving treatment in the neurosurgical department of "Thriasio" General Hospital, Elefsina, Attica region, Greece. Data were collected with individual interviews using the demographic and pain related data instrument a short form Mc Gills Questionnaire, the modified Hamilton Rating Scale of Depression, and the Hamilton Rating Scale of Anxiety.
Results In this descriptive correlation study we present 40 patients (16male-24 female) with chronic lower back pain. The average depression level on a 3-40 scale was 15,15 (SD=10,13) which is mild. The average anxiety level on a 2-26 scale was evaluated 7,40 (SD=6,52) which was less than moderate anxiety. There was no significant correlation between depression, anxiety and pain intensity.
Discussion Findings showed that younger and more educated people perceived pain as more severe than older people and those with less formal education. In addition, highly educated patients reported pain with longer duration, therefore severe higher levels of depression. Patients with high anxiety levels also suffered from high levels of depression. It was also found that the longer the pain the more severe it was said to be. A significant relationship was observed between depression and anxiety indicated that depressive symptoms were more common in anxious patients.
