Nursing Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Nursing, including details on health care, hospital staff, professional care.

Home health care registered nurses and the risk of percutaneous injuries: a pilot study.

Gershon RR, Pogorzelska M, Qureshi KA, Sherman M

Department of Sociomedical Studies, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA. rg405@columbia.edu

BACKGROUND: Home health care is the fastest-growing sector in the health care industry, expected to grow 66% over the next 10 years. Yet data on occupational health hazards, including the potential risk of exposure to blood and body fluids, associated with the home care setting remain very limited. As part of a larger study of bloodborne pathogen risk in non-hospital-based registered nurses (RNs), data from 72 home health care nurses were separately analyzed to identify risk of blood/body fluid exposure. METHODS: A 152-item self-administered mailed risk assessment questionnaire was completed by RNs employed in home health care agencies in New York State. RESULTS: Nine (13%) of the home health care nurses experienced 10 needlesticks in the 12-month period before the study. Only 4 of the needlesticks were formally reported to the nurse's employer. The devices most frequently associated with needlesticks were hollow-bore and phlebotomy needles, and included 3 needles with safety features. Exposure was most commonly attributed to patient actions, followed by disposal-related activities. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that home health care nurses may be at potential occupational risk for bloodborne pathogen exposure. Risk management strategies tailored to the home health care setting may be most effective in reducing this risk.

Published 28 March 2008 in Am J Infect Control, 36(3): 165-72.
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Articles on Nursing published 21 March 2008:

Impact of an early weighing policy on neonatal hypernatraemic dehydration and breast feeding.   Arch Dis Child, 93(4): 297-9.

AIMS: To ascertain the effect of a policy of early weighing on the detection and severity of neonatal hypernatraemic dehydration (NHD) and on breastfeeding rates in the short and medium term. METHODS: A policy of weighing infants at 72-96 h was introduced from 1 July 2004. Two time periods were studied: pre-policy and post-policy (18 months each). Babies <28 days of age referred to hospital from the community who, on investigation, had plasma sodium concentrations of >145 mmol/l were ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Does breastfeeding method influence infant weight gain?   Arch Dis Child, 93(4): 292-6.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of traditional and "baby-led" breastfeeding advice on early infant weight gain and exclusive breastfeeding rates. DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study: part prospective, part retrospective. SETTING: One UK general practice. PARTICIPANTS: 63 exclusively breastfed infants in two cohorts: 32 babies born before and 31 babies born after a change in breastfeeding advice. INTERVENTION: A change from baby-led to traditional breastfeeding advice. MAIN OUTCOME ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Nursing published 13 March 2008:

Breast or bottle? Eating disordered childbearing women and infant-feeding decisions.   Matern Child Nutr, 4(2): 106-20.

Debates about infant-feeding methods have intensified in recent years with increasing pressures on women living in industrialized nations to breastfeed their infants. This paper, based on a qualitative study of 16 childbearing women with a pre-existing eating disorder living in the north of England, examines participants' motivations for, and understandings of, infant-feeding decisions and practices. In this study, a small number of participants reported being 'desperate' to formula feed in ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Variation in breastfeeding behaviours, perceptions, and experiences by race/ethnicity among a low-income statewide sample of Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) participants in the United States.   Matern Child Nutr, 4(2): 95-105.

The objective of this study was to examine how breastfeeding behaviours, perceptions and experiences vary by race/ethnicity among a low-income sample in the USA. Bilingual interviewers conducted a cross-sectional telephone survey of 767 white, African American or Hispanic mothers who received the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Rates of breastfeeding initiation and duration varied by race/ethnicity. Hispanic mothers were more likely to initiate ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Nursing published 12 March 2008:

Methadone maintenance and long-term lactation.   Breastfeed Med, 3(1): 34-7.

Breastfeeding among methadone-maintained women is frequently challenged because of unclear guidelines regarding this practice. Previous research has confirmed that concentrations of methadone in breastmilk in the neonatal period are low. Currently unknown are the concentrations of methadone in breastmilk among women who breastfeed for longer periods of time. The purpose of this research is to examine concentrations of methadone in the plasma and breastmilk of women who breastfeed their infants ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Physician-led outpatient breastfeeding medicine clinics in the United States.   Breastfeed Med, 3(1): 28-33.

Attrition of exclusive breastfeeding is highest during the first 3 months postpartum. Timely management of breastfeeding in the outpatient setting through innovative models of healthcare delivery may increase its duration and exclusivity. Our goal was to examine the structure and function of physician-led clinics in the United States that specialize in providing outpatient clinical support for breastfeeding-related issues ("breastfeeding medicine clinics"). We posted a survey on ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Birth order and breastfeeding initiation: results of a national survey.   Breastfeed Med, 3(1): 20-7.

BACKGROUND: Because of numerous health benefits for both mothers and babies, breastfeeding is the recommended method of infant feeding. We sought to determine the association between birth order and breastfeeding practices in families with multiple children. METHODS: The 2002 National Survey of Family Growth was used to analyze the demographic characteristics of a national probability sample of 2,115 U.S. mothers aged 15 to 44 with two, three, four, and five or more children younger than age ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Comparison of manual and electric breast pumps among WIC women returning to work or school in Hawaii.   Breastfeed Med, 3(1): 3-10.

INTRODUCTION: The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) branch of the Hawaii Department of Health encourages and assists mothers in breastfeeding. A study was done to determine whether an electric breast pump (vs. a manual pump) would increase breastfeeding duration in those returning to work or school full-time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During 2002-2003, a randomized trial was conducted among 280 women, with the duration of breastfeeding analyzed in 229 of these women. Descriptive analyses and a ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

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