MHA's Organization of Nurse Executives

Comments invited on industry standards

The Case Management Society of America (CMSA) has called for public comments as it revises its industry standards. The Standards of Practice for Case Management, first launched in 1995 and last amended in 2002, contain voluntary guidelines on care and performance.

For the first time, the CMSA is also asking for input from outside of its traditional member base, inviting social workers, the military, and others to give their views.

CMSA president Peter Moran, RN,C, BSN, MS, CCM, said in a press statement that the organization needed to keep pace with changing times.

"The CMSA Standards of Practice are the cornerstone of my practice," he said. "As practice evolves over time, it is imperative that we visit and update them to make sure they are reflective of current practice, so they can offer guidance and direction to the practicing case manager."

You can have your say at the CMSA Web site. The public comment period ends on November 26, 2007.

[ via Case Management Weekly ]

New 2007 infant hearing guidelines expected

The Joint Commission on Infant Hearing (JCIH) will update its standards for early hearing detection and intervention, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. The standards outlined in the "Principles and Guidelines for Early Hearing and Detection and Intervention Program" will work towards implementing the following:

• Identify hearing abnormalities in newborns
• Follow-up medical evaluations
• Provide early intervention services
• Conduct hearing checks by pediatricians at nine, 18, 24, and 30 months of age
• Provide parent education and counseling

[ via Rehab Regs ]

Newly licensed nurses: the key to better retention

In an effort to better understand nurse turnover rates in hospitals, researchers conducted a three-year study on the work experience of newly licensed nurses. Presented in the American Journal of Nursing (AJN), the study revealed that better orientation programs and management may be the key to improved retention.

According to AJN, a randomly selected sample of 3,266 newly licensed nurses from 60 sites across the country participated in the study survey that focused on four major areas of their employment:

• Respondent characteristics
• Work-setting characteristics
• Respondents' attitudes toward work
• Job opportunities

Despite relatively high levels of job satisfaction, 37% of new nurses stated they would probably look for another job within the year. Furthermore, they described work-group cohesion to be high (4.1 on a 5-point scale) but support from supervisors to be somewhat lacking (3.6 on a 5-point scale). The results suggest that newly licensed nurses may not remain in the acute care settings they started out working in due to inadequate orientation and management.

To read more about the study, click here.

[ via Nurse Manager Weekly ]

ANA issues proposed guidelines for care in public health crises

The American Nurses Association seeks comments on proposed recommendations to address the potential need to alter standard care practices during public health crises when demand may exceed resources and normal operating conditions may not apply. The document recommends registered nurses and other health professionals receive continuing education on emergency preparedness, inform employers of any special skills or limits on availability in an emergency, and provide the best possible care in an emergency given the resources and physical conditions.

It recommends health facilities anticipate that volunteers with varying skill levels will be included on care teams in an emergency, and be able to rapidly educate staff and reconfigure clinical teams and physical resources in an emergency, among other proposals. Comments on the draft document, “Adapting Standards of Care under Altered Conditions,” will be accepted through Oct. 24, 2008.

[ via AHA News Now ]