Screaming matches in the OR. Surgical instruments hurled across the room. Ominous threats, biting insults, and dripping sarcasm.
When nurses and doctors can't get along, no one wins. In addition to creating an unpleasant working environment, disruptive
behavior can severely compromise patient safety.
Now, two healthcare associations are joining forces to stamp out this disruptive behavior. Together, the American Organization
of Nurse Executives (AONE) and the American College of Physician Executives (ACPE) hope to provide the necessary resources
and guidance to foster excellence in nurse/physician relationships throughout the country.
The problem is very real. More than 95 percent of respondents to an ACPE survey say they had witnessed disturbing, disruptive,
and potentially dangerous behaviors among physicians on a regular basis. And the majority—more than 56 percent—say the conflicts
they saw typically involved a nurse or a physician assistant. The issue is so widespread that The Joint Commission now requires healthcare facilities to adopt zero-
tolerance policies for disruptive physician behavior.
AONE and ACPE have gathered resources to help healthcare organizations implement these changes. Both groups believe in specific
core principles, which include a dedication to building collaborative relationships; creating specific systems for reward,
recognition, and celebration; and making patient-focused care and better patient outcomes the top priority.
Resources offered by AONE and ACPE include several Web-based classes and a variety of online articles regarding how to tame
disruptive behavior. Visit http://aone.org/ for additional information.
In Brief
Nurse practitioners will extend role in health centers, AAN says
Nurse-managed health centers must expand significantly to increase the capacity of the nation's overstrained healthcare delivery
system, with nurse practitioners playing a more front-and-center role in treating patients, according to the American Academy
of Nursing (AAN).
The AAN's national Raise the Voice campaign aims to harness the power of nurses, nurse practitioners, and other professionals to provide needed primary healthcare,
health promotion, and disease prevention through community-based care. Advanced nurse practitioners and related professionals
deliver this care in a holistic, patient-centered way.
Nursing development programs get more funding
Proposed funding for Nursing Workforce Development programs will increase $15 million to $171 million through the FY 2009
Omnibus Appropriations Act. The programs, offering financial support to nursing schools, students, and practicing nurses,
are the primary source of federal funding for nursing education. The Health Resources and Services Administration allocates
funding under Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act. For FY 2010, President Barack Obama has requested $265 million
for Title VII health professions programs, a 19 percent increase from 2009, and $263 million for Title VIII, including an
$88 million increase for the Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program.
Did You Know...
Top 10 tips for better vacation photos
The Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) recently polled its members to come up with the top 10 tips to help travelers
take better vacation photos.
1 Shoot photos early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., the sun is overhead and the light
is flat. Shooting in early morning and late afternoon will add more color and shadows to your photos, giving more definition
to the subject.
2 Move in close to your subject for impact (too far back and your photo can be too busy). Get close, and then get closer!
Fill the frame with your subject.
3 Don't shoot every photo at eye level. Don't be afraid to get low to the ground or climb up to get a better vantage point.
4 Pay attention to details and distractions in the back of the photo or behind the heads of your subjects. Frequently, a telephone
pole or tree is sticking up behind your subject. Move around until there are fewer distractions in the background.
5 Shoot lots of photos and edit and erase at night. Digital space is cheap. Shoot in the highest res possible.
6 Always show a sense of place as to where you are. If in the tropics, frame the photo with palm trees; if in the mountains,
frame it with pine trees.
7 Shoot important subjects from several different angles and vantage points, with different lenses, and at different exposures.
Take an overall wide shot, a medium range shot, and a close-up detail shot. Check your photos on-site to make sure you have
your shot.
8 Wait before you click! Wait for the clouds to clear, the truck to move away from the front of the cathedral, or other distractions
to pass.
9 Put local people in your photos. Ask permission first and try not to pose them. Put people in your photos to give a sense
of size and scale.
10 Use fill-flash, even outdoors, to "fill-in" shadows.
Source: Society of American Travel Writers, http://satw.org/
