Extra sleep reduces healthcare workers’ COVID risk; burnout has opposite effect
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 24, 2021
One hour longer sleep duration at night is linked to 12% lower odds of contracting COVID-19. And workers who report feeling burned out every day are more likely to become infected and have longer symptom...
Half of hospitalized COVID survivors have symptoms 4 months later, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 22, 2021
Discharged patients who underwent a comprehensive physical exam at 4 months had fatigue, loss of physical function, sleep disturbances and cognitive impairment, investigators report.
Ten-year stroke mortality higher among Black Medicare recipients
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 22, 2021
A notable disparity in long-term death rates after ischemic stroke suggests that clinicians may need to take a closer look at the post-stroke recovery period — especially during the first year, researchers...
Antibiotics use spiked in nursing homes early in pandemic, studies find
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 16, 2021
Nursing homes saw a big jump in certain antibiotic prescriptions early in the pandemic, and more than half of hospitalized COVID-19 patients received antibiotics in the first six months, researchers say.
Silver lining? Surgical and N95 masks ease spring allergies in nurse study
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 12, 2021
Nurses who recorded allergic rhinitis symptoms during a two-week period in the pandemic reported significantly decreased symptoms while wearing an N95 or surgical face mask vs. wearing no mask.
Ambulatory function in older cancer patients tied to survival
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 08, 2021
A new study highlights the importance of monitoring ambulatory function after cancer, particularly in older survivors, the researchers say.
The country line dance of pain management: One step forward, two steps back
By
Steven Littlehale
Mar 05, 2021
“Pain is whatever the experiencing person says it is.” “We just hope that you don’t say it. Oh, and we’ll likely not hear you anyway.” We credit Mary Margo McCaffery, MS, RN-BC, FAAN, a pioneer...
How QIOs, strike teams helped in COVID-19 trenches with majority of nursing homes
By
Kimberly Marselas
Mar 04, 2021
Federal strike teams and quality improvement contractors, acting in expanded roles, helped reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection by guiding interventions at more than half of all U.S. nursing homes, said...
Faithfully merging palliative care and infection control reduces harmful resident transfers: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 02, 2021
The more a nursing home adheres to the newer concept of integrated best practices in these areas, the fewer hospital transfers in residents with advanced dementia, researchers say.
Booster shots in LTC? Feds pledge quick approval of new drugs
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 24, 2021
Booster shots that target emergent coronavirus strains could be welcome protection for LTC residents if the drugs meet efficacy and safety standards, clinicians say.