Uncovering system errors using a rapid response team: cross-coverage caught in the crossfire.

Background: Because of the 80-hour work week, extensive service cross-coverage creates great potential for patient care errors. These patient care emergencies are increasingly managed using a rapid response team (RRT) to reduce patient morbidity. We examine the proximate causes of a surgical RRT activation.

The prevalence and predictors of herbal medicine use in surgical patients.

Background: Despite the rapid rise in herbal medicine consumption, explicitly eliciting and documenting herbal medicine usage among surgical patients is poor.

Study Design: A survey by means of a self-administered questionnaire was conducted among patients undergoing elective surgery inquiring into the self-health perceptions, herbal medicine use, and communication of such usage to surgical health-care staff.

Results: Sixty-five percent (n =2,186) of all the patients undergoing elective surgery completed the survey during a 10-week period.

Developing a rating interview guide.

Nursing administrators have spent considerable time and effort developing various interview tools that will meet the needs of the institution, however, of equal importance is the method of evaluating responses obtained during the interview process. This article discusses a master tool designed as a base from which a variety of interview tools can be developed. Weighted scoring reflects the strengths of the applicant consistent with the position requirements and in an equitable manner.