Ventilatory response to head-down-tilt in healthy human subjects.

Postural fluid shifts may directly affect respiratory control via a complex interaction of baro- and chemo-reflexes, and cerebral blood flow. Few data exist concerning the steady state ventilatory responses during head-down tilt. We examined the cardiorespiratory responses during acute 50° head-down tilt (HDT) in 18 healthy subjects (mean [SD] age 27 [10] years).

Decreasing prosthetic joint surgical site infections: an interdisciplinary approach.

As of October 2013, a hospital's base Medicare reimbursement will be penalized for patients readmitted within 30 days of undergoing elective total hip and knee arthroplasties. To respond to an increased incidence of prosthetic joint infections after these surgeries, members of an interdisciplinary project team at a 1,046-bed multihospital health care organization in the southeastern United States sought to identify factors that place patients at high risk for infection. Data showed that addressing the sterile environment, personnel issues, patient readiness for surgery, and system issues resulted in decreased rates of infection among patients who underwent hip replacement surgery (χ(2)1 = 3.

Starting a health care system green team.

The health care industry is often overlooked as a major source of industrial pollution, but as this becomes more recognized, many health care facilities are beginning to pursue green efforts. The OR is a prime example of an area of health care that is working to lessen its environmental impact. Nurses can play key roles in identifying areas of waste and presenting ideas about recovering secondary materials.