Revisions to the Universal Protocol (UP) were fully implemented in January 2010. As part of The Joint Commission’s effort to improve this national patient safety goal, feedback is needed on the revisions to the Universal Protocol from Hospital, Critical Access Hospital, Ambulatory Care, and Office-based Surgery accreditation programs. Gathering specific information on successful implementation of changes, and the effects on patient care and your internal processes is a primary goal as well. Please note that there are no additional changes planned for the UP in the immediate future. NYSNA members are invited to participate in a short survey that should take approximately 10 minutes to complete and will be online through September 10, 2010.
The Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) is designed to improve the quality of care people receive at the end of life. MOLST is New York State's Physicians Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) Paradigm Program. These programs are based on effective communication of patient wishes, documentation of medical orders on a brightly colored form, and a promise by healthcare professionals to honor these wishes. Information for healthcare professionals, patients and families can be found online.
Serious injuries and deaths have been associated with the use of heparin, a blood-thinning drug that contained active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) from China. Adverse events reported include allergic or hypersensitivity-type reactions, with symptoms of low blood pressure, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. In February 2008, Baxter Healthcare Corporation recalled multi-dose and single-dose vials of heparin sodium for injection, as well as HEP-LOCK heparin flush products. After a far-ranging investigation, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) scientists identified a previously unknown contaminant in the heparin.
The FDA continues to provide important information relating to medical products that contain potentially contaminated heparin and is seeking assistance from healthcare facilities and providers in identifying and reporting adverse events related to these products. Recommmendations and considerations, background information, advense events, product recalls and FDA actions can be accessed online:
Nursing practice in New York is defined by State Education Law, Article 139 (the Nurse Practice Act), which states:
“The practice of the profession of nursing as a registered professional nurse is defined as diagnosing and treating human responses to actual or potential health problems through such services as casefinding, health teaching, health counseling, and provision of care supportive to or restorative of life and well-being, and executing medical regimens prescribed by a licensed physician, dentist or other licensed health care provider legally authorized under this title and in accordance with the commissioner's regulations. ”
This definition authorizes RNs to execute medical orders from certain authorized healthcare providers. RNs may function independently in providing nursing care related to casefinding, health teaching, health counseling, and provision of care supportive to or restorative of life and well-being.
Contact Education, Practice and Research at 518.782.9400, ext. 282 or by e-mail.