BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Noise levels and room acoustic parameters at a tertiary referral hospital, Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) in Korea, are investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Through a questionnaire, acoustically problematic rooms are identified. Noise levels in emergency rooms (ERs) and intensive care units (ICUs) are measured over about three days. Acoustically critical and problematic rooms in the otolaryngology department are measured including examination rooms, operating rooms, nurse stations, receptions, and patient rooms. RESULTS: The A-weighted equivalent noise level, L(Aeq), ranges from 54 to 56 dBA, which is at least 10 dB lower than the noise levels of 65 to 73 dBA measured in American ERs. In an ICU, the noise level for the first night was 66 dBA, which came down to 56 dBA for the next day. The noise levels during three different ear surgeries vary from 57 to 62 dBA, depending on the use of surgical drills and suctions. The noise levels in a patient room is found to be 47 dBA, while the nurse stations and the receptions have high noise levels up to 64 dBA. The reverberation times in an operation room, examination room, and single patient room are found to be below 0.6 s. CONCLUSIONS: At SNUH, the nurse stations and receptions were found to be quite noisy. The ERs were quieter than in the previous studies. The measured reverberation times seemed low enough but some other nurse stations and examination rooms were not satisfactory according to the questionnaire.
Acoustics ; Ear ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Intensive Care Units ; Korea ; Noise ; Nursing Stations ; Operating Rooms ; Otolaryngology ; Patients' Rooms ; Seoul ; Suction ; Tertiary Care Centers

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to explore the relationship between simulation-based clinical judgment and performance ability for tracheal suction in nursing students. METHODS: With a convenience sampling, 207 nursing students participated in this descriptive study. Lasater clinical judgment rubric was used for self-reported clinical judgment in addition to observe the skill of tracheal suction using a checklist. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficients using the SPSS/WIN 22. RESULTS: A scenario with pneumonia patient was developed to observe the skill of tracheal suction during simulation-based practices. Then self-reported clinical judgment was scored. The mean score of total sum of clinical judgment, total mean of clinical judgment, and performance skill were 36.44±4.82, 13.44±1.71, and 42.32±5.05, respectively. Statistically, students having good skills in suction showed significant differences in clinical judgment of interpreting (p=.031) compared to students having fair skills. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that a structured debriefing method utilizing Lasater clinical judgment rubric is helpful. Also, simulation-based practice related to adult nursing in the respiratory system was useful for increasing the core basic skills among nursing students.
Adult ; Checklist ; Clinical Competence ; Humans ; Judgment* ; Methods ; Nursing* ; Patient Simulation ; Pneumonia ; Respiratory System ; Students, Nursing* ; Suction*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to plan and apply simulation-based practice for raising the achievement of program outcomes (POs) in nursing students. METHODS: Using convenience sampling, 95 nursing students participated in this descriptive study. A self-reported questionnaire was used to measure the achievement of POs (self-directed learning, problem-solving ability, critical thinking) and usefulness of curriculum in addition to observing tracheal suction skills using a checklist. RESULTS: A scenario with a pneumonia patient was developed to observe tracheal suction skills during simulation-based practices. Self-directed learning, problem-solving ability, and critical thinking were then scored. The mean scores of performance skill, self-directed learning, problem-solving ability, critical thinking were 37.82+/-6.03. 3.61+/-0.38, 3.61+/-0.33, and 3.73+/-0.32, respectively. All students passed the simulation-based practice in terms of performance ability and met the required achievement level for the POs at this university. Students with good suction skills showed significant differences in problem identification (p=.044) and alternative development (p=.019), which are components of problem-solving ability, compared to students with only fair skills. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that simulation-based practice related to an adult nursing respiratory course was useful for evaluating the achievement of POs in nursing students. Further study is needed to develop a universal method of outcome measurement.
Adult ; Checklist ; Curriculum ; Humans ; Learning ; Nursing* ; Patient Simulation ; Pneumonia ; Students, Nursing* ; Suction ; Thinking

PURPOSE: This study was done to present guidelines for deciding appropriate times for measuring blood pressure (BP) in patients with neurological disorders who had surgery due to brain damage. METHOD: It was a repeated measures-experimental research on time variants in BP after nursing care. SBP (Systolic BP) and DBP (Diastolic) were measured every 2 minutes up to 5 times using an EKG patient monitor. Measured data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and paired t-test. RESULTS: For suctioning, there were significantly higher differences for SBP averages after 2 min. (138mmHg, p<0.01) and 4 min. (133mmHg, p<0.01) compared to before suctioning (120mmHg). For position change, there were significant differences in SBP averages after 2 min. (136mmHg, p<0.01) and 4 min. (130mmHg, p=0.01) compared to before changing position (121mmHg). For position change followed by suctioning there were significant differences in SBP averages after 2 min. (136mmHg, p<0.01), 4 min. (136mmHg, p<0.01) and 6 min. (125mmHg, p=0.003) compared to before the interventions (121mmHg). CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that there are significant differences in SBP and DBP over time during nursing interventions, suggesting clinical measurement of BP after 6 min. or 8 min. be done for patients with neurological disorders in neurosurgery clinics.
Blood Pressure* ; Brain ; Electrocardiography ; Head* ; Humans ; Nervous System Diseases ; Neurosurgery ; Nursing ; Nursing Care ; Suction*

PURPOSE: This study was done to develop a scenario and evaluate student performance in simulation learning of care for children with respiratory distress syndrome in neonatal intensive care units. METHODS: To test the application effect, a one group pre-test design was applied. The scenario based on actual patients and textbook material was developed through several meetings of experts. The scenario was used with 17 groups of 55 senior nursing students who participated voluntarily. RESULTS: Contents were organized focusing on the nursing process for simulation learning. In the application of knowledge and skills, nursing students had high scores in the contents of observation of oxygen saturation, and care to relieve dyspnea. Participants' ability, especially in suction and oxygen supply in the evaluation of objective structured clinical examination was not adequate. There was a significant positive correlation between problem-solving ability and satisfaction in learning. CONCLUSION: The respiratory distress syndrome simulation scenario developed in this study was an effective tool to give students experience in problem solving and critical thinking ability under conditions similar to reality. The development of various scenarios for child nursing care is needed.
Child ; Dyspnea ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Learning ; Nursing Care ; Nursing Process ; Oxygen ; Patient Simulation ; Problem Solving ; Students, Nursing ; Suction ; Thinking

PURPOSE: This research was a descriptive study of nursing activities observed in nursing simulation during a senior nursing student practicum. Content and frequencies of nursing activities during the simulation practice were identified. METHODS: Thirty-six episodes of pediatric nursing simulation were videotaped. Both verbalizations and descriptions of nonverbal behaviors were recorded from the videotapes. The data were coded and analyzed. The coded nursing activities were evaluated for frequency and purpose of interaction. RESULTS: Average time per simulation episodes was 27 minutes and ranged from 3.30 to 32.54 minutes. Nursing activities in these simulation episodes included nursing assessments such as vital sign measurement, associated symptom assessment, and check of patient condition, nursing interventions such as medication, tepid water massage, fluid therapy, provision of oxygen, suctioning, hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia management, communication such as parent education, procedure guidance, and communication among providers. Activities in assessment were most frequent, and among them, vital sign measurement and check of patient condition were more frequent than others. CONCLUSION: Students showed enhanced nursing activities such as more frequent nursing assessment, communication and interventions in their simulation experience. Therefore simulation experience can be considered as one strategies to provide nursing students with better and more intense practicum experience.
Education, Nursing ; Fluid Therapy ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Hypoglycemia ; Massage ; Nursing Assessment ; Oxygen ; Parents ; Patient Simulation ; Pediatric Nursing ; Students, Nursing ; Suction ; Symptom Assessment ; Videotape Recording ; Vital Signs

This study was conducted with whole home care nurses nationwide to provide secondary analyzed data to understand on their usage of medical equipments and their need of them for a month. This study found that treatments given by home care nurses were nelaton catheterization, bladder washing/urethral washing, newborn care, exchange and care for nasogastric tube and suction in that order of frequency. Second, instruments and equipments used for home care were reported to be stethoscope, patient monitor, blood pressure measuring equipment, air flotation mattresses, beds for patients, mattresses, suctioning device sets, enteral feeding equipment and dressing set in that oder of frequency. Moreover, need assessment of medical instruments and equipments showed renal dialysis was most needed and patient monitor, blood pressure measuring equipment, enteral feeding equipment, solution and other supplies for renal dialysis and beds for patient were necessary in that order. In conclusion, the results of this study investigating special treatments and medical instruments and equipments used for home care patients and analyzing patients' need, were expected to be useful for expansion of application of long-term care insurance for the elderly and health insurance as well as for quality control of home care and development of medial instruments and equipments used at home.
Aged ; Bandages ; Beds ; Blood Pressure Monitors ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Enteral Nutrition ; Equipment and Supplies ; Home Care Services* ; Home Nursing* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Insurance, Health ; Insurance, Long-Term Care ; Quality Control ; Renal Dialysis ; Stethoscopes ; Suction ; Urinary Bladder

OBJECTIVE: Despite the widespread use of preoperative ventriculostomy in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), there is no general consensus regarding the risk of bleeding associated with its use before aneurysm repair. This study was conducted to define the efficacy and rebleeding risk of ventriculostomy in aneurysmal SAH. METHODS: The authors reviewed 339 consecutive patients with aneurysmal SAH who were treated at our hospital between January 1998 and December 2004. RESULTS: Preoperative ventriculostomy was performed on 73 patients for acute hydrocephalus after aneurysmal SAH. The Hunt-Hess (H-H) grades of patients who underwent ventriculostomy were higher. Out of the 73 patients who underwent preoperative ventriculostomy, 58 (79%) demonstrated immediate clinical improvement after ventriculostomy. Of those same 73 patients, 22 (30%) suffered aneurysmal rebleeding, whereas only 11 (4%) of the 266 patients who did not undergo ventriculostomy showed preoperative aneurysm rebleeding. The causes of rebleeding in the 22 patients who underwent ventriculostomy before surgery were related to the ventriculostomy procedure itself, subsequent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage, angiography and patient care procedures, such as endotracheal suction and nursing care. The mean time interval between SAH and surgery in the patients who underwent ventriculostomy was not statistically different from those who did not receive preoperative ventriculostomies (44.66 compared with 42.13 hours; p=0.73). CONCLUSION: The preoperative ventriculostomy improved patients' clinical condition but increased the risk of rebleeding after aneurysmal SAH. When necessary, however, rapid change in transmural pressure during ventriculostomy must be avoided, careful management during ventricular drainage is needed, and surgery should be performed as soon as possible to prevent or reduce the incidence of rebleeding.
Aneurysm* ; Angiography ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Consensus ; Drainage ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Incidence ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Nursing Care ; Patient Care ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage* ; Suction ; Ventriculostomy*

The purposes of this study were to identify the effects of the Nursing Information System on time of the direct and indirect nursing activities, the frequencies of verbal and telephone order, the number of cases and patient's treatments fees before and after NIS. 10 nursing units in the S.N.U.H. were se lected. The data were colle cted for 6 month prior and pa st to NIS. The frequencies of verbal and telephone order were reported from staff nurses for 3 days. The numbers of cases and fees of patient's treatments were taken for 3 month before and after NIS. The results of this study were as follows: 1. 66.9% of participants said direct nursing activities were increased. Any changed nursing performances were patients education, nursing rounds, care of patient's hygiene, care for patient's movements, oral and tracheal suctioning, changing position, and feeding. 2. The difference of amount of time of dir ect and indirect nursing activities 1)There was 14 minutes increase indirect,4 minutes decrease in indirect. 2)NA's activities we re increased by 30minute in direct, decreased by 16 minute in indirect. 3. The frequency of telephone order decreased 16 and verbal order decreased 46 per day. 4. The difference of the number of patient treatment case before and after NIS was increased 9,907 per 3 months and of fees for patient treatment was increased 797,811,067 won per 3 months.
Education, Nursing ; Fees and Charges* ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Information Systems* ; Nursing* ; Suction ; Telephone

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of a no saline, a 2 ml and a 5 ml saline instillation prior to endotracheal suctioning on oxygen saturation in patients with pneumonia. The subjects in this study were 16 pneumonic patients with a tracheotomy tube, who had been admitted to the neuro-surgical intensive care unit at a university hospital in Seoul Korea. All three (0, 2 and 5 ml) saline instillation methods were applied to the 16 patients. The methods were randomly assigned to each patient. Each of the instillation methods was applied in a four-step sequence: 1) recording the level of oxygen saturation (baseline levels), 2) instilling normal saline, 3) supplying oxygen and suctioning, and 4) recording the level of oxygen saturation. The oxygen saturation was evaluated using pulse oximetry. The recovery times for oxygen saturation to return to baseline levels following suctioning were, just after suctioning, 45seconds after suctioning and in excess of 5 minutes with 0, 2 and 5 ml saline instillations, respectively. Instillation of normal saline before suctioning could have an adverse effect on oxygen saturation, and should be used carefully as a routine intervention in patients who have pneumonia.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Human ; Instillation, Drug ; Intubation, Intratracheal/*nursing ; Male ; Middle Age ; Oxygen/metabolism ; Pneumonia/*nursing ; Sodium Chloride/*administration & dosage ; Suction/*nursing ; Tracheotomy