News

New FCN Survey reports 12,500 RN vacancies in FL in 2015            

The Florida Center for Nursing has released the results of its Florida's Demand for Nurses: 2015 Employer Survey, the fifth such survey.  The FCN has conducted this survey every two years since 2007.  The survey report estimates that there were nearly 12,500 vacant positions for RNs in Florida in 2015 including more than 9,300 in hospitals, the greatest number of hospital vacancies since 2007 when 7,600 vacant positions were estimated.  The survey also found that turnover has increased for RNs in hospital positions that do not provide direct care.  The number of separations reported by the respondents in 2015 was highest for RNs at 6,023, and the survey estimates that 9,947 new RN positions to be created in 2016.  County specific reports are being prepared.  For additional information please contact FCN Executive Director Mary Lou Brunell at MaryLou.Brunell@ucf.edu or 407-823-0981. In related news, Florida Atlantic University will be hosting the Florida Center for Nursing and the Florida Action Coalition for a regional breakfast and community discussion on the Florida's nursing workforce on the 8th of April.  For attendee information, please contact Nancy Parent at nparent@fau.edu or 562-297-3207.

CDC urges rapid antiviral use for all hospitalized patients with suspected flu                 

Health care providers should initiate antiviral treatment as soon as possible for all patients hospitalized with confirmed or suspected flu, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said today, citing reports of severe respiratory illness or death in young- to middle-aged adults infected with the recently predominating strain. Some of the patients reportedly had negative results from a rapid flu diagnostic test. The agency also recommends prompt antiviral therapy for high-risk outpatients and those with progressive disease, even if flu has not been confirmed by laboratory testing. “Although influenza activity nationally is low compared to this time last season, it is increasing; and some localized areas of the United States are already experiencing high activity,” CDC said. Clinicians should continue to vaccinate patients for as long as flu viruses are circulating, the agency said, noting that most circulating flu viruses are still like the viruses recommended for the 2015-2016 vaccines. For more information, please see the CDC advisory.

President to propose nearly $1.1 billion to fight opioid abuse, SAMHSA updates toolkit, Senate holds hearing, CDC issues report

President Obama’s fiscal year 2017 budget request will include nearly $1.1 billion in new funding to address prescription opioid abuse and heroin use according to a White House announcement. The proposal includes $1 billion in new mandatory funding over two years to expand access to medication-assisted treatment in states; access to substance use treatment providers through the National Health Services Corps; and evaluate and improve treatment for patients with opioid use disorders. The rest would go to the departments of Justice and Health and Human Services to prevent overdoses, increase access to medication-assisted treatment and the overdose-reversal drug naloxone, and support enforcement activities. Meanwhile, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has updated its Opioid Overdose Toolkit. The publication offers information and resources to help first responders, prescribers, patients/families and community members prevent opioid overdose. According to the agency, more than 28,000 people in the United States died from opioid overdose in 2014.  The Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee held a hearing in December to examine solutions to the rising trend in the U.S. of opioid abuse and overdose deaths. Witnesses included Baltimore Health Commissioner Leana Wen, M.D.; Robert Valuck, a professor at the University of Colorado’s Scaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, which houses the state’s Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention; and Eric Spofford, CEO of two substance abuse treatment programs in New Hampshire. “This is a complex problem that calls for action by all who have a role in preventing opioid abuse and responding to this problem, whether it is doctors, the health department, law enforcement, or families,” said Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN). “We look forward to continuing this conversation in the HELP Committee.” The U.S. death rate from drug overdoses increased 6.5% in 2014 to a record 47,055 according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  That includes an 80% increase in deaths from synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and 26% increase from heroin. “To curb these trends and save lives, we must help prevent addiction and provide support and treatment to those who suffer from opioid use disorders,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D. “This report also shows how important it is that law enforcement intensify efforts to reduce the availability of heroin, illegal fentanyl and other illegal opioids.”

Consortium announces rate reduction on its 2nd Nursing Leadership Development Conference at Sea 

You can take part in the Consortium’s second Sea-E-You™ conference at sea at reduced prices now starting at only $470.00 per person (interior cabin / double occupancy), including program registration, port fees, and taxes!  Call 800-422-0711 to hold your room with a small deposit. Awakening the Leader Within – Empowering Nurses across the Career Spectrum, will be held aboard the Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas April 14-18, 2016.  This unique 10 contact hours leadership development program will feature six co-facilitated educational seminars and four facilitated round table discussions in a unique setting to enhance the opportunity of nurses at all levels to formally and informally engage senior nurse leaders and aspiring nurse leaders while enjoying the four-night weekend cruise aboard a five star cruise ship. For additional information, please call 800-422-0711.  Florida International University is the Presenting Sponsor.  For information on the limited number of sponsor opportunities available, please click here.  The cruise conference now has a Facebook page, "like" it and send us a friend request today.

Help save state funding of Florida Center for Nursing

The Florida House Education Appropriations Subcommittee has retained funding for the Florida Center for Nursing (FCN) in the University of Central Florida budget, but the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education failed to do so. It is important that all nurses call and/or write their state representative and state senator requesting their support of continued state funding of the work of the FCN. Please click here to determine who your elected representatives are and their phone number and address. With your help the budget discrepancy between the two chambers will be resolved in favor of the FCN when the two chambers’ conference (beginning in mid-February).

Last call for Board Nominations
            
Interested in helping to lead the Nursing Consortium of South Florida?  Send an email expressing your interest to Consortium executive director Ralph Egues at egues@nursingconsortium.us and be sure to include your job title and employer.  Only those employed by member organizations may serve on the Consortium Board.

AHRQ: HACs declined 17% from 2010 to 2014                

Hospitals are making “substantial progress in improving safety,” according to a new report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality that found a 17% decline in hospital-acquired conditions from 2010 to 2014. That translates to 87,000 lives saved and nearly $20 billion in health care costs averted, according the report. HACs include adverse drug events, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, central line-associated bloodstream infections, pressure ulcers and surgical site infections, among others. The Department of Health and Human Services attributed the decline to “concerted attention by hospitals throughout the country to reduce adverse events,” such as activities related to the Partnership for Patients initiative and other Medicare quality incentive programs. 

CCPS Fall 2016 Placement Cycle Dates Set

The Nursing Consortium has established the dates for scheduling student nurse clinical experiences via the Centralized Clinical Placement System (CCPS) it administers.  Clinical Agencies will establish unit availability by extending their end dates via the CCPS from Monday, March 7 through Sunday, March 13.  On Monday March 14 through Sunday, March 27, schools are to submit their placement requests through the CCPS.  Clinical Agencies will respond to placement requests from Monday, March 28 through Sunday, April 10.  The vast majority of hospitals and nursing schools in Miami Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties use the CCPS to schedule student nurse clinical experiences and an increasing number are also using the system to schedule clinical experiences for allied health students,” noted Sue Medina, CCPS Resource Manager.  For more information on how the CCPS can reduce the time required to schedule student clinicals, please send an email to CCPS@nursingconsortium.us or call (561) 633-5574.

U.S. death rate down 16.6% since 2000; infant mortality at record low

U.S. mortality rates fell 2.3% for infants and 1% for the overall population in 2014, according to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The infant mortality rate, considered a good indicator of the overall health of a population, fell to a record low 582.1 deaths per 100,000 live births, led by a 13.5% decline in deaths from respiratory distress. The age-adjusted death rate for all U.S. residents fell to a record low 724.6 per 100,000, including declines for all major race and ethnicity groups. Among the 10 leading causes of death, mortality rates fell 5% for influenza and pneumonia, 3.8% for chronic lower respiratory diseases, 1.6% for heart disease, 1.4% for diabetes, and 1.2% for cancer; rates rose 8.1% for Alzheimer’s disease, 3.2% for suicide, 2.8% for unintentional injuries and 0.8% for stroke. Since 2000, the U.S. death rate has declined 16.6%, CDC said.

USP publishes standard for hazardous drug handling in health care settings

The United States Pharmacopeial Convention yesterday published a standard for hazardous drug handling in health care settings. Effective July 1, 2018, the standard will apply to hospitals and other health care facilities that handle drugs identified as hazardous or potentially hazardous by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. For more on the standard, please see the USP FAQ.


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