Nursing Practice and Curriculum Reforms Improve Outcomes

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by Liliya Brinchuk

Since the inception of the partnership between Coney Island Hospital, New York and Odessa Oblast Hospital (OOH), Odessa, we have made significant changes in our practice and education, resulting in improvements in patient care.

Our surgery unit saw substantial change as a result of exposure to the surgical patient care standards of our partnership hospital, as well as those of Maimonides Medical Center and Bellevue Hospital. These changes include starting a performance evaluation program, merging the positions of surgical and non-surgical nurses, and one month of training in the surgical unit.

The infection control program has also advanced. We have studied and implemented programs aimed at avoiding transmission of blood-borne pathogens, and we have seen a decrease in post-operative complications.

Quality improvements have resulted from these efforts. OOH now uses a specific admissions office for the Emergency Surgery Unit, including a treatment room for the resuscitation and intensive therapy unit (RITU). We have improved quality in the dressing room of the RITU as a result of integration of standards of practice. In addition, we analyzed our own deficiencies in the work of the surgery and treatment service staff.

Training enhancements and organizational work have been implemented. A performance review process for surgical and treatment nurses in the surgery unit was implemented, along with courses for these nurses. With the help of our American partners in the opening of the Nursing Learning Resource Center (NLRC), we are now able to perform training and lectures using the video materials and slides. Our standard of education is now consistent with international standards. Our work policies have also improved.

Liliya Brinchuk is Head Nurse of Surgery at Odessa Oblast Hospital, Odessa, Ukraine
tel: 38 (0482) 56 20 93
fax: 38 (0482) 55 10 24

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