The purpose of our study was to determine whether there is a relationship between renal cortical thickness or length measured on ultrasound and the degree of renal impairment in chronic kidney disease (CKD). MATERIALS AND METHODS.
Where Have All the Nurses Gone? According to Nursing Solutions' 2013 National Healthcare and Registered Nurse Retention Report, hospital turnover rates in 2013 range from 8.7 to 31.7 percent nationwide. The national average for that year is 14.7 percent, up slightly from the previous year. The swelling labor market plays a part. As the economy heats up, voluntary turnover rates increase, with staff looking to secure better positions and promotions elsewhere. Alarmingly, more than 37 percent of Nursing Solutions' hospital respondents report a 2013 registered nurse vacancy rate above 7.5 percent.
Veterans Administration researchers recently reported that the rate of falls in acute care hospitals ranges from 1.3 to 8.9 per 1,000 patient days. Viewed another way, the national rate is 0.562 falls per 1,000 discharges, according to CMS data reported on Hospital Compare. While hospitals should track their total fall rate and work to keep reducing it, Quigley says an analysis with more precision is essential to a successful fall prevention program. She encourages hospital executives to categorize falls into four types: accidental, anticipated physiological, unanticipated physiological, and behavioral or intentional [See Page 27].