The flu is one of the most commonly spread infectious diseases in the United States. Each year, between 5% and 20% of Americans will become infected with the influenza virus ("Seasonal Flu Q&A"). For the majority of those people, the symptoms associated with the flu-- fever, chills, dehydration, body aches, and vomiting-- are non life-threatening and typically only last for a couple of days. However, for people who become infected with the flu virus while being hospitalized for a different reason, the rates of serious flu-related complications are much higher. The most effective way to prevent the spread of the influenza virus is by receiving a yearly flu shot, but disappointingly, most hospitals in the United States do not require employees …show more content…
As a result, many hospitals fail to achieve a vaccination rate high enough to prevent the spread of the influenza virus. A recent article states that "only 42% of [health care workers] received the seasonal influenza vaccination during the 2005-06 influenza season" (Maroyka and Andrawis). Lower vaccination rates undoubtedly result in higher numbers of hospital-acquired influenza. In order for a hospital to reach an optimal rate of vaccination, yearly mandatory influenza vaccinations must be required, and the consequences for refusing the vaccine must be severe enough to motivate health care workers to receive …show more content…
Patients who contract the influenza virus while in the hospital have a shockingly high risk of death as a result of flu complications. A recent article from Henry H. Bernstein and Jeffrey R. Starke lists the average mortality rate of all patients with hospital-acquired influenza as 16%, but notes that patients with higher risk factors, such as people who 've recently undergone transplants, have a mortality rate of between 33% and 60%. Though the flu is typically non-life threatening for the general population, the same can not be said for hospital patients who have compounding health issues. Because of the increased risk of death for hospital patients, it would be in a hospital 's best interest to require mandatory influenza vaccinations for its staff to prevent as much transmission of the virus as
The supporting argument states that the policy is a helpful program not only to reduce the risk of influenza transmission to patient, but also to prevent employees from getting flu when providing care [2]. Meanwhile, Canadian Nurses Association declares that
Soon, the epidemic arrived in Chicago. On August 28, 1918, reports of the increased death rate in Massachusetts were reported in Chicago newspapers, warning citizens of the potential risk of the epidemic reaching them. Nationwide, military camps suffered mass outbreaks throughout September, and yet, the Chicago Tribune printed reassuring news stories that suggested the flu was under control. On September 8, 1918, the virus took its first victims of the city: sailors at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station.
insufficient progress to date remains less than 50% been made in view of the increasing speed of the HCWs influenza vaccine. Medical workers have identified a number of barriers to vaccination. But eliminate this barrier, and effectively increase the support rates of the multi-faceted program inoculation any inoculation, this program is a recent phenomenon, it was widely. Medical authorities are now considering a mandatory influenza vaccination for health care providers (Sullivan,
Influenza vaccines direct and indirect medical costs have resulted in an effective cost saving for all ages especially the 65 and up (Carias et al., 2015). The direct and indirect cost of influenza vaccination is associated with many economic principles that ties in with 1) the health outcomes, 2) medical cost, 3) hospitalizations, 4) loss of lives, 5) inpatients admission, 6) over the counter medication, 7) out of patients visits, drug prescription, 9) days lost to work and much more (Carias et al., 2015). Therefore, the overall economic cost of providing vaccination to the population is relevantly high given the above factors that is considerable to weigh the benefits cost of vaccination.
Churches were kept open because they were considered essential for morale, but pastors were to keep their services shorter. People who were going to work were suggested to walk to work instead of taking cramped public transportation. Public spitting was outlawed and citizens were asked to wear gauze facemasks when they were in public. By Oct. 21, Chicago received 100,000 flu vaccines. Over the next weeks, flu deaths dropped rapidly and the illness was
Although many employees were vaccinated, the unvaccinated were still at risk because the virus could easily be transmitted via specific individuals. In order to prevent this, the government ordered businesses to take some precautionary measures without forcing individuals to get vaccinated. To avoid spreading the virus, OSHA recommended a series of instructions a business should employ before allowing employees in the building. “OSHA suggests that employers consider adopting policies that require workers to get vaccinated or to undergo regular COVID-19 testing – in addition to mask wearing and physical distancing – if they remain unvaccinated.” Thus, they are provided both a safer workplace environment and an alternative for
On the other hand, Bihr gains an audience related advantage of safety values when she addresses the topic of protecting children from harm; Bihr explains that administering vaccines helps protect children from illnesses like the influenza virus or rotavirus. Researchers Ferdinands et al. (2014) found that the “…influenza vaccination was associated with about a three-quarters reduction in risk of influenza-related critical illness in children… Our results highlight the value of increasing the use of influenza vaccines among children” (Ferdinands et al., 2014, p. 681); while Dr. Cave’s (2014) piece, Adolescent refusal of MMR inoculation: F (mother) v F (father), adds that “A global vaccination campaign has led to a 71 per cent drop in measles-related deaths between 2000 and 2011, making a huge impact on the death rate which was estimated at 2.6 million deaths per year in the 1980s” (Cave, 2014, p. 631).
Imagine you’re lying in your bed for days, feeling terrible due to the flu. The flu shot is an effective way to prevent the flu every year. The antibodies in the vaccine change each year to work efficiently. Patients should get the flu vaccine to prevent their bodies from sickness. Throughout each year, people get the flu shot to properly prevent the flu.
According to Stanton, low-staffed hospitals resulted in higher incidences of poor patient outcomes. Such as, UTIs, pneumonia, and fall. However, poor patient outcomes not only result from short-staffed nurses, but can also result from inadequate nursing assistants as well. NAs play a great role in providing basic daily care of patients. These professionals are very crucial in the healthcare industry but sadly, there are NA shortages.
Farwell claims that in the flu season of 2015 about 64% of heath care workers received the vaccination, but the future goal is 90%. The article (Farwell 2016) also claims that the vaccination is the best defense against the flu, but only if the vaccination and the strand of flu one is exposed to I the same
Buchan and Aiken (2008) stated that the nurses shortage problems may be due to the nurses that not willing to work as a nurse under the current conditions in working environment. A real shortage is circumstances where experienced people are not available for a certain vacancies due to some reasons (Wildschut&Mqolozana, 2008). A news article written by Salma Khalikin in Straits Times stated that according to current situation Singapore may not be able to create enough nurses for upcoming years. The impact of nurses shortage may causes increase work load for nurses which subsequently may increase the risk for nurses made errors in clinical, the risk of increase hospital acquired infections which cause by viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens. More over the impact of shortage of nurses may also increase death rate, and also increase the risk of occupation injuries and exposure in working environments.
Influenza season is here again so it is time for everybody to add getting a flu shot to their “to-do” list. It is recommended for everyone to get flu shot from ages 6 months and older (McCarthy 1). It is the obligation of healthcare works and their employers to promote influenza vaccinations to patients and is an annual requirement for the workers as well (Lynkowski 1). Winter season is time for healthcare workers to get in line, roll up their sleeves and consent to treatment for a flu shot. For the hospital, their goal is to get all employees vaccinated, especially those who have direct contact with patients which brings up a number of ethical issues arising from the attempts to implement mandatory flu shots (Dubov 2530).
The government agencies response to the outbreak of influenza proved to be useless, with ignorance, failure to act, and disregard to those in need, as displayed in documents one, three, and six. Document one was written by a anonymous medical doctor in the United States, 1918. As stated in a letter written to a friend, hoping to inform them about the serious outbreak of influenza, the change influenza had caused increased medical need, as well as doubled the amount of paperwork. He continues in a meloncholy, rushed, tone, that “For several days there were no coffins and the bodies piled up something fierce” (line 8). Therefore, the governents response to the outbreak proved to be for merely business issues, as the paperwork was treated better
This is important evidence because it gives us conditions and results of what can happen if patients get lower quality care. Patients’ are not having enough time getting checked up by a nurse, and nurses would miss some diagnostics. Patients are getting sick because of the poor care they are receiving from nurses. The care patients can get is affected by a nurse shortage, “Nursing workload definitely affects the time that a nurse can allot to various tasks. Under a heavy workload, nurses may not have sufficient time to perform tasks that can have a direct effect on patient safety.
Ethical Issues in Nursing: Nurse-Patient Ratios Megan Harvey, Katie McKelvery, Erica Robbins & Cassandra Tingley St. Johns River State College March 2018 Ethical Issues in Nursing: Nurse-Patient Ratios Every day nurses are faced with ethical dilemmas. Challenges in these situations are becoming more and more complex due to increasing workload and sicker patients. When a nursing unit is understaffed not only are nurses more likely to become burnt out, but their patients are far less likely to receive the quality of care they deserve. The problem is that the Federal regulations require hospitals who participate in Medicare to “have ‘adequate’ numbers of licensed nurses (RN, LPN, CNA) to provide care to all patients as needed,” but the regulations