(U.S.) Medscape: Feds Target Roles of PAs and Nurses for Comparative Research

Clinicians, patients, healthcare organizations, and the general public can weigh in on the proposed agenda and research priorities of PCORI at the agency's Web site or at its National Patient and Stakeholder Dialogue meeting, set for February 27 in Washington, DC. More information about the meeting is available at the PCORI Web site.

Lansley: understaffing is not excuse for 'never events' | News | Nursing Times (patient safety/"never events"....)

free full access: Health care providers (doctors and nurses) underestimate symptom intensities of cancer patients

Note: plain english format (easy to read) "The differences between patient and provider assessments can be caused by providers not being able to exactly interpret the patients' symptoms or that different instruments are used for patients and health care providers. Agreement on rating of symptoms was associated with demographic- and disease-related factors. Clinicians involved in care for patients with cancer should be aware of the potential factors associated with a risk of symptom underestimation."

the Commonwealth Fund: Nurses' Reports on Hospital Care in Five Countries

Medical News: Anesthesia Given by Nurses Found Safe - in Anesthesiology, Anesthesiology from MedPage Today

The analysis -- funded by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists -- looked at what happened after Medicare allowed opting out in 2001.

The study was financed by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists.
The authors did not report any potential conflicts but declared themselves to be "wholly responsible for the data, analyses, and conclusions."

Developing a Quality Screening Colonoscopy Referral System in Primary Care Practice: A Report from the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable --A Cancer Journal for Clinicians

Ontario Hospital Association Response to Registered Nurses Association of Ontario Commentary on Physician Assistants

Nurses oppose the Ontario government's physician assistant role citing inadequate education, concerns over patient safety and unnecessary cost

Note: the RNAO also made the same statement regarding pharmacists (2009)


Toronto, January 22, 2010
"Members of the public will not be well served if the provincial government pursues a plan to allow physician assistants (PAs) to work in hospitals, family health teams, community health centres, and family physician offices. The board of directors of the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) has unanimously endorsed a position statement, which raises serious questions about the level of education and regulatory oversight physician assistants have and how these could jeopardize patients..."