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Biomedical subjects

E Balk

Publications and source records attributed to E Balk.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

Theory Z as a framework for the application of a professional practice model in increasing nursing staff retention on oncology units.

Recruitment and retention of nurses is the most significant issue facing nursing administrators, educators, researchers and clinicians in the ongoing nursing shortage in the United States today. It has been cited in the literature that American nurses feel that job satisfaction is a major issue in retaining qualified nurses in hospitals. Satisfaction occurs when nurse expectations are matched with the hospital's vision and values. It is for this purpose that the authors have chosen theory Z as a hospital management model to coincide with the institution of the Marker Professional Practice Model to increase job satisfaction (autonomy) in hospital-based nurses. There are four 'hidden' challenges in health care today. They are: (a) fundamental changes occurring within the profession and practice of nursing; (b) the expanded role of women in management; (c) ethical dilemmas related to advances in medical technologies; and (d) the difficulty for health care managers in the United States to make changes related to the above three challenges. The authors feel that it is inherent to the nursing profession to combine existing theories and models to enhance the retention of nurses to the profession.

Hospital Units↗
PubMed1986

Computer modeling of planar myocardial perfusion imaging: effect of heart rate and ejection fraction on wall thickness and chamber size.

Myocardial perfusion imaging is generally performed as a static acquisition without regard for dynamic changes in the cardiac cycle. The effect of heart rate and ejection fraction on the appearance of left ventricular chamber size and wall thickness as perceived in 201Tl scintigrams has not, to our knowledge, been previously studied. A dynamic computer model of the left ventricle was constructed, capable of varying the heart rate and ejection fraction. Parallel slices through the model were convolved with experimentally derived 201Tl point spread functions at corresponding depths to incorporate the effects of scatter and attenuation. Both gated and static left anterior oblique images were created at three clinically encountered heart rates and ejection fractions, with constant end-diastolic volume and left ventricular mass. Results of the study indicate that perceived and quantified wall thickness increases and chamber size decreases appreciably with increasing ejection fraction and (slightly) with increasing heart rate. Thus, evaluation of wall thickness and chamber size in planar images should take into account variations in heart rate and contractility. This is especially pertinent to estimates of left ventricular hypertrophy and chamber size, attempted from nongated myocardial perfusion images.

Computers↗
PubMed1983

Effects of naloxone on hemodynamics, oxygen transport, and metabolic variables in canine endotoxin shock.

The effects of naloxone (2 mg/kg body weight) on hemodynamics, oxygen transport, and some metabolic variables were studied in mongrel dogs under general anesthesia and controlled ventilation. All 19 dogs received Escherichia coli endotoxin (1.5 mg/kg) and subsequently were randomized into three groups. The first group (N = 7) served as a control group in which at 90 min after endotoxin (t 90), NaCl (0.65%, 4 ml/kg) was infused during 30 min. In the second group (N = 7) naloxone (2 mg/kg) dissolved in the same amount of fluid was administered at t 90 in 30 min. In the third group (N = 5) naloxone (2 mg/kg) was injected as a bolus in 5 ml NaCl (0.65%) at t 90, which was followed by NaCl (0.65%, 4 ml/kg) infused in 30 min. Differences in the three groups after intervention were tested statistically. After naloxone, blood pressure, cardiac output, and left ventricular stroke work increased significantly. Although oxygen availability increased, oxygen consumption and serum lactate did not change when compared with the control group. As to all other measured and calculated variables, no systematic differences were found in the three groups. In six dogs, plasma beta-endorphins were measured and were shown to rise substantially after induction of endotoxin shock. As to the hemodynamic changes, our observations confirm data from the literature. Naloxone apparently improves hemodynamics in endotoxin shock, but at least in this study fails to influence oxygen consumption and serum lactate levels.

Animals↗