Background and Cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide are two most widely used and hazardous drugs in chemotherapy centers. This study aimed at determining surface contamination with cyclophosphamide and iphosphamide in chemotherapy centers.
This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in three chemotherapy centers affiliated with Hamedan University of Medical Sciences, Iran 2016. Twenty eight samples were collected from contaminated surfaces. The samples were then prepared by solid phase extraction and analyzed by HPLC/UV apparatus.
The mean values for surface contamination of cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide were 57.28 ± 63.8 and 44.15 ± 5.5 ng/cm2, respectively. The highest levels of contamination with both drugs were observed at exhaust hood surfaces and the lowest level of contamination was seen in nursing station and staff resting place. The clothes and gloves of nurses were also found to be contaminated.
Daily number of medications, the location of drug preparation room and injection room, nursing station, staff resting place, daily cleaning programs, and repairing and maintenance of ventilation systems were amongst the major factors affecting surface contamination in chemotherapy centers.

Noise is the most common source of environmental stress that influences negatively the psychological and physiological aspects of human. The purpose of this study was determining the noise sources and assessing in General Intensive Care Unit. In this cross-sectional study, equivalent noise level "Leq 15 min", Maximum and Minimum sound pressure level were measured on 5 stations, during the all of day and night shifts period in different place including corridor, nursing station, rest room and hospitalization parts. The data were processed by means of SPSS and Excel software. Mean sound pressure level for GICU was 60.9±1/6 dBA that is more than the standard level. The mean of maximum noise level was obtained 82.5±2 dBA and the highest noise level was measured at nursing station. There was significant difference in Noise Pollution level based on different months, level of patient's conciseness and number of ventilator using (P < 0.05). Being more noise pollution in the ICU and stations on all shifts may cause to diminish health and well-being of the staff in long-term and produce some problems for the patient. According to the highest level of noise produced in nursing stations and the different activities doing by the staff as a main noise pollution factor, it's necessary to perform required training in relationship with doing the works in right manner so that we can produce quiet and silence environment for patience.

Maintenance of adequate hospital indoor air quality (HIAQ) in operating rooms (ORs) is critical to the Surgical Site Infection (SSI) in hospitalized patients. This study assessed the concentration of bacterial bioaerosols in various ORs in a hospital.
The concentration of bacterial bioaerosols was measured in the 8 ORs and 2 nurse stations. Active sampling method was used to monitor bacterial bioaerosols.
The mean concentrations of the total bacteria were 211-386 and 208-443 CFU/ m3 in the first and second floor, respectively. Gram-positive bacteria (e.g., Micrococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp. and streptococcus spp.) were frequently observed in the assessed ORs and nurse stations.
Bacterial bioaerosol monitoring is a useful tool for evaluation of the bio-contamination of ORs in order to improve indoor air quality of them.

Drug interactions are considered as adverse effects of drugs that alter a patient’s response to an initial medication due to concurrent administration of different drugs or other substances. This study aimed to assess the role of medical education in reducing potential Atorvastatin drug interactions in a teaching hospital by distributing alert cards and putting up posters in a nursing station. Six hospital wards of Taleghani hospital were selected for the study (Gastroenterology-liver, Nephrology, Vascular Surgery, Orthopedics, Cardiology and Endocrinology Wards). The study was conducted in three phases. In the first phase, 100 patients receiving atorvastatin were examined for presence of drug interactions. Then in the second phase, warning leaflets and informative posters about atorvastatin drug interactions and its management were provided. Leaflets were distributed among ward practitioners and posters were put up in the nursing stations. Finally, in the third phase of the study, 100 patients that were being treated with atorvastatin were examined for presence of atorvastatin drug interactions. Analysis of data was performed using SPSS version 16 and p values ​​of less than 0.05were considered significant. Overall, results showed that in all six wards after training, reductions in atorvastatin drug interactions decreased from 43% to 24% and this was statistically significant (P = 0.004). The comparison between internal and surgical wards showed a significant reduction in presence of atorvastatin drug interactions only in the internal wards where it decreased from 50% to 22.5% (p <0.001). Distribution of alert cards and educational posters put up in nursing stations was successful, in that it effectively reduced atorvastatin drug interactions.

Bacterial exposure in hospitals due to the presence of pathogens in hospitals is one of important health problems for medical staff. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported a global outbreak of hospital infections from 5.7% to 19.1% in the 2011 report. The aim of this study was to identify bacterial bioaerosols in nursing stations in a public hospital in Tehran to determine the occupational hazards of them.

This cross-sectional study was conducted three times at fifteen nursing station in 15 different departments of a public hospital in Tehran. 45 samples were prepared on three culture media including Mackangi Agar, nutrient agar and Manitol Salt Agar. Air samples were prepared according to NIOSH 0800 method by a bacterial sampler with a flow rate of 28.3 L/min for 5 min. Samples were analyzed by microbial screening test.

Mean of the bacterial infection was 180.03±125.27 CFU/m3. The results showed that there were gram positive staphylococcus aureus in the all air samples of nursing stations. Moreover, in 26.7% of occupational exposure nursing stations with Acinetobacter Iwoffii was observed as the most common gram negative bacteria.. Maximum bacterial number was found in orthopedic nursing station (399.99 CFU/m3) and heart transplant nursing station had the minimum bacterial infection (43.73 CFU/m3).

Eighty percent of occupational exposure in the samples had higher exposure to bacterial pathogens than the standards set by ACGIH (75 CFU/m3). Due to the presence of Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli and Acinetobacter Iwoffii in nursing stations, there was a risk of hospital infections in health care workers. It seems unsuitable surface sterilization and lake of useful engineered controlling methods has led to bio aerosol scattering in the air of studied stations

Backgrounds Excessive noises are generally known as one of the most important causes of environmental pollution. Destructive effects of noise pollution on staff and patients of hospitals were confirmed. The current study aimed at measuring the intensity of noises and annoying sounds in different wards of a hospital affiliated to Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran, in 2015.
Methods & Materials The current cross sectional study was conducted in a hospital affiliated to Bushehr University of Medical Sciences. The minimum and maximum levels of annoying sounds and noises were measured in 10 wards and the area around the hospital in the morning, evening, and night hours on weekdays and holidays. Data were collected using the 805 ST sound level meter. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21, employing descriptive and inferential statistics. P was ≤0.05.
Results The most intensive noise was measured in the emergency ward, 67.16±7.7 dB, among the 11 wards of the hospital. The maximum and minimum intensive noises were the general pediatric ward (64.11 ± 4.8 dB) vs. males general ward (54.46±3.6 dB); nursing station of the emergency ward (67.15±7.7 dB) vs. nursing station of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) (44.78±5.1 dB), and the corridors of females general ward (66.18±9.1 dB) vs. the corridors of operating room (55.7±6.4 dB).
Conclusion The level of noise was higher than that of normal sounds in all hospital wards. Noise in the evening shift was more than those of the morning and night shifts. These findings stressed on the necessity of considering the issue of sound pollution in the studied hospital. Based on these findings, the hospital managers should attempt to eliminate or decrease such pollutants.

Designing the maternity ward of hospitals is crucial due to the special conditions of mothers before, during, and after birth. Numerous environmental factors affect mothers, and it calls for an evidence-based design of these spaces. Although many investigations have drawn their attention to the issue, there is a paucity of research in terms of the significance of the birth environment factors. Therefore, the specific question of the research is that to what extent each of these factors is significant? In order to answer this question, the researchers devised a questionnaire based on which the most prominent variables could be ascertained. The questionnaire contained four main domains, including fear cascade, facilities, aesthetics and support, and the researchers distributed them among mothers in four hospitals in Golestan province, Iran. Six influential spaces affecting mothers, including communication space, hospitalization room, nursing station, neonatal room, operation room and external space, were investigated in this regard. Using the descriptive-analytical method and SPSS software, the research hypotheses were tested, and the Friedman test was employed to rank the domains and their variables. The findings demonstrated the significance of the aesthetic domain and such variables as the nursing station, natural light in corridors, and view to the doctor room. The study offered fresh insights into the design of a peaceful maternity ward.

Information technology can increase the quality of medical care and is a target for many of the pioneers in the development of clinical or medical information. Electronic medical record (EMR), one of such technologies, is a well-known and valuable system to access patient information in hospitals. Electronic medical records which are used for the purpose of providing basic health care are available through a network of computers. All units of the hospital such as examination room, conference room, emergency, patient care units, nursing stations, operating rooms, recovery units, laboratory, radiology, pharmacy and medical records should have access to it. Among its advantages are improved quality of care provided to patients, better organized information, improvement in the timeliness of the process, accuracy and completeness of documentation, patient access to electronic copies of records, prevention of medication errors and allergies, reduced medical errors, immediate access to information in different places, decision support technology and improvement in the process of doing. S urely the use of electronic medical records has created a new dimension to patient care and clinical practice and will provide a comprehensive system to support people in the community and enhance the quality of services provided to them.

Violence in the workplace is a risk factor threatening the health of workers. Health care workers - especially nurses and health care workers are at risk from other threats, physical violence and verbal are. In this study, all nurses working in the emergency departments of hospitals selected by the University of Medical Sciences (n=52) in 1391 studied groups. Means of collecting standardized questionnaire concerning violence in the workplace in units of health, including Section 4 (data demographics, threats of physical violence and verbal) that was completed by nurses. Results of statistical analysis and analytical tests (x 2 and Fisher’s exact test) were used in the software SPSS v.16. Nineteen and six percent of nurses had been violated during the course of their work. Violence against male nurses than female nurses was. The highest cause of violence against nurses, violence, and verbal violence is the most common cause of hypo nursing station was overcrowded. This study demonstrates the high level of violence against nurses and most of the violence against nurses, violence is verbal. Therefore to minimize violence in the hospital environment should be responsible for demulcent strategies, performance management; Protective measures should be considered and appropriate public education.

Radiological examinations for patients who are hospitalized at intensive care units are usually performed using portable radiography devices. However they may require knowledge and safety precautions of nurses.. The aim of the study was to investigate ICU nurses’ knowledge of radiation safety and their behaviors towards portable radiological examinations.. In total, 44 intensive care nurses were recruited for this cross-sectional descriptive study using census sampling during April and May 2014. The study setting was at intensive care units of Shahid Beheshti Hospital of Kashan, Iran. An eleven-item questionnaire and a five-item checklist were used for evaluating nurses’ radiation protection knowledge and behaviors, respectively. An expert panel consisting of ten nursing and radiology faculty members confirmed the content validity of the questionnaire and the checklist. Moreover, a Geiger-Müller counter was used for measuring ionizing radiation during portable radiological examinations. Study data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 13.0. Mean, standard deviation, frequency and one-sample t test were used for description of the data. The level of significance was set at below 0.05.. The mean of participants’ radiation protection knowledge was 4.77 ± 1.38. The most prevalent radiation protection behavior of nurses was leaving the intensive care unit during portable radiological examinations. Only 6.8% of nurses stayed at the nursing station during radiological examinations. The highest dose of radiation was 0.11 micro Sievert per hour (μSv/h), which was much lower than the highest permitted level of radiation exposure i.e. 0.25 μSv/h.. Portable radiological examinations did not expose healthcare providers to high doses of ionizing radiation. Nurses’ radiation protection knowledge was limited and hence, they require in-service education programs.