What Keeps Pediatric Nurses Up at Night?: A National Delphi

Abstract

Category/Date Emerging Knowledge for Clinical Practice Podium Presentations focusing on the Research Agenda Priority of Pediatric Research: Professional Role & Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Presented at NAPNAP's 40th National Conference on Pediatric Health Care, March 8, 2019, New Orleans, LA. Prolonged exposure to morally distressing patient care experiences and other healthcare issues may lead advanced practice nurses to worry. When worry becomes excessive, Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (PNPs) can lose professional joy that gives meaning to their work. Enhancing meaning in work may have a positive impact on nurse satisfaction and engagement, productivity, and burnout. This descriptive research study used a Delphi technique involving a series of surveys to develop group consensus on the top professional worries and professional satisfiers experienced by pediatric nurses in a variety of professional roles and practice settings. A convenience sample of pediatric nurses from one academic, free-standing children's hospital and five professional nursing organizations were surveyed. This presentation will focus on data extracted from PNP respondents that are members of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP). The 3-round Delphi study started with two broad open-ended research questions: 1) In pediatric nursing practice, what are the top 3 professional practice worries/concerns that keep you awake at night? and, 2) In pediatric nursing practice, what are the top 3 professional satisfiers that get you up in the morning? Complete data were available for 73 pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) in Round 1, 15 PNPs in Round 2, and 7 PNPs in Round 3. In Round 1, respondents identified 24 professional worries and 17 professional satisfiers. In Round 2, two additional professional satisfiers were added by respondents. In Round 3, the top ranked worries with percent agreement were: 1) work-life balance (91%); 2) making a mistake (71%); 3) healthcare funding (77%); 4) parental knowledge deficits (83%); and, 5) compensation (77%). The top ranked satisfiers in Round 3 with percent agreement were: 1) caring for children and families (80%); 2) making a difference (83%); 3) providing patient care (74%); 4) personal calling (83%); and, 5) educating patients and families (83%). Identifying professional worries may help PNPs to navigate challenging and distressing situations that arise in advanced nursing practice. Furthermore, understanding PNPs perceptions of meaningful work and what keeps them engaged in nursing may help promote personal resiliency and help organizations create healthier workplace environments. Emerging Knowledge for Clinical Practice Podium Presentations focusing on the Research Agenda Priority of Pediatric Research: Professional Role & Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Presented at NAPNAP's 40th National Conference on Pediatric Health Care, March 8, 2019, New Orleans, LA. Prolonged exposure to morally distressing patient care experiences and other healthcare issues may lead advanced practice nurses to worry. When worry becomes excessive, Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (PNPs) can lose professional joy that gives meaning to their work. Enhancing meaning in work may have a positive impact on nurse satisfaction and engagement, productivity, and burnout. This descriptive research study used a Delphi technique involving a series of surveys to develop group consensus on the top professional worries and professional satisfiers experienced by pediatric nurses in a variety of professional roles and practice settings. A convenience sample of pediatric nurses from one academic, free-standing children's hospital and five professional nursing organizations were surveyed. This presentation will focus on data extracted from PNP respondents that are members of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP). The 3-round Delphi study started with two broad open-ended research questions: 1) In pediatric nursing practice, what are the top 3 professional practice worries/concerns that keep you awake at night? and, 2) In pediatric nursing practice, what are the top 3 professional satisfiers that get you up in the morning? Complete data were available for 73 pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) in Round 1, 15 PNPs in Round 2, and 7 PNPs in Round 3. In Round 1, respondents identified 24 professional worries and 17 professional satisfiers. In Round 2, two additional professional satisfiers were added by respondents. In Round 3, the top ranked worries with percent agreement were: 1) work-life balance (91%); 2) making a mistake (71%); 3) healthcare funding (77%); 4) parental knowledge deficits (83%); and, 5) compensation (77%). The top ranked satisfiers in Round 3 with percent agreement were: 1) caring for children and families (80%); 2) making a difference (83%); 3) providing patient care (74%); 4) personal calling (83%); and, 5) educating patients and families (83%). Identifying professional worries may help PNPs to navigate challenging and distressing situations that arise in advanced nursing practice. Furthermore, understanding PNPs perceptions of meaningful work and what keeps them engaged in nursing may help promote personal resiliency and help organizations create healthier workplace environments.