Professional Nursing Practice Research Articles

Advancing the Synergy of Benedictine Values and Caring in Online Graduate Nursing Education

Watson’s Caring Theory and Caritas combined with Catholic Benedictine values expressed as Hallmarks are integral to the mission of the nursing program. It can be anticipated that faculty who live out the values and express caring serve as role models for the students in the online learning environment. Specific activities make explicit to students that caring is at the core of professional nursing practice and their role as nursing leaders. These processes can be incorporated in nursing programs at all levels and modes of delivery across secular, faith-based, or other academic settings.

Developing academic literacy through a decentralised model of English language provision

ABSTRACTStudents entering English-medium universities frequently struggle to cope with the language demands of their degree programmes, despite having met the English language entry conditions stipulated by their receiving institutions. This can have significant repercussions for the teaching-learning process, for the student experience and for universities’ reputations. Most universities, therefore, have in place some form of in-sessional English language support to develop students’ language proficiency. Such provision tends to be centralised and to offer English for general academic purposes rather than language development that responds in a more nuanced way to the particular literacy needs of students’ disciplines. In this article we report on an alternative, decentralised model of language support, implemented in a School of Nursing and Midwifery, and which seeks to develop students’ competency in the language skills required for their Nursing studies and professional practice. Results to date have been encouraging and provide further evidence that such tailored provision offers a potentially fruitful language development strategy.

Abstract 5291: Professional nurses' awareness and practice with sexual concerns of the oncology patient

Abstract Sexuality is an important aspect of quality of life (QOL). QOL after cancer therapy is an important aspect of patient care of which sexual wellbeing forms part of the holistic nursing care although sexuality assessment is recognized as an important part of nursing care, in practice it has been observed that professional nurses may experience some difficulties to this aspect. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of the awareness, practice and possible barriers of professional nurses when engaging in conversation about sexuality with patients receiving cancer treatment in a private oncology care setting in Pretoria, South Africa. Objectives: The research objectives were: Ø To explore and describe the awareness and practice of professional nurses to engage in conversation about sexuality with the patient receiving cancer treatment in a private oncology setting in Pretoria. Ø To describe possible barriers that prohibit professional nurses to engage in conversation with patients receiving cancer treatment in a private oncology setting regarding sexuality Ø To make recommendations to improve nursing practice with regard to nursing care related to sexuality in the private oncology care setting. Method: An exploratory, descriptive and qualitative design was followed. A convenient purposive sample consisting of nine participants who met the inclusion criteria participated. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, while Creswell's method of data analysis was applied. Trustworthy measures included credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability. This study obtained ethical clearance from all stakeholders. Results: The themes embarrassment, cultural beliefs and values emerged as barriers to engage in conversation about sexuality while, referring to a specialist in the field as suggested support to cancer treated patients arose. Limited knowledge about intensive therapy featured as the last theme. The data revealed that professional nurses themselves had restricted views on sexuality and very often would see the patient's body image and associated sexuality as not their responsibility. The concept intensive therapy was not fully understood which led to limited referral to various specialist. Conclusions: Professional nurses should be sensitized and empowered with the skills and knowledge on how patients' perception of their body image changed when been treated with cancer and the effect thereof. Reflective conversations about this sensitive topic could assist in this regard. Citation Format: Maurel C. Emeagi, Hester Rina De Swardt, Martjie De Villiers. Professional nurses' awareness and practice with sexual concerns of the oncology patient [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5291.

C-Suite Roles and Competencies to Support a Culture of Shared Governance and Empowerment.

The aim of this study was to examine C-suite executives' perspectives on empowerment early in shared governance implementation. Leadership influences a workplace culture for empowerment. However, the literature lacks clarity regarding the specific roles of C-suite executives in fostering empowerment. A system's top 47 executives were invited to participate in a Delphi study. Two Delphi rounds identified leadership empowerment philosophies, plus techniques for (a) understanding staff needs, (b) embedding empowerment, and (c) ensuing leadership accountability. In round 3, leaders rated the 3 types of techniques for ease and impact. Results revealed a passive C-suite culture regarding empowerment. However, C-suite executives recognized the need for active promotion of an empowering culture. Optimal techniques for understanding staff empowerment needs were identified. Modeling empowerment by the C-suite executives enables alignment between councils and levels of nursing leadership, allowing organizations to achieve the goals for professional nursing practice and shared governance.

FAKTOR-FAKTOR YANG BERHUBUNGAN DENGAN STRES KERJA PERAWAT DI UNIT GAWAT DARURAT RSUD DR.H.CHASAN BOESOIRIE TERNATE: FAKTOR-FAKTOR YANG BERHUBUNGAN DENGAN STRES KERJA PERAWAT DI UNIT GAWAT DARURAT RSUD DR.H.CHASAN BOESOIRIE TERNATE

Abstract : The problem of job stress is not addressed will be able to reduce the level of labor productivity and reflects a poor performance. Many factors play a role as a trigger of workplace stress everyone. If the stress of work is going on a nurse, then the role of which is the nurse characteristics (age, education level, marital status, employment status, type of personality), work environment, and the work itself. Generally, job stress caused by the demands of the job do not match the capabilities and skills of workers, which is often the cause staunch educational factors, personality type, and work environment. This study used analytic method with cross sectional approach, and the sampling technique is done by total sampling 22 responden and chi-square test with significance level α = 5 % (0.05). The analysis showed a significant relationship between work environment factors to the stress of nurses working in the Intensive Care Unit Hospital Dr.H. Chasan Boesoirie Ternate with p = 0.015, no significant relationship between the factors of job stress of nurses with a value of p = 0.574, there is a significant relationship between the level of education and work stress nurse with a value of p = 0.003, there was a significant association between type personality with work stress nurse with a value of p = 0.023, there was no significant relationship between age and job stress of nurses with a value of p = 0.293, there was no significant relationship between marital status with the stress of nurses with a value of p = 0983, no relationship was significant between employment status with the stress of nurses with a value of p = 0562, and the factors most associated with job stress of nurses in the Emergency Unit of Hospital Dr. H. Chasan Boesoirie Ternate is a personality type with Exp (B) 12.093. Therefore, it is expected that the Hospital Dr. H. Chasan Boesoirie Ternate to deregulate (restructuring) tasks and roles with the application of professional nursing practice.

Fundamental care guided by the Careful Nursing Philosophy and Professional Practice Model©.

To propose the Careful Nursing Philosophy and Professional Practice Model© as a conceptual and practice solution to current fundamental nursing care erosion and deficits. There is growing awareness of the crucial importance of fundamental care. Efforts are underway to heighten nurses' awareness of values that motivate fundamental care and thereby increase their attention to effective provision of fundamental care. However, there remains a need for nursing frameworks which motivate nurses to bring fundamental care values to life in their practice and strengthen their commitment to provide fundamental care. This descriptive position paper builds on the Careful Nursing Philosophy and Professional Practice Model© (Careful Nursing). Careful Nursing elaborates explicit nursing values and addresses both relational and pragmatic aspects of nursing practice, offering an ideal guide to provision of fundamental nursing care. A comparative alignment approach is used to review the capacity of Careful Nursing to address fundamentals of nursing care. Careful Nursing provides a value-based comprehensive and practical framework which can strengthen clinical nurses' ability to articulate and control their practice and, thereby, more effectively fulfil their responsibility to provide fundamental care and measure its effectiveness. This explicitly value-based nursing philosophy and professional practice model offers nurses a comprehensive, pragmatic and engaging framework designed to strengthen their control over their practice and ability to provide high-quality fundamental nursing care.

Emotional intelligence in professional nursing practice: A concept review using Rodgers's evolutionary analysis approach

BackgroundKnowledge around emotional intelligence originated in the 1990s from research regarding thoughts, emotions and abilities. The concept of emotional intelligence has evolved over the last 25 years; however, the understanding and use is still unclear. Despite this, emotional intelligence has been a widely-considered concept within professions such as business, management, education, and within the last 10 years has gained traction within nursing practice. Aims and objectivesThe aim of this concept review is to clarify the understanding of the concept emotional intelligence, what attributes signify emotional intelligence, what are its antecedents, consequences, related terms and implications to advance nursing practice. MethodA computerized search was guided by Rodger's evolutional concept analysis. Data courses included: CINAHL, PyschINFO, Scopus, EMBASE and ProQuest, focusing on articles published in Canada and the United Stated during 1990–2017. ResultsA total of 23 articles from various bodies of disciplines were included in this integrative concept review. The analysis reveals that there are many inconsistencies regarding the description of emotional intelligence, however, four common attributes were discovered: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and social/relationship management. These attributes facilitate the emotional well-being among advance practice nurses and enhances the ability to practice in a way that will benefit patients, families, colleagues and advance practice nurses as working professionals and as individuals. ConclusionThe integration of emotional intelligence is supported within several disciplines as there is consensus on the impact that emotional intelligence has on job satisfaction, stress level, burnout and helps to facilitate a positive environment. Explicit to advance practice nursing, emotional intelligence is a concept that may be central to nursing practice as it has the potential to impact the quality of patient care and outcomes, decision-making, critical thinking and overall the well-being of practicing nurses.

Effect of professional practice environment of head nurses on job burnout in classIII hospitals

Objective To investigate of the status quo of head nurses' professional practice environment and job burnout in classⅢ hospitals, and to discuss the influence of professional practice environment on job burnout. Methods From June to July 2016, a total of 335 head nurses from classⅢ hospitals of Hu'nan province were selected by cluster sampling method. All the participants were investigated by the Chinese version of Professional Practice Environment Scale for Head Nurses and Maslach Burnout Inventory. SPSS 18.0 software was applied to establish a database and to carry out statistical analysis. The influencing factors were analyzed by single factor analysis of variance and linear regression analysis. Results A total of 335 questionnaires were distributed, including 331 valid questionnaires. The total score of 331 head nurses professional practice environment score was (214.72±22.64) . In the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the emotional exhaustion (EE) score was (26.02±11.03) , depersonalization (DP) score was (9.31±4.30) and personal accomplishment (PA) was (34.66±12.98) . Single factor analysis showed that the differences of EE score and DP score in head nurses in different age stages were statistically significant (F=6.429, 4.652; P<0.01) . There was statistical significance in the difference of EE score of head nurses in different marital status (F=3.787, P<0.05) . There were statistical significance in the differences of EE score and DP score of head nurses with different nursing management years (F=2.448, 2.670; P<0.05) . The differences of EE score in head nurses in different departments, the highest education and the professional titles were statistically significant (F=3.951, 3.047, 3.256; P<0.05) . The results of linear regression analysis showed that the 4 dimensions of cultural heritage, organization culture construction, relationship with doctors and relationship with nurses were the key variables influencing job burnout scores. Conclusions The status quo of professional practice environment is not optimistic, the tendency of job burnout is obvious, and the professional practice environment has an impact on the job burnout of head nurses. Key words: Nursing, supervisory; Occupational burnout; Professional practice environment

Clinical Judgement and Decision Making in Nursing

Clinical judgement and decision-making are essential aspects of professional nursing practice. Nurses need to develop these skills to practice safely and effectively

2017 National Magnet Nurses of the Year®.

The Magnet Recognition Program® recognizes healthcare organizations for quality patient care, nursing excellence, and innovations in professional nursing practice. Consumers rely on the Magnet designation as the ultimate credential for high-quality nursing. The ANCC National Magnet Nurse of the Year® awards were created in 2010 to recognize the outstanding contributions of clinical nurses for innovation, consultation, leadership, and professional risk taking.

BSN Preparation for RNs: The Time Is Now!

Some nurse executives and academic nurse leaders believe that the issue of educational entry into professional nursing practice is an "old" issue. Nursing is the only healthcare profession that still does not require the minimum of a baccalaureate degree (BSN). It is time for nurse leaders to act: eliminate the multiple educational levels and require a minimum BSN degree for professional nurse practice.

Standard Operational Protocols in professional nursing practice: use, weaknesses and potentialities.

to evaluate the use of Standard Operational Protocols (SOPs) in the professional practice of the nursing team based on the theoretical framework of Donabedian, as well as to identify the weaknesses and potentialities from its implementation. Evaluative research, with quantitative approach performed with nursing professionals working in the Health Units of a city of São Paulo, composed of two stages: document analysis and subsequent application of a questionnaire to nursing professionals. A total of 247 nursing professionals participated and reported changes in the way the interventions were performed. The main weaknesses were the small number of professionals, inadequate physical structure and lack of materials. Among the potentialities were: the standardization of materials and concern of the manager and professional related to patient safety. The reassessment of SOPs is necessary, as well as the adoption of a strategy of permanent education of professionals aiming at improving the quality of care provided.

Optimising residential respite care in nursing homes: Current problems and solutions for a better future.

To examine whether residential respite care increases the risk of harm to older people and suggest directions for future research and policy. Respite care is a vital part of the aged care system that supports dependent older people and their caregivers to continue residing in the community. There is little research determining whether an older person experiences harm from residential respite. This commentary considered conceptual research and existing empirical evidence to determine whether the risk of death was greater during residential respite care for older people. Evidence on the mortality in contemporary respite care is extremely limited with the majority of studies published almost 20years ago and focussing on planned respite admissions. The evidence available has limitations in design and lacks comparison groups and key variables relevant to outcome and risk stratification. Nonetheless, it provides a theoretical basis supporting that the potential for harm and mortality may be increased during a residential respite care admission. The question of whether residential respite care presents significant risks to older people remains unanswered. Substantial changes in practice since the last century make the existing empirical evidence redundant. However, there is much to learn by reflecting on omissions of important details from these studies. A full and objective understanding of the harm associated with residential respite care for older people requires reopening and re-examining this area with robust research. Informed professional nursing practice and policy requires an empirical evidence basis to residential respite care.

Interdepartmental Collaboration for Evidence-based Practice

While undertaking a study to learn how nurse managers (NMs) support clinical nurses in the conduction of evidence-based practice (EBP), the Center for Nursing Excellence (CFNE) system director (CFNESD) and a hospital chief nursing officer (CNO) in a large health care system in the southeastern part of the country partnered with key department system-wide leaders to remove an important barrier to EBP—access to data (unpublished data). Through a collaborative effort, a toolkit (Figure 1) was developed, providing authorized users access to data required for EBP and performance improvement (PI) work. This article describes this successful interdepartmental collaborative effort and how the specially designed Toolkit, developed for the earlier study, has been expanded to support EBP and professional nursing practice in all the hospitals through this health care system (unpublished data). While undertaking a study to learn how nurse managers (NMs) support clinical nurses in the conduction of evidence-based practice (EBP), the Center for Nursing Excellence (CFNE) system director (CFNESD) and a hospital chief nursing officer (CNO) in a large health care system in the southeastern part of the country partnered with key department system-wide leaders to remove an important barrier to EBP—access to data (unpublished data). Through a collaborative effort, a toolkit (Figure 1) was developed, providing authorized users access to data required for EBP and performance improvement (PI) work. This article describes this successful interdepartmental collaborative effort and how the specially designed Toolkit, developed for the earlier study, has been expanded to support EBP and professional nursing practice in all the hospitals through this health care system (unpublished data).

Empowering clinical supervisors to flourish though critical companionship.

Education for professional nursing practice has undergone a significant shift over the last few decades impacting nursing practice and the relationship between nurses. Enhancing professional practice and acting as a conduit for empowering nurses to be active participants in their learning and development is Practice Development. This action research project with philosophical premises of critical companionship and human flourishing aimed to develop the knowledge and skills of registered nurses in their ability to provide clinical supervision of nursing students in practice. The overall project consisted of two action research cycles in two different health facilities. Participants in both projects identified similar issues and common learning needs including; how to better understand and develop skills in reflective practice; how to provide a positive learning and enabling environment; and how to provide effective solution focused feedback. Workshop facilitators witnessed the flourishing of participants as they were enabled to negotiate their learning requirements; grow and develop in their roles over the workshop series. Participants themselves identified personal growth in skills, knowledge and confidence in being a preceptor as a result of the workshops in the study. Overall, this study has resulted in the development and capacity building of the nursing workforce clinical placement capacity through the development of clinical supervisors.

The Evolution of a Nursing Professional Practice Model Through Leadership Support of Clinical Nurse Engagement, Empowerment, and Shared Decision Making

A nursing professional practice model (PPM) is the guiding theoretical and conceptual model that frames the foundation for nursing professional practice.1,2 Utilization of a professional practice model guides nursing practice and fosters professional identity, encouraging alignment to the organization's mission and vision, job satisfaction, improved quality of patient and family outcomes, and enhanced interprofessional communication.2 When a model guides professional nursing practice, nurses can articulate the impact of nursing care on improving patient and family outcomes. With leadership endorsement and support, the PPM's theoretical framework becomes the lens through which nurses see themselves; therefore, a decisive imperative factor in selecting the underpinning theory for an organization's PPM is core in its applicability to the staff's practice.

The Journey of 10,000 Miles Begins With 1 Step

The journey to providing world-class health care can be gauged by various metrics: some are more tangible and concrete, such as patient satisfaction scores, whereas others aren't necessarily readily seen or felt. Nursing identity, role clarification, and owning nursing practice are all less measurable, yet immeasurably vital elements of a journey to excellence. In our world of immediate gratification with instant everything from messaging to downloads to show me the results…now, the world of professional nursing practice challenges the perceptive norms of our health care world. Things that take time, such as cultural change related to how nurses see themselves as professionals, elbow to elbow with their interdisciplinary colleagues as well as their peers, doesn't happen overnight. Developing and nurturing professionalism in nursing takes time, authentic presence of leaders, engagement of colleagues, and somehow creating a feeling of value in the contribution of each nurse from the bedside to the boardroom. So how does that happen? Not an easy answer, but the professional practice team at WellStar Cobb is on a mission to make it happen. This is the story of a team's vision to define themselves and become owners of their practice.

The impact of regulatory perspectives and practices on professional innovation in nursing.

Since at least the 1970s in Canada, there have been calls for health system reforms based on innovative roles and expanded scopes of practice for nurses. Professional regulatory organizations, through legislation, define the standards and parameters of professional nursing practice. Nursing regulators emphasize public protection over the advancement of nursing; regulatory processes and decisions tend to be conservative and risk-averse. This study explored the impact that regulatory processes have on innovation in nursing roles. Nurses in a range of unique practice situations were interviewed, including nurses in non-traditional roles and/or settings, those with cross-jurisdictional career histories, and those working in interdisciplinary practices and educational settings. For these nurses, nursing practice was viewed through a traditional clinical lens, which did not fit for them. They experienced hassle, delay, and inconsistencies in regulatory practices. They felt mistreated and fearful of the regulator and lamented the ways in which ambitious, creative, capable nurses were stymied in attempting new applications for nursing knowledge. Nursing is constraining its own mandate to contribute to health care through stringent licensing processes. Healthcare reform provides an opportunity for nursing regulators to rethink their processes and provide the latitude for nurse-driven change.

Reflections on Distributive Leadership for Work-Based Mobile Learning of Canadian Registered Nurses

The ubiquity, flexibility, and accessibility of mobile devices can transform how registered nurses in Canada learn beyond the confines of traditional education/training boundaries in their work settings. Many Canadian registered nurses have actively embraced mobile technologies for their work-based learning to meet their competency requirements for professional nursing practice. As self-directed learners, they are using these learning tools at point-of-need to access rich online healthcare resources, collaborate, and share information within their communities of practices. Yet, paradoxically, there are Canadian healthcare organizations that have not embraced work-based mobile learning and their contextual factors constrain and/or impede registered nurses' learning. Therefore, the goal of this reflective paper is to stimulate discussion on distributive leadership strategies for embedding this pedagogical mode of learning into Canadian healthcare workplaces for registered nurses' ongoing skills and continuing professional development.

Compassion Fatigue: Exploring Early-Career Oncology Nurses' Experiences .

Oncology nurses have a higher risk and rate of compassion fatigue (CF) compared to professionals in other specialties. CF exhibits tangible negative outcomes, affecting nurses' health and professional practice. . Early-career oncology nurses' unique CF experiences lack thorough scientific exploration. This secondary analysis seeks to qualitatively augment this paucity and illuminate targeted interventions. . Open-ended interviews were conducted with five early-career inpatient oncology nurses. Subsequent transcripts were explored for CF themes secondarily using thematic analysis. . Themes indicate that early-career oncology nurses enjoy connecting with patients and families, but over-relating, long patient stays, and high patient mortality rates trigger CF. Symptoms include internalizing patients' and families' pains and fears, being haunted by specific patient deaths, feeling emotionally depleted, assuming that all patients will die, and experiencing burnout, physical exhaustion, and hypervigilance protecting loved ones.