Using an Academic-Practice Partnership to Address the Perioperative Nursing Shortage.

The nursing shortage continues to affect perioperative nursing negatively. Multiple factors, including a lack of exposure to the perioperative nursing specialty during baccalaureate nursing programs, influence the number of applicants for open perioperative positions. In 2018, we formed a collaborative academic-practice partnership to address this critical gap at our facility.

Factors Affecting Perioperative Nurse Adherence to Ergonomic Safety Measures.

AORN has identified safety risks unique to the perioperative setting and has developed ergonomic safety measures to help prevent musculoskeletal injuries and disorders. Little is known about adherence to these safety measures or the perceived barriers and facilitators to adherence. This study used a cross-sectional survey to determine the prevalence of pain and occurrence of musculoskeletal injuries and disorders.

Identifying barriers and facilitators to seeking care for symptoms of bacterial sepsis: A qualitative study.

Aim: Research suggests that early access to quality care is essential to improving bacteraemia outcomes and reducing the risk of developing sepsis because it allows for early intervention. Currently, there are limited data regarding the facilitators and barriers that alter the trajectory of arrival at the hospital when patients in the United States experience symptoms of bacteraemia and sepsis. This study sought to explore and describe the facilitators and barriers to seeking care for suspected bacteraemia and sepsis symptoms.

Vets to Nurses: Lessons Learned.

In 2014, UNC-Greensboro School of Nursing launched its Veterans Access Program for Nurses, which is designed to assist military Veterans in becoming bachelor's prepared Registered Nurses. Program specifics and lessons learned are shared here to encourage other health professions to develop academic pathways for military Veterans.

Caring for Veterans with Toxic Exposures: Veteran Exposure Assessment Screening and Evaluation (VET-EASE) Toolkit.

As millions of Veterans and Service Members seek care in the community, it is important to understand the needs of this vulnerable population regarding occupational expo-sures. Inadequate preparedness to recognize and treat service-related/suspected medical complications is an issue among clinical providers that needs urgent attention.

At Risk Safety Behaviors of the Perioperative Nursing Team: A Direct Observational Study.

Background: The operating room setting has unique workforce hazards and extremely high ergonomic demands due to patient lifting/positioning requirements, long periods of standing, and the heavy equipment and supplies that are needed for surgical procedures. Despite worker safety policies, injuries among registered nurses are increasing. Most of the research on the ergonomic safety of nurses is conducted utilizing survey methodology, which may not provide accurate data.

Exploration of pre-hospital patient delays in seeking care for symptoms of bacteremia and sepsis: A qualitative study.

Aim: We explored patient pre-hospital delays in seeking care for symptoms of bacteremia and sepsis.

Design: A qualitative descriptive study.

Methods: In January 2021, we recruited a convenience sample of four men and six women who were former patients diagnosed with bacteremia.

Nurses' Knowledge Regarding Nursing Surveillance of the Septic Patient.

Purpose: Sepsis remains a life-threatening condition and leading cause of death in the United States despite vast efforts to understand and treat it. Successful sepsis treatment requires the timely implementation of the sepsis bundle to avoid multiple organ system failure; a key component of sepsis care is nursing surveillance. The purpose of this study was to explore nurses' knowledge of nursing surveillance related to the patient with sepsis and to describe barriers to the implementation of nursing surveillance for sepsis and the sepsis bundle.

The opioid epidemic and the impact on opioid prescribing in hospice and palliative care: a qualitative study.

Background: In the US, rising rates of opioid abuse has led to regulatory policies designed to curb opioid prescribing. While these policies generally exclude hospice and palliative care from prescribing restrictions, it is not known if these policies have had unintended consequences that affect opioid prescribing within hospice and palliative care.

Methods: A qualitative, descriptive design, guided by the Theory of Planned Behaviour, was utilised to conduct a study to answer the following two research questions: 1) How has the opioid epidemic and related policies affected opioid prescribing practises among hospice and palliative care clinicians? and 2) How do hospice and palliative care clinicians perceive patients' end-of-life care has been impacted by the opioid epidemic and related policies?

Findings: Ten clinicians, comprising physicians and nurse practitioners working in hospice and palliative care settings, were directly interviewed one-on-one.

The Experiences of African American Male Caregivers.

Aging of the population has led to an increasing number of caregivers. While research has been conducted on caregiver experiences, less is known about the experiences of African American males in the U.S.

Can Nurses Self-Assess Fatigue?: Implications for Nurse Leaders.

Objective: The aims of this study were to describe nurses' self-perceptions of fatigue and to examine nurses' acceptance of specific fatigue countermeasures.

Background: The work of nurses places them at a high risk of fatigue. Evidence suggests 75% to 80% of nurses in the United States experience high levels of fatigue.

Opioid epidemic and prescribing in hospice and palliative care: a review of the literature.

Background: Rising rates of opioid abuse worldwide have led to the implementation of policies to curb opioid prescribing. It is unknown what impact these policies have on prescribing within the setting of hospice and palliative care.

Objectives: To determine the current state of the science of opioid prescribing in hospice and palliative care in relation to the opioid epidemic and associated policies.

Ergonomic Challenges in the Perioperative Setting.

Working in health care can be physically stressful. The perioperative setting, which is largely concealed from other health care workers and the general public, places unique physical demands on its workers. Perioperative personnel are responsible for a variety of physical tasks, including moving and positioning patients, holding extremities, and moving equipment and supplies.

The Pursuit of Nurse Practitioner Practice Legislation: A Case Study.

Across the United States, nursing practice acts (NPAs) have been revised to include provisions that promote full practice authority (FPA) for nurse practitioners (NPs). Such revisions provide a mechanism to better utilize the full scope of NP services to address growing demands for access to health care. Modernized NPAs that facilitate FPA for NPs are imperative, especially now with the unprecedented health care crisis that the world now faces: Coronavirus Disease 2019.

Associations of Lifestyle Intervention Effect with Blood Pressure and Physical Activity among Community-Dwelling Older Americans with Hypertension in Southern California.

A healthy lifestyle and regular physical activity are highly recommended for older adults. However, there has been limited research into testing lifestyle intervention effects on physical activity in older adults with hypertension. The purpose of this study was to assess the association of lifestyle intervention effects with physical activity and blood pressure in older adults with hypertension, accounting for social support and perceived stress as control variables.

Systemic assessment of depressive symptoms among registered nurses: A new situation-specific theory.

Background: A mentally-healthy nursing workforce is vital to providing quality healthcare. While there has been research conducted internationally on depressive symptoms in nurses, most studies have lacked a theoretical framework.

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to describe the development of a situation-specific theory, the Systemic Assessment of Depressive Symptoms among Registered Nurses (SAD-RN).

Effect of a Lifestyle-Based Intervention on Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Adults with Hypertension.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a six-month lifestyle-based intervention on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in older adults with hypertension. A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial was conducted to test the differences between the intervention and control groups on HRQOL (=196). The results indicated that there were no statistically significant differences between the intervention and control groups on change in HRQOL, but the final regression models were statistically significant.

Does a Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree Provide Preparation for Assuming a Magnet Program Director Role?

One of the blueprints used by health care organizations for attaining and sustaining nursing excellence is the American Nurses' Credentialing Center's (ANCC) Magnet designation. The ANCC requires organizations to identify a Magnet program director (MPD), who serves as the contact and communication point through the process of application, designation, and maintenance of the credential. The MPD role is complex, has a wide variety of necessary skills and competencies, and can be challenging and overwhelming to undertake.

Fibromyalgia, Fibro Fog, and Exercise.

Fibro fog causes serious problems for those with fibromyalgia syndrome. The mechanisms that cause it have not been well identified. Since prescription medication and other conventional medical interventions have proven less than satisfactory, and while waiting for more investigational information, research suggests that exercise might be helpful.

Assuring Quality Health Care in the Emergency Department.

The provision of quality healthcare is an international mandate. The provision of quality healthcare for mental health patients poses unique challenges. Nowhere is this challenge greater than in the emergency department.

Differences in health, productivity and quality of care in younger and older nurses.

Aim: To determine if younger and older hospital employed nurses have differences in their self-reported health, health related productivity and quality of care.

Background: An understanding of age cohort differences may assist nurse managers in understanding the health related productivity and potential quality of care concerns of their staff.

Method: A cross-sectional survey design was utilised.

New graduate survey: factors that influence new nurses' selection of first clinical position.

Aim: The aim was to survey nurses with 2 to 3 years' experience to determine what factors were involved in the choice of their first nursing position and if they were still in that position.

Background: A false sense that the nursing shortage has ended has occurred with nurses delaying retirement until the economy improves. However, the turnover rate still shows 26% of registered nurses leaving their first hospital position within 2 years.

We cannot ignore nurses' health anymore: a synthesis of the literature on evidence-based strategies to improve nurse health.

Nurses are known to suffer from health problems because of the physical and stressful nature of nurses' work. With the advent of health care reform and the increasing importance of nurses to quality and cost-effective health care, the health of nurses can no longer be ignored. The purpose of this synthesis of the literature is to determine what interventions and evidence-based practices have been found that support and improve the health of nurses.