Publications by authors named "Sheila Cox Sullivan"
Aim: To examine nurse workplace bullying relative to diverse sexual orientation and gender identity groups.
Design: Observational cross-sectional study.
Methods: Using an annual organisational satisfaction survey from 2022, we identified free-text comments provided by nurses (N = 25,337).
Objective: The aim of this project was to describe nurse scientists' roles, functions, and work experiences in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).
Background: Nurse scientists play a critical role in shaping the culture of clinical inquiry and closing the gap between knowledge and practice.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was used to collect information on sociodemographics, workload, research, clinical practice, education, and time/effort.
Objective: The aim of this study was to determine best practice for evidence-based practice (EBP) education that leads to implementation.
Background: Current methods of teaching EBP do not reliably translate to implementation.
Methods: Participants in an EBP immersion were compared with participants in EBP immersion plus a follow-up EBP course.
Aim: The purpose of this manuscript is to report the findings of a qualitative content analysis of interviews with VA Nurse Scientists about work life experiences, barriers, and facilitators across the enterprise.
Background: The VA enterprise is widely variable in terms of size, services, research activity, and budget. For this reason, the roles of nurses with a research-focused doctorate are also quite diverse.
Background: New graduate registered nurse (RN) competencies are complex and difficult to measure. Psychometrically sound tools are needed to evaluate competencies for nurses participating in nurse residencies.
Purpose: Project aims were to develop an item pool for a tool to measure new graduate RN competencies for the Veterans Health Administration RN Transition-to-Practice Residency Program; validate item pool content; and use consensus methods to improve item pool content validity.
Background: The demand for nursing care is rising in the long-term care setting. Nurse staffing is a crucial measure linked to health care quality measure outcomes.
Purpose: To assess for associations between nursing hours per patient day (NHPPD) and outcome measures in the Veterans Health Administration Community Living Centers.
Objectives: The Veterans Administration (VA) Mobility Screening and Solutions Tool (VA MSST) was developed to screen a patient's safe mobility level 'in the moment' and provide clinical decision support related to the use of safe patient handling and mobility (SPHM) equipment. This evidence-based flowchart tool is a common language tool that enables any healthcare worker at any time to accurately measure and communicate patient mobility and transfer equipment needs across disciplines and settings.
Methods: The VA MSST has four levels and differentiates between the need for powered and non-powered equipment depending on the patient's independence.
Purpose: Program evaluation to describe nursing hours per patient day (NHPPD) within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and to evaluate Staffing Methodology in the VHA Community Living Centers (CLCs).
Methods: Targeted and actual NHPPD were compiled retrospectively for each VHA CLC unit over a one-year timeframe for calendar year 2019. For descriptive analyses, actual NHPPD were averaged across months for each CLC unit.
Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office of Nursing Services (ONS) is committed to encouraging and sustaining a positive culture that values doctoral-prepared nurses. Responding to needs cited in open-ended responses from the first ever survey of VHA's doctoral-prepared nurse workforce will require: providing and encouraging formal advanced degree achievement recognition; further opportunities for professional development and potential promotion; and support for nurse research activities at the local and national level. ONS recognizes the need for further research and evaluation related to VHA doctoral-prepared nurses to better understand both the outcomes they drive and what drives them.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Responding to National Academy of Medicine and National Council of State Boards of Nursing recommendations, the Department of Veterans Health Affairs (VHA) implemented full practice authority (FPA) for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses in VHA medical centers (VAMCs) in 2017.
Purpose: To evaluate FPA policy implementation's impact on quality indicators including access to care as measured by new patient appointments in primary, specialty and mental health services.
Methods: Linear growth models compared early (n = 85) vs.
Background: In 2010, the Veterans Health Administration Office of Nursing Services (VHA ONS) issued a Staffing Methodology (SM) Directive, standardizing the method of determining appropriate nurse staffing for VHA facilities.
Objectives: To assess associations between the Directive, nurse staffing trends, and healthcare-associated infections.
Research Design: We conducted multi-level interrupted time series analyses of nurse staffing trends and the rates of two healthcare-associated infections before and after implementation of the Directive, October 1, 2008 - June 30, 2014.
Background: Doctoral-prepared nurses with diverse skillsets are required to meet nursing care needs in a complex and changing healthcare environment. A better understanding of the roles of doctoral-prepared nurses in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) workforce will help leverage their expertise to meet the needs of Veterans.
Purpose: Assess the current roles of doctoral-prepared nurses within the VHA.
Although the VHA primarily relies on teams for anesthesia care, unsupervised certified registered nurse anesthetists also are used to meet veterans' surgical care needs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: In 1995, VA's Office of Research and Development launched the Nursing Research Initiative (NRI), to encourage nurses to apply for research funding and to increase the role of nurse investigators in the VA's research mission. This program provides novice nurse researchers the opportunity to further develop their research skills with the guidance of a mentor.
Purpose: Since the NRI's inception, its impact on the research career trajectory of budding nurse researchers had never been fully explored.
Aim: To examine the nurse manager perspective surrounding implementation of unit level shared governance in one Veterans Health Administration facility.
Background: Nursing shared governance is a formal model allowing nursing staff decision-making input into clinical practice, quality improvement, evidence-based practice and staff professional development. Unit level shared governance is a management process where decision authority is delegated to nursing staff at the unit level.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate a multi-component method for capturing nutrient intake, which used observation, photography, and an innovative computer program. To assess reliability and accuracy, multiple responsible employees (REs) independently conducted nutrient intake assessments on simulated meals; each RE's results relating to energy intake were compared to those from the other REs and to those obtained by pre- and post-meal weighing of the food items. System efficiency was assessed by having REs perform independent assessments on the same set of simulated meals using either the new or traditional hospital method for which the REs had to document each food item served and then find the items in a computer database-steps that were automated in the new method.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObtaining a detailed assessment of a hospitalized patient's nutrient intake is often critically important to ensuring the patient's successful recovery. However, this process is often laborious and prone to error. Inaccurate nutrient intake assessments result in the inability of the healthcare team to recognize patients with developing nutritional deficits that contribute to delayed recovery and prolonged lengths of stay.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCode flash: how an interdisciplinary team eradicated immediate-use steam sterilization.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol
January 2015
Using a systematic, evidence-based approach for developing a business plan allows nurse executives to forecast the needs of the organization, involve nursing staff at all levels, evaluate the direction of the profession, and present a plan with clear, concise goals. The authors describe 4 steps necessary in developing an effective evidence-based business plan.
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