Digital nursing: Policy recommendations from the WHO State of the World\u27s Nursing 2025 Report

This webinar will provide insights into recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) on digital nursing education, research, and practice drawn from the State of the World’s Nursing 2025 report. Everything from the importance of digital literacy in nursing, to how nurses can introduce and use artificial intelligence tools and generating evidence on these to inform professional practice and patient care will be discussed

Postoperative Pain Management and Breast Surgery

The most common form of cancer in the female population is a malignant breast neoplasm. On average, one in every eight women will be diagnosed with this form of cancer in their lifetime. Furthermore, breast augmentation procedures are the most common surgical procedure for the female population. Therefore, each year, thousands of women undergo breast surgery for numerous reasons, whether it be necessary or voluntary. Postoperative pain is common, leading to secondary sequela and the potential for a decreased quality of life. The persistent pain patients experience following breast surgery is a primary complaint; it can lead to secondary sequela such as decreased recovery times, increased opioid consumption, reduced range of motion, and ultimately a diminished quality of life. The consideration of regional techniques as part of the anesthesia and analgesia regimen stems from the desire to minimize the risk of long-term pain following any breast procedure. Therefore, a combined general and regional anesthesia technique is routinely implemented in these surgical procedures. Various truncal blocks have been tested with breast procedures; however, there is abundant application of paravertebral blocks (PVBs) and pectoralis II (PECS II) fascial plane blocks. Based on a synthesis of the literature, it should be considered best practice to perform a regional nerve block on patients undergoing breast surgery to provide analgesia, amongst various other benefits, including the prevention of chronic pain and development of post-mastectomy pain syndrome and decreased opioid consumption

Alleviation of Tourniquet Pain in Orthopedic Surgery

Tourniquets (TNQ) are used in many orthopedic procedures. When used correctly, they safely reduce blood loss in the surgical field and facilitate the cementation of the hardware placed in the various locations that need repair. One of the main negatives associated with TNQ use is pain. The research indicates that TNQ pain can begin as early as 30 minutes from the onset of application. TNQ pain does not resolve until deflation, and in many cases, pain persists for days. TNQ pain is associated with increased sympathetic stimulation, leading to hypertension and tachycardia that is unresponsive to analgesics. Modern medications like gabapentin and ketamine can be useful in preventing the increased pain signals transmitted by the C-fibers while decreasing activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDA)

Intimate Partner Violence Screening Education for Nurses in Emergency Department

This quality improvement project aims to increase nurses\u27 knowledge, confidence, and skills in IPV assessment in the ER using an education program and the PREMIS tool

Fostering Excellence Through Development of a Code Stroke Response Nurse

Situation: Toronto Western Hospital (TWH) is a Regional Stroke Centre, meaning that patients suspected of stroke bypass other centres to access TWH. This designation results in care for neurologically complex patients, requiring efficient stroke protocols and proficient, knowledgeable clinicians. Notification of a patient en-route to the Emergency Department with a suspected stroke sets off a cascade of events that require a streamlined, coordinated approach; a Code Stroke. Background: There were many factors reinforcing the need to reevaluate TWH’s Code Stroke protocol, including the change to administration of tenecteplase for ischemic stroke, significant wait times and subsequent unsafe patient ratios in the Emergency Department, and the change to a new documentation system, posing practice and medicolegal concerns. In addition, TWH’s Neurovascular unit has nearly doubled its census in the past 3 years, leading to mass hiring and a substantial decrease in skill mix. The large amount of new graduate nurses, further complicated by COVID-19’s impact on preparedness to practice, has led to a need for an additional role to support the practice and operational needs of the unit. A needs assessment was conducted, and development of the Neurovascular Response Nurse (NVRN) began. Methods: NVRNs are critical care-educated nurses specializing in neuroscience nursing, who receive additional training in Code Stroke processes, functional vascular anatomy, post-thrombolytic management, and deterioration response. Many of these nurses have experience in leadership or Charge Nurse roles, education and preceptorship, and quality improvement projects. As an NVRN, they provide guidance to new hires, address practice gaps, and work with the Charge Nurse, Manager, and Educator to support the unit. Results: This role has fostered a healthier work environment across the hospital. Time from thrombolytic administration to critical care bed admission decreased significantly, from 613 minutes to 57 minutes. Facilitating prompt access to a neurocritical care bed supports offloading in the Emergency Department and reduced burden of care for nurses an increasingly strained department. New neurovascular nurses report benefits from the mentorship, practice guidance, and orientation to the unit. Nurses of all experience levels value the help with complex or deteriorating patients, and report an increase in job satisfaction due to the support offered and seamless transitions

Associations of Organizational Culture, Authentic Leadership, and Moral Resilience Among Nurses

Our study examined individual and organizational factors of moral resilience among nurses. Moral resilience is a manifestation of well-being that is important in human caring science. Our findings indicated organizational mission/behavior congruence was significantly associated with higher resilience. Organizations should strive for actions consistent with their missions to boost resilience. Detailed abstract attached

Exploring Secondary Traumatic Stress: The Frontline Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses\u27 Perspective

Background: Research demonstrates that Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses (PMHNs) are affected by Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS). As many as 44% of PMHNs experience clinical levels of psychological distress and STS as compared to RNs in other specialties, including those in forensic nursing. Interventions that promote RN resilience are mentioned less frequently in this research.Objectives: To explore frontline PMHNs’ perspective on STS and remaining safe and engaged at work on the inpatient behavioral health unit.To solicit PMHNs’ input on helpful interventions to foster the development of Universal Precautions against STS.Method: Eleven PMHNs participated in one of three focus groups, led by a seasoned PMH-APRN doctoral prepared nurse educator. RNs were asked to respond to open ended questions designed to promote reflection on their experiences working in inpatient behavioral health. Participants were also asked to discuss supportive interventions that could be implemented to protect against STS.Results: PMHNs identified/discussed interventions that support nurse resiliency, wellness, and protect against STS. PMHNs expressed an interest in peer led support/clinical supervision groups. Survey results from the RNs who participated in peer led support/clinical supervision groups will be presented

Implementing Nurse-Led Late Life Depression Screening in an Acute Care Setting

Aims of the study were: (a) examine the effectiveness of a geriatric-specific depression screening and referral protocol in identifying depression in hospitalized older adults; (b) assess outcomes when a patient screens positive for depression and is referred to a social worker; and (c) evaluate nurses’ perceptions of the acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of the GDS-5 in an acute care setting

Benefits of Intracuff Lidocaine in Emergence Cough Prevention

In adult patients undergoing general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation, does intracuff inflation with lidocaine versus the standard intracuff inflation with air result in a decreased incidence of coughing on emergence from anesthesia

BIS-Guided Anesthesia to Blunt Oculocardiac Reflex

In pediatric patients undergoing strabismus surgery, is BIS-guided anesthesia compared to anesthesia not BIS-guided more likely to prevent OCR during the procedure