Evolving Role of Hospital Chaplains: Optimizing Patient, Staff, Self Well-Being During Pandemic

Abstract Text: Background: The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented strain upon healthcare systems worldwide, presenting hospital chaplains with unique challenges in responding to the increased emotional, mental, and spiritual distress experienced by patients, families, and staff, while also having to prioritize their own well-being.1-3 Traditional methods of providing care were largely unavailable to these chaplains during the pandemic, requiring them to adopt new strategies and innovative ways to maintain engagement with patients and hospital staff.4-5 Study Aim: This study aimed to explore chaplains\u27 experiences in caring for patients, family, and staff during the height of the pandemic, as the initial step in better understanding their evolving roles and identifying targeted strategies to maximize their positive impact, particularly, during times of crises. Methods: For this qualitative study, 11 chaplains at a tertiary hospital located in Southern California participated in semi-structured interviews during the COVID-19 pandemic. A thematic analysis was conducted to categorize emergent themes relating to elements of the chaplains’ evolving roles in caring for patients/families, the healthcare team, and the chaplains themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Chaplains discussed the challenges of supporting patients and families through the grief and anxiety of physical isolation during COVID with many particularly highlighting the spiritual and emotional distress around patients dying alone. Additionally, chaplains had to be “more and more creative” and figure out “how to be a presence through technology.” Chaplains also delved deeply into the growing role of caring for hospital staff to alleviate distress, moral injury, and trauma. Finally, chaplains discussed ways in which they practiced self-care including working from home or adjusting work schedules through the support of their supervisors, expanding their prayer life, and incorporating technology to maintain connections with “a community of people who I know and trust.” Implications: The Chaplains’ role within the healthcare team has evolved under the stressors of the pandemic and has expanded their scope of practice to both patients and healthcare providers. Future studies are needed to better understand the impact of various innovative solutions (e.g., technology) to promote spiritual health and well-being for both patients and healthcare workers alike

Development of an Intervention for Optimizing Values Discussions between Patients with an LVAD, their Family Caregivers, and the Healthcare Team

This project aimed to characterize how adults living with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and their family/friend caregivers engage in values-centered discussions, with the goal of informing future interventions that promote values-centered communication with the healthcare team

Developing a Nurse Practitioner Integration Model

Purpose of study: 1. To reach expert consensus on an inventory of factors affecting the integration of nurse practitioners into the health system. 2. To understand the ways in which integration affects NP ability to reduce health disparities

Guiding Inclusive Learning: Using IDEAs to Transform Workplace Diversity and Well-Being

Bias, prejudice, or discrimination can be found in all areas of life through action and inaction, creating a call to action for systemic change in nursing (Wakefield et al., 2021). Given the need for a reflective nursing workforce to reduce health disparities (Stanford, 2020) and the predicted nursing shortage, identifying strategies to recruit and retain a diverse nursing workforce in healthy work environments (HWE) is key (Rosseter, 2023). This work aims to provide strategies for educators to develop inclusive learning environments to promote workplace diversity and wellbeing.Intentional application of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) principles can foster belonging and diversity. Educators have a unique opportunity to change the culture of professional growth through inclusive learning environments. Applying IDEA principles to the educational design process supports psychologically safe and inclusive environments that respect, relate to, and reflect learners, particularly those in marginalized groups (Agic et al., 2021; Mabona et al., 2022; Martin, 2022; Shin & Lee, 2024).The 4th edition of the Nursing Professional Development Scope and Standards of Practice (Harper & Maloney, 2022) serves as a catalyst for educators to demonstrate the competencies found in Standard 9: Respectful and Equitable Practice. The AACN’s Healthy Work Environment standard for authentic leadership further supports IDEA principles in designing and sustaining HWEs (AACN, 2016). A needs assessment revealed a gap in knowledge and skill to effectively apply IDEA principles in learning environments (Cameron et al., 2022). Therefore, resources that support inclusivity were developed to guide those involved in planning, implementing, and evaluating educational activities.The resources focus on five categories – audience, environment, tools, relatability, and breaks – including considerations and recommendations to proactively apply the IDEA principles throughout the educational design process. Through awareness and integration of IDEA principles to support a HWE, guided by this tool, educators can increase psychological safety and promote effective learning while encouraging an organizational culture of belonging (Dewsbury & Brame, 2019; Imperial College, 2021). The implications are an empathetic, representative workforce better prepared to care for diverse patient populations and an enhanced commitment to the nursing profession

General Anesthesia with Adductor Canal Block for Knee Arthroscopy

Knee arthroscopy is the most commonly performed outpatient orthopedic surgery in the United States. Although knee arthroscopy is considered minimally invasive, postoperative pain control remains problematic. Uncontrolled postoperative pain prolongs recovery and mobility, decreases patient satisfaction, and contributes to an increase in opioid consumption. The ideal anesthetic for knee arthroscopy provides quality analgesia, limits opioid consumption, and permits rapid ambulation and recovery. Knee arthroscopy can be performed under neuraxial or general anesthesia with or without a peripheral nerve block (PNB)

The Effects of Forest Bathing on Anxiety in Adults: An Integrative Review

The aim of this study is to explore the effects of forest bathing on anxiety levels in adults. An abundance of forest bathing research evidence is present in the literature. There are documented physiological and psychological benefits from walking or spending time in forest nature. Yet, there are still many unanswered questions about the health benefits of forest bathing for humans. In this study, an integrated review of forest bathing specific to the effect on anxiety levels in adults is the focus. A thorough search of six electronic databases (CINAHL, Health and Medical Collection, OVID, Pub Med, Public Health Database, and Science Direct) for research articles published between 2015 and 2020 to evaluate the most recent evidence was completed. From the start, with 590 narrowed search results, four phases of identification, screening, eligibility, and inclusion brought the study to a final number of 11 research study articles. Additionally, the study included a scientific rigor evaluation of the latest evidence. The study found evidence of decreased anxiety levels after forest bathing. Additional research with high levels of scientific rigor is warranted to continue the evidence base about the effects of forest bathing

Organisational Perspectives of Support For Nurses Who Identify As Second Victim: A Feasibility Study

The approaches, perceptions and frameworks used by organisations to support second victims is absent from the literature. To enable these professionals to maintain or return to their clinical roles a deeper understanding of the second victim experience and what is required, versus what is available, in terms of support is needed. Exploring second victim support programs from an organisational perspective including the aims of these programs, the elements that are deemed important in support programs, the factors that denote recovery in second victim and the value placed in these support programs is warranted. The research question posed in this study is: What are the key factors in supporting recovery of nurses following a patient safety incident from an organisational perspective in Australia? The aim of this research is to test the practicality of the proposed research plan related to ethics approval, response rates, time to recruitment, data collection, and data saturation

Developmental Redesign of a Pediatric Treatment Room

The purpose of this study was to improve satisfaction for pediatric patients and their families through the implementation of a developmentally friendly treatment room. The treatment room, on an 18 -bed general medical surgical unit in a Magnet designated, quaternary pediatric hospital, was redesigned in an evidence-based developmental [email protected]

Preserving Quadriceps Function in Athletes After ACL Reconstruction

Femoral nerve blockade (FNB) has long been used as a minimally invasive way to effectively produce analgesia and control postsurgical pain in those undergoing various knee surgeries. However, due to its dense motor blockade, it can delay immediate aggressive rehabilitation especially in athletes where quadriceps function is essential for safely returning back to sports. With the introduction of the adductor canal blockade (ACB), a growing body of evidence supports the use of this block as it can provide noninferior analgesia while better preserving quadriceps strength. This case study describes the use of a femoral nerve blockade in a young female athlete after various multimodal techniques fail to control immediate post operative pain and how this may later impact immediate and long-term postoperative rehabilitation

A Program to Improve Uncontrolled Blood Pressure and Knowledge Deficit

This project aimed to evaluate the effect of an educational module on the knowledge and self-efficacy of patients with hypertension. By enhancing patients\u27 understanding and confidence in managing their hypertension, this initiative aimed to improve health outcomes and empower individuals to take proactive roles in their care. The study employed education and awareness campaigns to address insufficient hypertension awareness, self-efficacy, and knowledge. Guided by the Health Belief Model, the project was evaluated by a pre/posttest design on a convenience sample of adults in a family practice clinic. The study examined participants\u27 demographic factors, such as age and gender, alongside their history of hypertension, understanding of blood pressure, and adherence to prescribed medication. The project included 21 participants, mostly White and non-Hispanic, with ages ranging from 36 to 80 years. The intervention significantly boosted their confidence in managing chronic diseases, though medication adherence stayed the same. Hypertension knowledge improved notably, and systolic blood pressure decreased significantly, while diastolic blood pressure showed no significant changes. The project demonstrated the educational module\u27s effectiveness in improving the patient’s hypertension management, knowledge, and self-efficacy