Generational Attributes that Influence Nursing Professionalism and Specialty Certification

Background: Professionalism in is a belief system in which members have shared competency standards and ethical values and is an essential ingredient in achieving a healthy work environment. It involves a commitment to the values and behaviors specific to that career identity and incorporates attitudes representing identification and commitment to a profession (Kim Godwin, Baek, &Wynd, 2010). Inherent in this is the commitment to life long learning and a desire for continuous professional growth and development. This involves taking opportunities for continuing education, as well as continuing competency, such as specialty certification. Certification validates an individual’s knowledge related to a certain area of practice and is based on established standards (Watts, 2010). Having a certified nursing workforce has been linked to positive patient, system, and nurse outcomes (Callicutt, 2011). Yet, overall rates of certified nurses are low. In addition, the current nursing workforce is comprised of three generations, each with their own value systems and perceptions of quality work life. What is not known is how these values may affect the clinical nurse’s understanding of professionalism and view of specialty certification. Study Purpose: To determine if there are any generational attributes that effect the clinical nurse’s understanding related to specialty certification and nursing professionalism, and does education enhance clinical nurses’ understanding of the relationship between specialty certification and professionalism. Methodology: Descriptive study using a convenience sample of cardiac telemetry nurses. Three groups are defined in this study: (a) Generation Y (born between 1977 and 1995), (b) Generation X (born between 1965 and 1976), and (c) Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964). A 30 minute education session was provided that focused on specialty certification and professionalism. Prior to the start of each session, the attendees were asked to voluntarily complete a demographic tool and three validated tools: Nurses’ Professional Value Scale 3 (NPVS 3) Tool, the Perceived Value of Certification Tool (PVCT), and the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI 16). At the end of the session, attendees completed a program evaluation. Discussion: There is a paucity of data and science in the literature related to the influence of generational attributes on nursing professionalism and specialty certification. Results of this project indicate that in clinical nurses who work on a cardiac telemetry unit, generational attributes do not influence the clinical nurse’s understanding regarding professionalism or specialty certification. The non significant results of the NPVS 3 and NPI 16 raise the question if other variables may influence understanding of professionalism (i.e., culture, upbringing, internal/external variables). The non significant findings on the PVCT, both the internal and external scale response, would suggest that the interaction between the nurse and the constantly changing environment may influence the nurse’s desire or need to seek certification. The results of the course evaluation suggest that organizations need to provide support and recognition to nurses wanting to achieve a specialty certification. Clinical Implications: Results indicate that nurses, regardless of their generation, appreciate having resources identified and made available to them to assist in obtaining a specialty certification. No studies were found in opposition to the results of this current study and the results support that staff appreciated being provided with information on resource availability for obtaining certification. Study Limitations: Nongeneralizable since the participants are a convenience sample limited to one area of practice within the organization. Possible survey fatigue. There was a total of 65 questions on the presurvey, which took participants 7 10 minutes to complete. This may have influenced responses on the program evaluation. Lack of tools available to measure generational attributes, especially related to nursing professionalism. Conclusion: This study is the first to look at the generational attributes as they relate to nursing professionalism and specialty certification. Organizations need to identify resources to assist the clinical nurse in obtaining certification. Further studies need to address questions raised by this project related to variables that may influence professionalism and generational attributes.https://scholarlycommons.henryford.com/nursresconf2021/1008/thumbnail.jp

Perceptions of Nurses Who Are Second Victims in a Hospital Setting

https://scholarlycommons.henryford.com/nursresconf2021/1004/thumbnail.jp

Studying the Psychological Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Frontline Healthcare Workers

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of psychological distress in frontline healthcare workers during the COVID 19 pandemic, and to identify if interventions and higher measures of resiliency helped to minimize the prevalence of symptoms.https://scholarlycommons.henryford.com/nursresconf2021/1002/thumbnail.jp

The Impact of an Oral Hygiene Bundle on Hospital Acquired Pneumonias

Background: Hospital acquired infections (HAIs) have a significant impact on patient outcomes with hospital acquired pneumonias (HAPs) accounting for a large part of the cost and care burden. At Henry Ford Hospital, the HAP rate over the last 3 years has increased from 1181 (June 2020) to 1869 (June 2021) to 1078 (June 2022), in large part due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Review of the literature shows that implementation of a nursing protocol with clearly defined steps helped to increase the number of patients receiving oral care and reduced the incidence of hospital acquired pneumonias (Warren, 2019). In addition, oral care as part of the VAP bundle significantly reduced the incidence of pneumonia when compared to oral care alone. Study Purpose: The primary purpose of this evidence based practice project is to evaluate the effectiveness of a standardized oral care regimen on HAPs for all patients in the hospital over a 6 month period following focused education for the nursing staff. Methodology: A site specific oral hygiene protocol was developed and replicated the protocol used by Warren (2019). Nursing staff were educated on the protocol via cornerstone module. Units were encouraged to have unit champions identified to support the implementation of the bundle. HAP rates, LOS and mortality rates were compared 3 months prior to bundle implementation to 3 months post-implementation. Data was abstracted from the EMR and included frequency and type of oral care performed. Data analysis: Data was extracted from the EMR collected in a 3-month period prior to bundle implementation and in a 3-month period post implementation. In each period HAP rates, LOS and mortality rates were computed. The two rates, HAP and mortality were compared using a Chi-squared test. and LOS using a Student’s t-test. Discussion: At Henry Ford Hospital, the HAP rate over the last 3 years has increased significantly, in large part to the COVID 19 pandemic. Research shows that implementation of a nursing oral care protocol with clearly defined steps helps to increase the number of patients receiving oral care and reduces the incidence of hospital acquired pneumonias Data from this project shows that as the number of oral care interventions increased there was a concomitant decrease in VAP. The education intervention resulted in increased adherence to the protocol as well as increase in documentation of care provided. In addition, length of stay decreased while discharge to home remain unchanged. Mortality rate and discharge to SAR both decreased slightly. Clinical Implications: The project is low risk with high benefit, and is a standard of care that all patients receive. This may influence how patients manage their own oral care after discharge. Study Limitations: The impact from Covid-19 is still present in the hospital, and may impact outcomes as related to available resources and manpower. Data retrieval was from the EMR and will only be as good as the data entered. Conclusion: Providing oral care is a simple and minimal cost intervention that can have significant impact on patient outcomes related to HAP. Educating staff on the value of oral care can help improve adherence to oral care protocols.https://scholarlycommons.henryford.com/nursresconf2023/1005/thumbnail.jp

Perceptions of Nurses Who Are Second Victims in a Hospital Setting

BACKGROUND: Second victims (SVs) are health care workers traumatized by unanticipated, adverse patient events. These experiences can have personal and professional effects on SVs. Research indicates that SVs experience inadequate support following adverse events. PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of nurses who identified as SVs and their awareness and use of supportive resources. METHODS: A convenience sample of nurses was surveyed, and SV responses were compared with those who did not identify as a SV. Responses were analyzed using nonparametric methods. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-nine (44.3%) of 359 participants identified as SVs. There was a significant relationship between work tenure and SVs (P = .009). A relationship was found between SVs and awareness and use of support resources, with debriefing being the preferred method after an event. CONCLUSIONS: Adverse events trigger emotional trauma in SVs who require administrative awareness, support, and follow-up to minimize psychological trauma in the clinical nurse