EXTENT OF PARTICIPATION IN THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS BY EXECUTIVE NURSES IN VIRGINIA\u27S ACUTE CARE HOSPITAL

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which executive nurses participate in strategic planning for their institutions,and the extent to which these executive nurses utilize the strategic planning process for their nursing departments. The effect of ownership, size, and educational level of the executive nurse on the extent of participation in institutional strategic planning and the utilization of the strategic planning process for their nursing departments was also examined. The population of the study included all executive nurses employed in short-term, nonmiltary, Virginia hospitals, which were members of the Virginia Hospital Association. Questionnaires were mailed to 114 executive nurses, 60 returned the survey with a response rate of 53 percent. The 60 hospitals included: 14 small institutions (\u3c 99 beds), constituting 24 percent of the sample; 30 medium-sized institutions (100-399 beds), comprising 58 percent of the sample; and 11 large institutions (\u3e 400 beds), constituting 18 percent of the sample. There were 48 not-for-profit institutions constituting 80 percent of the sample, and 12 for profit (investor owned) comprising 20 percent of the sample: and 11 large institutions (\u3e 400 beds), constituting 18 percent of the sample. There were 48 not-for-profit institutions constituting 80 percent of the sample, and 12 for-profit (investor owned) comprising 20 percent of the sample. The typical nurse executive in this study held a master\u27s degree, had 21-25 total years of nursing experience of which one to five years was at the executive level, and had been in his/her present position one to five years. Slightly over half of nursing departments had long-range plans covering three years or less. The majority of long-range plans for the department of nursing were formulated by the strategic planning process. Participation in hospital strategic planning was influenced by the institution\u27s size and the nurse executive\u27s educational level. Utilization of the strategic planning process for the department of nursing was influenced by neither size nor ownership, only the executive nurse\u27s educational level

Comparison of Satellite Observations of Nitrogen Dioxide to Surface Monitor Nitrogen Dioxide Concentration

Nitrogen dioxide is one of the U. S. EPA s criteria pollutants, and one of the main ingredients needed for the production of ground-level ozone. Both ozone and nitrogen dioxide cause severe public health problems. Existing satellites have begun to produce observational data sets for nitrogen dioxide. Under NASAs Earth Science Applications Program, we examined the relationship between satellite observations and surface monitor observations of this air pollutant to examine if the satellite data can be used to facilitate a more capable and integrated observing network. This report provides a comparison of satellite tropospheric column nitrogen dioxide to surface monitor nitrogen dioxide concentration for the period from September 1996 through August 1997 at more than 300 individual locations in the continental US. We found that the spatial resolution and observation time of the satellite did not capture the variability of this pollutant as measured at ground level. The tools and processes developed to conduct this study will be applied to the analysis of advanced satellite observations. One advanced instrument has significantly better spatial resolution than the measurements studied here and operates with an afternoon overpass time, providing a more representative distribution for once-per-day sampling of this photochemically active atmospheric constituent

Comparison of Satellite Observations of Aerosol Optical Depth to Surface Monitor Fine Particle Concentration

Under NASA's Earth Science Applications Program, the Infusing satellite Data into Environmental Applications (IDEA) project examined the relationship between satellite observations and surface monitors of air pollutants to facilitate a more capable and integrated observing network. This report provides a comparison of satellite aerosol optical depth to surface monitor fine particle concentration observations for the month of September 2003 at more than 300 individual locations in the continental US. During September 2003, IDEA provided prototype, near real-time data-fusion products to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) directed toward improving the accuracy of EPA s next-day Air Quality Index (AQI) forecasts. Researchers from NASA Langley Research Center and EPA used data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument combined with EPA ground network data to create a NASA-data-enhanced Forecast Tool. Air quality forecasters used this tool to prepare their forecasts of particle pollution, or particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5), for the next-day AQI. The archived data provide a rich resource for further studies and analysis. The IDEA project uses data sets and models developed for tropospheric chemistry research to assist federal, state, and local agencies in making decisions concerning air quality management to protect public health