Improving Heart Failure Patient Engagement with Mobile Apps Using Nurse Navigators.

ABSTRACT: Providing high-quality heart failure education through smartphone applications (apps) empowers patients to more successfully manage their disease process outside the hospital setting. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the addition of nurse navigators to increase engagement of newly-diagnosed heart failure patients with the GetWell Loop (GWL) technology program that assists patient learning and monitoring for self-care. Adding navigators increased patient engagement with the GWL over the use of the GWL without navigators.

The Global Leadership Mentoring Community: An evaluation of its impact on nursing leadership.

AIM: To evaluate a year-long mentorship program, pairing nurses from different regions across the world to support their global leadership capability, and identifying additional consequences of their participation. BACKGROUND: Investment in developing nurse leaders continues as a strategic global imperative. Building on the first cohort's recommendations, this second program illustrates continued progress. PROGRAM EVALUATION: Using the logic model of program evaluation, this non-empirical paper uses data collected from anonymized questionnaires and participants' stories to help improve the program, illustrating innovative practices to develop the confidence and competence of emerging and established nurse leaders globally. DISCUSSION: The value of mentorship was recognized, and there were gains for both mentors and mentees in the development of leadership confidence and competence. Through engagement and collaboration with the whole community, participants were encouraged to understand their own and others' cultures avoiding assumptions and stereotypes. CONCLUSION: This evaluation illustrates that in addition to helping improve future programs, mentorship has enabled the growth of individuals' skill sets and the confidence to reach out to peers across the world to understand the meaning of global health and to make a meaningful contribution to the challenges they face. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nurse managers should be encouraged to develop and formalize a mentoring culture to benefit the leadership competence and well-being of their workforce. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING POLICY: Every nurse has a responsibility to invest in nursing leadership for themselves and others. Mentorship can assist nurse leaders to build workforce capability to lead and contribute to the policy agenda locally, nationally, and internationally. Starting early and at the individual level, global mentorship programs can develop leadership expertise to help nurses find their voice and strengthen their confidence and competence to lead and therefore build the strategic leaders of the future.

Promoting Adaptation in Female Inmates to Reduce Risk of Opioid Overdose Post-Release Through HOPE.

The purpose of the project was to develop a sustainable pre-release education program to reduce the risk of opioid overdose post-release in female inmates in a rural county jail in Middle Tennessee. The project was supported and guided using Roy's adaptation model. Content analysis resulted in common themes (initiation, moral failure, ineffective strategies, supportive environment, new beginnings, and adaptive domains), identified within the pre- and post-implementation surveys. The implementation of a successful reentry program for the vulnerable female incarcerated population has the potential to reduce the risk of opioid overdose death and negative health outcomes post-release.

School Nurses Perceptions on Managing Asthma in Alabama Schools.

Asthma is the most common chronic condition in children under 18. In Alabama, 11% of children report a diagnosis of asthma compared to the United States with 9.5%. Childhood asthma is the leading cause of school absenteeism due to a chronic disease, and Alabama children with asthma miss approximately 10 days of school each year for uncontrolled asthma. Managing children in the school system with asthma can often be challenging for school nurses. In this cross-sectional study, perceptions of Alabama school nurses on managing asthma in the school were explored. School nurses feel prepared to manage asthma but identify lack of certain resources and supportive policies, especially access to medications as barriers to optimum care. Implications for statewide advocacy at the policy level and broadening educational activities are supported by the survey results.

Capacity building in nurse educators in a Global Leadership Mentoring Community.

Globally, nurse educators participate in the three main role activities of teaching, scholarship, and service. Matching for different global locations and career stages, 12 mentor-mentee pairs completed a one-year coordinated virtual program through Sigma Theta Tau International's Global Leadership Mentoring Community and mentees reported building their nurse educator capacities. The authors describe factors that potentially influence international mentoring such as language, time, technology, and key characteristics of mentoring relationships. Growth in educator roles occurred in the contexts of the culture of academe itself and Boyer's definitions of scholarship. Consistent with Sigma's vision statement, nurse educators have a global presence and responsibility to prepare competent nurses who can advance the health of the world's people. Readers may benefit for future planning of mentoring activities to build capacities in nurse educator roles through international interactions.

Moral Injury in Veterans: Application of the Roy Adaptation Model to Improve Coping.

The objective of this article is to provide validation, application, and understanding of the concept of moral injury and build provider awareness to reduce veteran self-harm. Two focus groups were conducted: one to identify characteristics of moral injury and the other to refine the concepts and generate clinical approaches that address maladaptive coping strategies. The focus group sessions verified moral injury's existence, and focus group consensus centered on loss of role identity and shattering of the veteran's core integrity. The veteran's inability to self-reflect is identified as a significant contributor to the maladaptive thought process, creating internal triggers based on violations of deeply held beliefs. A Supplemental Digital Content video abstract is available at http://links.lww.com/ANS/A33.

Association Development and Professional Transformation model for nurse leaders.

AIMS: This pilot study evaluated an Association Development and Professional Transformation (ADAPT) model for nursing leadership development and assessed satisfaction with the ADAPT workshop. BACKGROUND: Nurses often lack self-confidence and self-efficacy in leadership roles. There is a need for nurses to take leadership opportunities that serve to advance the nursing profession. METHODS: A quasi-experimental pre-test post-test design was used. The sampling method selected professional nursing association (PNA) members. Novice participants completed a pre-assessment and post-assessment Leadership Practice Inventory-Self (LPI-S) survey and attended the ADAPT workshop. Experienced nurse leaders participated as mentors. Both groups completed a satisfaction survey after the workshop. RESULTS: Awareness of nursing leadership behaviours increased. Total mean scores for each subscale on the LPI-S increased but this was not statistically significant. All participants reported satisfaction with the ADAPT workshop. CONCLUSIONS: This study offers evidence that the ADAPT model influences leadership behaviours. The ADAPT workshop provided a method to gain a leadership perspective and to encourage nurses to fulfil a leadership role within professional nursing associations. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Organisations and professional nursing associations that support the leadership potential of nurses must invest in providing leadership development opportunities.

Interprofessional Pharmacokinetics Simulation: Pharmacy and Nursing Students' Perceptions.

Interprofessional practice between pharmacists and nurses can involve pharmacokinetic dosing of medications in a hospital setting. This study describes student perceptions of an interprofessional collaboration pharmacokinetics simulation on the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) 2016 Core Competencies. The investigators developed a simulation activity for senior undergraduate nursing and second-year pharmacy students. Nursing and pharmacy students (n = 54, 91 respectively) participated in the simulation using medium-fidelity manikins. Each case represented a pharmacokinetic dosing consult (vancomycin, tobramycin, phenytoin, theophylline, or lidocaine). Nursing students completed head-to-toe assessment and pharmacy students gathered necessary information and calculated empiric and adjusted doses. Students communicated using SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation). Students participated in debrief sessions and completed an IRB-approved online survey. Themes from survey responses revealed meaningful perceptions in all IPEC competencies as well as themes of safety, advocacy, appreciation, and areas for improvement. Students reported learning effectively from the simulation experience. Few studies relate to this type of interprofessional education experience and this study begins to explore student perceptions of interprofessional education (IPE) in a health sciences clinical context through simulation. This real-world application of nursing and pharmacy interprofessional collaboration can positively affect patient-centered outcomes and safety.

Considering Nursing Theory Certification / Considerando la certificación de la teoría de enfermería / Considerações acerca da certificação da teoria da enfermagem

ABSTRACT Objective: A workshop to discuss development of nursing theory certifications at four levels of nursing knowledge was held as part of the 2016 annual conference of Roy Adaptation Association International. Method: Eight questions were discussed in small and large group formats. Discussion points hand recorded on a flip chart. These points are summarized in this article. Results: 35 international nurse scholars participated. They discussed benefits, limitations, and strategies of a new type of certification for nursing theory knowledge at four levels of education and practice. Conclusion: Nursing theory certification would affirm nursing knowledge, without becoming a burden to nurses. It can potentially affect how nurses are educated about theory at each of the four levels of education, how nurses use theory in practice, and the quality of nursing care provided. Continued dialog is warranted.

RESUMEN Objetivo: se realizó un taller para discutir el desarrollo de las certificaciones teóricas de enfermería en cuatro niveles de conocimiento de enfermería como parte de la conferencia anual de 2016 de la Roy Adaptation Association International. Método: se discutieron ocho preguntas en formatos de grupos pequeños y grandes. Los puntos de discusión fueron grabados a mano en un rotafolio. Estos puntos se resumen en este artículo. Resultados: 35 académicos internacionales de enfermería participaron. Discutieron los beneficios, las limitaciones y las estrategias de un nuevo tipo de certificación para el conocimiento de la teoría de enfermería en cuatro niveles de educación y práctica. Conclusión: la certificación de la teoría de enfermería confirmaría el conocimiento de enfermería, sin convertirse en una carga para las enfermeras. Puede afectar potencialmente cómo se educa a las enfermeras sobre la teoría en cada uno de los cuatro niveles de educación, cómo las enfermeras usan la teoría en la práctica, y la calidad de la atención de enfermería brindada. Hay una necesidad de un diálogo continuo al respecto.

RESUMO Objetivo: realizou-se uma oficina para discutir o desenvolvimento das certificações teóricas de enfermagem em quatro níveis de conhecimento de enfermagem como parte da conferência anual de 2016 da Roy Adaptation Association International. Materiais e método: discutiram-se oito perguntas em grupos pequenos e grandes. Os pontos de discussão foram escritos num quadro tipo flipchart. Esses pontos foram resumidos neste artigo. Resultados: 35 acadêmicos internacionais de enfermagem participaram. Discutiram os benefícios, limitações e estratégias de um novo tipo de certificação para o conhecimento da teoria da enfermagem em quatro níveis de educação e prática. Conclusão: a certificação da teoria da enfermagem confirmaria o conhecimento de enfermagem sem se tornar uma carga para os enfermeiros. Pode afetar potencialmente como se educam os enfermeiros sobre a teoria em cada um dos quatro níveis de educação, como esses profissionais usam a teoria na prática e a qualidade da atenção de enfermagem oferecida. Há necessidade de dialogar continuamente a respeito do tema.

School-Based Interprofessional Asthma Self-Management Education Program for Middle School Students: A Feasibility Trial.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is the most common chronic disease among school-aged children under 18 years of age and is a major cause of morbidity, loss of school days, and increased hospitalizations. Asthma disproportionately affects low-income, minority youth in Alabama. The benefits of improving asthma control and self-management have significance for improving health, preventing disease, and reducing health disparities by addressing social, behavioral, environmental, economic, and medical determinants of health. OBJECTIVES: This collaborative community partnership between the Mobile County Public School System, University of South Alabama (USA), and USA Children's and Women's Hospital involved nursing students, respiratory therapy students, and medical residents from three colleges and the hospital. The research question was whether a school-based asthma self-management education program presented by an interprofessional team was feasible for teens with asthma in a medically underserved area (MUA). METHODS: Middle school students with a diagnosis of asthma participated in this institutional review board-approved study. Asthma assessments, one-on-one coaching, and group education were done over five sessions, using Power Breathing for teens curriculum. Instruments were the Childhood Asthma Control Test (ACT), the Asthma Responsibility Questionnaire (ARQ), the Self-Efficacy Scale, the Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ), peak flow monitoring, and spirometry. RESULTS: Eighteen students with moderate to severe persistent asthma completed the program with reduced asthma symptoms and increased asthma control, medication knowledge/skills, self-efficacy, and asthma responsibility. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents with asthma need education in medication management, spacer use, peak flow, trigger avoidance, and coaching to take on the responsibility of asthma care. This multidimensional, interprofessional approach can strengthen asthma self-management in a middle school medically underserved community population.

Building Bridges: The Journey of Alabama's Health Action Coalition.

AIM: The Alabama Health Action Coalition is a state coalition whose purpose is to enable access to high-quality, safe, and patient-centered health care for all Alabamians by leading change in nursing and health care. BACKGROUND: The Alabama Health Action Coalition has four focus areas: advancing nursing education, improving nursing workforce data, promoting diversity among nursing and health care professionals, and fostering a culture of health. METHOD: From 2012 to 2014, the Advancing Education Taskforce and Health Workforce Committee initiated processes to maximize resources, track changes in workforce data, and provide support for goal achievement. RESULTS: Outcomes included an increase in the number of nurses with a BSN and higher degrees from 35 percent to 50 percent, nearing national averages. CONCLUSION: Tracking of trends continues with 2016 data. This growth is particularly important in a state with a large, underserved population and high percentage of rural areas.

Frontline Nurse Engagement and Empowerment: Characteristics and Processes for Building Leadership Capacity.

Improving health care quality is the responsibility of nurses at all levels of the organization. This article describes a study that examined frontline staff nurses' professional practice characteristics to advance leadership through the understanding of relationships among practice environment, quality improvement, and outcomes. The study design was a descriptive quantitative design at 2 time points. Findings support the use of research and quality processes to build leadership capacity required for positive resolution of interdisciplinary operational failures.

Nurse-Driven Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection Reduction Process and Protocol: Development Through an Academic-Practice Partnership.

Translating evidence-based practices to the bedside can be facilitated by an active academic-practice partnership between nursing faculty and frontline nursing staff. A collaborative effort between the university's academic nurses and the medical center's clinical nurses explored, created, implemented, and evaluated an evidence-based nurse-driven protocol for decreasing the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infections. The nurse-driven protocol was piloted in 4 intensive care units and included nurse-driven orders for catheter discontinuation, utilization of smaller bore urinary catheters, addition of silver-based cleansing products for urinary catheter care, and education of staff on routine catheter care and maintenance. Data were collected for more than 8 months pre- and postimplementation of the nurse-driven protocol. Postimplementation data revealed a 28% reduction in catheter-associated urinary tract infections in the intensive care units as compared with preimplementation. Secondary benefits of this academic-practice partnership included strengthening the legitimacy of classroom content as lessons learned were integrated into courses in the nursing curriculum. The result of the partnership was a stronger sense of collaboration and collegiality between hospital staff and the university faculty. Transformative leadership engaged numerous stakeholders through collaborative efforts to realize best practices. An academic-practice partnership facilitates transformative change and provides structural stability and sustainability.

Post-Revolution Egypt: The Roy Adaptation Model in Community.

The 2011 Arab Spring swept across the Middle East creating profound instability in Egypt, a country already challenged with poverty and internal pressures. To respond to this crisis, Catholic Relief Services led a community-based program called "Egypt Works" that included community improvement projects and psychosocial support. Following implementation, program outcomes were analyzed using the middle-range theory of adaptation to situational life events, based on the Roy adaptation model. The comprehensive, community-based approach facilitated adaptation, serving as a model for applying theory in post-crisis environments.

Bridge to shared governance: developing leadership of frontline nurses.

Transforming health care systems to improve quality is the responsibility of nurse executives and frontline nurses alike, yet frontline nurses are often ill-prepared to share leadership and accountability needed for transformation. The aim of this qualitative study was to describe the process used to build leadership capacity of frontline nurses engaged in resolving operational failures interrupting nursing care. The leadership development process served to bridge staff transition to shared governance. This institutional review board-approved qualitative research was designed to identify the effects of mentoring by the chief nursing officer and faculty partners on leadership development of frontline nurses working to find solutions to operational failures. Twelve nurses from 4 medical surgical units participated in a Frontline Innovations' nurse-led interdisciplinary group, which met over 18 months. Transcriptions of audiotaped meetings were analyzed for emerging process and outcome themes. The transcripts revealed a robust leadership development journey of frontline nurses engaged in process improvement. Themes that emerged from the mentoring process included engagement, collaboration, empowerment, confidence, and lifelong learning. The mentoring process provided frontline nurses the leadership foundation necessary to initiate shared governance.

Chronological progression of body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness in females 12 to 17 years of age.

The purpose of this secondary study of cross-sectional data was to examine patterns of scores on the Eating Disorders Inventory in a healthy sample of female adolescents thought to have a high potential for risk. Data were obtained as part of a consultation to identify risk of developing eating disorders. The screening and subsequent group level analysis was carried out with 44 female dancers 12 to 17 years of age enrolled in grades 7 to 12 in a Magnet school. This secondary analysis examined three components of the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI-3): body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness, and bulimia for the purpose of comparing group findings across ages and grades. Some level of body dissatisfaction was widespread in the population, body dissatisfaction increased beginning notably at age 14 and increased sharply at age 15, with further increases until age 16. The correlation between body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness was shown to be statistically significant (r = 0.83, p < 0.001). Awareness that body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness increase at ages 15 and 16 means disordered eating may begin at this time. If body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness begins early in life and markedly increases at ages 14 and 15, eating disorder prevention must begin in childhood and continue into adolescence.