Development of a Scale to Measure Synergy: A Tool to Evaluate Team-Based Learning in Nursing.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to develop and pilot an instrument to assess group synergy and team-based learning among nursing students. BACKGROUND: Little is known on how to evaluate soft nursing skills such as synergy. METHOD: Nurse faculty were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling to serve on an expert panel. Using the DeVillis framework, three rounds of data were collected using semistructured online surveys. The resulting scale of 34 items was piloted with teams of undergraduate nursing students taking part in a simulation experience. RESULTS: Item-content validity index ranged from .8 to 1.0 for each item. Scale-content validity index average was .93; scale-content validity index universal was .62. Exploratory factor analysis identified three factors. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that synergy is multifactorial and can be assessed by faculty. However, further testing of the scale is needed.

Perioperative Strategies for Surgical Site Infection Prevention.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are some of the most common and costly health care-associated infections. Although the rate of SSIs has declined significantly in the past decade, patient safety remains at risk. Perioperative nurses employ a variety of evidence-based best practices to prevent SSIs and facilitate a safe surgical experience for their patients, including hand hygiene, preoperative patient skin antisepsis, and antimicrobial irrigation. This article explores the causes of SSIs, such as modifiable and nonmodifiable patient factors and preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative procedural factors, and discusses some of the specific recommended strategies related to the prevention of SSIs that perioperative nurses can initiate in their workplace.

A Concept Analysis of Synergy for Nursing Education.

Background and Purpose: Synergy is a term found widely throughout the sciences. There is a need for improved methods and delivery of instruction that supports learners in their pursuit of academic goals and facilitates their transition into the professional role. Critical for students is teamwork training, both as team members and facilitators. Some teams have outcomes greater than their own individual efforts, while others do not. One possible explanation for this phenomenon is synergy. A concept analysis was conducted to define synergy in the context of nursing education and to gain insight on its impact on learning. Using Walker and Avant's (2011) method, definitions, uses, attributes, antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents were identified. Methods: Six databases were searched, using the keyword synergy (syntactic variations) and search terms (nursing, education, student, learning, training, collaboration, teamwork, and cooperation) with the parameter of English language (1980-2017). Articles were delimited through duplication removal, title, and abstract review. Thirty articles were selected for review based upon the use of synergy within the context of education. Results: Synergy is demonstrated whengroup outcomes exceed the results of individual efforts. Attributes are mutuality of support, actions, goalswith greater than individual effects, and teaching strategies. Consequences are greater problem-solving, creativity, and goal attainment than are accomplished individually. Implications for Practice: Incorporating synergy into nursing education can promote teamwork and collaboration and facilitate learners to collaborate inter-professionally. Recommendations are to research synergy within nursing education.

Animal-assisted therapy: evaluation and implementation of a complementary therapy to improve the psychological and physiological health of critically ill patients.

Animal-assisted therapy has gained widespread support in a variety of health care settings, including critical care units. This article seeks to review some of the current animal-assisted therapy, define a structured program, and evaluate the potential ability of the therapy to enhance the progress and health of our patients.

Massage therapy for stress management: implications for nursing practice.

Unresolved stress has been shown to have numerous adverse effects on the body. A review of the literature has revealed 2 major themes: (1) research that argues that massage has a direct relationship with positive health outcomes and (2) research that stresses that although there are little or no measurable physiological changes that occur from massage, patients' perceptions of stress and anxiety were significantly reduced. The simple act of touch-focused care, even a simple 5-min hand or foot massage, can be useful in lowering a patient's perceived level of stress. Further research is necessary on the benefits and risks of implementing massage therapy in the hospital setting.

Prevention of sepsis after splenectomy.

Individuals who do not have a spleen are highly susceptible to severe infections. The purpose of this article was to present vaccination guidelines for prophylactic treatment of sepsis following splenectomy. Nursing considerations for the prevention of sepsis after splenectomy are discussed.

Prevention of sternal wound infections after coronary artery bypass graft surgery with use of insulin drug therapy: a review of the literature.

Diabetes is a disease that can increase the risks of developing cardiac problems, which can include coronary artery bypass graft surgery. These patients are at an increased risk of developing serious complications after this surgery, including deep sternal wound infections. In addition, nondiabetic patients may also develop this complication. Therefore, it is essential to monitor and maintain glucose levels after open heart surgery. This literature review discusses some of the studies in this area.

Predictors of self-assessed health, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in nursing home residents at week 1 postrelocation.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine if person factors, situation factors, and cognitive appraisal predict health outcomes during the first week postrelocation in older adults relocating to a nursing home. METHOD: Data were collected using face-to-face interviews with a convenience sample of 114 older adults. The study was guided by Lazarus and Folkman's stress-appraisal-coping framework. RESULTS: Hierarchical regression analyses accounted for 12% of the variance in self assessed health, 48% of the variance in anxiety, and 55% of the variance in depressive symptoms. For all three health outcomes, at least one type of cognitive appraisal provided additional explanation of the dependent variable beyond that of the person and situation factors. DISCUSSION: The findings provide additional empirical evidence for Lazarus and Folkman's stress-appraisal-coping framework. Findings from this study emphasized the importance of mastery, social support, and cognitive appraisal of the older adult relocating successfully to a nursing home.