Depression, Anxiety, Energy, and Fatigue Among Nurses Who Cared for Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose of Study: Nurses around the world have faced challenges during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study examined the association between depression and anxiety and trait energy and trait fatigue, and baseline health status and work characteristics. Design of Study: A cross-sectional study. Methods: A survey was conducted to collect self-reported data from nurses involved in patient care in Northern Virginia. Depression and anxiety were assessed using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) depression and anxiety scales. To measure trait energy and trait fatigue, the Mental and Physical State and Trait Energy and Fatigue Scale (MPSTEFS) was used. Findings: There was a significant association between depression and energy (b=-0.46, t = -1.78, p < .001) and loneliness (b=1.38, t = 4.00, p < .001) and increased alcohol use (b=2.11, t = 2.04, p = .045). We also found that nurses with depression were significantly more likely to seek mental health counseling (b=-2.91, t = 2.54, p = 0.013), which was also the case for anxiety (b=3.13, t = 2.14, p = .036). Conclusions: Our study highlights the mental health burden among nurses who worked in the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and its association with increased alcohol use and loneliness. The findings may help healthcare leaders identify early signals of deterioration in nurses' well-being.

Medication-assisted treatment 24-hr waiver training for opioid use disorder: Lessons learned.

ABSTRACT: This study reports our experience in implementing and evaluating medication-assisted treatment (MAT) training. MAT training includes immersion into practice and integration of treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). During 2019-2021, MAT training was offered to students in Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs. Feedback on our training program was obtained through required Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services surveys and focus groups after training sessions to assess the quality of training, materials, instruction, and impact and usefulness of training. In addition, after completion of training, surveys were emailed to those who graduated in 2020 and 2021. Surveys included demographic questions and qualitative responses to assess MAT training quality, clinical application time, and how comfortable graduates felt regarding their knowledge, skills, and attitude toward treatment. Integrating training modules from the beginning of the nursing program over several semesters facilitating students with multiple exposures to training materials and offering clinical experiences solidified students' knowledge into practice. Most students were satisfied with the training and felt the training was effective in integrating new knowledge related to MAT. More importantly, it improved students' negative attitudes toward people with OUD and students' desire to pursue being an OUD MAT provider after graduation. The continued assessment and curriculum development of MAT training in nursing programs is crucial in fighting the opioid overdose epidemic. This expansion in interested MAT providers may contribute to improving access for underserved patients seeking MAT treatment with an increase in available providers.

Implementing an Evidence-Based, Asthma Decision Support Tool for Children Younger Than 5 Years Old.

INTRODUCTION: Asthma is underdiagnosed, particularly for children younger than 5 years old. Clinical practice guidelines have been shown to improve asthma diagnosis and management, but are underutilized. This evidence-based practice project aimed to develop, implement, and evaluate a three-page decision support tool (DST) to improve the asthma diagnosis process among children younger than 5 years old. METHODS: This project used a pre-experimental design and was conducted in a pediatric primary care setting with a predominantly South Asian population. The authors analyzed the utilization of the DST as well as the end-users' perception of the tool. RESULTS: Despite above-average results in the end-users' usability scale, the DST had poor utilization. DISCUSSION: Implementation of the DST is recommended at similar pediatric primary care sites. The EBP Project team recommends translating the DST to the electronic health record and improving the roles of the champion.