Examining the Use of Web-Based Health Education and Information Among Ambulatory Care Clinic Diabetic Patients.

Web-based health education provides access to information and better coordination of care. Demographic and geographical factors may impact use and effectiveness of these services. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with use of web-based health education programs among diabetic patients at ambulatory clinics of a safety-net hospital. This was a retrospective chart review. Total sample size was 300. Patients who completed a web-based video were younger, Caucasian, living outside inner city core, users of patient portal, and more likely to complete annual diabetic eye examination. Web-based education may empower patients to manage health conditions and improve health outcomes. Health care organizations must consider barriers to use of these tools.

Shadowing to Improve Teamwork and Communication:: A Potential Strategy for Surge Staffing.

Teamwork and communication are paramount to patient safety. Poor communication during handoff is implicated in near misses and adverse events. Exposing nurses to other units' workflow early in their orientation may also aid in surge staffing. This study showed improvements in teamwork and communication, and a deeper understanding of another units' workflow.

Building a Foundation of Evidence to Support Nurses Returning to School: The Role of Empowerment.

AIM: The aim of the study was to investigate the role of Kanter's theory of workplace empowerment in nurses' attitude toward returning to school. BACKGROUND: Increasing the percentage of BSNs has a positive effect on outcomes, but few hospitals offer formal support systems beyond tuition reimbursement. Workplace empowerment theory may explain attitudes toward returning to school. METHOD: A mixed-methods design was used with a cross-sectional survey and focus group. RESULTS: Significant predictors of attitude toward returning to school (n = 162) were formal power (p = .003), access to support (p = .007), and access to resources (p = .050). Focus group themes (n = 3) were resources important to returning to school/manager support, timing, becoming aware of opportunities after enrolling, and intrinsic desire to return to school. CONCLUSION: Exploring relationships between workplace empowerment and attitudes toward returning to school will guide hospital executives in building support systems for nurses returning to school.

Implementation of the Brøset Violence Checklist on an Acute Psychiatric Unit.

BACKGROUND: Violence on inpatient psychiatric settings has significant consequences for patients and staff. Research is needed to determine if Brøset Violence Checklist (BVC) is an accurate predictor of violence. AIMS: The study aims were to determine the relationship between BVC scores and incidence of violent behavior within 24 hours, to compare scores among those requiring high-level nursing interventions for violence, and to investigate the impact of scores on length of stay (LOS) and 30 day-readmission rates. METHOD: Retrospective cohort study. RESULTS: Logistic regression indicates 3.4 times greater risk of violence for every additional point on admission BVC (odds ratio = 3.4, 95% confidence interval = [2.29, 5.08], p < .0001). Patients requiring high-level interventions for violence had higher mean BVC scores on both Day 1 and 2 of admission. Pearson correlation was significant for positive association between BVC on admission and LOS (p < .001). Findings did not establish a link between BVC scores and violence with 30-day readmission rates. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts toward early identification and management of agitation and disruptive behavior is encouraged. Results showed increased risk of violence with every additional point on BVC on admission; further attention should be paid to these patients on admission when using violence screening tools.