ABSTRACT
PURPOSES/OBJECTIVES: In 2013, our multihospital system began the process to integrate and standardize clinical nurse specialist (CNS) practice. The goal was to standardize work and to increase collaboration as part of one system. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT/PROGRAM: An overall job description was established to provide a framework inclusive of the broad areas of practice. Clinical nurse specialists were positioned to support medical-surgical, critical care, or women and children's services offered at community-based hospitals. Main campus and community-based CNSs led significant system integration efforts such as the standardization of nursing policies and procedures across the health system. System CNSs were created to address the needs of specialties common to all hospitals. As an example, a system CNS collaborated with the main campus and community-based CNSs to improve the delirium screening process. OUTCOME: Clinical nurse specialists across the system have been integrated into a single team and report to 1 central director. Efforts to leverage expertise included the creation of a CNS-led practice council, increased communication via regular departmental meetings, and the sharing of resources using electronic platforms. There is now a CNS at hospitals that previously did not have one. The group values the structure and opportunities it provides as evidenced by favorable engagement surveys. CONCLUSION: Our integration efforts improved collaboration and could be modified to benefit other care settings.
Subject(s)
Multi-Institutional Systems/organization & administration , Nurse Clinicians/organization & administration , Nurse Clinicians/standards , Communication , Cooperative Behavior , Humans , Job Description , Nurse Clinicians/psychology , Nursing Evaluation Research , Practice Patterns, Nurses' , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Among nurses, work and cognitive complexity patterns of care were previously associated with environmental stressors, but it is unknown if complexity patterns are also associated with emotional exhaustion. A multicenter sample of hospital nurses (N=281) completed valid, reliable questionnaires. Data were analyzed using multivariable modeling. Registered nurse characteristics did not vary by work setting. Overall mean (standard deviation [SD]) standardized complexity of care score was 45.82 (13.73), reflecting moderate complexity during 3-hour work periods. Nurses experienced greater cognitive complexity patterns than work complexity patterns (p<0.001). In multivariable analyses, overall complexity of care and work and cognitive complexity patterns were not associated with high emotional exhaustion. Higher work complexity pattern score was associated with more environmental stressors (p=0.009), but there was no association between overall complexity of care or cognitive complexity pattern and environmental stressors. Interventions that reduce environmental stressors might reduce work complexity of care.
