Quality Improvement: Increasing SANE Utilization of Evidence-Based Practice.

Background: Varying protocols among sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) programs lead to inconsistent patient care and indicate that evidence-based recommendations are not being utilized. To address this problem, an evidence-based treatment protocol designed to improve care provided to patients who have experienced sexual assault was implemented at an outpatient rape crisis center (RCC). In addition to implementing the new protocol, a SANE education program was provided. Methods: Retrospective chart reviews were conducted. A total of 21 protocol components were examined pre- and post-implementation of the quality improvement project. Additionally, a knowledge quiz and self-efficacy tool were administered before, immediately after, and 3 months after the SANE education program. Results: Before implementation, the overall compliance with the 21 protocol components was 42.1% for RCC exams and 17.9% for hospital exams. After implementation, the overall compliance increased to 85.3% for RCC exams and 56% for hospital exams. When examining protocol components individually, compliance varied dramatically. There was an improvement in SANE knowledge and self-efficacy when comparing pre- and post-scores; however, the results were not statistically significant and were found to have unequal variances. Conclusion: Nurses are ideally positioned to instigate protocol changes that will positively impact patient outcomes. Other nursing professionals can utilize the quality improvement project content, steps, lessons learned, and results to create similar evidence-based practice quality improvement projects to address gaps in practice.

Impact of a Standardized Patient Simulation on Behavioral Health Nurse Resident Confidence and Satisfaction in Learning.

The transition from student nurse to nurse graduate can be overwhelming. Although nurse residency programs ease this transition, standardized patient (SP) simulations supplementing these programs are underutilized. An SP simulation series was created and imbedded into a behavioral health nurse residency program. Nurse residents were satisfied with the learning experience and gained self-confidence, which was sustained over 30 days. Staff development educators should consider supplementing a nurse residency program with an SP simulation to hone behavioral health clinical skill application.

Meaningful Methods for Increasing Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Rates: An Integrative Literature Review.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States and is a well-known cause of oropharyngeal, cervical, vaginal, vulvar, penile, and anal cancers. Despite the proven efficacy of the HPV vaccine, vaccination rates remain persistently low. Much literature has focused on attitudes toward the HPV vaccine; however, researchers have also investigated strategies clinicians can use to improve vaccination attitudes and acceptance. Such strategies include provider education, vaccine reminder/recall, and chart audit and feedback. The purpose of this integrative review is to uncover the best evidence-based practice interventions, with the aim of improving HPV knowledge, patient-provider conversations, and immunization uptake. This integrative review concludes that multicomponent interventions have a synergistic effect, resulting in increased provider vaccine support, improved patient/parental attitudes toward HPV vaccination, and increased immunization uptake. Such strategies hold much promise for today's pediatric providers as they work to combat current vaccination disparities.