The Effectiveness of Nurse Residency Programs on Retention: A Systematic Review.

New graduates account for the highest numbers of nurses entering and exiting the profession. Turnover is costly, especially in specialty settings. Nurse residency programs are used to retain new graduates and assist with their transition to nursing practice. The purpose of this systematic review of the literature was to examine new graduate nurse residency programs, residents' perceived satisfaction, and retention rates, and to make recommendations for implementation in perioperative settings. Results indicate increased retention rates for new graduates participating in residency programs and that residency participants experienced greater satisfaction with their orientation than those not participating in residency programs. Residency participants also perceived the residency as beneficial. Because residency programs vary in curricula and length, effectively comparing outcomes is difficult. More longitudinal data are needed. Data on residency programs specific to perioperative nursing are lacking. Considering the aging perioperative nursing workforce, residency programs could address critical needs for succession planning.

Service Dogs in the Perioperative Setting.

Service dogs are critical for the independence of individuals with disabilities because they assist with daily living activities and help these individuals navigate society. Perioperative nurses need a working knowledge of disability laws pertaining to service dogs to provide patient-centered care for individuals using service dogs. This article provides information on the Americans With Disabilities Act regulations regarding service dogs, makes recommendations for the care of patients with service dogs across the perioperative continuum, and offers policy directives to ensure that safe, high-quality care is delivered to patients using service dogs.

Preparing the Next Generation of Perioperative Nurses.

Perioperative nursing faces a workforce crisis. There are too few perioperative nurses entering the workforce to replace those who will reach retirement age. Further, the costs of orienting perioperative nurses is high, and turnover rates in the first year after graduation are significant. To address these issues, nursing leaders at Theda Clark Medical Center, Neenah, Wisconsin, and the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh College of Nursing partnered with local medical centers to form a precepted clinical immersion program intended to orient senior baccalaureate nursing students to the perioperative setting. The students were hired after graduation, and the cost savings for orienting each new employee was estimated at $16,000 to $25,000 per student. Other benefits include identifying students who are and are not a good fit for perioperative nursing. The collaboration of health care and academic leaders is one solution for addressing the perioperative nursing workforce crisis.

Patient-centered care for chronic pain in the emergency department: A qualitative study.

Pain is a common problem for which patients seek care in the emergency department, accounting for up to 42% of all ED visits. The purpose of this study was to explore qualitatively the reasons for use of the emergency department (ED) by those frequenting the ED for treatment of chronic pain. The settings for the study were two sites of a large U.S. Midwestern healthcare system. The sample comprised patients who used the ED four or more times in the 3-month time of data collection. From a total of 85 frequent users identified through retrospective chart reviews, a computer generated random sample of patients was selected to explore their reasons for use of ED for treatment of chronic pain. Content analysis was used to identify themes from the interviews. Four themes emerged from the qualitative data analysis: time of day, pain intensity, barriers to and reasons for using the emergency department for care, and lack of individualized plan of care. Reasons patients use the ED for chronic pain are numerous and complex. Leaders of healthcare organizations must address patient-centered care, with specific alternatives to the emergency department such as individualized care plans, and care transition interventions.

The Clinical Use of Intravenous Acetaminophen Postoperatively on Patients Who Have Undergone Bowel Surgery.

The purpose of this quality improvement project was to determine the effect of using IV acetaminophen postoperatively for 48 hours or until a return to a general diet in adult patients who have undergone bowel surgery at a Midwestern hospital. The sample included 50 adults who underwent bowel surgery and a comparison group of 50 adult patients of the same surgeons who received usual care before the intervention period. Outcome measures included the number of narcotic requests after surgery and the number of hours from the end surgical time to (1) first bowel movement, (2) return to a general diet, (3) first hallway ambulation, and (4) discharge. The data analysis revealed a significant improvement in the time to ambulation (acetaminophen group, 14.46 hours versus 30.51 hours; P = .036). The results of this project inform current postoperative care management at the Midwestern hospital in which the project was conducted.

Ethical reasoning and online social media.

Undergraduate nursing students are frequent users of social media sites; however, the ethical or professional implications surrounding the use of online social networking sites are ambiguous and understudied. Faculty guidance is needed if students are to gain the necessary skills and values to appropriately use social media while maintaining professional accountability. The authors discuss the outcomes of a study that assessed their students' sensitivity to posting clinical information on social media sites.

Evidence-based curricular strategies to enhance BSN graduates' transition into practice.

A qualitative analysis of 1-year alumni surveys provided the basis for developing evidence-based curricular strategies to better prepare BSN graduates for their transition into practice. The authors discuss study results, curricular strategies initiated, and beginning feedback regarding their effectiveness in preparing BSN graduates for practice.

The meaning of hope and social support in patients receiving chemotherapy.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To explore and describe the meaning of hope and social support in patients receiving chemotherapy. RESEARCH APPROACH: Descriptive, qualitative. SETTING: One ambulatory care oncology center in the midwestern United States. PARTICIPANTS: 6 men and 8 women with a mean age of 63.6 years. METHODOLOGIC APPROACH: Semistructured interviews were conducted while patients underwent chemotherapy. Interviewers asked open-ended questions to elicit each participant's personal meaning of hope and social support. Meticulous notes were taken during each interview. The data were analyzed with an editing style that used codes to sort and organize meaningful statements. The statements were categorized and themes were developed to give meaning to the data. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Hope and social support. FINDINGS: Four themes emerged during data analysis. Focusing on the Bigger Picture represented adaptation to the diagnosis and learning to live beyond it. Taking Cover in the Storm signified sheltering oneself from the negative aspects of cancer. Keeping It Normal signified participants' desire to continue activities as they had prior to their illness. Reaching Out/Not in This Alone illustrated the need to seek faith, treatment potential, and others, including healthcare providers, for hope and support. CONCLUSIONS: Hope aids in overall health and well-being. Support from family, friends, and healthcare providers was valuable to participants as they dealt with their disease and treatment. INTERPRETATION: Hope and social support are multidimensional with individualized meanings. Healthcare providers can teach proactive strategies to shelter patients from the negative aspects of cancer and chemotherapy. Healthcare providers are valuable sources of support and hope for the patients in their care.

Evaluation of a nursing program that supports active learning accelerated online bachelor's to BSN program.

The Wisconsin State Board of Nursing gave approval to the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (UWO) to admit students to the nation's first Accelerated Online Bachelor's to BSN Program. This program allows qualified students who already have a bachelor's degree to earn a Bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN) within a 12-month time period. Students must have completed all academic prerequisites before the beginning of the program. Students take one course at a time and progress through the program as a cohort. Theory courses are offered online at a rate of one credit per week. Evaluation data are presented.

Perioperative patient safety: a multisite qualitative analysis.

This study was undertaken to identify specific events that affected patient safety in perioperative service areas during a three-year period. The three most common types o reported incidents were incorrect counts, equipment malfunction, and medication errors. Data revealed significant disparities between health care facilities regarding what types of incidents were reported. Standardized language and rporting mechanisms would aid in the consistency and validity of current incident reporting and could help to improve perioperative patient safety.

AORN Foundation shares results of scholarship recipient survey.

SINCE 1992, the AORN Foundation has been awarding scholarships to provide AORN members with funding to attain their education goals. THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM addresses the daunting challenges facing perioperative nurses, including the perioperative nursing shortage, the aging perioperative workforce, lack of tuition funding from hospitals, and the need for perioperative nurses with a bachelor's or higher degree. IN THE SPRING OF 2004, the AORN Scholarship Committee surveyed scholarship recipients to assess the program's effectiveness in meeting these challenges. THIS ARTICLE provides information about the scholarship program, summarizes the survey results, and discusses the effectiveness of the scholarship program.

Curricular practices in baccalaureate nursing education: results of a national survey.

The purpose of this survey was to gain an understanding of curricula in baccalaureate nursing programs in the United States to help guide curriculum review and revision at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. A survey was mailed to deans of nursing programs currently accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Results indicated current practice in curricula was diverse. The authors advocate a public forum in which educators can share curricular successes and nonsuccesses.

Women's experience with breast biopsy.

The purpose of this study was to obtain descriptions of the perioperative experiences of women who underwent breast biopsies with local anesthesia. Twenty-two participants were interviewed, and open-ended questions were used to allow the women to describe their experiences. Data analysis revealed three major themes--certitude, care, and justice. The women's most pervasive need was to have the biopsy results as soon as possible. They viewed the surgical phase of the biopsy as a stepping-stone to achieving certitude associated with having the pathology results. The surgical phase of the biopsy did not hold as much significance for the women as the researcher had anticipated.

Profile of successful AORN Foundation Scholarship applicant.

Each year, the AORN Scholarship Committee selects recipients of AORN Foundation scholarships to support educational advancement. Competition for scholarships increases as more AORN members return to school. Successful applicants are attentive to detail in following application guidelines, clearly articulate their appeal for a scholarship, include documentation of academic records and the school or program accreditation status, and convey their passion for caring through service to the community and to others.