Public perceptions of the brand image of nursing: Cross-cultural differences between the United States and China.

BACKGROUND: Measures of public opinion regarding nursing's brand image are needed to identify and correct perceptions that are incongruent with the breadth and scope of contemporary nursing practice. Misperceptions of nursing's influence may serve to minimize or disregard nursing's unique contributions to addressing the Social Determinants of Health which are foundational for improving the health of global populations. PURPOSE: To compare public perceptions of the brand image of nursing between China and the United States (US) and determine whether sociodemographic variables influenced factors between the two countries. METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was distributed among members of the Chinese and U.S. public. Perceptions of nursing's brand image were assessed through the original Nursing Brand Image Scale-Public Version in the US (NBIS-P) and when translated to Chinese (NBIS-P-C). Descriptive statistics and multigroup confirmatory factor analyses were used to compare perceptions of the brand image of nursing and to examine the influence of demographics. DISCUSSION: The reliability of the Chinese version of the NBIS-P-C was confirmed by this study. Age and gender did not influence public perceptions of nursing's brand image in either China or the US. Instead, educational attainment was the significant demographic variable and positively correlated with the public's perceptions of nursing in both countries (p < .05). Public respondents with lower educational attainment scored both the traditional nursing factor "Caregiver Virtues/Attributes" (e.g., Trusted, Caring, Nurturing/Mothering) and the factor "Lack Authority/Identity" (e.g., White Cap/Uniform, Subservient, Female) higher, while scoring the factor for "Leadership" (e.g., Decision Makers, Influential, Leaders) significantly lower than those with higher educational levels. CONCLUSION: A disparity exists between nursing's contemporary contributions to healthcare and the public's limited understanding of the diverse leadership roles all nurses provide, across a variety of settings, and in global public health initiatives. The virtuous traits of the nurse are perceived most directly and immediately by the public while their roles as autonomous decision-makers and leaders are less (or not at all) visible. Enhancing the accuracy and visibility of a strong brand image could advance public perceptions of nurses as experts and leaders in nursing science, thus paving the way for nurses to more effectively direct and influence the health of the public, particularly those with lower educational attainment who represent some of the most vulnerable populations. Targeted interventions that incorporate the educational level of the public offer a foundational opportunity for the nursing profession to correct inaccurate and outdated stereotypes that prevent nurses from achieving their desired brand image as influential leaders. Such campaigns could also be used to inform policy, guide strategic planning, and transform the future direction of the nursing profession.

Chairside Yoga Therapy Alleviates Symptoms in Patients Concurrently Receiving Outpatient Cancer Infusions: A Promising Feasibility Study.

Purpose: To evaluate effectiveness of chairside yoga therapy on perceptions of fatigue, pain, nausea, anxiety, and distress among oncology patients concurrently receiving outpatient cancer infusion therapy. Design: This prospective pilot study used pre-/post-survey design in convenience sample of cancer patients in outpatient setting. Methods: Researchers developed and administered the Outpatient Cancer Symptom Assessment Scale (OCSAS) comprised of cancer- or treatment-related symptoms commonly reported in the oncology population (nausea, pain, fatigue, anxiety, and distress). Following IRB approval, symptoms were rated using Likert scale of 0 (not present) to 10 (severe) before and after chairside yoga therapy delivered concurrently with outpatient infusions. Qualitative data was collected related to patients' overall infusion experience. Findings: Participants (n = 82) reported positive patient experiences and statistically less pain (p < 0.001), fatigue (p < 0.001), anxiety (p < 0.001), and distress (p < 0.001) following the yoga intervention compared to baseline. Nausea was not significantly impacted by the yoga intervention. Conclusions: Yoga therapy received concurrently during outpatient cancer infusion is consistent with a holistic and integrative approach to care for the oncology population. Yoga therapy offers promise for reducing symptoms which negatively impact quality of life, including pain, fatigue, anxiety, and distress. Qualitative data suggests patients' overall infusion experience was enhanced with yoga therapy.

A framework for transforming the professional identity and brand image of All Nurses as Leaders.

BACKGROUND: The professional identity and brand image of nurses as leaders have not kept pace with the roles and scope of contemporary nursing practice. PURPOSE: To provide a framework to transform the professional identity and brand image of nursing from a caring discipline to one of leaders. METHODS: A Consensus Development Workgroup (CDW) design was used between the International Society for Professional Identity in Nursing (ISPIN) and the Institute for Brand Image of Nursing (IBIN) to advance the concept of All Nurses as Leaders across all settings and the public domain. DISCUSSION: The goal is to occupy a position in the minds of all stakeholders that differentiates nursing in a manner that is positive, relevant, accurate, desirable, and consistent over time. CONCLUSION: Current outcomes are endorsements, evidence-based strategies, and a framework to deconstruct the current brand image and align it with the desired brand image of All Nurses as Leaders.

Standardized Spiritual Screening Increases Chaplain Referrals Through the EMR: A Nurse-Chaplain Collaboration for Holistic Acute Healthcare.

The use of a concise standardized spiritual screening process to identify spiritual practices and needs of patients is essential for holistic nursing care. This interprofessional initiative resulted in the development of a spiritual screening tool that substantially increased Pastoral Services referrals to the patients who needed them and represents a significant opportunity in the delivery of holistic nursing care. Acute care settings may benefit from the adoption of a standardized chaplain referral process housed in the EMR and completed on the frontlines by trusted nursing staff providing patient and family centered care. This standardized spiritual screening process not only triggered essential services of Pastoral Services, but also helped identify and address important spiritual needs of hospitalized patients.The ability to design a tool responsive to the evolving, spiritual needs of patients can be challenging. Through collaboration with chaplains, nurses can be instrumental in creating instruments informed by available evidence in the empirical literature. Furthermore, engaging patients as a source of data during instrument design helps to ensure the content validity and practical usefulness of an instrument. Healthcare organizations might choose to implement and further evaluate/refine the new Spiritual Screening Tool and referral process developed as a result of this initiative.

Psychometric properties and latent profile analysis of the Nursing Brand Image Scale: a methodological study in the Chinese context.

AIMS: To translate the U.S. version of the Nursing Brand Image Scale to Chinese (NBIS-C) and evaluate its psychometric properties when administered to a national sample of Chinese nurses, and identify nursing brand image profiles in Chinese nurses. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted to validate the NBIS-C among nurses in China. METHODS: The psychometric properties of the NBIS-C were tested in accordance with the COSMIN checklist. The reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the 42-item NBIS-C were examined in a national sample of 759 nurses recruited from 29 Chinese provinces. Latent Profile Analyses (LPA) were conducted to reveal nurses' perceptions of the brand image of nursing. RESULTS: Results of this study demonstrated acceptable validity (content validity, structural validity, and construct validity), reliability (internal consistency and test-retest reliability), adequate responsiveness, and no floor/ceiling effect of the NBIS-C. LPA yielded five subgroups: Integrated, Traditional, Subordinate, Creative and Leader. CONCLUSION: The psychometric properties of the NBIS-C are suitable for assessing the image of nursing among Chinese nurses. Future studies with a larger, more diverse sample are recommended. Although the role of nurses in China has evolved, nurses in general have failed to communicate a consistent, positive, and accurate brand image for the nursing profession.

Registered nurse perceptions of factors contributing to the inconsistent brand image of the nursing profession.

BACKGROUND: Nurses have been overlooked as autonomous healthcare providers due to an inaccurate image which projects them as caring and trusted, yet lacking in influence and autonomy. It is important for nurses to understand the image their profession wishes to convey, how the image falls short, and what can be done to improve it. PURPOSE: To examine responses of Registered Nurses (n = 286) describing factors influencing nursing's inconsistent brand image. METHODS: Qualitative data were thematically coded, analyzed, and grouped into eight influencing factors. FINDINGS: Factors contributing to nursing's inconsistent image included: variety of education/credentials, image not a priority, lack of leadership development, lack of professionalism, portrayals in the media and online, patients' personal experiences, treatment by other professional colleagues and gender role assumptions. DISCUSSION: A strong brand image could dispel outdated and inaccurate views while communicating new visionary leadership which aligns with priorities for the nursing profession.

Can brand theory help re-position the brand image of nursing?

AIM: The current vs desired brand position of the nursing profession is examined using brand theory. BACKGROUND: The nursing brand has a long and revered image with various stakeholder groups. However, the current image frequently represents nurses as caring advocates rather than Influential Leaders who deliver, manage and administer health care services. EVALUATION: Recent quantitative field research describes perceptions of nurses' current vs desired brand position. A perceptual map illustrated a gap on the axes of Patient-Centered Caregivers and Leaders in Healthcare. Empirical literature provided the foundation for prescriptive advice, which could address potential threats and opportunities for the brand. KEY ISSUE: Brand theory is used to describe how nurses' current image seems at odds with nurses' role in contemporary society. The largest gap on the perceptual map was on the 'Leadership Axis', suggesting more effort is needed to change perceptions of the essential leadership role of nurses in various health care systems. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: The nursing profession needs to implement branding strategies, which close the gap between the current and desired brand positions. The central brand position of nurses as leaders should thread throughout practice, education, research and professional associations for effective brand repositioning to occur.

Drowning in Data: Workflow Changes Improve the Collection of Clinically Relevant and Actionable Data.

Background: The implantable loop recorder (ILR) is valuable for recording and evaluating clinically relevant arrhythmias. Devices with wireless capabilities are programmed to automatically transmit data to a secure website for retrieval by cardiology staff. However, increased data review time, memory saturation, and overwriting of true arrhythmia episodes can result unless alerts are programmed to appropriately detect meaningful (or actionable) cardiac data. Patients are instructed to manually activate the ILR to initiate simultaneous recording of rhythms as part of routine, scheduled assessments or during symptomatic events. However, patients may feel overwhelmed or intimidated when attempting to generate their own cardiac data because of the large volume of new information and unfamiliar equipment instructions. Objective: To determine if workflow changes and enhanced patient education improve the collection of more meaningful data from the ILR. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of rhythm data from patients with implantable Medtronic Reveal Linq cardiac monitors. Cardiac rhythm data were gathered three months before and after workflow changes to compare quality and quantity of remote transmissions. Results: Significant improvements were noted following workflow changes and enhanced patient education. Scheduled transmissions increased, unscheduled transmissions decreased, and missed transmissions decreased per patient each month. Conclusion: Workflow changes improved the quality of transmissions and decreased the quantity of transmissions. The capacity to provide high-quality care also improved, as evidenced by the ability to obtain more clinically relevant and actionable data.

The role of mindfulness based interventions in the treatment of obesity and eating disorders: an integrative review.

More than one-third of U.S. adults over the age of 20 years are classified as obese and nearly two-thirds are overweight or obese. The prevalence of obesity among U.S. children and adolescents has almost tripled since 1980, with 17% of all youth and children now considered obese. Nine million children aged 6-19 years are overweight, making obesity the largest health care threat facing today's children. Historically, the arsenal against obesity has been primarily focused on interventions that increase physical activity and decrease caloric intake. American weight loss strategies that incorporate dietary modifications and exercise have proven effective in achieving weight loss, but most of the weight is regained over time. Mindfulness based interventions, combined with other traditional weight loss strategies, have the potential to offer a long-term, holistic approach to wellness. However, research reports examining the complementary addition of mindfulness based approaches in the treatment obesity and eating disorders are relatively scarce in the empirical literature. This paper describes what is currently known about the role of mindfulness based interventions when used alone, or in combination with, other traditional approaches in the treatment of obesity and eating disorders.