Perceptions of Authentic Nurse Leader Attributes Among Clinical Nurses and Nurse Leaders.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop and validate a tool to measure authentic nurse leadership (ANL) from the perspective of nurse leaders. BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic heightened the need for ANL to establish healthy work environments (HWE) that promote positive outcomes. METHODS: A nonexperimental design and exploratory psychometric analysis developed and validated the Authentic Nurse Leadership Questionnaire for Nurse Leaders (ANLQ-NL) instrument. Relationships were explored between ANLQ-NL and HWE, as measured by the Areas of Worklife Survey (AWS). The Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MC-SDS) was used to measure the nurse leaders' tendency to produce socially desirable responses. The sample consisted of 188 nurse leaders from several US hospitals. RESULTS: The ANLQ-NL instrument was found to be valid and highly reliable. Each of the constructs aligned with the ANL conceptual framework. CONCLUSION: The ANL conceptual framework and instruments (ANLQ and ANLQ-NL) can be used for educational programs aimed at developing ANL attributes among nurses.

Evaluating mental illness-substance abuse stigmatic perceptions through education: A library-nursing initiative.

In this library-nursing initiative, the goal was to identify any changes in stigmatic perceptions among public library staff regarding mental health and substance abuse, post 3-day educational sessions. A total of n = 37 library staff participated in this project and attended all three educational sessions and completed a pre- and postquestionnaire designed to address common mental health and substance abuse-related stigmatic perceptions among public library staff. Upon analysis of the pre- and postresponses, we identified that there were statistically significant changes in two perceptions, namely; "embarrassed to disclose mental illness" and "commonality of substance abuse" (p ≤ .05). Therefore, it is essential that behavioral health nurses engage and collaborate with local public libraries to educate and build a safe environment for vulnerable populations like those affected with mental illness and substance abuse in the community settings.

Making Fall Risk Assessment Clinically Relevant in an Adult Psychiatric Setting.

The purpose of this non-experimental descriptive study was to measure psychiatric clinical nurses' (N = 25) perceptions of the Edmonson Psychiatric Falls Risk Assessment Tool© (EPFRAT) compared to the Morse Fall Scale (MFS) and to evaluate patient falls with injury rates 12 months before and after the study. The setting was a 27-bed, adult psychiatric unit in a community-based teaching hospital located in the Northeast region of the United States. The EPFRAT and MFS were used to assess fall risk in 216 patients over 3 months. Findings indicated that the EPFRAT was more user-friendly and relevant; improved nurses' clinical judgment in identifying high-risk patients; and nurses were supportive toward changing practice from using the MFS to EPFRAT for fall risk assessment. Falls with injury rates decreased by 0.52 per 1,000 patient care days post-implementation of the EPFRAT. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 58(2), 21-26.].

Effects of Animal-Assisted Activity on Mood States and Feelings in a Psychiatric Setting.

BACKGROUND: Research has shown that animal-assisted activity (AAA) effectively improves physiological, psychological, emotional, and social well-being in various environments. AIMS: To identify how AAA affects mood states and feelings among both patients and staff on inpatient psychiatric units. METHODS: This study used a quasi-experimental, pre-/posttest design with nonequivalent comparison groups. Quantitative data were collected using the Visual Analog Mood Scale. Demographic data, with an open-ended question, were obtained postsessions. RESULTS: Significant changes were observed pre- and postexposure to AAA sessions with a therapy dog. Negative moods decreased, and positive moods increased as measured by the Visual Analog Mood Scale. Content analysis identified themes of feeling happy, feeling relaxed, and feeling calm. CONCLUSIONS: This research expands scientific evidence associated with AAA by identifying changes in mood states and feelings among individuals in a psychiatric setting.

A quality improvement project focused on women's perceptions of skin-to-skin contact after cesarean birth.

A quality improvement (QI) project was designed to identify women's perceptions of the benefits of skin-to-skin contact with newborns immediately following cesarean birth. Women reported positive experiences associated with skin-to-skin contact with their newborns. A major theme that emerged was that women who had cesarean birth felt that this QI project resulted in a birthing experience comparable to that of mothers who had vaginal deliveries. Participants also experienced decreased anxiety regarding the health and welfare of their newborns, as compared to a previous cesarean birth experience in which they did not have skin-to-skin contact.