Factors influencing nurse practitioner panel size in team-based primary care: a qualitative case study.

BACKGROUND: Lack of access to health care is a worldwide public health crisis. In primary care it has led to increases in the implementation of nurse practitioners and heightened interest in their patient panel capacity. The aim of this study was to examine factors influencing nurse practitioner patient panel size in team-based primary care in Ontario, Canada. METHODS: We used a multiple case study design. Eight team-based primary care practices including rural and urban settings were purposively selected as cases. Each case had two or more nurse practitioners with a minimum of two years experience in the primary care setting. Interviews were conducted in-person, audio recorded, transcribed and analysed using content analysis. RESULTS: Forty participants, including 19 nurse practitioners, 16 administrators (inclusive of executives, managers, and receptionists), and 5 physicians were interviewed. Patient, provider, organizational, and system factors influenced nurse practitioner patient panel size. There were eight sub-factors: complexity of patients' health and social needs; holistic nursing model of care; nurse practitioner experience and confidence; composition and functioning of the multidisciplinary team; clerical and administrative supports, and nurse practitioner activities and expectations. All participants found it difficult to identify the panel size of nurse practitioners, calling it- "a grey area." Establishing and maintaining a longitudinal relationship that responded holistically to patients' needs was fundamental to how nurse practitioners provided care. Social factors such as gender, poverty, mental health concerns, historical trauma, marginalisation and literacy contributed to the complexity of patients' needs. Participants indicated NPs tried to address all of a patient's concerns at each visit. CONCLUSIONS: Nurse practitioners have a holistic approach that incorporates attention to the social determinants of health as well as acute and chronic comorbidities. This approach compels them to try to address all of the needs a patient is experiencing at each visit and reduces their panel size. Multidisciplinary teams have an opportunity to be deliberate when structuring their services across providers to meet more of the health and social needs of empanelled patients. This could enable increases in nurse practitioner panel size.

Implementation of Full Practice Authority for Nurse Practitioners in Massachusetts: Impact of Organizational Climate on Practice Change.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between nurse practitioner (NP) organizational climate and the implementation of full practice authority (FPA) for NPs. BACKGROUND: In 2021, Massachusetts passed FPA for NPs. Most NPs did not experience changes to their practice. It is unknown whether NP organizational climate impacts implementation of FPA. METHODS: A Web-based survey was distributed to NPs in Massachusetts. RESULTS: Response rate was 50.3% (N = 147). Practice remained unchanged for most. Organizations with more favorable climates experienced more rapid implementation of FPA, resulting in improved efficiency (P = 0.049) and timeliness (P = 0.007) of care. Nurse practitioners outside hospital systems were more likely to report favorable organizational climates and positive change to their practice after FPA. CONCLUSIONS: Organizations that facilitate implementation of FPA are likely to experience improvement in efficiency and timeliness of patient care. Nursing leadership, especially within hospital-based organizations, can help achieve these benefits by improving the organizational climate for NPs.

Professional identity work of nurse practitioners and family physicians in primary care in Quebec and Ontario - a study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Solo medical practices in primary healthcare delivery have been abandoned in favor of interdisciplinary teamwork in most Western countries. Dynamics in interdisciplinary teams might however be particularly difficult when two or more autonomous health professionals develop similar roles at the practice level. This is the case of family physicians (FPs) and nurse practitioners (NPs), due to the fact that the latter might accomplish not only the traditional role proper to a nurse, but also several medical activities such as requesting diagnostic exams and prescribing medical treatments. The tensions that this overlap might generate and their implications in regard of the development of professional identities, and consequently of the quality of health care delivered, have been suggested, but rarely examined empirically. The goal of this study is to examine identity work, i.e., the processes of (re)construction of professional identities, of NPs and FPs working together in primary care interdisciplinary teams. METHODS: A longitudinal, interpretive, and comparative multiple (n = 2) case study is proposed. Identity work theory in organizations is adopted as theoretical perspective. Cases are urban primary care multidisciplinary teams from two different Canadian provinces: Quebec and Ontario. Participants are NPs, FPs, managers, and patients. Data gathering involves audio-diaries, individual semi-structured and focus group interviews, observations, and archival material. Narrative and metaphor techniques are adopted for analyzing data collected. Within- and cross-case analysis will be performed. DISCUSSION: For practice, the results of this investigation will: (a) be instrumental for clinicians, primary care managers, and policy decision-makers responsible for the implementation of interdisciplinary teamwork in primary healthcare delivery to improve decision-making processes and primary care team performance over time; (b) inform continuing interdisciplinary professional development educational initiatives that support competency in health professionals' identity construction in interdisciplinary primary care organizations. For research, the project will contribute to enriching theory about identity construction dynamics in health professions, both in the fields of health services and primary care education research.

Implementing Telestroke in the Inpatient Setting: Identifying Factors for Success.

BACKGROUND: Inpatient telestroke programs have emerged as a solution to provide timely stroke care in underserved areas, but their successful implementation and factors influencing their effectiveness remain underexplored. This study aimed to qualitatively evaluate the perspectives of inpatient clinicians located at spoke hospitals participating in a newly established inpatient telestroke program to identify implementation barriers and facilitators. METHODS: This was a formative evaluation relying on semistructured qualitative interviews with 16 inpatient providers (physicians and nurse practitioners) at 5 spoke sites of a hub-and-spoke inpatient telestroke program. The Integrated-Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services framework guided data analysis, focusing on the innovation, recipients, context, and facilitation aspects of implementation. Interviews were transcribed and coded using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Fifteen themes were identified in the data and mapped to the Integrated-Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services framework. Themes related to the innovation (the telestroke program) included easy access to stroke specialists, the benefits of limiting patient transfers, concerns about duplicating tests, and challenges of timing inpatient telestroke visits and notes to align with discharge workflow. Themes pertaining to recipients (care team members and patients) were communication gaps between teams, concern about the supervision of inpatient telestroke advanced practice providers and challenges with nurse empowerment. With regard to the context (hospital and system factors), providers highlighted familiarity with telehealth technologies as a facilitator to implementing inpatient telestroke, yet highlighted resource limitations in smaller facilities. Facilitation (program implementation) was recognized as crucial for education, standardization, and buy-in. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding barriers and facilitators to implementation is crucial to determining where programmatic changes may need to be made to ensure the success and sustainment of inpatient telestroke services.

Competências gerenciais: conhecimento de enfermeiros / Managerial competencies: knowledge of nurses / Competencias de gestión: conocimiento de las enfermeras

Introdução: A enfermagem é considerada uma das ocupações mais versáteis dentro da força de trabalho de saúde. A gestão dos serviços de enfermagem é essencial para o sucesso da instituição de saúde e para a qualidade e segurança da assistência ao paciente. O enfermeiro gestor precisa ser apto a trabalhar e conduzir com cooperação e dinamismo a sua equipe, com respaldo em conhecimento técnico e valores éticos. Objetivo: Investigar o conhecimento dos enfermeiros quanto às competências gerenciais. Método: Estudo descritivo, exploratório, de abordagem qualitativa, realizado com enfermeiros, de um hospital universitário de pequeno porte, situado na região noroeste do estado do Paraná. As entrevistas foram pautadas na seguinte questão norteadora "Fale-me sobre as competências gerenciais executadas pelo enfermeiro?", após coleta dos dados, os mesmos foram transcritos e analisados segundo análise de conteúdo de Bardin. Resultados: Participaram do estudo sete enfermeiros, com idades entre 22 a 35 anos, a maioria desses profissionais terminaram a graduação em menos de três anos e atuavam naquela unidade de saúde, há menos de menos de um ano. A partir da análise das entrevistas emergiram três categorias, sendo elas: Habilidades para gestão; Dificuldades para gerenciar; e, Potencialidades/Facilidades para gerenciar. Principais resultados: por meio deste estudo foi possível notar que as percepções acerca das atribuições dos enfermeiros foram bem esclarecidas, demonstrando que a gerência está ligada às questões técnicas e burocráticas, e da sua relevância na condução eficiente da equipe sob sua liderança. Conclusão: Observa-se que há a necessidade de os profissionais de enfermagem compreenderem que a formação teórica e prática das atividades de educação continuada devem ser buscadas com afinco e não devem somente aguardar que os serviços de saúde as ofereçam.

Objective: To investigate nurses' knowledge of managerial skills. Method: Descriptive, exploratory study, with a qualitative approach, carried out with nurses from a small university hospital, located in the northwest region of the state of Paraná. The interviews were guided by the following guiding question "Tell me about the managerial competences performed by the nurse?", after collecting the data, they were transcribed and analyzed according to Bardin's content analysis. Results: Seven nurses participated in the study, aged between 22 and 35 years, most of these professionals finished their graduation in less than three years and worked in that health unit for less than less than a year. From the analysis of the interviews, three categories emerged, namely: Management skills; Difficulties to manage; and, Potential/Facilities to manage. Main results: through this study, it was possible to notice that the perceptions about the nurses' attributions were well clarified, demonstrating that the management is linked to technical and bureaucratic issues, and their relevance in the efficient management of the team under their leadership. Conclusion: It is observed that there is a need for nursing professionals to understand that the theoretical and practical training of continuing education activities should be pursued diligently and should not just wait for the health services to offer them.

Introducción: La enfermería se considera una de las ocupaciones más versátiles dentro del personal sanitario. La gestión de los servicios de enfermería es esencial para el éxito de la institución sanitaria y para la calidad y seguridad de la atención al paciente. El enfermero gestor debe ser capaz de trabajar y dirigir a su equipo con cooperación y dinamismo, apoyándose en conocimientos técnicos y valores éticos. Objetivo: Investigar los conocimientos de las enfermeras sobre las competencias de gestión. Método: Estudio descriptivo, exploratorio, de abordaje cualitativo, realizado con enfermeros, de un hospital universitario de pequeño porte, situado en la región noroeste del estado de Paraná. Las entrevistas se basaron en la siguiente pregunta orientadora: "Háblame de las competencias directivas que desempeñan las enfermeras". Tras la recogida de datos, se transcribieron y analizaron según el análisis de contenido de Bardin. Resultados: Participaron en el estudio siete enfermeros, con edades comprendidas entre los 22 y los 35 años, la mayoría de estos profesionales terminaron el grado en menos de tres años y permanecieron en la unidad de salud, por lo menos un año. Del análisis de las entrevistas surgieron tres categorías, a saber Habilidades para la gestión; Dificultades para la gestión; y, Potencialidades/Facilidades para la gestión. Principales resultados: a través de este estudio se ha podido constatar que las percepciones sobre las atribuciones de los enfermeros se han esclarecido, demostrando que la gerencia está ligada a las cuestiones técnicas y brocráticas, y a su relevancia en la conducción eficiente del equipo bajo su liderazgo. Conclusión: Se observa que existe la necesidad de que los profesionales de la enfermería comprendan que la formación teórica y práctica de las actividades de educación continuada debe ser buscada con afán y no debe aguantar que los servicios de salud los ofrezcan.

Falling through the cracks: Evaluating the role of nonacute surgical liaison personnel during COVID-19-A narrative review.

BACKGROUND: In March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the New Zealand government instituted a 4-level alert system, which resulted in the rapid dissolution of nonurgent surgical services to minimize occupational exposure to both patients and staff, with the primary health sector bearing most of the diverted caseload. Consequently, the study authors sought to collate information around the establishment of a supportive nonacute surgical liaison role in a public hospital surgical department, with an interest in establishing this role in New Zealand. METHODS: The narrative review conducted systematically in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. Databases searched included Pubmed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials. A deductive analysis was applied using a demand management model developed by the Institute for Innovation and Improvement at Waitemata District Health Board. All included studies were rated using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine Levels of Evidence tool. RESULTS: Collation of 19 studies resulted in 3 key findings: first, that a surgical liaison could be utilized at the primary care to specialist interface to improve communication and workflow between services. Second, a liaison could be utilized directly communicating with patients as a means of increasing engagement and self-management. Finally, this service can be offered through multiple modalities including a noncontact telehealth service. CONCLUSION: Evidence of nonacute surgical liaisons both internationally and specifically within New Zealand has been collated to provide evidence for its application.

The Evolving Role of Advanced Practice Providers in Otolaryngology: Improving Patient Access and Patient Satisfaction.

The aging US population requires an increasing volume of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery services, yet the otolaryngologist physician workforce remains static. Advanced practice providers (APPs), including physician assistants and nurse practitioners, improve access across the continuum of primary and subspecialty health care. The rapid growth of APP service is evidenced by a 51% increase in APP Medicare billing for otolaryngology procedures over 5 years. APPs increasingly participate in delivering otolaryngology care; however, reaping the benefits of enhanced patient access and modernizing care delivery is predicated on successful integration of APPs into practices. Few data are available on how best to incorporate APPs into team-based models or how to restructure practices to allow graduated responsibility that supports autonomy and effective teamwork. We compare national APP and physician workforce trends in otolaryngology, consider approaches to optimizing efficiency by integrating APPs, and identify opportunities for improving data collection and practice.

Desafios do profissional de enfermagem da estratégia de saúde da família: peça-chave não valorizada / Desafíos del profesional de enfermería de la estrategia salud de la familia: pieza clave no valorada / Challenges of the nursing professional in the family health strategy: adepreciated key piece

RESUMO Objetivo: conhecer como profissionais de enfermagem descrevem aspectos que interferem em sua atuação na Estratégia de Saúde da Família. Método: estudo descritivo, exploratório de cunho qualitativo com aporte na Teoria Fundamentada nos Dados. Participaram das entrevistas dez enfermeiras que atuam na Estratégia de Saúde da Família de três municípios do interior da Bahia-Brasil. A coleta foi realizada entre agosto de 2016 e agosto de 2017. Resultado: do processo de análise dos dados, emergiram três categorias que representam o modelo teórico intitulado "Desafios do profissional de enfermagem da Estratégia de Saúde da Família: peça-chave não valorizada": a) O vínculo com a Estratégia de Saúde da Família, que retrata o envolvimento afetivo que o profissional desenvolve com a comunidadee como serviço; b) Muitas atribuições; c) Pouca valorização, que representa as barreiras que o profissional enfrenta para a atuação na Estratégia de Saúde da Família. Considerações finais; o excesso de trabalho e a desvalorização profissional desmotivam, geram frustração, comprometem a atuação e saúde emocional dos profissionais de enfermagem que atuam na Estratégia de Saúde da Família.

RESUMEN Objetivo: conocer cómo profesionales de enfermería describen aspectos que interfieren en su actuación en la Estrategia Salud de la Familia. Método: estudio descriptivo, exploratorio con enfoque cualitativo y aporte en la Teoría Fundamentada en los Datos. Participaron de las entrevistas diez enfermeras que actúan en la Estrategia Salud de la Familia de tres municipios del interior de Bahía-Brasil. La recolección fue realizada entre agosto de 2016 y agosto de 2017. Resultado: del proceso de análisis de los datos,surgieron tres categorías que representan el modelo teórico titulado "Desafíos del profesional de enfermería de la Estrategia Salud de la Familia: pieza clave no valorada": a) El vínculo con la Estrategia Salud de la Familia, que retrata el envolvimiento afectivo que el profesional desarrolla con la comunidad y con el servicio; b) Muchas atribuciones; c) Poca valoración, que representa las barreras que el profesional enfrenta para la actuación en la Estrategia Salud de la Familia. Consideraciones finales: el exceso de trabajo y la desvalorización profesional desmotivan, generan frustración, comprometen la actuación y salud emocional de los profesionales de enfermería que actúan en la Estrategia Salud de la Familia.

ABSTRACT Objective: to know how nursing professionals describe aspects that interfere with their performance in the Family Health Strategy. Method: descriptive and exploratory study, with a qualitative nature, based on the Grounded Theory. Ten nurses who work in the Family Health Strategy from three municipalities in the hinterland of Bahia-Brazil participated in the interviews. The collection was conducted between August 2016 and August 2017. Result: the data analysis process gave rise to three categories that represent the theoretical model entitled "Challenges of the nursing professional in the Family Health Strategy: adepreciated key piece": a) The link with the Family Health Strategy, which portrays the affective involvement that the professional develops with the community and with the service; b) Many assignments; c) Little appreciation, which represents the barriers that the professional faces to work in the Family Health Strategy. Final considerations: work overload and professional depreciation demotivate, generate frustration andundermine the performance and the emotional health of nursing professionals who work in the Family Health Strategy.

A participação de enfermeiros gestores na transformação hospitalar para atendimento exclusivo de pacientes com COVID-19 / The participation of nurse managers in hospital transformation to exclusively care for patients with COVID-19

Introdução: com a pandemia da COVID-19, os hospitais precisaram se reorganizar para atender a nova demanda assistencial; essa pesquisa trata de como os enfermeiros gestores atuaram na transformação de um hospital para referência no tratamento exclusivo de pacientes com COVID-19. Objetivos: analisar a atuação de enfermeiros gestores na transformação de uma instituição hospitalar no contexto da pandemia pela COVID-19; relatar as ações desenvolvidas e as experiências adquiridas pelos enfermeiros gestores na reorganização da estrutura de uma instituição hospitalar no contexto da pandemia pela COVID-19; descrever a gestão dos processos de trabalho de enfermagem nesse contexto; e discutir as experiências vivenciadas pelos enfermeiros gestores na gestão de risco de emergências e na avaliação dos resultados. Método: pesquisa qualitativa, descritiva, exploratória. Dez enfermeiros gestores de um hospital público no Rio de Janeiro foram entrevistados, no período entre janeiro e maio de 2021. Aplicou-se a análise de conteúdo na modalidade temática. Foram respeitados os aspectos éticos. Resultados: emergiram três categorias, a saber: Reorganização da estrutura hospitalar para o atendimento exclusivo de pacientes com COVID-19, que abordou a coordenação da infraestrutura, a gestão de insumos e de recursos humanos, incluindo a contratação de novos profissionais de enfermagem e recepção dos que vieram remanejados de outras unidades; Reestruturação dos processos de trabalho da enfermagem em resposta ao novo hospital e ao avanço da pandemia, que descreveu a gestão de pessoas, do conhecimento e dos processos de trabalho, como a implantação do Time de Resposta Rápida e de fluxos de comunicação entre equipe, paciente e família; e Experiência dos enfermeiros gestores na transformação hospitalar para pandemia: relatos de resultados alcançados, categoria que expos a importância do trabalho em equipe, a relação entre resolutividade, qualidade e segurança, com base no desenvolvimento de competências e habilidades na gestão de risco de emergências. Considerações finais: o trabalho dos enfermeiros gestores na transformação de um hospital referência para COVID-19 no segundo maior município brasileiro em densidade populacional foi essencial. Os enfermeiros gestores atuaram no gerenciamento da infraestrutura, no desenvolvimento de estratégias para enfrentar desafios, e no trabalho em equipe, com destaque para a liderança transformacional. Enfrentaram desafios, como a falta de tempo, a gestão de pessoas em proporção muito maior que anterior, elevado turnover, impactos emocionais da pandemia, novos cargos, setores e conhecimentos. Os enfermeiros gestores valorizaram a experiência, a resiliência, o senso de coletividade e de compromisso para com a equipe de enfermagem e população. Implicações para Prática: destacou-se a importância do trabalho interprofissional, da educação permanente, da gestão do conhecimento, da liderança transformacional, e da aplicação dos princípios da tríade estrutura ­ processo ­ resultado na gestão em enfermagem e saúde. Tem-se a urgência em tratar o tópico da gestão de risco de emergência na educação do profissional da saúde.

Introduction: with the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals had to reorganize themselves to meet the new care demand; this research deals with how nurse managers acted in the transformation of a hospital to be a reference in the exclusive treatment of patients with COVID-19. Objectives: to analyze the role of nurse managers in the transformation of a hospital institution in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic; report the actions developed and the experiences acquired by nurse managers in the reorganization of the structure of a hospital institution in the context of the pandemic caused by COVID-19; describe the management of nursing work processes in this context; and to discuss the experiences lived by nurse managers in the management of risk of emergencies and in the evaluation of the results. Method: qualitative, descriptive, exploratory research. Ten nurse managers of a public hospital in Rio de Janeiro were interviewed between January and May 2021. Content analysis was applied in the thematic modality. Ethical aspects were respected. Results: three categories emerged, namely: Reorganization of the hospital structure for the exclusive care of patients with COVID-19, which addressed the coordination of infrastructure, management of supplies and human resources, including the hiring of new nursing and reception professionals of those who came relocated from other units; Restructuring of nursing work processes in response to the new hospital and the advance of the pandemic, which described the management of people, knowledge and work processes, such as the implementation of the Rapid Response Team and communication flows between staff, patient and family; and Experience of nurse managers in the hospital transformation to a pandemic: reports of results achieved, a category that exposes the importance of teamwork, the relationship between resolution, quality and safety, based on the development of skills and abilities in emergency risk management. Final considerations: the work of nurse managers in transforming a reference hospital for COVID-19 into the second largest Brazilian municipality in population density was essential. Nurse managers acted in infrastructure management, in the development of strategies to face challenges, and in teamwork, with emphasis on transformational leadership. They faced challenges, such as lack of time, managing people in a much greater proportion than before, high turnover, emotional impacts of the pandemic, new positions, sectors and knowledge. Nurse managers valued experience, resilience, a sense of collectivity and commitment to the nursing team and population. Implications for Practice: the importance of interprofessional work, continuing education, knowledge management, transformational leadership, and the application of the principles of the structure ­ process ­ result triad in nursing and health management were highlighted. There is an urgency to address the topic of emergency risk management in health professional education.

The Effect of Supervision Waivers on Practice: A Survey of Massachusetts Nurse Practitioners During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: While optimal utilization of the nurse practitioner (NP) workforce is an increasingly popular proposal to alleviate the growing primary care shortage, federal, state, and organizational scope of practice policies inhibit NPs from practicing to the full extent of their license and training. In March of 2020, NP state-specific supervisory requirements were temporarily waived to meet the demands of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Massachusetts. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the impact of temporarily waived state practice restrictions on NP perception of care delivery during the initial surge of the COVID-19 pandemic in Massachusetts. RESEARCH DESIGN: Mixed methods descriptive analysis of a web-based survey of Massachusetts NPs (N=391), conducted in May and June 2020. RESULTS: The vast majority (75%) of NPs believed the temporary removal of practice restriction did not perceptibly improve clinical work. Psychiatric mental health NPs were significantly more likely than other NP specialties to believe the waiver improved clinical work (odds ratio=6.68, P=0.001). NPs that experienced an increase in working hours during the pandemic surge were also more likely to report a positive effect of the waiver (odds ratio=2.56, P=0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Temporary removal of state-level practice barriers alone is not sufficient to achieve immediate full scope of practice for NPs. The successful implementation of modernized scope of practice laws may require a collective effort to revise organizational and payer policies accordingly.

The role of the surgical care practitioner during the COVID-19 pandemic: An audit of experiences.

INTRODUCTION: The Surgical Care Practitioner is a medical associate profession role, working to an advanced level, undertaken by registered nurses, operating department practitioners or physiotherapists, on completion of a Royal College of Surgeons accredited course. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to all heath care professionals needing to adapt to help support the health care system as it tackles its effect. AIM: Audit of roles undertaken by Surgical Care Practitioners during the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of Royal College of Surgeons (2014) Curriculum to review the utilisation of this medical associate profession role. METHOD: The online questionnaire service, SurveyMonkey®, was used to collect data on the activities being undertaken by the Surgical Care Practitioner during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: Eighty Surgical Care Practitioners from across seven different surgical specialties within the United Kingdom completed the online survey. Nearly half stated that they remained mostly working in their substantive role, just less than a third helped in critical care units, with the remaining redeployed in equal shares to emergency departments or assisting on wards with nurses and as part of medical teams. A brief description of their activities was also recorded. CONCLUSION: This audit has demonstrated the versatility of the Surgical Care Practitioner and ability to adapt during the pandemic.

Nurse Practitioner Management of a Blinatumomab Infusion Program: Impact on Patient Safety and Quality of Care.

The prognosis of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia can be improved with the use of monoclonal antibodies such as blinatumomab. Many studies discuss the management and treatment of symptoms; however, none of them describe practical complications related to the continuous infusion of blinatumomab, especially during home-based therapy. The purpose of this study is to describe the experience gained over 4 years in the management of pediatric patients undergoing therapy with blinatumomab in an Italian tertiary hospital. The establishment of a nursing program dedicated to improving infusion pump management, patient support, quality of care, and patient safety will be discussed.

Leveraging nurse practitioner capacities to achieve global health for all: COVID-19 and beyond.

AIM: To argue that nurse practitioners have been under-utilized generally in the current global health environment, creating barriers to achieving universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals. BACKGROUND: Nurse practitioners are advanced practice nurses possessing expert knowledge and leadership skills that can be optimized to narrow disparities and ensure access to high-quality health care globally. Nurses worldwide have been challenged to meet global public health needs in the context of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 virus), and there are early indications that nurse practitioners are being called upon to the full extent of their capabilities in the current pandemic. SOURCES OF EVIDENCE: PubMed; Google Scholar; the International Council of Nurses; World Health Organization; United Nations; and the experiences of the authors. DISCUSSION: Several international reports, nursing and health organizations have called for continued investment in and development of nursing to improve mechanisms that promote cost-effective and universally accessible care. Expanding nurse practitioner scopes of practice across nations will leverage their clinical capacities, policy and advocacy skills, and talents to lead at all levels. CONCLUSION: Ongoing empirical data and policy change is needed to enable the full scope and strategic utilization of nurse practitioners across healthcare systems and contexts. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE, AND NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY: Widespread education regarding nurse practitioner capacities for interdisciplinary partners, policymakers and the public is needed. Policies that safely expand their roles are critical. Role titles and remuneration reflective of their scope and service are required to lead, sustain and grow the workforce internationally.

Development and Evaluation of an Atopic Dermatitis Care Plan for Providers.

Background/Significance of problem: Atopic Dermatitis (AD) is a common, chronic, inflammatory dermatosis and skin disease that follows a relapsing pattern and requires a dynamic stepwise approach to management. Providers feel comfortable treating chronic disease states with a guided tool or care plan in many chronic diseases. Care plans used in many chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes, and COPD have demonstrated effectiveness in disease and healthcare provider management. There is an unmet need for a universal AD care plan for providers. Clinical question/project purpose: A universal AD care plan was developed to improve AD disease management and patient outcomes. Post-implementation of providers & perceptions was assessed for how the AD universal care plan affected their ability to provide patient education. Search of literature/best evidence: Review of literature includes: CINAHL, ProQuest Health, PubMed, Fusion, and UpToDate databases from 2008-2018.Search terms included: Atopic Dermatitis, Eczema, care plans, care plan use in chronic disease. Clinical appraisal of literature/best evidence: Analysis of the evidence supported the need for AD education, which then supported the need for a universal AD care plan for providers. Integration into practice: "Your Eczema Care Plan" was used by thirty-five healthcare providers to improve patient outcomes in a similar manner as other evidence-based care plans.Evaluation of evidenced-based practice: Post-implementation of providers & perceptions were evaluated on how the AD care plan tool affected their ability to provide patient education. Results suggest patient education, disease management, and QOL are all improved when utilizing "Your Eczema Action Plan." J Drugs Dermatol. 2020;19(10): 950-955. doi:10.36849/JDD.2020.5090.

Service Provision Study on the Implementation of Nurse-Led Clinic in the Irish Judicial System.

The exponential growth of the nurse-led clinic in the Republic of Ireland has proven to be effective in patients' care in the Irish community (National Council for Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery, 2005). This initiative has been replicated in the penal environment and assumed to add value to the prison health care system. To date, this concept has never been explored. The main goal of this study was to examine this concept in this setting. It was hoped that the outcome of this inquiry will provide a better insight into the service, which can be used in the development of an evidence-based policy in the future.

Sustaining Primary Health Care Programs and Services: A Scoping Review Informing the Nurse Practitioner Role in Canada.

Sustainability is a key concept in the politics and local policy of health care delivery, particularly during discussions on the principles of primary health care (PHC) and health care reform. In Canada, previous reforms in PHC were implemented with the goal of achieving long-term sustainable change in health systems across the country. However, insufficient resources and a changing environment have impeded the sustainability of many PHC programs and services. An example is the nurse practitioner (NP) role, which was introduced in Canada in 1967 but failed to be sustained. In the mid-1990s, in response to a call for PHC reform, the role was reimplemented with the support of government legislation, regulation, and remuneration mechanisms. However, despite evidentiary success of NP role effectiveness and efficiency in Canada's health system, many barriers toward full implementation of the role continue to exist and sustainability remains at risk. This scoping review was undertaken to inform a research project exploring the closure of an NP clinic in a western Canadian province. The review searched relevant peer-reviewed and gray literature from Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia, to better understand and describe the factors influencing sustainability of the NP role and other PHC programs and services.