Survey of Managers Regarding Nurses' Performance of Nonnursing Duties.

BACKGROUND: The performance of nonnursing duties by nursing staff contributes to an already busy workload while taking time away from patient care. OBJECTIVE: This article reports on a process implemented by a large regional health authority in Canada to measure and address nurses' performance of nonnursing duties through a newly created tool. METHODS: Process improvement methodology was used to conduct this project. A measurement tool, the "Non-Nursing Duties Tracking Tool," was designed for frontline nursing staff and patient care attendants to document the performance of tasks classified as clerical, housekeeping, food services, clinical support, and transportation. This article reports on a survey of managers regarding information collected from frontline nurses and patient care attendants regarding their performance of nonnursing duties and actions taken or planned to address this. RESULTS: Tasks were identified that could be delegated to housekeeping, transport, and clerical staff. Both frontline nurses and managers expressed the need for administrative support to realign nonnursing tasks to more appropriate personnel. Although most managers of nurses expressed concern about the support of managers in other departments to make these changes, little resistance was encountered when adequate resources were in place. CONCLUSIONS: The "Non-Nursing Duties Tracking Tool" is a valid instrument to support the assessment of nonnursing direct care duties.

Impact of the Relocation of a Long-term Residential Care Facility on Staff.

This article describes the relocation of residents and staff of a long-term residential care facility into a new state-of-the-art building in a Canadian province. All staff were surveyed about their perceptions of the moving process 2 months after the move occurred using a newly created 51-item questionnaire containing both open-ended and closed questions (5-point Likert scale). The results were positive for the 3 subscales of the survey, with average scores for premove, midmove, and postmove items of 3.67, 3.94, and 3.66, respectively. There was no significant difference in the means when comparing staff position, years of employment, or assignment to 1 or more units. Staff were very positive about the move itself, the orientation provided and overall planning, and support from coworkers and management. Some concerns were raised about staffing shortages, involvement of residents, and preparedness of the units and building. In addition, it is evident that relocation is an ongoing process, with many supports required in the months after the move. This article describes a very well planned and executed relocation of a long-term residential care facility and can provide guidance and lessons learned to assist other administrators who are planning a similar endeavor.

A prospective study of early ambulation 90 minutes post-left heart catheterization using a retrospective comparison group.

BACKGROUND: Despite a trend toward a reduction in bedrest time after left heart catheterization (LHC) in many Canadian centres, an evidence-based standard of practice has not been established. Canadian bedrest times range from two to four hours post-LHC. Two recent prospective non-randomized studies (n = 1,000) indicate safety of ambulation at 60 and 90 minutes post-LHC. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine safety of ambulating patients at 90 minutes post-LHC sheath removal compared to the current practice of ambulation at three to four hours post-sheath removal. DESIGN: The study was a prospective non-concurrent design with a retrospective control. METHOD/SAMPLE: Retrospective data from the APPROACH database and chart reviews were analyzed for a period of six months for the control group on the traditional three- to four-hour ambulation protocol (n = 402). Prospective data were gathered for six months for the experimental group (n = 193). RESULTS: There was no difference in complication rates for the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that early ambulation for selected patients at 90 minutes is safe and has the potential to increase both patient comfort and quality of care.

Students in the BN program--do their perceptions change?

Perceptions of nursing have been linked to students' decisions to enter the nursing profession and their decision to continue in or withdraw from nursing programs. As part of a longitudinal study, the Nursing Attitude Questionnaire and Nursing Orientation Tool were used to explore the perceptions of nursing of students in a baccalaureate nursing program. The study began with 213 students, of which 140 completed the study. The Nursing Attitude Questionnaire (NAQ) measures attitudes towards nursing using statements that reflect nursing roles, values, responsibilities, characteristics of nurses/nursing, professionalism, and stereotypes of society. The Nursing Orientation Tool measures students' orientation to nursing using three sub-scales: caring, nursing expertise, and life orientation. Overall, the students held a positive image of nursing and total scores for the NAQ became significantly more positive as students progressed in the program. Life orientation continued to be the most dominant orientation to nursing over the four years.

Low-fat or low-carbohydrate diet for cardiovascular health.

Obesity is a major, modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Climbing obesity rates are leaving Canadians at increased risk for disability, disease and premature death. This has led to increased interest in dietary interventions to control weight and reduce obesity. While a low-fat diet has been promoted for more than 20 years to reduce cardiovascular risk, recently there has been a proliferation of new diets that promise fast, successful weight loss. The marketing strategies of diet promoters have led consumers and health care professionals to consider the benefits and risks of these diets for cardiovascular health. The purpose of this paper is to compare the traditional low-fat diet with one such dietary innovation -- the low-carbohydrate diet. Research studies are reviewed to provide some evidence for practice in assisting patients to improve cardiovascular health through weight loss.

Perceptions of nursing as a career choice of students in the Baccalaureate nursing program.

Schools of nursing must recruit and retain qualified applicants in order to confront the current challenge to nursing resources. Perceptions of nursing have been linked to students' decisions to enter the nursing profession and to continue in or withdraw from nursing programs. As part of an on-going longitudinal study in Canada, the nursing attitude questionnaire and nursing orientation tool were used to explore the perceptions of nursing of 213 beginning and 150 graduating students in a Baccalaureate nursing program. Overall, both groups of students held a positive image of nursing. There were however, significant differences between the groups in their orientation to nursing as well as their views on nursing roles, education, political issues, and the value of nursing as a profession. Implications for recruitment of nursing students are presented.

What do high school guidance counselors really think of nursing?

With the increasing nursing shortage, it is imperative that nursing programs attract and retain students who will be successful in becoming competent, caring practitioners. High school guidance counselors can influence the career choices of students. To do so, these professionals must have an accurate understanding of the attributes that will facilitate a career in nursing, as well as the changing roles of nurses. This study determined the current perceptions of high school guidance counselors regarding nursing. Overall, guidance counselors had realistic perceptions of nursing and identified personal and cognitive attributes of students that would promote success in nursing. However, nurses involved in the recruitment of students need to ensure that guidance counselors have more accurate perceptions of the changing role of nurses, opportunities for practice outside hospital settings, and the importance of problem-solving abilities and leadership skills for nurses.