Clinical Research Nurse Education: Using Scope and Standards of Practice to Improve Care.

A staff shortage of clinical research nurses leaves a few to cover the jobs of many, and heavy workloads lead to decreased quality care and practices. A new plan of hiring inexperienced nurses was implemented at a comprehensive cancer center to help quickly fill roles; however, challenges arose with training. In response, the research nurse leadership team created a course using the clinical research nursing scope and standards of practice. The results validated the need for this course and supported plans to continue to provide the course to new hires.

Development of a communication intervention to assist hospitalized suddenly speechless patients.

Healthcare staff face significant challenges while caring for hospitalized patients experiencing sudden inability to verbalize their needs (sudden speechlessness). Familiar methods of communication such as non-verbal strategies are limited and often fail to assist suddenly speechless patients (SS) communicate their needs. Consequently, strategies tailored to the needs of hospitalized speechless patients are necessary, and must consider factors intrinsic to the patients and the complexities of the acute care environment. The feasibility and usability of a multi-functional prototype communication system (speech-generating device) tailored to the needs of hospitalized SS patients was evaluated in this pilot study. Adult SS patients admitted to the intensive care setting (n=11) demonstrated independent use of a multi-functional communication system that integrated messages and strategies tailored to the needs of the hospitalized SS patient. Participants reported high satisfaction levels and considered the use of the technology of high importance during an SS event. Additional research should focus on evaluating the impact of technology specific communication interventions on enhancing the communication process between SS patients and healthcare staff.