Perceptions of Authentic Nurse Leadership and Work Environment and the Pandemic Impact for Nurse Leaders and Clinical Nurses.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the pandemic impact on the relationship between nurses' perception of the authentic nurse leadership (ANL) of their manager and their perception of the work environment. BACKGROUND: Both ANL and healthy work environment (HWE) contribute to staff and patient outcomes. Our 1st study of these 2 variables revealed a positive relationship. Will this be upheld in a pandemic year? METHODS: More than 5000 nurses from a national sample participated in a cross-sectional, correlational, descriptive study using the Authentic Nurse Leadership Questionnaire, the Critical Elements of a Healthy Work Environment Scale, and a pandemic impact on practice question. RESULTS: Overall, nurses perceived ANL and HWE were present despite a high level of pandemic impact; however, when clinical nurses were separated from managers/directors, HWE was not present for frontline nurses. The moderate correlation of ANL and HWE was replicated in this larger study. CONCLUSIONS: This is the 2nd study of the positive relationship between ANL and HWE using these models, supporting ANL as an essential standard of a HWE. ANL was present for clinical nurses in a pandemic year signaling that nurse leaders rose to meet frontline leadership needs. HWE was present overall, but not for clinical nurses. Leadership is essential to work environments and outcomes especially in times of crisis and significant change.

The Value of Recognition: The DAISY Award.

With increasing demands and diminishing nurse resources in the health care landscape today, it is even more important for health care leaders to understand the value that meaningful recognition brings to their organizations. Meaningful recognition is an integral component of a healthy work environment, supporting nurse satisfaction and the patient experience. The DAISY Award as a form of meaningful recognition for the past 21 years is an evidence-based practice used in more than 4600 health care organizations worldwide. This article discusses the evidence and provides a case study for the application of The DAISY Award as a value-added strategic tool for health care leaders and their organizations.

Leveraging Technology to Sustain Extraordinary Care: A Qualitative Analysis of Meaningful Nurse Recognition.

OBJECTIVE: Meaningful recognition of nurses submitted by patients and families using interactive patient care (IPC) technology was analyzed using artificial intelligence (AI) to identify the themes and behaviors associated with extraordinary nursing. BACKGROUND: Meaningful recognition positively impacts nursing and organizational outcomes. The use of AI techniques such as natural language processing and machine learning to identify and describe behaviors impacting patient experiences is an emerging science. METHODS: Nurse recognition comments were collected from a convenience sample of 3 organizations via an IPC inpatient platform and analyzed using the AI techniques of natural language processing, machine learning, sentiment analytics, and corollary dictionaries based on rules of linguistics. RESULTS: The top theme of nursing recognition comments was courtesy and respect with the behaviors of empathy/compassion, helpfulness, kindness, attentiveness, and emotional comfort. The theme of skills/knowledge was the 2nd most common, with the behaviors of being professional, knowledgeable, keeping track, competence, dedication, and being thorough. CONCLUSIONS: AI techniques for qualitative analysis of comments collected through IPC reveal nurse themes and behaviors most meaningful to patients and their family members. Nurses can advance the science of AI and guide its evolution so that nurse caring behaviors associated with establishing human connections that positively influence patient and family experience are accurately represented.

Supporting Recognition of Clinical Nurses With the DAISY Award.

What is meaningful recognition? As a nurse leader, are you prepared to answer that question? Understanding the implications and impact of recognition for nursing staff is a powerful tool for nursing leaders. The DAISY Award is used in more than 2,100 organizations around the globe to give meaning to recognition. Here is a glimpse of the power that recognition can bring to an organization, to its leaders, and most importantly to staff.

Putting the "Meaning" in Meaningful Recognition of Nurses: The DAISY Award™.

Healthcare organizations, nurses, patients, and their families benefit from the opportunity to say, "Thank you." The experience of being hospitalized can be devastating. Recognizing compassionate and extraordinary nursing care in a meaningful way is a powerful tool that supports a healthy work environment, engages nursing staff, and impacts the patient care experience. The DAISY Award™ is a legacy of thanks that exemplifies the qualities of "meaningful" recognition.