Effect of the Salary Model on Sustainability of a Professional Practice Environment.

OBJECTIVE: This replication study examined differences in RN perception of the professional practice environment (PPE) between salary- and hourly-wage compensation models over time. BACKGROUND: A previous study demonstrated that nurses in a salary-wage model had a significantly higher perception of the PPE compared with their peers receiving hourly wages. METHODS: A descriptive, comparative design was used to examine the Revised Professional Practice Environment (RPPE) scale of nurses in the same units surveyed in the previous study 2 years later. RESULTS: Mean scores on the RPPE continued to be significantly lower for hourly-wage RNs compared with the RNs in the salary-wage model. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses in an hourly-wage unit have significantly lower perceptions of the clinical practice environment than their peers in a salary-wage unit, indicating that professional practice perceptions in a salary-wage unit were sustained for a 2-year period and may provide a more effective PPE.

A comparison of salary-wage and hourly-wage acute care nursing units: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: This pilot study examined differences in RN perception of the professional practice environment and financial indicators between salary-wage and hourly-wage compensation models. BACKGROUND: There is a dearth of current information regarding use of salary-wage models for compensation for direct care nurses. METHODS: A descriptive, comparative design was used to examine the Revised Professional Practice Environment Scale (RPPE) and financial indicators of nurses in a nonprofit healthcare system over a 6-month period. RESULTS: Mean scores on the RPPE were significantly lower for hourly-wage RNs, and the hourly-wage model resulted in a 1.2% additional cost for overtime hours compared with the fixed cost of the salary-wage model. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses in an hourly-wage unit reported a significantly lower perception of the clinical practice environment than did their peers in a salary-wage unit, indicating that professional practice perceptions in a salary-wage unit may provide a more effective professional practice environment. Financial analysis resulted in a budget-neutral impact.

The influence of maternal-fetal attachment and health practices on neonatal outcomes in low-income, urban women.

Maternal-fetal attachment (MFA) has been associated with health practices during pregnancy, but less is known about this relationship in low-income women, and no identified studies have examined this relationship to neonatal outcomes. This longitudinal descriptive study was conducted to examine the relationships among MFA, health practices during pregnancy, and neonatal outcomes in a sample of low-income, predominantly African-American women and their neonates. MFA was associated with health practices during pregnancy and adverse neonatal outcomes. Health practices during pregnancy mediated the relationships of MFA and adverse neonatal outcomes. The results support the importance of examining MFA in our efforts to better understand the etiology of health disparities in neonatal outcomes.

Can a health clinic-based intervention increase safety in abused women? Results from a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence (IPV) has been related to a number of adverse physical and mental health consequences. Research has identified relatively high IPV victimization rates among women seeking care in primary healthcare and emergency department settings. Studies have shown the potential usefulness of screening and intervention in these settings. METHODS: This article reports results from a pilot study designed to assess the effect of a clinic-based intervention on women's engagement in safety-promoting behaviors. This study was conducted in a primary healthcare clinic for the uninsured in Baltimore, Maryland. Women who screened positive for recent IPV were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group. The intervention consisted of an on-site counseling session and six telephone counseling sessions over a 3-month period. Women in the control group received health information brochures, a list of community resources, and a monthly telephone call to confirm contact information. RESULTS: A total of 41 women participated in the study. Results demonstrated that women who received the clinic-based intervention engaged in significantly more safety-promoting behaviors than did women in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study and others indicate the potential usefulness of screening and intervention in a medical setting.