Shedding new light for nurses: Enhancing pressure injury prevention across skin tones with sub-epidermal moisture assessment technology.

AIM(S): To assess the effectiveness of sub-epidermal moisture (SEM) assessment technology in the detection of early-stage pressure damage in a critical care unit (CCU) and dark skin tone patients and its impact on hospital-acquired pressure injury (HAPI) incidence. DESIGN: Quality improvement study employing Kurt Lewin's change model emphasizing planning, implementation, evaluation and sustainable change. METHODS: The study evaluated 140 adult patients admitted to the CCU over a 24-week period, from July to December 2022. Retrospective analysis of standard PI care pathways was performed in 90 patients admitted during a 12-week pre-implementation period. Fifty patients were admitted through the subsequent 12-week implementation period. SEM assessments were performed daily at the sacrum and heels and interventions were applied based on SEM assessments; SEM delta ≥0.6 indicating localized oedema or persistent focal oedema. Statistical analyses were performed on anonymized data. RESULTS: Pre-implementation HAPI incidence was 8.9% (N = 8/90). All eight patients were African American with varying skin tones. A 100% reduction in HAPI incidence was achieved in the implementation period which included 35 African American patients. The relative risk of HAPI incidence was 1.6 times higher in the pre-implementation group. CONCLUSION: Implementing SEM assessment technology enabled equitable PI care for all population types and resulted in a 100% reduction of PIs in our CCU. Objective SEM assessments detected early-stage PIs, regardless of skin tone and enabled providing interventions to specific anatomies developing tissue damage as opposed to universal preventive interventions. IMPLICATIONS: PI care pathways relying on visual and tactile skin assessments are inherently biased in providing equitable care for dark skin tone patients. Implementing SEM assessments empowers healthcare practitioners in driving objective clinical interventions, eliminates bias and enables positive PI health outcomes. IMPACT: Implementing SEM assessment technology had three main effects: it detected early tissue damage regardless of skin tone (detection effect), enabled anatomy-specific interventions (treatment effect) and prevented PIs across all population types (prevention effect). The authors have adhered to the Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence (SQUIRE) 2.0 guidelines. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution. What does this paper contribute to the wider global clinical community? Addressing health inequities in pressure injury prevention; Demonstrated effectiveness across patient populations; Resource optimization and enhanced patient safety.

Feasibility and acceptability of measuring positivity resonance in nurse-patient telehealth videoconferencing visits: A mixed-methods observational study.

AIM: To investigate the feasibility and acceptability of the training process, procedures, measures and recruitment strategies necessary for a future investigation to test the reliability and validity of using positivity resonance measures in health care encounters. BACKGROUND: Although the measurement of positivity resonance is promising, and non-participant observation is considered effective, their approaches to studying nurse-patient relationships have not been fully explored. DESIGN: A mixed-methods observational study. METHODS: Video recordings of 30 nurse-patient dyads completing telehealth video visit encounters were edited and coded using behavioural indicators of positivity resonance. A post-visit survey gathered data on the participants' perceptions of positivity resonance and the study procedures. The research team completed memos and procedural logs to provide narrative data on the study's training, coding, recruitment and operational procedures. The study included 33 persons with cancer and 13 oncology nurses engaging in telehealth video visit encounters at an academic oncology ambulatory care center located in the southeastern United States. RESULTS: Study procedures were found to be feasible and acceptable to participants. An adequate sample of participants (N = 46) were enrolled and retained in the study. Interrater reliability, as evidenced by Cohen's weighted kappa, ranged from .575 to .752 and interclass correlation coefficients >.8 were attainable within a reasonable amount of time and with adequate training. Behavioural indicators of positivity resonance were observed in all telehealth visits and reported by the participants in the perceived positivity resonance survey. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist guided reporting. CONCLUSIONS: Designing research around the concept of positivity resonance is an innovative and feasible approach to exploring how rapport is cultivated within nurse-patient relationships. RELEVANCE TO PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: Measuring positivity resonance may hold promise for exploring patient and nurse outcomes including trust, responsiveness, health-related behaviours, well-being, resilience and satisfaction. REPORTING METHOD: The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist guided the reporting of results to ensure that adequate details of the study were provided to ensure an accurate and complete report. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Planning of the research design and study procedures was done in consultation with nurse clinicians with experience with telehealth and managers responsible within the practice setting where the study was conducted. This ensured the study procedures were ethical, safe, secure and did not create unnecessary burden to the study participants. The study included collecting data from nurse and patient participants about the acceptability of the study procedures.

Secure Messaging: Demonstration and Enrollment Patient Portal Program: Patient Portal Use in Vulnerable Populations.

Vulnerable populations face challenges gaining access to quality healthcare, which places them at a high risk for poor health outcomes. Using patient portals and secure messaging can improve patient activation, access to care, patient follow-up adherence, and health outcomes. Developing and testing quality improvement strategies to help reduce disparities is vital to ensure patient portals benefit all, especially vulnerable populations. This quality improvement initiative aimed to increase enrollment in a patient portal, use secure messages, and adhere to follow-up appointments. Before the project, no patients were enrolled in the portal at this practice site. Over 8 weeks, 61% of invited patients were enrolled in the patient portal. Eighty-five percent were Medicaid recipients, and the others were underinsured. Eight patients utilized the portal for secure messaging. The follow-up appointment attendance rate was better in the enrolled patients than in those who did not enroll. The majority of survey respondents reported satisfaction in using the patient portal. Patient portal utilization and adoption in vulnerable groups can improve when a one-on-one, hands-on demonstration and technical assistance are provided.

Improving Hypertension Control in the Black Patient Population: A Quality Improvement Study of Workflow Redesign Using the Electronic Health Record to Integrate Self-Monitoring, Education, and Reporting.

BACKGROUND: Nearly half of American adults have hypertension (HTN), and non-Hispanic Black patients are diagnosed at a higher rate than others. LOCAL PROBLEM: Our local clinic population reflected disproportionate rates of uncontrolled HTN among Black patients. METHODS: A quality improvement pre-/postintervention design was used to evaluate an educational intervention to reduce blood pressure (BP) and improve self-monitoring of BP in Black patients using the Chronic Care Model. INTERVENTIONS: A team-based approach was used to redesign clinic workflows and patient education, prescribe self-paced videos from an electronic health record (EHR) patient portal, and provide home BP cuffs. RESULTS: Black participants (n = 79) improved viewing of prescribed videos (7.9% to 68.5%), knowledge scores (67.9 to 75.2), and mean systolic BP (-20.3 mm Hg; P > .001). CONCLUSIONS: This team-based approach enhanced patient engagement, self-monitoring skills, EHR-reported BP, and overall BP control for a cohort of Black patients with uncontrolled BP.

Exploring the acute effects of running on cerebral blood flow and food cue reactivity in healthy young men using functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Acute exercise suppresses appetite and alters food-cue reactivity, but the extent exercise-induced changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF) influences the blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal during appetite-related paradigms is not known. This study examined the impact of acute running on visual food-cue reactivity and explored whether such responses are influenced by CBF variability. In a randomised crossover design, 23 men (mean ± SD: 24 ± 4 years, 22.9 ± 2.1 kg/m2 ) completed fMRI scans before and after 60 min of running (68% ± 3% peak oxygen uptake) or rest (control). Five-minute pseudo-continuous arterial spin labelling fMRI scans were conducted for CBF assessment before and at four consecutive repeat acquisitions after exercise/rest. BOLD-fMRI was acquired during a food-cue reactivity task before and 28 min after exercise/rest. Food-cue reactivity analysis was performed with and without CBF adjustment. Subjective appetite ratings were assessed before, during and after exercise/rest. Exercise CBF was higher in grey matter, the posterior insula and in the region of the amygdala/hippocampus, and lower in the medial orbitofrontal cortex and dorsal striatum than control (main effect trial p ≤ .018). No time-by-trial interactions for CBF were identified (p ≥ .087). Exercise induced moderate-to-large reductions in subjective appetite ratings (Cohen's d = 0.53-0.84; p ≤ .024) and increased food-cue reactivity in the paracingulate gyrus, hippocampus, precuneous cortex, frontal pole and posterior cingulate gyrus. Accounting for CBF variability did not markedly alter detection of exercise-induced BOLD signal changes. Acute running evoked overall changes in CBF that were not time dependent and increased food-cue reactivity in regions implicated in attention, anticipation of reward, and episodic memory independent of CBF.

Geographic Distribution of Suspected Alpha-gal Syndrome Cases - United States, January 2017-December 2022.

Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is an emerging, tick bite-associated allergic condition characterized by a potentially life-threatening immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated hypersensitivity to galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal), an oligosaccharide found in most nonprimate mammalian meat and products derived from these mammals. Specific symptoms and severity of AGS vary among persons, and no treatment or cure is currently available. During 2010-2018, more than 34,000 suspected cases of AGS were identified in the United States, but current knowledge of where cases occur is limited. This study examined alpha-gal-specific IgE (sIgE) antibody testing results submitted to the commercial laboratory responsible for nearly all testing in the United States before 2022 to assess the geographic distribution and magnitude of this emerging condition. During January 1, 2017-December 31, 2022, a total of 357,119 tests were submitted from residences in the United States, corresponding to 295,400 persons. Overall, 90,018 (30.5%) persons received a positive test result in the study period, and the number of persons with positive test results increased from 13,371 in 2017 to 18,885 in 2021. Among 233,521 persons for whom geographic data were available, suspected cases predominantly occurred in counties within the southern, midwestern, and mid-Atlantic U.S. Census Bureau regions. These data highlight the evolving emergence of AGS and can be used to help state and local health agencies initiate surveillance and target public health outreach and health care provider education to high-risk localities.

Health Care Provider Knowledge Regarding Alpha-gal Syndrome - United States, March-May 2022.

Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is an emerging, tick bite-associated immunoglobulin E-mediated allergic condition characterized by a reaction to the oligosaccharide galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal), which is found in mammalian meat and products derived from mammals, including milk, other dairy products, and some pharmaceutical products. Symptoms range from mild (e.g., a rash or gastrointestinal upset) to severe (anaphylaxis); onset typically occurs ≥2 hours after exposure to alpha-gal. No treatment or cure is currently available. Despite the potential life-threating reactions associated with AGS, most patients perceive that health care providers (HCPs) have little or no knowledge of AGS. A U.S. web-based survey of 1,500 HCPs revealed limited knowledge of AGS, identified areas for continuing medical education, and described self-reported diagnostic and management practices. Overall, 42% of surveyed HCPs had never heard of AGS, and among those who had, fewer than one third knew how to diagnose the condition. Two thirds of respondents indicated that guidelines for the diagnosis and management of AGS would be useful clinical resources. Limited awareness and knowledge of AGS among HCPs likely contributes to underdiagnosis of this condition and inadequate patient management, and underestimates of the number of AGS patients in the United States, which currently relies on laboratory testing data alone.

Androgenetic alopecia in transgender and gender diverse populations: A review of therapeutics.

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) management is a significant clinical and therapeutic challenge for transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) patients. Although gender-affirming hormone therapies affect hair growth, there is little research about AGA in TGD populations. After reviewing the literature on approved treatments, off-label medication usages, and procedures for treating AGA, we present treatment options for AGA in TGD patients. The first-line treatments for any TGD patient include topical minoxidil 5% applied to the scalp once or twice daily, finasteride 1 mg oral daily, and/or low-level laser light therapy. Spironolactone 200 mg daily is also first-line for transfeminine patients. Second-line options include daily oral minoxidil dosed at 1.25 or 2.5 mg for transfeminine and transmasculine patients, respectively. Topical finasteride 0.25% monotherapy or in combination with minoxidil 2% solution are second-line options for transmasculine and transfeminine patients, respectively. Other second-line treatments for any TGD patient include oral dutasteride 0.5 mg daily, platelet-rich plasma, or hair restoration procedures. After 6-12 months of treatment, AGA severity and treatment progress should be assessed via scales not based on sex; eg, the Basic and Specific Classification or the Bouhanna scales. Dermatologists should coordinate care with the patient's primary gender-affirming clinician(s) so that shared knowledge of all medications exists across the care team.

Improving Nursing Knowledge and Patient Education About Aprepitant's Effects on Hormonal Contraception: A Performance Improvement Project.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this project was to improve the consistency of verbal and written discharge instructions for women of childbearing age (13-55 years) taking hormonal contraceptives who receive aprepitant perioperatively, to address the need to use a secondary form of birth control for 28 days, as well as to increase the knowledge and confidence of Registered Nurses when providing discharge instructions. DESIGN: This quality improvement project used a pre-/postdesign to evaluate two separate groups of patients and registered nurses. METHODS: The patient sample consisted of 30 total women of childbearing age who received aprepitant during the perioperative period (15 pre and 15 post). The PACU nurse sample included 15 ambulatory surgery center nurses and 58 main hospital nurses for a combined sample of 73 PACU nurses. The PACU nurses were provided with educational in-service regarding information about aprepitant and its drug interactions. PACU nurses were additionally instructed to provide patient discharge instructions using both a written and verbal format. Patients were called postoperatively before and after both the written after visit summary (AVS) changes and the PACU nurse in-services, PACU nurses were evaluated on their knowledge, confidence, and frequency of discharge teaching before and after their educational in-service. The PACU nurses were surveyed 90 days after the intervention to assess their long-term knowledge retention. FINDINGS: There was a significant increase in nurse knowledge about aprepitant from preimplementation to postimplementation (61.39% vs 81.95%, P < .001). Nursing knowledge showed a nonsignificant decline at 90-days postimplementation (81.95% vs 73.68%, P = .096) although remained significantly higher than preimplementation scores (73.68% vs 61.39%, P = .003). There was an overall 33.3% increase in the percentage of patients who were able to recall receiving aprepitant and the need to use a secondary form of birth control when comparing the preintervention group to the postintervention group (26.7% vs 60%, P = .123). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that providing a standardized presentation about aprepitant may improve the PACU nurses' ability to verbalize key information about aprepitant, including the need for patients to use a secondary form of birth control. This increase in nursing knowledge and confidence, along with improved written discharge instructions, may have led to improved patient comprehension of aprepitant discharge education. Additionally, there was an increase in the percentage of patients who were able to recall the need to use a secondary form birth control for 28 days, to reduce the likelihood of an unintentional pregnancy.

Education for Registered Nurses Completing Preoperative Anesthesia Interviews: A Quality Improvement Project.

PURPOSE: This quality improvement project implemented job-related education for registered nurses (RNs) completing preoperative anesthesia interviews (PAIs) to increase their knowledge and confidence, improve completeness of documented preoperative interviews, and decrease day of surgery (DOS) cancellations. DESIGN: Pre/post implementation design and retrospective chart review. METHODS: An educational module on PAIs was created and RNs working in the pre-admission testing (PAT) clinic were asked to complete the module. Pre and post implementation data was collected on RN knowledge and confidence, assessment completeness, and DOS cancellations. FINDINGS: Knowledge and confidence increases were not statistically significant, although several interview components within PAI documentation improved with statistical significance. Overall DOS cancellations, although not statistically significant, were found to decrease, 1.3% to 1.2%. CONCLUSIONS: Registered nurses' knowledge, confidence and PAI completeness improved after completing the educational module with anesthetic considerations. Patients seen at the PAT clinic for PAIs before the DOS allowed for patient optimization and education leading to decreased preventable DOS cancellations.

Incorporating Evidence-Based Ultrasound-Guided Vascular Access (USGVA) Standards Into the Nurse Anesthetist Armamentarium: A Quality Improvement Project.

PURPOSE: This quality improvement (QI) project developed and implemented a hybrid training program, that included online modules and hands-on training for experienced certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) to increase confidence, knowledge, and competency with ultrasound-guided vascular access (USGVA). DESIGN: This QI project used a pre-post design. Seventeen volunteer CRNAs participated in USGVA training and education, and a 90-day follow-up assessment was performed. METHODS: The Revised Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence (SQUIRE 2.0) guidelines were used as a framework to assess confidence, knowledge, and hands-on competency of 17 CRNAs who regularly place vascular access devices using USGVA in patients with difficult vascular access at a single facility. These assessments were measured at: (1) baseline, (2) immediately after attending a hybrid training educational program, and (3) 90 days after implementation into clinical practice. Additionally, the number of vascular access attempts required for successful placement of peripheral intravenous (PIV) catheters, arterial catheters, and central venous catheters (CVC) with ultrasound assistance over a 90-day period was reviewed. FINDINGS: Certified registered nurse anesthetists' median confidence score increased significantly from pre- to posteducation (P = .009). The confidence reported from post- to 90 days posteducation improved, however it did not reach statistical significance (P = .812). The knowledge scores from pre- to posteducation indicated significant improvement (P <. 001), as well as from pre- to 90 days posteducation (P = .03). However, knowledge scores from post- to 90 days posteducation revealed a statistically significant decline (P = .004). The overall median score for hands-on USGVA competency declined from post- to 90 days posteducation (P = .109). The number of successful USGVA placements increased from 50% to 80% within a 90-day period. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of a USGVA hybrid training and education program improved overall provider confidence, knowledge, and competency. While confidence remained high in the 90-day follow-up, knowledge retention declined. Despite a decline in knowledge retention over time, results showed a significant improvement when compared to baseline scores. Although a decline in hands-on USGVA competency was seen at 90 days posteducation, it was not statistically significant. The percentage of overall successful USGVA placements in clinical practice increased following implementation.

Sustainability of an Operating Room to Pediatric Postanesthesia Care Unit Handoff Tool.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project was to reintroduce and assess the feasibility of a standardized, electronic health record (EHR) handoff tool and to evaluate the sustainability of a structured, team-based approach in a pediatric postanesthesia care unit (PACU). DESIGN: This QI project used an observational pre-post design using two separate convenience samples of handoffs and perianesthesia providers. METHODS: A standardized EHR handoff tool was reintroduced for operating room to pediatric PACU handoff communication. Handoffs between anesthesia providers, surgery team members, and PACU nurses were observed pre- and postreintroduction of the EHR handoff tool. Anesthesia providers and PACU RNs received training for giving and receiving handoffs and were provided directions on locating the EHR handoff tool. A bedside audit of items communicated for the six handoff phases (introductions, situation, background, assessment, recommendations, and questions), handoff duration, team member participation, and handoff tool utilization were performed for 149 handoffs pre- and 146 handoffs postimplementation. To evaluate sustainability, the audits were compared to postimplementation data from the 2014 pilot handoff project. FINDINGS: Following reintroduction, EHR handoff tool use increased from 4% to 19%. There was a statistically significant increase in items communicated for three of the six handoff phases when using the EHR tool (P < .05). There was no statistically significant increase in handoff duration (mean = 3.66 minutes, SD = 1.57 minutes) with the EHR handoff tool. Surgical team member presence for the team-based handoff increased from 90.7% pre to 95.9% post. Provider compliance with the team-based handoff approach, which includes a PACU RN, surgical team member, and anesthesia team member present for handoff, was sustained and increased 6 years postimplementation. Feedback from anesthesia providers and PACU RNs indicated mixed reports of satisfaction with the EHR tool, perceived handoff efficiency, and consistency in both giving and receiving handoff. Adherence to five of the six structured handoff phases, except introductions, was sustained and even improved 6 years following implementation. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence-based practice for handoff communication supports the use of a team approach and standardized EHR handoff tools. The reintroduction of a standardized EHR handoff tool improved the completeness of information transfer, yet did not lead to widespread adoption nor improved user satisfaction. There is an ongoing need to identify adoptable and sustainable perioperative handoff methods.

Improving Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists' Adherence to a Standardized Intraoperative Lung Protective Ventilation Protocol.

PURPOSE: The use of lung protective ventilation (LPV) during general anesthesia is an effective strategy among certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) to reduce and prevent the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications. The purpose of this project was to implement a LPV protocol, assess CRNA provider adherence, and investigate differences in ventilation parameters and postoperative oxygen requirements. DESIGN: This quality improvement project was conducted using a pre- and postimplementation design. METHODS: Sixty patients undergoing robotic laparoscopic abdominal surgery and 35 CRNAs at a community hospital participated. An evidence-based intraoperative LPV protocol was developed, CRNA education was provided, and the protocol was implemented. Pre- and postimplementation, CRNA knowledge, and confidence were assessed. Ventilation data were collected at 1-minute intervals intraoperatively and oxygen requirements were recorded in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). FINDINGS: Use of intraoperative LPV strategies increased 2.4%. Overall CRNA knowledge (P = .588), confidence (P = .031), and practice (P < .001) improved from pre- to postimplementation. Driving pressures decreased from pre- to postimplementation (P < .001). Supplemental oxygen use on admission to the PACU decreased from 93.3% to 70.0%. CONCLUSIONS: Educational interventions and implementation of a standardized protocol can improve the use of intraoperative LPV strategies and patient outcomes.

Risk Factors for Death or Meningitis in Adults Hospitalized for Cutaneous Anthrax, 1950-2018: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous anthrax accounts for approximately 95% of anthrax cases worldwide. About 24% of untreated patients die, and many cases are complicated by meningitis. Here, we explore clinical features of cutaneous disease associated with poor outcomes. METHODS: A systematic review identified 303 full-text articles published from 1950 through 2018 that met predefined inclusion criteria. Cases were abstracted, and descriptive analyses and univariate logistic regression were conducted to identify prognostic indicators for cutaneous anthrax. RESULTS: Of 182 included patients, 47 (25.8%) died. Previously reported independent predictors for death or meningitis that we confirmed included fever or chills; nausea or vomiting; headache; severe headache; nonheadache, nonmeningeal signs; leukocytosis; and bacteremia. Newly identified predictors included anxiety, abdominal pain, diastolic hypotension, skin trauma, thoracic edema, malignant pustule edema, lymphadenopathy, and evidence of coagulopathy (all with P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: We identified patient presentations not previously associated with poor outcomes.

Multi-omics comparisons of different forms of centronuclear myopathies and the effects of several therapeutic strategies.

Omics analyses are powerful methods to obtain an integrated view of complex biological processes, disease progression, or therapy efficiency. However, few studies have compared different disease forms and different therapy strategies to define the common molecular signatures representing the most significant implicated pathways. In this study, we used RNA sequencing and mass spectrometry to profile the transcriptomes and proteomes of mouse models for three forms of centronuclear myopathies (CNMs), untreated or treated with either a drug (tamoxifen), antisense oligonucleotides reducing the level of dynamin 2 (DNM2), or following modulation of DNM2 or amphiphysin 2 (BIN1) through genetic crosses. Unsupervised analysis and differential gene and protein expression were performed to retrieve CNM molecular signatures. Longitudinal studies before, at, and after disease onset highlighted potential disease causes and consequences. Main pathways in the common CNM disease signature include muscle contraction, regeneration and inflammation. The common therapy signature revealed novel potential therapeutic targets, including the calcium regulator sarcolipin. We identified several novel biomarkers validated in muscle and/or plasma through RNA quantification, western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assays, including ANXA2 and IGFBP2. This study validates the concept of using multi-omics approaches to identify molecular signatures common to different disease forms and therapeutic strategies.

A Quality Improvement Initiative to Evaluate the Effectiveness of the ABCDEF Bundle on Sepsis Outcomes.

Sepsis affects 1.7 million Americans annually and often requires an intensive care unit (ICU) stay. Survivors of ICU can experience long-term negative effects. This quality improvement initiative was designed to increase compliance with ABCDEF bundle elements and improve clinical outcomes. A significant improvement was seen in the completion of spontaneous awakening and breathing trials (P = .002), delirium assessment (P = .041), and early mobility (P = .000), which was associated with a reduction in mortality and 30-day readmission rates. Findings were consistent with other research that demonstrated an improvement in care delivery and some clinical outcomes.

The effect of an exergame on physical activity among older adults residing in a long-term care facility: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Older adults who engage in arranged residential video games have the potential to gain health benefits such as increase in physical activity beyond purposeful movement with movement-based games. METHODS: A Nintendo Wii video gaming system was implemented for six-weeks as a physical activity intervention with long-term care residents to determine the impact on exercise benefits/barriers, self-efficacy for exercise, and physical activity levels. RESULTS: Paired t-tests revealed improvement in exercise benefits/barriers, self-efficacy for exercise, and physical activity levels, albeit none with statistical significance (all p > .05). CONCLUSIONS: The use of the Nintendo Wii as an intervention to enhance physical activity for older adults in nursing home residents should be considered for use over a longer duration of time with older adults.

Evaluation of a proactive hiring model to achieve workforce stability in the intensive care unit.

AIM: The purpose was to evaluate an innovative Prospective Hiring Equation to determine registered nurse hiring needs. BACKGROUND: The American Organization for Nursing Leadership identifies human resource management as a competency for nurse managers, yet calculations to determine when and how many registered nurses to hire are not readily available. METHODS: We implemented an educational intervention to teach nurse mangers the Prospective Hiring Equation. We evaluated the processes (adoption and confidence) and outcomes (vacancy rates) using a pre-evaluation/postevaluation design in a single cohort of nurse managers (n = 9). We used a statistical process control chart to depict mean differences in vacancy rate at baseline and 6-month postimplementation. RESULTS: Participants (n = 9) were on average 43 years' old, female, and had 2.94 (SD = 2.66) years' of nurse manager experience. Following implementation of the intervention, the combined vacancy rates of the intensive care units improved by 11.8% (SD = 7), and use of agency nurses decreased by 42.5% (premedian = 7.2, interquartile ratio = 3.6, 10.8; postmedian = 1.8, interquartile ratio 0.9, 8.55). CONCLUSIONS: The Prospective Hiring Equation may be a useful tool to improve nurse managers human resource management competencies. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: The Prospective Hiring Equation may help nurse managers improve accuracy when evaluating hiring needs.

The impact of nurse staffing on falls performance within a health care system: A descriptive study.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of nurse staffing on inpatient falls performance across a multi-hospital system. BACKGROUND: Evidence to support which staffing variables influence fall performance so that health care organizations can better allocate resources is lacking. METHOD: A descriptive study design was used to analyse the impact of nurse staffing and falls performance, with units dichotomized as either high or low performing based on national benchmarking data. The impact was evaluated using 10 nurse staffing variables. RESULTS: A total of nine units were included (five high and four low performing). Higher performing units showed less use of sitters and travellers, had fewer overtime hours worked by nurses, and employed more expert-level clinical nurses and combined nursing assistant/health unit coordinator positions, than lower performing units. CONCLUSION: Findings provide evidence of how staffing variables affect a unit's falls performance. While significant relationships were found, further evaluation is needed to explore the relationship of staffing variables and quality outcomes. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Nursing managers may consider trying to reduce use of sitters and travellers, and utilize innovative staffing models, such as using combined nursing assistant/health unit coordinator positions, to help improve their falls performance.

Reducing Recovery Times in Outpatient Liver Biopsies: Role of the GI Nurse.

This project is aimed to identify whether recovery times could be reduced in patients undergoing an outpatient liver biopsy. Liver biopsies are typically performed in a hospital setting, and many facilities require patients to recover for multiple hours, sometimes ranging from 4 to 6 hours. This can discourage the patient from undergoing the biopsy. Multiple studies have examined recovery times and determined patients can safely recover and be discharged within 1-2 hours post-liver biopsy. In this retrospective review, the data of 60 outpatients who underwent a liver biopsy from June to December 2020 were analyzed. Analysis included comparing vital signs and symptoms at the 2-hour recovery period and 4-hour discharge time also to see whether there were any hospital admissions 1 week post-liver biopsy. Descriptive statistics were utilized for the data collected in this study. Results demonstrated that after 2 hours, 55 (91.7%) patients had vital signs within safe parameters, pain less than 5 on a 10-point pain scale and denied any other symptoms. The remaining five patients (8.3%) did not meet discharge criteria at the 2-hour mark because of pain greater than 5 on the pain scale yet were still discharged safely at the 4-hour mark.