Benefits of Seeing Health Care as a Team Sport.

Health care is a team sport. We have noticed that some nurses agree with this statement, whereas others balk at the comparison of their profession to a football game. It is as if the profession could be diminished by the association with a sport. We wonder why that is, and if some colleagues do not appreciate the comparison, might there be a misunderstanding of what we mean by equating health care to a team sport? This column reviews the definition of the team in the work setting and the evidence demonstrating the impact of teamwork on patients and nurses. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2024;55(2):57-58.].

Experience of New Graduate Nurses in Nurse Residency Programs During the COVID-19 World Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Individuals who entered any nursing program during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) world pandemic were exposed to a different and chaotic learning environment. The goal of this study was to describe the experience of 452 new graduate nurses (NGNs) who entered the profession between 2020 and 2022. METHOD: This study was a qualitative thematic analysis of an open-ended survey from the American Nurses Credentialing Center Practice Transition Accreditation Program® (PTAP®). RESULTS: The thematic analysis resulted in five themes: the pandemic was a significant disruptor, the program was a generally negative experience, the quality of the preceptors and mentors made a difference, the content of the program made an impact, and the residency program prepared NGNs for the RN role by building confidence and promoting relationship building and a sense of community. CONCLUSION: The 2020-2022 world pandemic created a challenging environment for NGNs to enter nursing and had implications for practice. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2024;55(2):87-93.].

Become a Better Leader: Start a "Stop List".

"To be the best leader I can be." It appears every leader is aspiring to be the best they can be. In fact, the literature is filled with books and articles offering various tricks to better yourself as a leader. In most cases, it's about adding something to your to-do list. In this column, we offer the opposite idea. We suggest that you stop doing certain things. After all, everyone deserves to experience you at your best. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2023;54(12):549-550.].

The Art and Science of Delegating Effectively.

Delegating nursing tasks has become increasingly important over the years. For example, we often state the importance of allowing nurses to practice to the "top of their license." To do so, nurses must be able to delegate specific tasks to other health care team members. This column reviews the essential components of delegation to ensure we execute our plan, vision, and mission. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2023;54(10):444-445.].

Cultivating a Cycle of Positive Human Experience.

This article discusses the impact of the healthcare industry's workforce crisis on the patient experience and explores how technology can alleviate the pressure on patient care teams, reestablish the human connection between nurses and patients, and create a virtuous cycle in healthcare. By working together and leveraging digital solutions, healthcare organizations can develop more effective and efficient systems of care delivery that ultimately benefit both patients and care teams.

Implementing a Virtual Team Model in the Acute Care Setting.

Health care has forever changed in early 2021. Three years after the beginning of the COVID-19 world pandemic, we must seriously look at the role of the nurses and the model we deploy to ensure our health system's viability. In this article, the authors offer insights into the journey of deconstructing the nurses' role and planning for a Co-Caring Model where virtual and bedside nurses practice and unlicensed assisting personnel work as a team to care for those in need of health care. We also provide a list of actions for nurse leaders to consider. Finally, we aim to spark an international conversation on how we can bring back the joy of practice to ensure we create the best possible places to give and get care.

Supporting and Promoting a Diverse Team.

The importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging is finally on everyone's mind. In this column, we stress the importance of cognitive diversity. Further, we offer concrete actions that will be sure to bring diversity in thinking when leading a team. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2023;54(6):248-249.].

Leadership Legacy.

One day, you will leave your current organization. When it is time to do so, how do you want to be remembered? In this article we explore concrete ways to create a leadership legacy. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2023;54(4):152.].

Hope Is What We Need.

The current health care environment is filled with uncertainties. We are in the worst workforce crisis ever, and we will never have enough nurses if we keep working the way we do. This column offers a list of actions that all nursing leaders should consider because nurses need hope right now. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2022;53(12):528-529.].

How to Conquer Distress Caused by Change.

Change is inevitable, and yet it haunts many. In this column, four important strategies to assist us in conquering the distress caused by change are discussed.[J Contin Educ Nurs. 2022;53(10):436-437.

How to Engage in Productive Disagreements at Work.

Many of us can likely relate to experiencing discomfort when disagreeing with a colleague, our supervisor, or perhaps the chief executive officer of our organization. The concept of disagreement continues to carry significant negative connotations. Although a growing body of knowledge promotes speaking up, we often notice colleagues withdrawing from conversations when disagreement is detected. It takes courage to speak up and lean into a live disagreement. This column offers guidelines and suggestions to promote and support healthy and productive disagreements. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2022;53(8):344-345.].

Bringing Back the Love of Practice.

Bringing back the love of practice is vital to the nursing profession. This article suggests three simple rules that will foster engagement for nurses and thus the love of practice. First, touch base with all nurses weekly to ask them three simple questions. During the onboarding process, let newly hired nurses know why they were chosen, what strengths were seen in them, and how they will add value to the organization. Finally, create and build a trusting environment for nurses. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2022;53(6):251-252.].

The Value of Building a Strategic Network.

The table is set, and we have already experienced a significant turnover in our profession. This fact requires us to rethink our current perspectives on retention and turnover. In this article, the importance of a strategic network to be successful in a work transition and ideas on how to integrate it into any onboarding program are discussed. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2022;53(4):153-154.].

Five Ways of Being to Impart on Managers.

Educating managers can be rewarding and the most challenging task for any educator. Considering that there are currently several different generations in the work-force, the challenge can be daunting. Furthermore, today's manager has to show up with the utmost inspiration to be effective. To that end, the purpose of this column is to assist educators with essential core attributes required by managers to be effective in changing times. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2022;53(2):55-56.].

A Health Care System's Approach to Support Nursing Leaders in Mitigating Burnout Amid a COVID-19 World Pandemic.

Burnout has been demonstrating its presence in the nursing profession for decades. The advent of the world pandemic exacerbated the impact of burnout, and health care workers are suffering. In this article, the authors offer a review of burnout and its effect on the nursing profession. The authors describe a health care system's response to support its 48000 nurses. On the basis of critical drivers that influence the state of engagement of any nurses, we implemented a program allowing us to proactively partner with core leaders to support the emotional well-being of their caregivers. We provide focused coaching and support to leaders and their teams experiencing the highest stress levels. Finally, this article offers concrete interventions that nurse leaders should consider to support their respective nurses.

A Roadmap for Getting a Project Approved.

Nurse educators are filled with ideas to better workforce members and create a safe environment for patients. Since most programs require funding, nurse educators must include the return on the investment as part of their business case. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2021;52(12):549.].

Houston, We Have a Workforce Crisis; I Repeat . . . We Are Facing a Workforce Crisis.

As a result of the cornoavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the health care industry is facing one of its worse workforce crises in decades. Nurse educators must influence the development and implementation of a strategic workforce plan to mitigate this crisis. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2021;52(10):452-453.].

Nurse Leaders' Assumptions and Attitudes Toward Residency Programs for New Graduate Nurses.

The Future of Nursing Report from 2010 offered key recommendations for the practice of nursing, including the need for nurse residency programs for all new graduate nurses. Although numerous articles can be found about the programs themselves, finding information about the support of nurse leaders for such programs is more challenging. In the spring of 2019, a small group of invited nurse leaders from across the United States met during a "Think Tank." The purpose of this gathering was to discuss a policy brief offered by the American Academy of Nursing requiring all new graduate registered nurses to participate in a nurse residency program as part of their transition into practice. To determine nurse leaders' assumptions and attitudes toward nurse residency programs, the think tank planners conducted a national survey. Over 500 members of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership participated in this survey. In this article, the authors offer that nurse leaders are supportive of residency programs for new graduate nurses although some are still struggling with demonstrating the value proposition. In addition, nurse leaders are not in support of a national mandate.

Leading on the Edge of Insanity.

COVID-19 has officially consumed every nurse leader's time and efforts. The purpose of this article is to share early learnings from the West Coast of the United States, where the first US case was cared for. In this article, I describe the emerging principles allowing us to respond to an unprecedented crisis: prevent, protect, and control. By the time this crisis is over, I do not doubt that we will have additional science and experience to support our frontline nurses and our nurse leaders. That said, I felt it was important to share our expertise in real time for others to benefit from. I would also point out that writing about what you are feeling is cathartic-I encourage my colleagues to join me in writing about what you are experiencing.