Leading Nursing Excellence Through a System Magnet® Program Director Council.

American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet® designation is prestigious to healthcare institutions. Setting the expectation for all hospitals within a system to be Magnet designated is a lofty but achievable goal. Nursing leaders at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center set organization-wide designation as a goal in 2010. A robust system-wide Magnet Program Directors Council facilitated this effort by standardizing practices and supporting members through the journey.

Increasing the Efficiency of Critical Care Orientation: A Four-Phased Quality Improvement Approach.

More nurses without critical care experience are being hired by intensive care units. Eleven newly hired nurses participated in a phased program designed to improve the efficiency of intensive care unit orientation. A pre-post implementation design demonstrated that although there was a 14% reduction in orientation time, there were no statistically significant changes in new hire or preceptor satisfaction nor in first-year registered nurse turnover rates. Expansion of the program is needed to demonstrate its impact.

Attitudes and Approaches Towards Repeat Valve Surgery in Recurrent Injection Drug Use-associated Infective Endocarditis: A Qualitative Study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the diversity of attitudes and approaches towards treating patients with recurrent injection drug use-associated infective endocarditis (IDU-IE) with a focus on surgical decision-making. METHODS: Nineteeen qualitative, semistructured interviews were performed with healthcare providers at a single academic medical center. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants with the goal of sampling a diversity of providers involved in the care of patients with IDU-IE. An inductive, grounded theory approach was used to analyze data. RESULTS: Nineteen healthcare providers (12 physicians, 3 social workers, 2 registered nurses, 2 advanced practice providers) with experience caring for patients with IDU-IE across a variety of disciplines and departments participated in the study. Three themes emerged from the interviews: providers feel underprepared to care for patients with IDU-IE; implicit and explicit bias remain pervasive; and criteria for surgical decision-making are not transparent. When discussing surgical decision-making, participants relied on 2 predominant bioethical concepts: futility and rationing. CONCLUSIONS: There was a wide divergence of opinions on how to approach repeat valve surgeries, ranging from those who endorsed strict single surgery policies to those who felt patients should be offered as many surgeries as needed. Therefore, there is a need to further develop general principles for the care of recurrent IDU-IE to provide more reliable and equitable care to these patients. This will require input from an interdisciplinary group and should address empirical data, and also the appropriateness of futility and rationing of care questions.

Long-term Outcomes of Injection Drug-related Infective Endocarditis Among People Who Inject Drugs.

OBJECTIVES: Infective endocarditis (IE) among people who inject drugs is associated with high rates of mortality and repeat episodes of endocarditis. We sought to report on longer-term clinical outcomes of patients with IE who were offered buprenorphine or methadone treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) at their initial hospital admission. METHODS: Individuals with OUD hospitalized between 2013 and 2015 with IE were included for the retrospective study. The following data were extracted from the medical record: sociodemographic data, mortality, repeat episodes of endocarditis, and evidence of ongoing buprenorphine and methadone treatment. The impact of medication use on mortality and repeat episode of endocarditis was examined using survival analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 26 individuals were included in the study. The mean duration of follow-up was 45.0 months (SD 7.2, range 34.0-56.0). During the index admission, 8 received buprenorphine, 8 received methadone, and 10 declined medications. During the follow-up period, 4 (15.4%) individuals died and 10 (38.5%) individuals experienced a repeat episode of endocarditis. Survival analysis of mortality (log-rank P = 0.066) and repeat episode of endocarditis (log-rank P = 0.86) comparing those who received buprenorphine, received methadone, and declined medication did not differ significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Initiation of medication treatment alone may not be sufficient to impact long-term mortality and rates of repeat episode of endocarditis. More research is needed to identify optimal treatment strategies for people who inject drugs with IE.

Experiences of care among individuals with opioid use disorder-associated endocarditis and their healthcare providers: Results from a qualitative study.

PURPOSE: Infectious complications of opioid use disorder (OUD), including endocarditis, are rising. Patients with OUD-associated endocarditis have poor clinical outcomes but their care is not well understood. We aimed to elucidate the prior experiences of care for patients with OUD-associated endocarditis and the healthcare providers who deliver that care. STUDY DESIGN: This qualitative study was conducted through semi-structured interviews of patients and providers at a single academic hospital using a grounded theory approach. Patients meeting DSM-5 criteria for at least mild OUD who had previously completed an episode of care for OUD-associated endocarditis were recruited from inpatient and ambulatory settings. Multidisciplinary care providers who regularly care for patients with OUD-associated endocarditis were also recruited. Interviews were conducted until thematic saturation was achieved. PRINCIPLE RESULTS: Of 11 patient participants, six were recruited from outpatient settings. Of 12 provider participants, seven cared for patients with OUD "almost always." Five major themes emerged across patient and provider interviews: stigma-related inequity and delays in care, the social and medical comorbidities of individuals with OUD-associated endocarditis, addiction as a chronic and relapsing disease, differing experiences of prolonged hospitalizations between patients and providers, and a lack of integration or discontinuity of care. Opportunities for care innovation and improvement were identified. CONCLUSIONS: This qualitative analysis highlights multiple patient and health system factors that may explain poor clinical outcomes experienced by individuals with OUD-associated endocarditis. A sick, complex, stigmatized patient population was noted, with new physical and mental comorbidities often developing on top of pre-existing ones. Perceived barriers to effective treatment of OUD-associated endocarditis included the complexity of managing two life threatening illness simultaneously, external stigma towards individuals with OUD, and discontinuity in longitudinal care.

Teaching Patients with Advanced Cancer to Self-Advocate: Development and Acceptability of the Strong Together™ Serious Game.

OBJECTIVE: Serious games are a growing form of psychoeducation, although few studies have evaluated serious games for patients with advanced cancer. The purpose of this study was to develop and assess the initial acceptability of a serious game to teach women with advanced cancer self-advocacy skills, including communication, decision-making, and social connectivity, to improve their quality of life with cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a multistage, user-centered codesign process to develop the content of the game that was consistent with our work on how patients self-advocate and patients' preferences for the game. First, we conducted an open pilot study of a mock paper version of the game by assessing patients' interest in the serious game. Second, we organized a diverse expert panel to develop the serious game with a company, Simcoach Games, using patient-centered design approaches with multiple rounds of patient feedback. Finally, we performed acceptability testing of the game by asking patients their perceptions of the game's appropriateness, realism, and entertainment. RESULTS: During the three stages of game development, patients reported that the serious game was appropriate, informative, useful, and relevant to their challenges as patients with cancer. Suggestions for improvement included tailoring the game to a patient's specific situation, providing the game early in treatment, and including caregivers and other patients in the game play. CONCLUSION: The Strong Together™ serious game demonstrates the potential to assist patients in advocating for their needs and priorities. Future work will use patient suggestions to improve the game before efficacy testing.

Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy Among People Who Inject Drugs: A Review of the Literature.

Hospitalizations for people who inject drugs (PWID) with infectious complications requiring prolonged antibiotic therapy are increasing in the context of the opioid epidemic. Although outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) is routinely offered to patients without a history of injection drug use (IDU), PWID are often excluded from consideration of OPAT. To better assess the evidence base for the safety and effectiveness of OPAT for PWID, we conducted a review of the published literature. Results suggest that OPAT may be safe and effective for PWID, with rates of OPAT completion, mortality, and catheter-related complications comparable to rates among patients without a history of IDU. Rates of hospital readmissions may be higher among PWID, but instances of misuse of the venous catheter were rarely reported. More research is needed to study the safety and effectiveness of OPAT among PWID, as well as studying the combination of OPAT and addiction treatment.

"I Sleep, But My Heart Is Awake": Negotiating marginal states in life and death.

This article compares a six-week fetus to a brain-dead boy to illustrate multiple inconsistencies and flaws in various prominent frameworks for determination of death by neurological criteria ("brain death"). The authors critically examine the biological and normative assumptions that distinguish these ethically ambiguous "marginal states" at the beginning and end of life and find no consistent biological or ethical criteria that coherently define the fetus as alive and the boy as dead. The authors note important contradictions in how medicine, bioethics, and society treat these marginal states, despite their striking biological and philosophical similarities, and conclude that these contradictions are ultimately untenable. They propose that rigid societal policy regarding brain death be abandoned in favor of more permissive policy that resembles those governing actions at the beginning of life, such as around abortion and embryonic stem cell research.

Beyond Magnet® Designation: Perspectives From Nurse Managers on Factors of Sustainability and High-Performance Programming.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify patterns of high-performing behaviors and nurse manager perceptions of the factors of Magnet® sustainability at a multidesignated Magnet organization. BACKGROUND: The Magnet program recognizes exemplary professional nursing practice and is challenging to achieve and sustain. Only 10% (n = 42) of Magnet hospitals sustained designation for 12 years or longer. This study explored the perspectives of Magnet nurse managers regarding high-performing teams and the sustainability of Magnet designation. METHODS: A qualitative study of nurse managers was conducted at 1 multidesignated Magnet organization (n = 13). Interview responses were analyzed using pattern recognition of Magnet model domains and characteristics of high-performing teams and then related to factors of Magnet sustainability. RESULTS: Transformational leadership is both an essential factor for sustainability and a potential barrier to sustainability of Magnet designation. CONCLUSIONS: Transformational nursing leaders lead high-performing teams and should be in place at all levels as an essential factor in sustaining Magnet redesignation.

A case for integrating the Patient and Family Centered Care Methodology and Practice in Lean healthcare organizations.

Many healthcare organizations using Lean are becoming interested in the Patient and Family Centered Care Methodology and Practice (PFCC M/P). We suggest that integrating the two approaches can accelerate the pace of improvement and provide a powerful mechanism to keep the patient and family as the primary focus of improvement activities. We describe the two approaches and note the ways in which they are complementary. We then discuss the ways in which integrating the PFCC M/P adds value to patients, families, providers, and organizations and accelerates transformation. Finally, we suggest ways to implement PFCC M/P within Lean healthcare organizations.

The developmental levels in achieving Magnet® designation, part 2.

Magnet® designation has been shown to be a cost-effective strategy resulting in improved patient, staff, and organizational outcomes. Achieving this designation requires an organization to successfully progress through developmental levels on their journey. Part 1 of this article described a 4-level developmental model applied to each of the Magnet components. In part 2, we will discuss a 5-step process and leadership strategies for developing units or departments through the various levels.

The developmental levels in achieving Magnet® designation, part 1.

Magnet® designation has been shown to be a cost-effective strategy resulting in improved patient, staff, and organizational outcomes. Achieving this designation requires an organization to successfully progress through developmental levels on their journey to excellence. Part 1 of this article describes a 4-level developmental model that is applied to each of the Magnet components. Part 2 will discuss a 5-step developmental process and leadership strategies for developing a unit or department through the various levels.

Exploring perceptions and experiences of maternal depression in Latinas: a qualitative study.

Understanding how depression is conceptualized is key to designing effective screening and treatment procedures. Of particular concern is maternal depression in Latinas, given the high Latina birthrate. We conducted two focus groups of pregnant Latinas to elicit their perceptions of and experiences with maternal depression. Women reported familiarity with the concept of maternal depression and that their experiences with depression were linked to social support from family and friends. Women also indicated that they felt responsible for coping and recovering from depression independently. How experiences with depression interact with traditional Latino idioms of distress, needs further investigation.

Parents' perceptions of benefit of children's mental health treatment and continued use of services.

OBJECTIVE: The authors examined the association of demographic and clinical characteristics, family history, and type of treatment among children receiving outpatient mental health services and parents' perception of treatment benefit. They also examined whether perceived benefit was related to continued use of services at six-month follow-up. METHODS: Parents of children age six to 12 years who were first-time patients at one of nine clinics participating in the Longitudinal Assessment of Manic Symptoms (LAMS) study completed the Parent General Behavior Inventory Ten-Item Mania Scale. Parents of children with scores of 12 or higher (N=1,124) were invited to participate in a follow-up study, and 621 agreed. During baseline assessment after the first outpatient visit and at six-month follow-up, the parents were asked about children's sociodemographic and diagnostic characteristics and use of services and asked to rate how much their children had benefited from the most recent outpatient treatment. RESULTS: Data were available for 573 children. At baseline, parents of 167 (29%) children reported that the treatment provided a lot of benefit, and perceived benefit was related to receiving medication (with or without therapy) versus just therapy, higher scores on functioning, LAMS site, no history of comorbid diagnoses, living with both biological parents, and having no parents or siblings with a prior hospitalization for a psychiatric illness. At six-month follow-up, perceived benefit was related to continued use of services (p<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Medication with or without therapy was perceived as more beneficial than therapy alone. Perceived benefit was strongly related to continued use of treatment.

The transformational model for professional practice: a system integration focus.

Healthcare organizations face the increasingly difficult challenge of providing services that are of high quality, reasonable cost, and easy accessibility for their constituents. Mergers and acquisitions are one strategy for accomplishing this, but in doing so it is critical to have a "road map" to create an integrated system, rather than merely a consortium of hospitals. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center has successfully created an integrated healthcare system of 19 hospitals. The authors describe the professional practice model used as a framework for success in integrating patient care.