Safety Competency: Exploring the Impact of Environmental and Personal Factors on the Nurse's Ability to Deliver Safe Care.

BACKGROUND: Patient safety is a priority in health care systems. Nurses' safety competence along with environmental and personal factors plays a role in patient safety. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships among safety competency, structural empowerment, systems thinking, level of education, and certification. METHODS: A cross-sectional exploratory design was used to collect data from nurses (n = 163) practicing in a large Midwestern hospital system. RESULTS: There were significant positive correlations between safety competency and ( a ) structural empowerment, ( b ) systems thinking, and ( c ) certification. Systems thinking explained 12.9% of the variance in the knowledge component of safety competency and 6.8% of the variance in the skill component of safety competency. Certification explained 2.4% of the variance in the skill component of safety competency. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding factors that affect safety competency supports the development of effective interventions that may improve safety.

The Nurse Empowerment Program for Nurses in Direct Care Positions.

OBJECTIVE: An educational program including online generic and nursing-specific content was evaluated for self-assessed leadership skill outcomes. BACKGROUND: Leadership development for nurses in direct care positions has not received the same support as for nurses in formal leadership positions. Pandemic and workforce changes make it critical that leadership skills be built at all levels of nursing. METHODS: Early-career nurses (≤10 years of experience) were recruited to participate in an online leadership development program offering 9 LinkedIn Learning courses, 3 leadership courses from Sigma, an e-book, and a discussion board. RESULTS: Most participants who responded to both immediate postsurvey and 3-month follow-up survey (98.6% of n = 69) reported having applied new or improved abilities in their nursing practice to at least a small degree, and the majority reported having done so to a moderate or great degree. CONCLUSION: This online leadership development program was valued and was associated with improved self-assessed leadership.

Influenza vaccination of home health care staff and the impact on patient hospitalizations.

BACKGROUND: Influenza is associated with significant morbidity and mortality for adults aged 65 years and older. Influenza vaccination of health care workers is recommended. There is limited evidence regarding influenza vaccinations among health care workers in the home health care (HHC) setting and their impact on HHC patient outcomes. METHODS: A national survey of HHC agencies was conducted in 2018-2019 and linked with patient data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Adjusted logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between hospital transfers due to respiratory infection during a 60 day HHC episode and staff vaccination policies. RESULTS: Only 26.2% of HHC agencies had staff vaccination requirements and 71.2% agencies had staff vaccination rates higher than 75%. Agency policies for staff influenza vaccination were associated with reduced hospital transfers due to respiratory infection among HHC patients. DISCUSSION: Influenza vaccination rates among HHC staff were low during the 2017-2018 influenza season. Policymakers may consider vaccination mandates to improve health care worker vaccination rates and protect patient safety. CONCLUSIONS: This study sheds light on the potential impact of COVID-19 vaccination among HHC workers on patient outcomes. COVID-19 vaccination mandates could prove to be a vital tool in the fight against COVID-19 variants and infection outbreaks.

Urinary catheter policies in home healthcare agencies and hospital transfers due to urinary tract infection.

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a frequent cause of hospital transfer for home healthcare (HHC) patients, particularly among patients with urinary catheters. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, nationally representative HHC agency-level survey (2018-2019) and combined it with patient-level data from the Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) and Medicare inpatient data (2016-2018) to evaluate the association between HHC agencies' urinary catheter policies and hospital transfers due to UTI. Our sample included 28,205 patients with urinary catheters who received HHC from 473 Medicare-certified agencies between 2016-2018. Our survey assessed whether agencies had written policies in place for (1) replacement of indwelling catheters at fixed intervals, and (2) emptying the drainage bag. We used adjusted logistic regression to estimate the association of these policies with probability of hospital transfer due to UTI during a 60-day HHC episode. RESULTS: Probability of hospital transfer due to UTI during a HHC episode ranged from 5.62% among agencies with neither urinary catheter policy to 4.43% among agencies with both policies. Relative to agencies with neither policy, having both policies was associated with 21% lower probability of hospital transfer due to UTI (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest implementation of policies in HHC to promote best practices for care of patients with urinary catheters may be an effective strategy to prevent hospital transfers due to UTI.

International consensus-based policy recommendations to advance universal palliative care access from the American Academy of Nursing Expert Panels.

The purpose of this consensus paper was to convene leaders and scholars from eight Expert Panels of the American Academy of Nursing and provide recommendations to advance nursing's roles and responsibility to ensure universal access to palliative care. On behalf of the Academy, these evidence-based recommendations will guide nurses, policy makers, government representatives, professional associations, and interdisciplinary and community partners to integrate palliative nursing services across health and social care settings. Through improved palliative nursing education, nurse-led research, nurse engagement in policy making, enhanced intersectoral partnerships with nursing, and an increased profile and visibility of palliative care nurses worldwide, nurses can assume leading roles in delivering high-quality palliative care globally, particularly for minoritized, marginalized, and other at-risk populations. Part II herein provides a summary of international responses and policy options that have sought to enhance universal palliative care and palliative nursing access to date. Additionally, we provide ten policy, education, research, and clinical practice recommendations based on the rationale and background information found in Part I. The consensus paper's 43 authors represent eight countries (Australia, Canada, England, Kenya, Lebanon, Liberia, South Africa, United States of America) and extensive international health experience, thus providing a global context for the subject matter.

All Nursing Is Global Nursing.

Editor's note: Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing is a global organization focused on leadership and scholarship, with more than 135,000 members from over 100 countries. This first article in a series highlights why global nursing should matter to U.S. nurses and offers an overview of organizations within the global nursing community.

American Academy of Nursing Expert Panel consensus statement on nursing's roles in ensuring universal palliative care access.

The purpose of this consensus paper was to convene leaders and scholars from eight Expert Panels of the American Academy of Nursing and provide recommendations to advance nursing's roles and responsibility to ensure universal access to palliative care. Part I of this consensus paper herein provides the rationale and background to support the policy, education, research, and clinical practice recommendations put forward in Part II. On behalf of the Academy, the evidence-based recommendations will guide nurses, policy makers, government representatives, professional associations, and interdisciplinary and community partners to integrate palliative nursing services across health and social care settings. The consensus paper's 43 authors represent eight countries (Australia, Canada, England, Kenya, Lebanon, Liberia, South Africa, United States of America) and extensive international health experience, thus providing a global context for the subject matter. The authors recommend greater investments in palliative nursing education and nurse-led research, nurse engagement in policy making, enhanced intersectoral partnerships with nursing, and an increased profile and visibility of palliative nurses worldwide. By enacting these recommendations, nurses working in all settings can assume leading roles in delivering high-quality palliative care globally, particularly for minoritized, marginalized, and other at-risk populations.

Nurses and Midwives as Global Partners to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in the Anthropocene.

PURPOSE: To highlight ongoing and emergent roles of nurses and midwives in advancing the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 at the intersection of social and economic inequity, the climate crisis, interprofessional partnership building, and the rising status and visibility of the professions worldwide. DESIGN: Discussion paper. METHODS: Literature review. FINDINGS: Realizing the Sustainable Development Goals will require all nurses and midwives to leverage their roles and responsibility as advocates, leaders, clinicians, scholars, and full partners with multidisciplinary actors and sectors across health systems. CONCLUSIONS: Making measurable progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals is critical to human survival, as well as the survival of the planet. Nurses and midwives play an integral part of this agenda at local and global levels. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Nurses and midwives can integrate the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals into their everyday clinical work in various contexts and settings. With increased attention to social justice, environmental health, and partnership building, they can achieve exemplary clinical outcomes directly while contributing to the United Nations 2030 Agenda on a global scale and raising the profile of their professions.

Nurses Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals: The United Nations and Sigma.

This article is one in a series in which contributing authors discuss how the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are linked to everyday clinical issues; national public health emergencies; and other nursing issues, such as leadership, shared governance, and advocacy. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a 15-year plan of action to achieve the goals, was unanimously adopted by all UN member states in September 2015 and took effect on January 1, 2016. The Agenda consists of 17 SDGs addressing social, economic, and environmental determinants of health and 169 associated targets focused on five themes: people, planet, peace, prosperity, and partnership. The SDGs build on the work of the UN Millennium Development Goals, which were in effect from 2000 to 2015. The current article highlights SDGs 5 (gender equality), 8 (decent work and economic growth), and 17 (partnerships for the goals), along with the advocacy of these goals by Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing in the UN system.

Global engagement competencies for PhD nursing students.

The following question was posed to work groups at an invitational summit of educators, policy makers, and funding agencies involved in PhD nursing programs from Canada, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the US: Should global engagement competencies be included in PhD program curricula of research-intensive universities?" While the need for global engagement competencies ranked low among participants, our perspective is that there may be benefits from development of global engagement competencies. Many of the concepts identified for global engagement competencies are also important for US-based research. Nurses and midwives with PhDs are well positioned to conduct research that will impact the global burden of disease and close the health equity gap.

Emerging roles for research intensive Ph.D. prepared nurses as leaders and innovators: Views from funders/sponsors.

Given the complexity and rapidly changing pace of 21st-century healthcare, the need for research intensive Ph.D. prepared nurses has never been greater. Philanthropic funders and sponsors of Ph.D. nursing education have important insights into how investments in Ph.D. education have direct and positive impacts on healthcare, and consequently bring important perspectives to emerging roles for Ph.D. prepared nurses. To elicit these perspectives focused questions were posed to four leading philanthropic funders/sponsors of Ph.D. nursing education: The Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation; The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Sigma Theta Tau- International Honor Society of Nursing, and the Jonas Nursing & Veterans Healthcare of Jonas Philanthropies. The interviews were conducted as part of a special session from the October 2019 PhD Summit "Re-Envisioning PhD Programs of the Future". A common theme that emerged from these discussions was the compelling need to prepare research intensive Ph.D. prepared nurses with advanced skills in leadership and innovation in order to leverage the larger impact of their work on health, health care and health policy. Lessons learned from the programs supported by these sponsors can be used to refine and implement future Ph.D. programs that provide the leadership and innovation skills required of research intensive Ph.D. prepared nurses.

The state of infection prevention and control at home health agencies in the United States prior to COVID-19: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Home health care is a rapidly growing healthcare sector worldwide. Home health professionals face unique challenges related to preventing and controlling infections, which are likely to amplify during an infectious disease outbreak (e.g. SARS-CoV-2). Little is known about the current state of infection prevention and control-related policies and outbreak preparedness at U.S. home health agencies. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we conducted a national survey to assess infection prevention and control-related policies, infrastructure, and procedures prior to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Using a stratified random sample of 1506 U.S. home health agencies, we conducted a 61-item survey (paper and online) from November 9, 2018 to December 31, 2019. METHODS: Survey data were linked to publicly-available data on the quality of patient care, patient satisfaction, and other agency characteristics. Probability weights were developed to account for sample design and nonresponse; Pearson's χ2, Fisher's exact, t-tests or linear regression were used to compare the universe of agencies/respondents and urban/rural agencies. RESULTS: 35.6% of agencies responded (n = 536). Most home health personnel in charge of infection prevention and control have other responsibilities; one-third have no formal infection prevention and control training. Rural agencies are more likely to not have anyone in charge of infection prevention and control compared to those in urban areas. About 22% of agencies implement recommended guidelines when administering antibiotics. Less than a third (26.4%) report that their staff vaccination rates were higher than 95% during the last flu season. Only 48.1% of agencies accept patients requiring ventilation, and of those, 40.9% located in rural areas do not have specific infection prevention and control policies for ventilated patients, compared to 20.8% in urban areas (p < 0.001). Only 39.7% of agencies provide N95 respirators to their clinical staff; rural agencies are significantly more likely to provide those supplies than urban agencies (50.7% vs. 37.7%, p = 0.004). Lastly, agencies report their greatest challenges with infection prevention and control are collecting/reporting infection data and adherence to/monitoring of nursing bag technique. CONCLUSIONS: Prior to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, we found that infection prevention and control was suboptimal among U.S. home health care agencies. Consequently, most agencies have limited capacity to respond to infectious disease outbreaks. Staff and personal protective equipment shortages remain major concerns, and agencies will need to quickly adjust their existing infection prevention and control policies and potentially create new ones. In the long-term, agencies also need to improve influenza vaccination coverage among their staff. Tweetable abstract: Infection prevention and control infrastructure, policies and procedures and outbreak preparedness at U.S. home health agencies was found to be suboptimal in nationally-representative survey conducted just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Assessment of Global Health Competence of Nursing Faculty in Prelicensure Programs.

BACKGROUND: Global Health is an emerging field that refers to the health and well-being of the world's population. It is crucial that the next generation of nurses is prepared as global health advocates. There is no prior research of self-assessed global health competencies among nursing faculty in U.S. prelicensure programs. The aim of this study was to determine the level of global health competencies (knowledge and skills) of nursing faculty in U.S. prelicensure programs. METHOD: Attendees at the National League for Nursing Education Summit completed the Global Health Competencies survey. RESULTS: Survey participants (N = 161) reported a 66.76% confidence in their knowledge of global health and 61.4% confidence in global health skills with patients from different backgrounds. Three areas of educational needs were identified: (a) the relationship between health and access to clean water, sanitation, and nutrition; (b) cultural competency; and (c) understanding the relationship between health and human rights. CONCLUSION: Nursing faculty participants identified several areas for improvement in their knowledge of global health issues. [J Nurs Educ. 2021;60(1):20-24.].

Communicating Expectations: Developing a Rubric for Peer Reviewers.

The peer-review process is a form of self-regulation by qualified members of the profession to evaluate works done by one or more individuals. However, without a clear structure, the peer-review process can be problematic. Rubrics have been shown to increase peer reviewer satisfaction and author compliance, but only when they convey clear and specific descriptions for task-specific criteria. Sigma developed a peer-review rubric to provide consistency in judging scientific abstracts. An asynchronous provider-directed, provider-paced educational activity can be used to successfully educate peer reviewers on the benefit and use of a peer-review rubric. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2021;52(2):64-66.].

The Emerging Scholars' Network Within MNRS: From Acorns to Oaks.

As the nursing faculty shortage persists, there is an urgent need to develop emerging nurse scholars into research leaders capable of advocating for the profession and expanding on the mission to improve health. To address this need, the Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS) commissioned a student task force that led to the development of the Emerging Scholars Network (ESN). The purpose of this article is to describe how the ESN was developed, integrated, and promoted within the MNRS to advance the overall mission and sustainability of the society. The establishment and success of the ESN is described using the Five Developmental Stages of Organization Evolution. These stages include the following: (a) Developing a Concept; (b) Launching a Start-Up; (c) Establishing Credibility; (d) Creating Sustainability; and (e) Road to Maturing and Legacy. Recommendations for continued development of the ESN are provided.

Advancement of global health: Recommendations from the Global Advisory Panel on the Future of Nursing & Midwifery (GAPFON®).

AIMS: To discuss nurses' contributions to global health through their participation in GAPFON®. DESIGN: Discussion paper that reviews literature related to global health, global nursing and midwifery based on the contributions of the GAPFON® report. DATA SOURCES: A literature search of electronic databases was conducted for published articles during 2014-2018 in English focusing on the main themes of the GAPFON® report. Manual searches of relevant journals and internet sites were also undertaken. RESULTS: Recommendations and strategies were discussed that could have an impact on the advancement of the nursing profession's contribution to global health based on the GAPFON® report outcomes. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: GAPFON® provides a framework to synergize and converge our activities to address professional issues around the globe, through implementation of the suggested strategies identified in the GAPFON® report. GAPFON® has engaged with nursing and midwifery leaders around the globe to determine both the most pressing health issues and professional issues in regions and the report is a synthesis of all the data, reflecting regional and global challenges. This article explores ways of how the report can be used as a basis for engagement with decision makers in global health. CONCLUSION: Advances in the professional areas embedded in the GAPFON® Model are expected to lead to capacity building, evidence-based practice and ultimately improved quality of global health care. The strategies for implementation identified by regional stakeholders can have an impact on the global health agenda by focusing on nurses and midwives as the drivers of this change.

Facilitating the Academic Success of International PhD Students.

AIM: This article discusses the challenges of international PhD nursing students and recommends strategies to support them. BACKGROUND: Approximately 10 percent of the students enrolled in research-focused nursing doctoral programs in the United States are non-US residents, challenging schools of nursing to examine ways to support these students. METHOD: We searched five electronic databases using international student* AND doctoral OR graduate as search terms; we integrated the authors' experiences. RESULTS: Faculty and peer support can promote a smooth transition into the United States. Participating on research teams or school committees promotes academic socialization. Dissertation work has multiple unique challenges, including international relevance of topics, translation, funding, and location of the research. CONCLUSION: Faculty advisers and universities can facilitate student adjustment. Once international students become familiar with the academic requirements and culture, they have the capacity to contribute rich, diverse perspectives that greatly enhance the quality of PhD education.

Empowerment of front-line leaders in an online learning, certificate programme.

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of an online learning, certificate programme for front-line nurse leaders' sense of empowerment. BACKGROUND: Front-line leaders play a crucial role in health care. Current training is often inadequate. The Institute of Medicine report on The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health (2010) recommends nurses at all levels receive training for their role. METHODS: A pre- to post-study design was used; instruments included Conditions for Work Effectiveness Questionnaire, Psychological Empowerment Scale, intent to stay, and self-reported knowledge and effectiveness of intervention questions. This study evaluated the effects of online learning for 29 acute care front-line leaders in the USA and Australia. RESULTS: Structural empowerment significantly improved, pre-assessment (M = 18.50, SD = 1.6940) to post-assessment (M = 19.47, SD = 1.6940). There was no significant difference in intent to stay or overall psychological empowerment. Participants agreed (24/29, 83%) the intervention contributed to their 'sense of empowerment in their role' and 'ability to create an empowering work environment'. CONCLUSION: Online learning was effective and could be integrated into orientation and/or continuing education plans to develop empowering work environments. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Online learning may be a means of educating and empowering front-line leaders for their role.

Measuring Quality in Home Healthcare.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Improving quality performance in home health is an increasingly high priority. The objective of this study was to examine trends in industry performance over time using three quality measures: a composite quality metric (Q index), an infection prevention measure (vaccination verification), and an outcome measure (hospital avoidance). DESIGN/SETTING/PARTICIPANTS/MEASURES: We linked Home Health Compare and Provider of Services data from 2012 to 2016, which included 39 211 observations during the 5-year study period and 7670 agencies in 2016. The Q index was developed to allow comparability over time, equally weighting the contributions of each element. After examining summary statistics, we developed three regression models stratified by ownership (for-profit/nonprofit agency) and included two constructs of nurse staffing, in addition to controlling for known confounders. RESULTS: Most agencies (80.4%) were for-profit agencies. The Q index and vaccination verification improved substantially over time, but there was no change in hospital avoidance. Ownership status was associated with all three measures (P < .001). Registered nurse staffing (relative to licensed practical nurses and home health aides) was associated with higher Q index and vaccination verification (P < .001). CONCLUSION: The Q index allows for assessment of trends over time in home healthcare. Ownership and nurse staffing are important factors in the quality of care. The overall home care market is driven by for-profit agencies, but their characteristics and outcomes differ from nonprofit agencies. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:1859-1865, 2019.