Thinking, Feeling, Behaving: Using the MINDBODYSTRONG ® Intervention to Improve Nurse Well-being Using a Virtual Format.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the impact of the MINDBODYSTRONG ® program on mental health and lifestyle behaviors among a sample of staff nurses, clinical nurse leaders, and faculty, when offered after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated the MINDBODYSTRONG program decreased anxiety and depressive symptoms, improved job satisfaction, and sustained healthy lifestyle behaviors in newly licensed RNs. This program has not been studied with experienced nurses. In addition, the use of a virtual format is unique. METHODS: A pre-post design was used for this pilot study. Subjects were recruited from a large Midwestern medical center and affiliated school of nursing. Registered participants of the MINDBODYSTRONG program attended 7 weekly sessions virtually. RESULTS: The MINDBODYSTRONG intervention suggests sustained improvement in perceived stress, anxiety, depression, and use of healthy behaviors. CONCLUSION: This pilot study supports that the MINDBODYSTRONG program may be effective in addressing mental health and healthy lifestyle beliefs for staff nurses, clinical nurse leaders, and nursing faculty.

Phases and Transitions of Serious Illness: A Structure for Teaching Palliative Care.

BACKGROUND: Palliative care (PC) focuses on listening to patient preferences, goals, and values to help health care providers educate, support, and collaborate during challenging disease processes, demanding treatments, and difficult decision-making. METHOD: A recently developed Phases and Transitions Model for Serious Illness helps guide nursing students in initiating therapeutic conversations about PC. Each phase and transition shows unique characteristics of illness and treatment to clarify the importance of introducing PC for that phase. Interventions in education, support, and treatment help students guide patients and families through the trajectory of serious illness. RESULTS: The Phases and Transitions Model for Serious Illness and PC interventions provide a clear and practical structure to educate and empower nursing students to engage in PC conversations. CONCLUSION: Nursing educators can integrate this new model to broaden the perspective of PC as an everyday nursing practice for patients who have a serious illness. [J Nurs Educ. 2023;62(5):279-284.].

Multi-level classroom learning prepares nurses for future collaboration in palliative care: an educational initiative.

BACKGROUND: Palliative care (PC) education should be an important part of both the graduate and undergraduate nursing curriculum. Nursing's philosophy of holistic care, which aims to improve the quality of life of patients and families, aligns with the primary objective of PC, positioning nurses to take the lead in expanding and improving PC delivery to all patients with a life-threatening diagnosis. The best way to facilitate this level of care is when staff nurses and advanced practice nurses work collaboratively. AIM: To establish a new standard for nursing education that emphasises intradisciplinary care. METHODS: To fill the gap in PC education for nursing students, a dedicated elective PC class was developed for undergraduate and graduate students at a large midwestern University in the United States. FINDINGS: Through an interactive approach to learning, both groups were able to experience and more fully understand how they would work collaboratively with each other to provide high-quality PC. CONCLUSIONS: Intradisciplinary PC education is an opportunity for students to learn the precepts of PC in an environment that will mirror their post-graduation practice environment.

Running on Empty: Diminished Empathetic Reserve in Frontline Nurses.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a global health crisis. Novel and intolerable pressures have been placed upon nurses affecting their capacity to provide care. The aim of this exploratory study was to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nursing care delivery, the empathetic response of nurses to their patients and family members, and the emotional and physical well-being of the nurses. Four frontline nurses were interviewed while in the midst of the pandemic. Common themes emerged from analysis of the nurses' narratives and included changes in role, increased workload, depersonalized and mechanical care delivery, communication challenges with patient and family members, deficits in palliative care education, perceived poor administrative support, and physical/emotional exhaustion. Clinical leaders and nursing staff have opportunities to engage in supportive endeavors, which can restore focus and regain positive perceptions, strengthen coping skills, and deliver palliative care education in response to the ongoing challenges and stressors created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, they can build resilience in frontline nurses and ultimately impact delivery of compassionate and empathetic care to patients.

Using Simulation to Teach Transitions of Care for Hospitalized Patients.

BACKGROUND: Understanding and facilitating the seamless and safe transitions of patients across high-acuity hospital settings are important for students to grasp in order to meet patient and family care needs. PROBLEM: Clinical placements do not always give students the opportunity to care for patients in various hospital settings or apply complex knowledge and skills learned in their didactic courses. Furthermore, the global pandemic has limited student clinical experiences in health care settings, underscoring the need for simulated clinical learning opportunities. APPROACH: A multiscenario simulation using a high-fidelity human patient simulation manikin was incorporated into a senior-level capstone course. Simulated hospital settings included the (1) emergency department, (2) critical care unit, and (3) progressive care unit. OUTCOME: Student evaluations revealed positive perceptions of learning, enhanced proficiency of clinical skills, and increased confidence regarding transitions of care. Faculty held agreeable opinions of the simulation's ease of facilitation and effectiveness as a teaching tool. CONCLUSION: Application of complex knowledge and skills, understanding the use of bundles of care, and an appreciation for transitions of care hospitalized patients were successfully achieved.

An Instrument to Assess Self-Perceived Competencies in End-of-Life Care for Health Care Professionals: The End-of-Life Care Questionnaire.

PURPOSE: We describe the development and the psychometric properties of an instrument to assess self-perceived EOL care competencies for healthcare professionals: The End-of-Life Care Questionnaire (EOL-Q). METHODS: The EOL-Q consists of 28 questions assessing knowledge, attitudes and behaviors with subscale items addressing seven domains of care: decision-making, communication, continuity of care, emotional support for patients/families, symptom management, spiritual support for patients/families, and support for clinicians. The EOL-Q was used to assess competencies of 1,197 healthcare professionals from multiple work units at a large medical center. Cronbach's alpha coefficients were calculated for the survey and subscales. A factor analysis was also conducted. RESULTS: Internal consistency reliability was for was high for the total scale (0.93) and for the subscales addressing knowledge, behaviors, decision-making, communication, emotional support and symptom management (0.84-0.92); and moderate (>0.68) for the attitudes and continuity of care subscales. The factor analysis demonstrated robust consolidation of the communication and continuity of care subscales (eigenvalue 9.47), decision-making subscale (eigenvalue 3.38), symptom management subscale (eigenvalue 1.51), and emotional and spiritual support subscales (eigenvalue 1.13). CONCLUSION: Analysis of the psychometric properties of the EOL-Q care across settings supports its reliability and validity as a measure of self-perceived EOL care competencies in the domains of communication and continuity of care, decision-making, symptom management, and emotional and spiritual support. The EOL-Q displays promise as a tool for use in a variety of educational, research, and program development initiatives in EOL care.

COVID-19 Shines a Spotlight on the Age-Old Problem of Social Isolation.

In the midst of COVID-19, the nation has become increasingly aware of the impact of social isolation on physical, social, spiritual, and psychological health. Older adults, especially those who are nearing the end of life, are already at higher risk of the detrimental effects of social isolation and loneliness. Novel social distancing rules imposed by governments and agencies during the COVID-19 pandemic have caused older adults to experience a degree of social isolation and loneliness that is unprecedented. This article highlights aspects of the social isolation and loneliness literature. Three cases of elderly patients who required medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic are presented. Common themes of factors contributing to social isolation in each of the health care delivery settings are described, and opportunities for creative interventions by health care providers are identified. As the pandemic continues to unfold and evolve, providers should aim to regularly assess patient risk of isolation and be proactive in preventing negative effects. Additionally, what is learned from health care providers' experiences delivering palliative care during a pandemic can be incorporated into daily practice as social isolation and loneliness are long-standing challenges for the elderly population.

Creating a Sustainable Palliative Care Education Conference for Healthcare Professionals.

An interprofessional conference that addressed basic palliative care knowledge and skills was implemented annually at a large, academic healthcare institution. The conference significantly influenced participant's self-perceived competencies in the delivery of quality palliative care. This conference led to a sustainable program of palliative care initiatives consisting of a yearly workshop for nurses focused on palliative care core competencies and a biennial interprofessional conference designed to facilitate networking and address significant topics in palliative care.

Influence of prenatal transportation stress-induced differential DNA methylation on the physiological control of behavior and stress response in suckling Brahman bull calves.

The objective of this experiment was to examine potential differential methylation of DNA as a mechanism for altered behavioral and stress responses in prenatally stressed (PNS) compared with nonprenatally stressed (Control) young bull calves. Mature Brahman cows (n = 48) were transported for 2-h periods at 60 ± 5, 80 ± 5, 100 ± 5, 120 ± 5, and 140 ± 5 d of gestation (Transported group) or maintained as nontransported Controls (n = 48). From the offspring born to Transported and Control cows, a subset of 28-d-old intact bulls (n = 7 PNS; n = 7 Control) were evaluated for methylation of DNA of behavior and stress response-associated genes. Methylation of DNA from white blood cells was assessed via reduced representation bisulfite sequencing methods. Because increased methylation of DNA within gene promoter regions has been associated with decreased transcriptional activity of the corresponding gene, differentially methylated (P ≤ 0.05) CG sites (cytosine followed by a guanine nucleotide) located within promoter regions (n = 1,205) were used to predict (using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software) alterations to canonical pathways in PNS compared with Control bull calves. Among differentially methylated genes (P ≤ 0.05) related to behavior and the stress response were OPRK1, OPRM1, PENK, POMC, NR3C2, TH, DRD1, DRD5, COMT, HTR6, HTR5A, GABRA4, GABRQ, and GAD2. Among altered (P < 0.05) signaling pathways related to behavior and the stress response were Opioid Signaling, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Signaling, Dopamine Receptor Signaling, Dopamine-DARPP32 Feedback in cAMP Signaling, Serotonin Receptor Signaling, and GABA Receptor Signaling. Alterations to behavior and stress response-related genes and canonical pathways supported previously observed elevations in temperament score and serum cortisol through weaning in the larger population of PNS calves from which bulls in this study were derived. Differential methylation of DNA and predicted alterations to behavior and stress response-related pathways in PNS compared with Control bull calves suggest epigenetic programming of behavior and the stress response in utero.

Influence of prenatal transportation stress on innate immune response to an endotoxin challenge in weaned Brahman bull calves†,‡.

The objective of this study was to assess the influence of prenatal stress (PNS) on innate immune responses to an endotoxin challenge in weaned bull calves. Altered innate immune response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), as characterized by changes in a range of variables was hypothesized in PNS bull calves. Brahman cows (n = 96; 48 stressed by transportation at five stages of gestation and 48 Controls) produced 85 calves, from which 16 uncastrated male (bull) calves from each PNS and Control treatment were selected for an LPS challenge period. Rectal temperature (RT), sickness behavior score (SBS), serum concentrations of cortisol, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and complete blood count (CBC) variables were assessed in response to intravenous LPS (0.25 µg/kg body weight) administration. Each reported variable increased or decreased following LPS administration. Prior to LPS, PNS bull calves exhibited increased TNF-α, IL-6, and monocyte counts, but decreased IFN-γ, eosinophils, and basophils (p < .05). Compared with Control, in response to LPS, PNS bull calves exhibited greater circulating concentrations of cortisol. PNS bull calves exhibited lower (p < .05) eosinophil and basophil counts at time 0 (time of LPS administration) but similar counts to Control bull calves 2 h after LPS. PNS bull calves exhibited a greater change from baseline for IFN-γ and monocytes in response to LPS administration. No other variables were influenced by prenatal treatment (p > .05). These findings suggest that PNS did not adversely affect basal or induced components of the innate immune response to an immunological challenge. Lay summary Our laboratory studied the influence of prenatal stress (i.e., transportation of pregnant cows) on immune function of bull calves at 8 months of age. This was accomplished by studying aspects of their innate immune response to an immunological challenge. Prenatal stress did not adversely affect basal or induced components of the innate immune response to an immunological challenge.

Health Professionals Perceived Concerns and Challenges in Providing Palliative and End-of-Life Care: A Qualitative Analysis.

BACKGROUND:: The Institute of Medicine identifies that quality palliative/end-of-life (EOL) care should be provided to patients with serious, life-limiting illnesses and their families by competently prepared health professionals. PURPOSE:: This study assessed perceived concerns of health professionals pertaining to the delivery of palliative/EOL care in the hospital setting. The specific aim was to determine thematic concerns in the delivery of palliative/EOL care which emerged from respondents' impressions of a memorable palliative/EOL patient experience. METHODS:: Interdisciplinary health professionals at a large academic health system in the Midwest were surveyed to reflect upon a memorable palliative/EOL life care patient situation (positive or negative). A Thematic Analysis approach was used to code qualitative responses to 4 open-ended questions and then extract themes and subthemes from the coded data. RESULTS:: Concerns identified by participants (N = 425) emerged around 7 themes including communication (97%), decision-making/care planning (75%), education needs (60%), EOL care (48%), ethics (24%), satisfaction with care (9%), and spiritual/cultural sensitivity (6%). CONCLUSION:: Challenges exist in the delivery of quality palliative/EOL care in the hospital setting which may be addressed through educational initiatives that focus on recognition of cultural influences on care preferences, improving communication between patients/families and providers, education about the differences between palliative and EOL care, and increased competency of health providers in having EOL/goals-of-care discussions. Health professionals must recognize the benefit of collaborative palliative care in order to meet patient and family needs holistically and comprehensively.

Prenatal transportation stress alters genome-wide DNA methylation in suckling Brahman bull calves.

The objective of this experiment was to identify genome-wide differential methylation of DNA in young prenatally stressed (PNS) bull calves. Mature Brahman cows (n = 48) were transported for 2-h periods at 60 ± 5, 80 ± 5, 100 ± 5, 120 ± 5, and 140 ± 5 d of gestation or maintained as nontransported Controls (n = 48). Methylation of DNA from white blood cells from a subset of 28-d-old intact male offspring (n = 7 PNS; n = 7 Control) was assessed via reduced representation bisulfite sequencing. Samples from PNS bulls contained 16,128 CG, 226 CHG, and 391 CHH (C = cytosine; G = guanine; H = either adenine, thymine, or cytosine) sites that were differentially methylated compared to samples from Controls. Of the CG sites, 7,407 were hypermethylated (at least 10% more methylated than Controls; P ≤ 0.05) and 8,721 were hypomethylated (at least 10% less methylated than Controls; P ≤ 0.05). Increased DNA methylation in gene promoter regions typically results in decreased transcriptional activity of the region. Therefore, differentially methylated CG sites located within promoter regions (n = 1,205) were used to predict (using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software) alterations to canonical pathways in PNS compared with Control bull calves. In PNS bull calves, 113 pathways were altered (P ≤ 0.05) compared to Controls. Among these were pathways related to behavior, stress response, metabolism, immune function, and cell signaling. Genome-wide differential DNA methylation and predicted alterations to pathways in PNS compared with Control bull calves suggest epigenetic programming of biological systems in utero.

Self-Perceived End-of-Life Care Competencies of Health-Care Providers at a Large Academic Medical Center.

BACKGROUND: In the United States, most deaths occur in hospitals, with approximately 25% of hospitalized patients having palliative care needs. Therefore, the provision of good end-of-life (EOL) care to these patients is a priority. However, research assessing staff preparedness for the provision of EOL care to hospitalized patients is lacking. OBJECTIVE: To assess health-care professionals' self-perceived competencies regarding the provision of EOL care in hospitalized patients. METHODS: Descriptive study of self-perceived EOL care competencies among health-care professionals. The study instrument (End-of-Life Questionnaire) contains 28 questions assessing knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to the provision of EOL care. Health-care professionals (nursing, medicine, social work, psychology, physical, occupational and respiratory therapist, and spiritual care) at a large academic medical center participated in the study. Means were calculated for each item, and comparisons of mean scores were conducted via t tests. Analysis of variance was used to identify differences among groups. RESULTS: A total of 1197 questionnaires was completed. The greatest self-perceived competency was in providing emotional support for patients/families, and the least self-perceived competency was in providing continuity of care. When compared to nurses, physicians had higher scores on EOL care attitudes, behaviors, and communication. Physicians and nurses had higher scores on most subscales than other health-care providers. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in self-perceived EOL care competencies were identified among disciplines, particularly between physicians and nurses. The results provide evidence for assessing health-care providers to identify their specific training needs before implementing educational programs on EOL care.

Palliative and End-of-Life Care Education Needs of Nurses Across Inpatient Care Settings.

BACKGROUND: Educating nurses about palliative and end-of-life (EOL) care is a high priority in health care settings. The purpose of this study was to assess nurses' perceived competency regarding the provision of palliative and EOL care to hospitalized patients. METHOD: This study surveyed nurses from 25 pediatric and adult acute and intensive care units (ICU; N = 583) Quantitative data analysis was descriptive and correlational. Qualitative data analysis identified themes of participant concerns. RESULTS: Data analysis revealed that perceived competency in palliative and EOL care is significantly higher in the ICU nurses (p <.0001). Mean scores were significantly higher when nurses had more than 10 years of experience (p <.0001). Open-ended responses indicated concerns regarding improved communication behaviors, decision making, and facilitation of continuity of care. CONCLUSION: The results provide guidance for development of palliative and EOL care nursing education programs tailored to address specific unit needs according to staff characteristics, patient population focus of care, and acuity level of care. J Contin Educ Nurs. 2017;48(7):329-336.

Mobilizing Patients Along the Continuum of Critical Care.

The progressive care unit implemented an evidenced-based intensive care unit mobility protocol with their chronically critically ill patient population. The labor/workload necessary to meet mobility standards was an identified barrier to implementation. Workflow redesign of patient care technicians, interdisciplinary teamwork, and creating a culture of meeting mobility standards led to the successful implementation of this protocol. Data revealed that mobility episodes increased from 1.4 at preinitiative to 4.7 at 12 months postinitiative, surpassing the goal of 3 episodes per 24 hours.

Measuring Confidence in Nursing Graduates Within the Framework of the AACN Essentials.

: The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials of Baccalaureate Education provide a framework for assessment of nursing programs. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine if there was a difference in self-perceived confidence in meeting the AACN essentials between senior students who completed a traditional clinical course and those in a preceptorship course. A descriptive, comparative design was used. The results indicate that students who completed both course models had similarly high levels of perceived confidence in meeting the majority of the AACN essentials.

Digital storytelling: an innovative technological approach to nursing education.

This study investigated the impact of using digital stories in promoting deeper understanding in nursing students about palliative care concepts. Students (N = 134) created a 5-minute narrated digital story utilizing VoiceThread technology that synthesized and applied knowledge that had been presented in class and course readings. Postsurvey and focus group evaluation data revealed that through the writing and sharing of digital stories, students embraced the personal and complex nature of palliative care.