The effects of special nursing units in nursing homes on healthcare utilization and cost: A case-control study using propensity score matching.

BACKGROUND: Most nursing homes in South Korea lack professional nursing services, resulting in transporting residents to hospitals for mild health problems and nursing treatment needs. While the number of nursing homes has increased, the number of registered nurses working in nursing homes has declined. In 2019, the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Health Insurance Service launched the Special Nursing Units in Nursing Homes, a pilot nurse-led model, to resolve the lack of health and nursing services in nursing homes by mandating registered nurses' minimum staffing levels and protecting their scope of practice. OBJECTIVE: This study explored the effects of the Special Nursing Units model in Nursing Homes on healthcare utilization and cost among nursing home residents. DESIGN: A comparative effectiveness research design using propensity score matching. SETTING(S): Eighteen nursing homes were selected based on the region and number of beds. PARTICIPANTS: There were 323 matched-pairs of residents from the case and control groups. METHODS: Nursing homes with more than 30 beds were recruited nationwide, with 18 nursing homes being selected based on the region and number of beds. The case group included 323 older adults receiving professional nursing services by registered nurses under the Special Nursing Units model in Nursing Homes for more than six months consecutively in 18 nursing homes between April and December 2019. We matched control participants using propensity score matching with health insurance and long-term care data. We analyzed the differences in healthcare utilization and cost changes between the case and control groups using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: The groups were not statistically different in baseline demographic or health-related characteristics. There were 26 (8.1%) and 30 (9.3%) deaths in the case and control groups, respectively, during the six months of the model, which was not statistically different (p = .576). The case group showed statistically significant decreases in healthcare utilization and costs, including hospitalization frequency (p = .008), length of stay (p = .002), and hospitalization costs (p = .003); outpatient visit frequency (p = .003) and costs (p < .001); and home healthcare frequency (p < .001) and cost (p < .001) than the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Professional nursing services by registered nurses under the Special Nursing Units model in Nursing Homes decreased healthcare utilization and costs. A nurse-led model in nursing homes, which includes mandating the minimum staffing levels of registered nurses and protecting their scope of practice, promises to improve resident health outcomes.

Factors related to readiness for practice among undergraduate nursing students: A systematic review.

AIM: This systematic review identifies the factors and effective strategies related to nursing students' readiness for practice. METHOD: A search was conducted from 2012 to 2022 in PubMed, CINAHL, SCOPUS, PsycInfo and EMBASE databases, using a combination of predetermined keywords. Four authors made the selection independently and the methodological quality was assessed using the RoBANS, Analytical cross-sectional studies Critical Appraisal Tool and MMAT tools. Information was extracted using a matrix and analyzed through the thematic synthesis approach. RESULT: Studies (14,000) were identified from the search and 11 met the predetermined inclusion criteria. The main identified themes were personal characteristics, education-related factors, cognitive factors, psychological characteristics and social factors influencing readiness to practice. Some barriers also affect readiness for practice among undergraduate nursing students. CONCLUSION: Multiple personal, educational and community factors interact in diverse ways to influences nursing students readiness to practice. REGISTRATION: The protocol for the conduct of this study was registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) with the registration number CRD42020222337.

Personal Factors and Clinical Learning Environment as Predictors of Nursing Students' Readiness for Practice: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis.

PURPOSE: It is essential to ensure the readiness for practice among undergraduate nursing students since the purpose of such education is to cultivate competent nurses who deliver high-quality and safe nursing. Astin's theory of student involvement suggests that this is affected by their personal factors and learning environment. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study between November 16, 2020 and December 21, 2020 which examined personal factors and aspects of the clinical learning environment among senior nursing students (n = 838) enrolled across 54 nursing schools in Korea. The participants were asked to fill out a self-administered online survey, which assessed demographic characteristics, self-esteem, depression, work-life balance, clinical learning environment, anxiety during clinical practicum, and readiness for practice. Readiness for practice was measured using the Casey-Fink Readiness for practice survey. We used structural equational modeling to test our hypothetical model. RESULTS: The nursing students' readiness for practice was significantly affected by their self-esteem, work-life balance satisfaction, and clinical learning environment. Anxiety during clinical practicum directly influenced their readiness for practice. CONCLUSION: Increasing self-esteem and work-life balance satisfaction, and improving their clinical learning environment by providing sufficient educational and clinical support, could help facilitate the transition from nursing schools to real-world practice for nursing students.

Working Experience of Managers Who Are Responsible for Promoting and Monitoring Patient Safety in South Korea: Focusing on Small- and Medium-Sized Hospitals.

OBJECTIVES: This study explored the working experience of patient safety managers (PSMs) in small- and medium-sized hospitals (SMHs). METHODS: A qualitative study comprising 3 focus group discussions (6 people each) was conducted. Patient safety managers working in SMHs-hospitals with 100 to 300 beds-were included. Researchers analyzed the transcribed script, and a conventional content analysis was performed to describe PSMs' working experience. RESULTS: All the PSMs were nurses and with an average (SD) work experience of 1.51 (1.02) years. Five core themes and 17 subthemes were derived. The PSMs reported that it was difficult to perform patient safety tasks alone and cooperate with other departments. Because of members who did not acknowledge PSMs' authority as experts, PSMs experienced identity confusion. Lack of an established patient safety culture in SMHs hindered the PSMs from performing patient safety-related duties. The government continues to train PSMs and provide materials; however, they are not suitable for SMHs and thus cannot be used. The PSMs hoped to overcome the system's initial phase and become professionals. CONCLUSIONS: Patient safety managers faced difficulties because of the lack of guidelines, training, and systems. Nevertheless, they have attempted to overcome these problems themselves, so they can be recognized as professionals. This study's findings can be used as basic data to provide differentiated support for PSMs, based on hospital size.

[The Validity and Reliability of the Korean Version of Readiness for Practice Survey for Nursing Students].

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Readiness for Practice Survey (K-RPS). METHOD: The English Readiness for Practice Survey was translated into Korean using the Translation, Review, Adjudication, Pretesting, and Documentation (TRAPD) method. Secondary data analysis was performed using the dataset from the New Nurse e-Cohort study (Panel 2020) in South Korea. This study used a nationally representative sample of 812 senior nursing students. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were also conducted. Convergent validity within the items and discriminant validity between factors were assessed to evaluate construct validity. Construct validity for hypothesis testing was evaluated using convergent and discriminant validity. Ordinary α was used to assess reliability. RESULTS: The K-RPS comprises 20 items examining four factors: clinical problem solving, learning experience, professional responsibilities, and professional preparation. Although the convergent validity of the items was successfully verified, discriminant validity between the factors was not. The K-RPS construct validity was verified using a bi-factor model (CMIN/DF 2.20, RMSEA .06, TLI .97, CFI .97, and PGFI .59). The K-RPS was significantly correlated with self-esteem (r = .43, p < .001) and anxiety about clinical practicum (r = -.50, p < .001). Internal consistency was reliable based on an ordinary α of .88. CONCLUSION: The K-RPS is both valid and reliable and can be used as a standardized Korean version of the Readiness for Practice measurement tool.

Effects of Work Environments and Occupational Fatigue on Care Left Undone in Rotating Shift Nurses.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the effects of work environments and occupational fatigue on care left undone in rotating shift nurses, and to identify the indirect (mediation) effect of work environments on care left undone through nurses' occupational fatigue in South Korean acute care hospitals. DESIGN: This study employed a cross-sectional design using an online survey to collect data from 488 rotating shift nurses of acute care hospitals in Korea between November and December 2018. METHODS: A mobile schedule management application for shift nurses was used to advertise the study and to send a link to the online survey. The survey included questions on the nurses' work environment characteristics, care left undone activities, and the Korean version of the Occupational Fatigue Exhaustion/Recovery scale. Poisson regression was used to explore the relationships among work environments, occupational fatigue, and care left undone. Hayes' Model 4 and a bootstrapping analysis were used to identify the mediating effect of occupational fatigue on the relationship between work environments and care left undone. FINDINGS: The average number of tasks left undone was 3.45 (SD = 2.19). The higher the acute and chronic fatigue levels noted among nurses, the higher were the occurrences of care left undone. Conversely, the higher the intershift recovery level, the lower were the occurrences of care left undone. The results showed a positive relationship between care left undone and overtime hours and the number of patients per nurse. Moreover, nurses' occupational fatigue mediated the relationship between work environments and care left undone. Night shifts per month and the number of consecutive days off had an indirect effect on care left undone through occupational fatigue. CONCLUSIONS: High levels of occupational fatigue and poor intershift recovery among nurses can lead to care left undone. Nurses' occupational fatigue mediates the effect of work environment on care left undone. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: It is crucial for healthcare administrators and leaders to develop policies and mandatory regulations to facilitate better working conditions for nurses, consequently reducing their occupational fatigue and decreasing the occurrence of care left undone in acute care hospitals.

Association between nurses' breaks, missed nursing care and patient safety in Korean hospitals.

AIMS: To examine the relationship between breaks and patient safety in Korean hospitals and determine the mediating effect of missed nursing care on this relationship. BACKGROUND: Breaks during working hours can affect patient safety; however, few studies have examined the relationship between breaks and patient safety in hospitals and their findings were conflicting. METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 399 nurses in Korean hospitals. Multiple linear regression was used to explore the association between breaks, missed nursing care and patient safety. Model 4 of Hayes's (2018) and bootstrapping analysis were employed to identify the mediating effect of missed nursing care. RESULTS: Average break time per shift was about 15 min; most participants had breaks of less than 30 min. Missed nursing care was a complete mediator of the relationship between breaks and patient safety. CONCLUSION: Break length has an indirect effect on patient safety, medication errors and falls with injury through missed nursing care. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: More discussion is needed to develop policy and mandatory regulations to ensure sufficient breaks and adequate nurse staffing to reduce missed nursing care and enhance patient safety.

Effects of a patient safety course using a flipped classroom approach among undergraduate nursing students: A quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: The nursing education system has changed with the increased emphasis on patient safety in healthcare settings. Early education in patient safety is crucial to preparing nurses to be competent in patient care. Therefore, providing undergraduate patient safety education courses using an innovative approach is essential to enhancing patient safety and quality in nursing care. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the effects of a patient safety course using a flipped classroom approach on patient safety competency among undergraduate nursing students in South Korea. DESIGN: A pre- and post-test quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent control group was adopted. SETTINGS: This study was conducted in the college of nursing at a university in Seoul, South Korea. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 75 undergraduate nursing students participated. All students enrolled in the patient safety course comprised the experimental group (n = 32); those with similar characteristics to the experimental group (age, gender, and year) but did not take the course comprised the control group (n = 43). METHODS: A total of 14 sessions (28 h) addressing the topics from the World Health Organization patient safety curriculum guide were delivered using a flipped classroom approach. The teaching methods included online learning and quizzes, case studies, small and large discussions, incident report tasks, and group projects including the development of strategies for patient safety. A survey including a demographic questionnaire and the Patient Safety Competency Self-Evaluation tool was administered at the beginning and end of the fall semester. RESULTS: Pre- and post-test results demonstrated a significant increase in students' patient safety competency including attitude, skills, and knowledge. Mean scores of patient safety competency in the experimental group were significantly higher than in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The flipped-classroom patient safety course was shown to be effective in improving patient safety competency in terms of attitude, skills, and knowledge among undergraduate nursing students.