Implementation Science: Systematic, Sustainable, Evidence-Based Change

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Reading the article by Russell-Babin and colleagues in the December 2023 issue of AJN made me grateful for all the work that went into developing the nursing implementation science (IS) program at Inova. As a nurse working at this health care system, I’d like to share how I benefited from being in the first cohort of nurses trained and engaged in IS over the last three years.

For the past eight years, I’ve been a clinical coordinator of two different disease-specific programs—first stroke and now sepsis. In these roles, I’ve been engaged in many different quality improvement (QI) projects and have become familiar with the tools and processes used to improve patient care and outcomes.

Towards more comprehensive and systematic evidence-based change.

However, as I was invited to step into the world of IS, I began to realize that a strict QI approach cannot alone bring about all the changes we desire within the complex systems of health care. The fact is […]

2024-01-11T10:06:42-05:00January 11th, 2024|Nursing, nursing roles, Quality improvement|1 Comment
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July Issue: Yoga for Patients with Psychiatric Illness, What We Know About Long COVID, More

“We have studied elder mistreatment for decades. . . We wait for it to happen and then find those to blame. What if we started from a position of prevention?”—Guest editorial, “Elder Mistreatment Prevention Rounds in Nursing Homes”

The July issue of AJN is now live. Here’s what’s new. Some articles may be free only to subscribers.

CE: An Evidence-Based Yoga Practice for Hospitalized Adults on Medical–Psychiatric Units

This article—winner of the 2021 Nurse Faculty Scholars/AJN Mentored Writing Award—describes a project in which nurses used structured yoga sessions for patients with psychiatric illness to provide stress relief, promote relaxation, reduce anxiety, and improve quality of care.

AJN Reports: Long COVID: What We Know Now

An overview of this emerging health issue—and what’s being done to study and address it.

Evaluating the Impact of Smartphones on Nursing Workflow: Lessons Learned

The authors compared nursing perceptions, satisfaction, task efficiency, and interruptions before and after introducing the use of hospital-issued smartphones in a pediatric ICU and a satellite ED.

[…]

2022-06-27T08:52:40-04:00June 27th, 2022|Nursing|0 Comments
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The Particular Pain and Challenge of Educating Patients During a Worldwide Pandemic

Working in a rural community access hospital during the pandemic has been a struggle. Here as in many areas of the U.S., many in the surrounding community have not accepted the the existence of a virus like Covid-19. Against the backdrop of this widespread disbelief in the reality of the virus, the “government-mandated” vaccine was a final straw for many.

Many of these patients wholeheartedly believe that the vaccine is the “mark of the beast” mentioned in the Book of Revelation and that this is the beginning of the end of the world, with getting the vaccine understood as an expression of loyalty to Satan.

This belief is shared by various religious groups in other areas of our country. Many patients in our community also believe the vaccine is made with stem cells and fetal tissue and includes microchips. There are widely circulated rumors of tracking devices in the vaccine itself.

How do we as nurses and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) educate patients on the science of vaccinations in the face of the anger and passion we experience daily from a suspicious community?

The many other strains on nurses.

It hasn’t helped that nurses and APRNs alike have had to deal with more than they bargained for on many levels in […]

2022-02-24T14:38:16-05:00February 24th, 2022|Nursing, patient engagement, Public health|0 Comments
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Decreasing ED-Acquired Pressure Injuries

Perfect candidates for developing pressure injuries.

The photos of EDs crowded with patients waiting for admission at the height of the COVID-19 surges brought back many memories of clinical days in Bellevue’s ED. But even on our worst evenings, it was never like what I saw in those photos in the news media. And in some places, the ED hallways still have lines of stretchers with patients waiting to be sent to units.

In busy hospitals, patients can wait hours, sometimes a full day, on stretchers in the ED, waiting to be sent to a patient care unit. And we know that if they are being admitted for inpatient care, they usually have complex medical needs—many of these patients may be unable to ask for help, be incontinent, or unable to move themselves. These patients are perfect candidates for developing pressure injuries (PIs).

PIs can develop in a matter of hours.

As an article in the February issue of AJN notes, pressure injuries can develop in a relatively short time (the authors cite studies that found hospital-acquired PIs can “occur in as little as two hours of unrelieved pressure”).

The article, “Pressure Injury Prevention in Patients with Prolonged ED Stays Prior to Admission,” details how a nurse-led evidence-based practice (EBP) team sought to decrease hospital-acquired pressure […]

2021-02-16T14:23:23-05:00February 16th, 2021|Nursing|0 Comments
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June Issue: Sickle Cell Complications, Stoma Skin Care, Promoting Nurse Retention, More

“I am as grateful to the nurses who work in hospitals serving the sickest and most vulnerable patients as I am to the nurses who have chosen a path focused on policy and public service.”—Virginia Reising, author of the June Viewpoint column, “What Is a Nurse?“

The June issue of AJN is now live. Here are some highlights.

CE: Understanding the Complications of Sickle Cell Disease

In this evidence-based review, the authors examine the genetic, hematologic,
and clinical features of sickle cell disease and describe its major
health complications—as well as the nursing implications of each.

CE: Stoma and Peristomal Skin Care: A Clinical Review

Written for nurses who are not ostomy specialists, this article provides information about the care of stomas, including the normal stoma, with a focus on early and late complications of the stoma and peristomal skin.

Original Research: Exploring Working Relationships Between National and Expatriate RNs on Humanitarian Aid Missions: The Perspectives of Liberian Nurses

The authors of this qualitative study explored the perceptions and concerns of Liberian RNs who work for international nongovernmental organizations in Liberia, yielding insights on how to improve collaboration between national and expatriate nursing staff.

EBP 2.0: Implementing and Sustaining Change: Promoting Nurse Retention Through Career Development Planning

This second article in a new series […]

2019-05-28T09:42:37-04:00May 28th, 2019|Nursing|0 Comments
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Views expressed on the blog are solely those of the authors or persons quoted. They do not necessarily reflect AJN’s views or those of Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
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