{"title":"You Can't Sit on the Lid of Progress: Human Dignity, Ethical Leadership, and the Future of Professional Nursing.","authors":"Jim D'Alfonso","doi":"10.1097/NAQ.0000000000000755","DOIUrl":"10.1097/NAQ.0000000000000755","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Nursing stands at a critical inflection point-shaped by global complexity, rapid technological change, and the enduring moral commitment to human caring. This article explores contemporary challenges faced by the profession, including organizational hierarchies, structural bias, funding instability, and persistent gender inequities. Yet it also illuminates the profound hope emerging through special programs like the Kaiser Permanente Scholars Academy, which have strengthened disciplinary identity, advanced academic progression, expanded public policy engagement, and elevated community partnerships. By reframing investment in nursing education as a strategic imperative rather than an operational expense, the article argues for sustainable funding models that support research, innovation, and workforce development. Finally, it examines the future implications of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, emphasizing that while tools will evolve, the core of nursing-human presence, ethical judgment, and compassionate service-remains irreplaceable.</p>","PeriodicalId":35640,"journal":{"name":"Nursing Administration Quarterly","volume":"50 2S Suppl 2","pages":"S54-S56"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12994905/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147515203","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Antonetta Yun, Romoanetia Lofton, Amanda Sayaseng, Edoardo Morlet, Felicia L Fakayode, Gertrude M Tiangco-Alba, Toby Marsh, Matthew S Elliott
{"title":"Scholars in Action: A Decade of Voices, Journeys, and Impact.","authors":"Antonetta Yun, Romoanetia Lofton, Amanda Sayaseng, Edoardo Morlet, Felicia L Fakayode, Gertrude M Tiangco-Alba, Toby Marsh, Matthew S Elliott","doi":"10.1097/NAQ.0000000000000745","DOIUrl":"10.1097/NAQ.0000000000000745","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This reflective manuscript highlights the lived experiences of 7 nurse scholars whose educational journeys and professional development were supported by the Kaiser Permanente (KP) Scholars Academy over the past decade. Their narratives describe how academic progression, leadership development, and Caring Science-informed wellness programs (eg, Healing Circles, HeartMath, and Caritas Coach Education) shaped their leadership identities, influenced local systems change, and strengthened a culture of inquiry and evidence‑based practice (EBP). These stories are framed within contemporary scholarship on lifelong learning, equity‑centered nursing leadership, and evidence‑based leadership development. Intended contribution: to offer nurse leaders practical insights on how health system-supported scholarship pipelines can catalyze measurable improvements in professional governance, EBP adoption, and leader well‑being, thereby advancing organizational goals and health equity.</p>","PeriodicalId":35640,"journal":{"name":"Nursing Administration Quarterly","volume":"50 2S Suppl 2","pages":"S25-S30"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12994895/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147515445","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yaser Alqarrain, Abdul Roudsari, Karen L Courtney, James W Tanaka
{"title":"A Machine Learning Approach to Predict Health Care-acquired Urinary Tract Infections From Electronic Nursing Documentation.","authors":"Yaser Alqarrain, Abdul Roudsari, Karen L Courtney, James W Tanaka","doi":"10.1097/CIN.0000000000001405","DOIUrl":"10.1097/CIN.0000000000001405","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Reducing health care-acquired urinary tract infections is a common goal among health care providers and organizations. This study took an initial step toward this goal by exploring context-based variables contributing to HAUTI. We included a comprehensive list of nursing assessments and applied multiple machine learning methods to process the datasets and manage missing data. Among the models tested, eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) emerged as the most effective in predicting HAUTI, identifying associations between improved skin integrity, mobility, and neurological status monitoring, which may be linked to lower HAUTI rates. However, our results should be carefully interpreted, given the study's significant missing data. The findings of this study reinforce the necessity of high-quality data to support the interpretation of machine learning (ML) models in clinical settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":35640,"journal":{"name":"Nursing Administration Quarterly","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145709617","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Tri-Council for Nursing: United Organizations Advancing the Profession.","authors":"Deborah Trautman, Debbie Dawson Hatmaker, Robyn Begley, Phil Dickison, Beverly Malone","doi":"10.1097/NAQ.0000000000000706","DOIUrl":"10.1097/NAQ.0000000000000706","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>For more than 45 years, the Tri-Council for Nursing (Tri-Council), representing nursing regulation, education, and practice, has advanced common policy goals and addressed shared concerns of its members-the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, American Nurses Association, American Organization for Nursing Leadership, National Council of State Boards of Nursing, and National League for Nursing. The Tri-Council's tradition of influencing public policy and decision makers continues at a crucial time in health care. The Tri-Council produces a legislative agenda annually to advance federal policies throughout the year and continues to emphasize workforce issues. In response to crises resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, the Tri-Council convened a summit on December 3, 2020, to identify critical lessons and future opportunities for transforming nursing and health care. The Tri-Council committed to identify implications, opportunities, and actions for its member organizations, while engaging nurses, educators, policymakers, and health care experts in new ways to inspire focused action that delivers innovations in nursing practice, education, and regulation. The Tri-Council will continue to use its united voice to advance the nursing profession.</p>","PeriodicalId":35640,"journal":{"name":"Nursing Administration Quarterly","volume":" ","pages":"101-105"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12994906/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144718801","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kelly Martins, Brandee Fetherman, Lise Cooper, Maralyn Miner, Shannon Kostrowski
{"title":"Demonstrating Return on Investment for a Nurse-Led Discharge Lounge: A Strategy for Improving Hospital Throughput.","authors":"Kelly Martins, Brandee Fetherman, Lise Cooper, Maralyn Miner, Shannon Kostrowski","doi":"10.1097/NAQ.0000000000000717","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/NAQ.0000000000000717","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Discharge delays and emergency department (ED) overcrowding are persistent challenges that negatively affect hospital throughput and patient outcomes. Although discharge lounges (DC Lounges) offer a potential solution, there is limited peer-reviewed literature evaluating their financial return on investment (ROI).</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study examined the operational and fiscal impact of a nurse-led DC Lounge in a large academic medical center, with a focus on cost-savings-based ROI.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A quantitative, descriptive design was used to evaluate the first year of DC Lounge implementation at a 700+ bed academic medical center. Data collected included discharge timing, DC Lounge utilization, inpatient bed days saved, and ED hold hours. Financial analysis calculated ROI based solely on cost avoidance.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The DC Lounge reached its financial break-even point in November 2024, saving 88.9 inpatient bed days and achieving an ROI of 1.16. Utilization increased 400% over the first year, while average patient time in the DC Lounge decreased by 19%. Hospital discharges before 2 PM improved.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study is among the first to quantify ROI for a DC Lounge, demonstrating its operational and financial viability. Nurse-led coordination and interdisciplinary collaboration were critical to its success.</p>","PeriodicalId":35640,"journal":{"name":"Nursing Administration Quarterly","volume":"50 2","pages":"126-132"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147475204","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Kaiser Quantum Caring Leadership Model: Integrating Caring Science and Complexity Leadership.","authors":"Tim Porter-O'Grady, Jim D'Alfonso, Rayne Soriano","doi":"10.1097/NAQ.0000000000000753","DOIUrl":"10.1097/NAQ.0000000000000753","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The convergence of Jean Watson's Caring Science and the framework of quantum leadership creates a transformative model for nursing leadership and practice. While Caring Science provides the ontological, ethical, and relational grounding for nursing's covenant with humanity, quantum leadership introduces complexity principles that align organizational life with interdependence, nonlinearity, and emergence. Together, they create Quantum Caring Leadership-a seamless integration of caring-healing practice and human-centered leadership. This manuscript examines the convergence at 4 levels: systems, the profession, the individual practitioner, and the patient/community. A conceptual model of Quantum Caring Leadership is presented, offering direction for a new Quantum Caring Leadership Academy and a future where caring is enacted in both practice and leadership as a unified moral covenant.</p>","PeriodicalId":35640,"journal":{"name":"Nursing Administration Quarterly","volume":"50 2S Suppl 2","pages":"S47-S49"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12994892/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147515333","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Janet Sohal, Dan Gizzo, Trevor Murray, Rayne Soriano, Antonetta Yun
{"title":"Shaping the Future of Health Care: The Story of Kaiser Permanente's Evolving Scholars Academy.","authors":"Janet Sohal, Dan Gizzo, Trevor Murray, Rayne Soriano, Antonetta Yun","doi":"10.1097/NAQ.0000000000000754","DOIUrl":"10.1097/NAQ.0000000000000754","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This manuscript chronicles the 10-year evolution of the Kaiser Permanente Scholars Academy-an enterprise-wide investment in workforce development, academic progression, and human-centered leadership. Originally launched in 2015 as the Nurse Scholars Academy to support frontline nurses in advancing academic and clinical excellence, the initiative has since grown into 5 integrated academies: Nursing, Mental Health, Research and Innovation, Allied Health, and Caring Science. Each academy addresses pressing workforce needs while fostering lifelong learning, interdisciplinary capacity, and culturally responsive care. With equity and excellence as guiding principles, the Scholars Academy has forged strategic partnerships with academic institutions, community organizations, and internal stakeholders to align professional development with Kaiser Permanente's mission and Magnet standards. Programmatic outcomes include increased graduate-level advancement, leadership preparation, research engagement, and expanded access to historically underrepresented groups. A timeline of key milestones illustrates how the academies collectively build a compassionate, competent, and future-ready workforce. This article explores how a decade of intentional investment in people and purpose has transformed care delivery, nurtured innovation, and redefined the role of education in achieving health equity. The Scholars Academy is not only a pipeline-it is a paradigm shift in how health care systems can lead with vision, courage, and care.</p>","PeriodicalId":35640,"journal":{"name":"Nursing Administration Quarterly","volume":"50 2S Suppl 2","pages":"S10-S14"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12994903/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147515412","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amanda E Cornine, Christine Salvucci, Kenith Wilson, Ross Melgar-Petrain, Maureen E Wassef
{"title":"An Innovative Collaboration Between Nursing Faculty and Instructional Designers: Preparing for CNE ® cl Certification.","authors":"Amanda E Cornine, Christine Salvucci, Kenith Wilson, Ross Melgar-Petrain, Maureen E Wassef","doi":"10.1097/CIN.0000000000001368","DOIUrl":"10.1097/CIN.0000000000001368","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":35640,"journal":{"name":"Nursing Administration Quarterly","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145709639","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Transformation and Excellence in an RN-to-BSN Program: A Ten-Year Journey.","authors":"Richard MacIntyre, Mark D Beck","doi":"10.1097/NAQ.0000000000000748","DOIUrl":"10.1097/NAQ.0000000000000748","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>An academic practice partnership was formed to develop a new RN-to-BSN program with a Unitary Caring Science (UCS) framework. The target population consisted of registered nurses in a large integrated health system in northern California who had not enrolled in one of the numerous RN-to-BSN options available. The nurses worked in a strong union environment with high salaries and low turnover. The primary return on investment sought by the practice partner was transformational cultural change. A mindfulness-based stress reduction course, offered in the first term, served as an experiential introduction to UCS. The faculty prioritized the affective learning domain to nurture phronesis and chose a cohort model to develop communitas. New ontological competencies were developed through a value-added proposition with four pillars to help nurses discover their vision, find their voice, tell their stories, and own their practice. Students gave examples of how the program changed their personal and professional lives. Practice leaders reported transformative behaviors in graduates and transformative changes in the culture. The academic-practice partnership achieved the goals of both organizations.</p>","PeriodicalId":35640,"journal":{"name":"Nursing Administration Quarterly","volume":"50 2S Suppl 2","pages":"S15-S19"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12994911/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147515208","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sara Horton Deutsch, Nancy Taquino, Eileen Fry-Bowers, Jim D'Alfonso, Rayne Soriano
{"title":"Academic and Practice Partnerships: Dynamic Communities for Continuous Learning and Applied Growth.","authors":"Sara Horton Deutsch, Nancy Taquino, Eileen Fry-Bowers, Jim D'Alfonso, Rayne Soriano","doi":"10.1097/NAQ.0000000000000751","DOIUrl":"10.1097/NAQ.0000000000000751","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The rapid evolution of health care-driven by advances in technology, shifting workforce demographics, increasing patient complexity, and ongoing policy changes-requires adaptability, innovation, and the cultivation of robust academic-practice partnerships. While such collaborations inevitably involve risk, they flourish when rooted in shared values, authentic communication, transparency, and mutual trust. By aligning governance, resources, and outcomes, nursing academia and clinical practice can transcend organizational boundaries to create a collective culture where transformational leadership and learning communities thrive. The collaboration between the University of San Francisco (USF) and Kaiser Permanente (KP) exemplifies this model. Jesuit values of cura personalis (care for the whole person) and Magis (striving for excellence) harmonized with Watson's Theory of Human Caring to shape curriculum, bridge the theory-practice gap, and advance nursing excellence. The partnership offered mutual benefit: USF gained insights from KP's clinical and workforce expertise, while KP drew upon academic strengths in education design and evidence-informed practice. Guided by a formal charter defining scope, structure, and outcomes, the partnership established a sustainable infrastructure for advancing health through nursing leadership grounded in tradition, innovation, and Caring Science.</p>","PeriodicalId":35640,"journal":{"name":"Nursing Administration Quarterly","volume":"50 2S Suppl 2","pages":"S20-S24"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12994897/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147515359","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}