Ginger Chu, Kristy Connelly, Alex Mexon, Ben Briton, Julie Tait, Victoria Pitt, Kerry J Inder
{"title":"Australian nurses’ satisfaction and experiences of redeployment during COVID-19: A cross-sectional study","authors":"Ginger Chu, Kristy Connelly, Alex Mexon, Ben Briton, Julie Tait, Victoria Pitt, Kerry J Inder","doi":"10.37464/2023.403.1047","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37464/2023.403.1047","url":null,"abstract":"Objective: To evaluate nurses’ satisfaction and experiences of redeployment during COVID-19. Background: Redeployment to an unfamiliar environment can be challenging; however, it can also present an opportunity for staff to learn new skills. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to redeploy health professionals, particularly nurses, increased dramatically. Evaluating nurses’ satisfaction and experiences related to redeployment during the pandemic is essential for future surge planning. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey consisting of single-choice and open-ended questions was conducted on a purposive sample of nurses (n=106) working in an acute hospital in New South Wales, Australia, from July to August 2020. Nurses who were redeployed to wards different from their regular workplaces were invited to participate in the survey. Areas of redeployment include various medical and surgical wards, intensive care units and the emergency department. Nurses’ satisfaction was obtained through the survey question structured as a Likert scale ranging from very satisfied to very dissatisfied. Nurse experiences were captured through a single-choice question (positive or negative experience) and open-ended questions. The single-choice questions were analysed by summarising participant responses, and open-ended questions were analysed using an iterative thematic analysis approach. Results: A high proportion of nurses were either neutral (48.4%, n=45) or dissatisfied (44.1%, n=41) with redeployment, with only 7.5% (n=7) of nurses being satisfied. There was a mix of positive (43%, n=40) and negative (57%, n=53) redeployment experiences. Three main themes influence nurses’ redeployment experience: “staff friendly and welcoming”, “patient allocation”, and “support”. Conclusion: Redeployment of healthcare workers during a pandemic is inevitable. This study highlighted that despite close to half of the redeployed nurses reporting a positive redeployment experience, only a few were satisfied with redeployment. This indicated that more work is required to support nurses during redeployment to increase satisfaction. Future workforce redeployment needs to consider healthcare workers’ needs and must strive to improve satisfaction to build a sustainable and resilient health system. Implications for research, policy, and practice: This study highlighted that although redeployment is challenging, staff can have a positive redeployment experience when supported. Elements that are associated with positive redeployment experience were explored in this study, which can inform policy and prepare nurses for future surge demand. What is already known about the topic? Redeployment of nurses in the acute care sector during the COVID-19 pandemic is common. Both the COVID-19 pandemic and redeployment can be challenging and stressful experiences for nurses. There is a paucity of research examining the satisfaction and experiences of nurses working in the acute care sector during CO","PeriodicalId":55584,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing","volume":"37 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135132660","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Do contemporary patient assessment requirements align with expert nursing practice?","authors":"Paul Mcliesh, Philippa Rasmussen, Rick Wiechula","doi":"10.37464/2023.403.1004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37464/2023.403.1004","url":null,"abstract":"Objective: This paper discusses contemporary patient assessment requirements and how they articulate with expert nursing practice. Background: Contemporary patient assessment requirements are intended to standardise the conduct, collection and documentation of patient needs and risks. Current assessment requirements are designed to be applied uniformly for both expert and novice nurses’ alike to ensure consistency in the process and documentation of assessment. The requirements for patient assessment have grown in complexity over time but there is a paucity of evidence that considers how those requirements impact the work of expert nurses. Discussion: This discussion paper reflects on individual aspects of these issues such as how experts develop their practice, the elements of assessment requirements, how and why assessment requirements have changed over time. Expert nurses develop practice over time that is shaped by exposure to a wide range of clinical scenarios and learning experiences. Expert practice is partly defined by an ability to quickly identify key elements of a patient’s condition based on past experiences where the expert has learnt to recognise and predict patterns of care needs. The literature identifies a number of risks inherent with current assessment requirements, many of which are poorly recognised. Disproportionate focus on documentation compliance can reframe nurses’ practice away from assessing patient needs towards the process of assessment documentation instead. A lack of flexibility in assessment practice risks reducing the expert nurses’ ability to respond to the individual needs of a patient and tailor care uniquely designed for their needs. Repetition and duplication of data collection unintentionally embedded within the assessment process, risks impacting the efficiency of practice and serves to increase expert nurses’ frustration with the process. The complexity of assessment documentation was also seen to hinder the process of informing clinical judgement and may cloud the nurse’s ability to recognise risks not specifically included in the mandated assessment tools. Implications for research, policy and practice: This discussion highlights specific elements of expert practice and compares that to contemporary assessment requirements. Further research is needed to specifically measure the time impact of current assessment requirements on nurses. Feedback from expert nurses regarding the value of current requirements and what changes would positively impact their practice and satisfaction levels is needed. This would assist in refining assessment requirements to ensure that current requirements suit nurse’s practice, ensure the efficiency of expert nursing practice, maximise nursing satisfaction, and limit loss of nurses from the profession while maintaining safety of practice. What is known about the topic? The purpose and process of patient assessment has been thoroughly investigated over time. There is a signifi","PeriodicalId":55584,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing","volume":"8 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135132493","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lyndall Mollart, Danielle Noble, Adrian Mereles, Jenny Mallyon, Pauletta Irwin
{"title":"The impact of using an academic electronic medical record program on first-year nursing students’ confidence and skills in using E-documentation: a quasi-experimental study","authors":"Lyndall Mollart, Danielle Noble, Adrian Mereles, Jenny Mallyon, Pauletta Irwin","doi":"10.37464/2023.403.1078","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37464/2023.403.1078","url":null,"abstract":"Objective: To evaluate the impact of using an academic electronic medical record program on first-year nursing students’ confidence and skill in E-documentation after their hospital clinical placement. Background: Registered nurses are the largest user group of health information technology systems such as patient electronic medical records (eMR). As such, nurse undergraduate programs need to reflect contemporary practices and respond to emerging trends including digital technology, however integration of eMR learning has not occurred in many countries. To address this gap, a fit-for-purpose academic eMR simulation program was developed by nursing academics and a university Learning Design Department member. Study Design and Methods: A quasi-experimental study design, with self-administered pre-test, post-test surveys, was used with a convenience sample of all first-year nursing students at one regional university in NSW Australia in 2019 and 2021. Results: A total of 105 students completed the surveys (9.7% pre, and 7.4% post-test survey). Only 23% of respondents received training during hospital clinical placement on eMR and electronic observation charts. There was a significant increase in participant confidence and knowledge in documenting in electronic adult observational charts and notes after using the academic eMR program and attending clinical placement. Three themes emerged from the qualitative data: preparation for practice; more exposure increases confidence; and we can’t forget the patient. Conclusion: Students acknowledged the need for repeated practice using an academic eMR program in university learning environments to ensure they would be work-ready. The identified challenge was the communication barrier (computer on wheels) and the potential negative impact on person-centred care and therapeutic communication. Implications for research, policy and practice: Further research is required to determine whether repeated practice with electronic documentation is best placed within a curriculum to increase learner confidence. Simulations that incorporate workstations on wheels should be tested to determine best practice for therapeutic communication. What is already known about this topic? Registered nurses are the largest user group of health information technology systems. Nursing undergraduate program needs to reflect contemporary practices including digital technologies. Integration of eMR education in undergraduate nursing programs has not occurred in many countries. What this paper adds: Evaluation of a fit-for-purpose academic electronic medical record program integrated into an undergraduate nursing student’s curriculum. There was a significant increase in participant confidence and knowledge in documenting in electronic adult observational charts and notes after using the academic eMR program. Digital technology education tailored for students of different age groups may be required.","PeriodicalId":55584,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing","volume":"100 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135132494","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Corrigendum to ‘Understanding COPD Emergency Department presentations: using thematic analysis to explore the voices of patients, nurses, and doctors on the lived experience of managing COPD’ [Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, volume 40, issue 1 (2022), DOI 10.37464/2023.401.195]","authors":"","doi":"10.37464/2023.403.1280","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37464/2023.403.1280","url":null,"abstract":"Following publication of this article the authors notified the editorial team that an author who had facilitated data collection and contributed to an original version of the manuscript had unintentionally been omitted from the author list. The authors confirmed that this oversight occurred following a change in corresponding author and associated responsibilities and have endorsed the subsequent amendment to the author list.","PeriodicalId":55584,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing","volume":"46 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135132495","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Can personal psychological resources reduce burnout and turnover in Australian hospital nurses?","authors":"Sam Eley, Peter Hassmen","doi":"10.37464/2023.403.1129","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37464/2023.403.1129","url":null,"abstract":"Objective: To examine whether personal psychological resources safeguard hospital nurses against adverse workplace consequences, particularly job burnout and the desire to leave the profession. Background: Nursing research has extensively documented the adverse effects of job burnout and staff turnover. With the current nursing shortage, it is imperative to identify resources and strategies that can mitigate adverse workplace outcomes. However, the role of personal psychological resources, or psychological capital, in aiding nurses to perform effectively in their work environment remains relatively unexplored. Study design and methods: This study adopted a cross-sectional survey design. The survey assessed nurses’ experienced burnout (MBI-HSS), psychological capital (PCQ-24), and intentions to leave nursing. Hospital nurses (n= 258) from six states of Australia responded to an online anonymous survey between June and November 2022. Results: Respondents indicated a high degree of experienced burnout: 68.6% experienced high emotional exhaustion, 31.8% had high depersonalisation, and 31.8% had low personal accomplishment. Additionally, 38.8% had high intentions to leave the profession. Emotional exhaustion (p<.001, b=.56) and personal accomplishment (p=.006, b=-.15) were significant predictors of turnover intentions. Higher psychological capital was significantly associated with lower emotional exhaustion (p<.001, b=-.42), lower depersonalisation (p<.001, b=-.29), higher personal accomplishment (p<.001, b=.60), and lower turnover intentions (p<.001, b=.44). Discussion: Much of the nursing burnout and intent to leave literature focuses on negative rather than positive aspects of the work environment. Positive responses to workplace stimuli promote positive attitudes such as empowerment, job satisfaction, and organisational commitment that have a tangible impact on personal and occupational wellbeing. This may explain why nurses with stronger personal psychological resources experienced less burnout and voiced fewer intentions to leave the profession. Conclusion: The health and wellbeing of nurses should be a priority for healthcare organisations; the working conditions nurses face in Australian hospitals cause many to be negatively impacted by work stress. Implications for Research, Policy, and Practice: Nurses would benefit from initiatives to enhance their psychological resources. Targeted interventions to develop psychological capital should be examined in a nursing population. This can change policy, thereby benefitting the healthcare system. What is already known about the topic? Australia is currently facing a shortage of qualified nurses. Hospital nurses often experience job burnout and high levels of turnover due to the challenging nature of their work environment. Personal psychological resources have been linked to positive workplace outcomes, such as job satisfaction and organisational commitment, in various settings. What this paper adds:","PeriodicalId":55584,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing","volume":"8 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135132487","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dorothy W. Ndwiga, K. McBride, Ronda Thompson, David Simmons, F. MacMillan
{"title":"“We are competing with culture” the chasm between healthcare professionals and Australian Samoan women in the prevention and management of gestational diabetes mellitus","authors":"Dorothy W. Ndwiga, K. McBride, Ronda Thompson, David Simmons, F. MacMillan","doi":"10.37464/2023.402.591","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37464/2023.402.591","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55584,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2023-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47688093","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Enhancing palliative care at home: a generalist community nursing case study","authors":"Georgina Johnstone, Leanne Davey, Janeen Cato, Judy Lowthian","doi":"10.37464/2023.402.866","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37464/2023.402.866","url":null,"abstract":"What this paper adds: * This case study demonstrated that facilitating ongoing education opportunities that draw on the expertise of local palliative care champions or internal specialists can enhance care provision. * Nurse care managers believe the value of generalist services, particularly home care services, in the generalist-specialist palliative care partnership, needs to be understood and respected. * Tailored investment in home care to provide a general palliative approach would be beneficial given the unique challenges of this mobile workforce. Keywords: Palliative care;home care services;Education, Nursing;qualitative research;Nurse Practitioner BACKGROUND Palliative care focuses on improving the quality of life of people affected by life-threatening illnesses, including the prevention and relief of suffering through identification, assessment and treatment.1 This care extends to family members, and encompasses physical, psychological, social and spiritual support. Home nursing and care organisations are key providers of community-based palliative care, with staff often the linchpin, in supporting palliative clients, organising and providing care, coordinating the input of other professionals and of specialist equipment.5 Previous research has identified the difficulties faced by home care nurses in meeting their clients' palliative care needs, such as symptom management and communication, as well as requirements for further training to enhance their knowledge and confidence of caring for palliative clients.5-7 In this context, generalist palliative care is delivered by health and care professionals with broad clinical responsibilities who provide primary, ongoing care;and have established relationships with the person and their care community.2 This is distinct from specialist palliative care services which support complex needs through multidisciplinary teams with specialised palliative care training. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION Thematic analysis identified the following overarching themes: 1) targeted education increased staff knowledge and confidence, but more is needed;2) collaborative teamwork with effective communication and information sharing underpins a successful generalist-specialist partnership;3) the home care setting is unique and requires accessible systems and processes.","PeriodicalId":55584,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2023-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44786588","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Single registered midwives contributing care for general patients: a scoping study","authors":"A. Bull, Sara Bayes, S. Geraghty","doi":"10.37464/2023.402.725","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37464/2023.402.725","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Midwifery vacancies persist in small maternity units in Australian rural and private settings where midwives are expected to also care for general (non-maternity) patients when midwifery activity is low. Recruiting dual registered nurse/midwives over single registered midwives is preferred, as single registered midwives are seen as inflexible to assist with nursing work. Little is known about single registered midwives’ contribution to care of general patients in small maternity units. Objective: This scoping study aimed to consult single registered midwives and managers of single registered midwives to determine perspectives on single registered midwives’ contribution in small maternity units where the workload encompasses both midwifery and care of general patients, to inform further research. study design and methods: This study used a qualitative description design. Two online focus groups were held, one containing three single registered midwives, the other three managers of single registered midwives. Similar questions were posed to each group about single registered midwives’ contribution to care in small maternity units. Data analysis was conducted collaboratively through coding and thematic categorisation processes. results: Four major categories were found. Single registered midwives’ scope of practice concerning general patients is undefined; single registered midwives possess transferrable clinical skills applicable to general patients; practical, professional, and emotional barriers exist for single-registered midwives in small maternity units; and future research recommendations include scope of practice and workplace experiences. Discussion: Persistent midwifery vacancies are implicated in the closure of small maternity units to the detriment of childbearing families. Understanding the contribution of single registered midwives in small maternity units will inform future research and midwifery recruitment strategies to improve access to services. conclusion: The experiences of single registered midwives working in small maternity units warrants further investigation. This scoping study contributes to the literature about single registered midwives’ experiences in small maternity units and suggests considerations for","PeriodicalId":55584,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2023-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41954923","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Reflective Practice Groups for nurses: perceptions and preferences, considerations, and cautions","authors":"Phoebe Rattray, Christopher Dawber, P. Millear","doi":"10.37464/2023.402.893","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37464/2023.402.893","url":null,"abstract":"Objective: Study 5, from a series of six, examines the influence of attendance rates and personal attendance preferences on the effectiveness of Reflective Practice Groups (RPGs). It also explores participant perceptions regarding benefits and barriers of RPG. This article presents the current study in context of associated research and attempts to synthesise the collective findings. Background: Nursing can be associated with burnout, secondary traumatic stress (STS) and compassion fatigue. RPGs might help mitigate these negative impacts. study Design/Methods : This cross-sectional study surveyed a cohort of 190 nurses (88% female) using validated scales to assess professional quality of life (ProQOL), job satisfaction (JS) and psychological distress, alongside perceived effectiveness of RPG, attendance rates and preferences. Open-ended questions explored perceived barriers and benefits to attendance. results: Nurses who attended less RPGs reported higher STS. Those who preferred to go more frequently also reported higher STS however level of attendance and personal preference did not affect each other. Nurses attending ‘as often as groups are run’ also rated the effectiveness of RPG more highly. Other outcome measures were not significant for either variable. Perceived benefits of RPG included sharing, support, cohesiveness, skills development and facilitatory alliance. Barriers included workloads, rostering, time constraints and discomfort in a group setting. Discussion: The majority of nurses reported higher STS, preferred to attend RPGs more frequently, and rated them as more effective. Nurses who attended more RPGs reported significantly lower STS, indicating a restorative benefit. The lack of significance for Compassion Satisfaction (CS) ratings contrasted with findings of earlier studies. Logistical issues and discomfort in groups were barriers to RPG attendance. Perceived benefits related to personal and workgroup development. Alongside findings from the overarching project, results indicate a positive correlation between effective RPGs, personal and job resources, and aspects of ProQOL.","PeriodicalId":55584,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2023-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43595005","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}