{"title":"NHS ward accreditation programmes and their effects on driving improvements in patient care standards and safety: a literature review.","authors":"Laura Parnham","doi":"10.7748/nm.2025.e2166","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7748/nm.2025.e2166","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ward accreditation programmes provide ward-to-board assurances of quality and safety, and have been implemented in NHS settings for a number of years. Locally implemented ward accreditation programmes aim to standardise care delivery, support clinical governance and foster continuous quality improvement, but the evidence on whether such programmes lead to improvements in patient care and safety is yet to be established. This article reports the findings of a literature review that explored whether ward accreditation programmes drive improvements in standards of patient care and safety in NHS settings. The findings suggest that ward accreditation programmes are drivers for identifying and communicating measurable improvements in patient care and safety outcomes, and can support identification of areas requiring improvement and highlight areas of excellence. However, it is vital that care standards and evaluation methods are continually reviewed, improved and updated to reflect current policy, recommendations and evidence. Further research is required to assess the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of NHS ward accreditation programmes and to inform future quality and safety initiatives.</p>","PeriodicalId":74325,"journal":{"name":"Nursing management (Harrow, London, England : 1994)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144692677","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":"Reducing disparities in career progression for nurses and midwives of the global majority.","authors":"Augusta Marie Stafford-Umughele","doi":"10.7748/nm.2025.e2160","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7748/nm.2025.e2160","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>It has been identified that there is inequity in career progression and professional development for nurses and midwives of the global majority (those from black, Asian, mixed and other ethnic groups) compared with their white counterparts. This disparity is a form of racism which must be addressed to improve staff experiences, patient care quality and health outcomes. In a healthcare organisation in Wales, a project on career progression for nurses of the global majority highlighted practices that enabled racial inequities within the organisation. To further explore and address this issue, the organisation formed a working group to develop an action plan. This article describes steps taken and provides insights into the challenges of career progression for nurses and midwives of the global majority, outlining ways to work towards fairer, more equitable healthcare organisations.</p>","PeriodicalId":74325,"journal":{"name":"Nursing management (Harrow, London, England : 1994)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144644321","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}
Aniela Dela Cruz, Kome Odoko, Shannon Cummings, Christine Ala, Arfan Afzal
{"title":"Equity, diversity and inclusion: exploring Canadian nurses' perceptions.","authors":"Aniela Dela Cruz, Kome Odoko, Shannon Cummings, Christine Ala, Arfan Afzal","doi":"10.7748/nm.2025.e2159","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7748/nm.2025.e2159","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Canadian nurses have a long history of promoting social justice through their work, yet patients continue to experience discrimination in Canadian healthcare services. Advancing nurses' commitment to work towards equitable, diverse and inclusive nursing care requires an understanding of their perceptions and experiences in relation to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI).</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>The overall aim of the study was to enhance understanding of the perceptions and experiences of nurses in Alberta, Canada, in relation to EDI.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This article reports the quantitative results. A cross-sectional quantitative design was used. An anonymous online survey was developed incorporating a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Perceived Discrimination Scale, the Workplace Prejudice/Discrimination Inventory Scale and the Perceived Ethnic Discrimination Questionnaire - Community Version. A total of 104 nurses completed the survey.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Respondents who belonged to any racialised group were more likely to perceive discrimination than those who did not belong to any racialised group. Age, gender and number of years of nursing practice had no relationship with perceived discrimination, indicating that nurses from racialised groups may continue to experience discrimination throughout their careers.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study provides evidence that some groups of nurses in Canada experience racism and discrimination in the workplace. This has implications for their mental health and well-being and for their career progression. Nurse leaders should consider how to ensure equitable access to career development opportunities for nurses who are underrepresented in leadership. In addition, processes should be implemented in healthcare organisations that provide support to nurses from racialised groups throughout their careers.</p>","PeriodicalId":74325,"journal":{"name":"Nursing management (Harrow, London, England : 1994)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144602417","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}
Jamal Qaddumi, Mariam Amer Al-Tell, Mohammed ALBashtawy, Abdullah Alkhawaldeh, Salam Bani Hani
{"title":"Effects of sleep quality and fatigue on nursing performance in intensive care settings.","authors":"Jamal Qaddumi, Mariam Amer Al-Tell, Mohammed ALBashtawy, Abdullah Alkhawaldeh, Salam Bani Hani","doi":"10.7748/nm.2025.e2162","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7748/nm.2025.e2162","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Nursing is a profession that requires high levels of attention, sound judgment and quick responses, particularly in emergency settings. Fatigue causes reduced attention, lower physical capacity, irritability, forgetfulness and communication difficulties and therefore negatively affects nursing performance.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To investigate how sleep quality and fatigue affect the performance of nurses working in intensive care units (ICUs) and critical cardiac units (CCUs) at government hospitals in the West Bank, Palestine.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A descriptive cross-sectional survey study design was used. A total of 121 nurses employed in four hospitals in the West Bank responded to a self-administered questionnaire, which involved completing the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and Nursing Performance Instrument (NPI).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results showed that 79% of participants had poor sleep quality and 50% of participants experienced fatigue. Poor sleep quality and fatigue negatively affected nursing performance. Fatigue affected mental performance more than physical performance.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Given the risks involved for nurses and patients when nurses working in intensive care settings experience poor sleep quality and fatigue, healthcare organisations need to take measures to address these issues.</p>","PeriodicalId":74325,"journal":{"name":"Nursing management (Harrow, London, England : 1994)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144509870","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":"Organisational support and strategies to address nurse burnout and enhance resilience.","authors":"Carlito Adan","doi":"10.7748/nm.2024.e2142","DOIUrl":"10.7748/nm.2024.e2142","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The vital role of nurses in the delivery of safe and effective patient care is widely recognised. However, due to the significant stress associated with the role and its responsibilities, including ongoing challenges in healthcare organisations, there are high burnout rates among nurses. Burnout is defined as unmanaged workplace stress that causes physical, mental and emotional fatigue, and it has been recognised as an occupational phenomenon. It is essential to identify the early warning signs of nurse burnout so that it can be addressed in a timely manner. Resilience has an important role in supporting nurses to cope with and adapt to adverse experiences, thereby supporting them to improve their health and well-being and subsequently to provide high-quality patient care. This article outlines the support and strategies that nurse managers and organisational leaders can put in place to manage burnout and develop resilience among nurses.</p>","PeriodicalId":74325,"journal":{"name":"Nursing management (Harrow, London, England : 1994)","volume":" ","pages":"31-36"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142740478","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}
Stuart James Tuckwood, Peter Griffiths, Andrea Prince
{"title":"Hospital staff's experiences of unsafe staffing levels and employers' responses to their concerns: a survey.","authors":"Stuart James Tuckwood, Peter Griffiths, Andrea Prince","doi":"10.7748/nm.2024.e2143","DOIUrl":"10.7748/nm.2024.e2143","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>There is a wealth of evidence that demonstrates a link between inadequate nurse staffing levels and suboptimal patient care. Over the last decade, policies and legislation on safe nurse staffing levels have been developed for specific settings and countries in the UK, all of which emphasise employers' responsibility in responding to staff's concerns about unsafe staffing. However, the effectiveness of mechanisms for monitoring and responding to such concerns is unclear. This article provides an overview of some of the results of a union-led pilot survey of acute hospital staff that aimed to explore the prevalence of unsafe staffing levels and employers' responses to concerns raised by staff about staffing levels. Overall, the results demonstrate that hospital staff working in clinical roles often regarded staffing levels as unsafe and that the delivery of nursing interventions was often disrupted on shifts reported as unsafe. In addition, most staff who had raised concerns about staffing levels perceived their employer's response as unsatisfactory. Employers appeared to rely on staff redeployment or temporary staff to address staffing shortfalls, but these are not always effective or viable options. Employers need to explore alternative means of alleviating staffing shortfalls and of supporting their staff.</p>","PeriodicalId":74325,"journal":{"name":"Nursing management (Harrow, London, England : 1994)","volume":" ","pages":"19-25"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142803617","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":"How to promote cultural competence in nursing practice.","authors":"Guy Dominic Collins, Jane Mary Hager","doi":"10.7748/nm.2025.e2164","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7748/nm.2025.e2164","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Rationale and key points: </strong>Cultural competence, which encompasses cultural awareness, cultural skills, cultural desire, cultural encounters and self-efficacy, is essential for delivering effective, equitable, person-centred care and improving health outcomes in a diverse population. This 'How to' article details ways in which nurses can promote cultural competence in nursing practice, by taking practical steps to ensure they and the organisations they work for are providing accessible and culturally relevant care and services that meet the needs of local populations. • Nurses should critically reflect on their cultural background and consider how it may influence their practice and interactions with patients from backgrounds different to their own. • Reviewing, evaluating and updating local resources related to cultural competence can help to ensure these are current and fit for purpose. • Interacting with diverse cultural groups, for example through local community events, can enhance cultural awareness and connection between healthcare providers and patients from diverse backgrounds. • Requesting and sharing constructive feedback on interactions with and care approaches to patients from diverse cultural backgrounds can help nurses to identify cultural competence development needs. REFLECTIVE ACTIVITY: 'How to' articles can help to update your practice and ensure it remains evidence based. Apply this article to your practice. Reflect on and write a short account of: • How this article might improve your practice when delivering care to individuals from cultural groups different from your own. • How you could use this information to educate nursing students or enable colleagues to practise and promote cultural competence.</p>","PeriodicalId":74325,"journal":{"name":"Nursing management (Harrow, London, England : 1994)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144163769","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":"Enhancing induction and support for nurses transitioning to academic roles in higher education: a service evaluation.","authors":"Sarah Butler","doi":"10.7748/nm.2025.e2151","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7748/nm.2025.e2151","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Moving from a career in clinical nursing to academia is a major shift that comes with various challenges. Many new lecturers are unprepared for the demands of teaching, research and curriculum development, which significantly differ from the fast-paced, patient-focused nature of clinical practice. This article details a service evaluation that was undertaken to explore the initial experiences of new nurse lecturers. Three respondents who had recently transitioned from clinical nursing practice to academia completed a qualitative questionnaire on their experiences. The service evaluation identified issues such as ineffective induction programmes, a lack of training in teaching skills and limited access to mentorship. Respondents also described challenges in adjusting to academic culture, managing their workload and understanding institutional policies, which often left them feeling overwhelmed and unsupported. The findings suggest a need for tailored induction programmes for nurses transitioning to academia, incorporating targeted training in pedagogy, structured mentorship and continuing professional development.</p>","PeriodicalId":74325,"journal":{"name":"Nursing management (Harrow, London, England : 1994)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143999447","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}
Nannette Gallagher-Ball, Zoë Packman, Mindy Dawes, Tim William Roy Briggs, William Keith Gray
{"title":"Exploring the roles of nursing associates and theatre assistant practitioners in operating departments.","authors":"Nannette Gallagher-Ball, Zoë Packman, Mindy Dawes, Tim William Roy Briggs, William Keith Gray","doi":"10.7748/nm.2025.e2153","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7748/nm.2025.e2153","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Registered nursing associates have been deployed in operating departments in England since 2019, with theatre assistant practitioners (TAPs) being implemented in the early 2000s. However, there is little clarity over the roles and responsibilities of these two positions in theatres. This article details a service evaluation that was undertaken to explore the current roles and responsibilities of nursing associates and TAPs and to identify how they can be best employed to support effective care delivery. The authors collected data from surveys and interviews with a range of staff in operating departments in England, then used descriptive analysis to examine the data. The findings showed that there is significant variation in the roles and responsibilities of nursing associates and TAPs and there is a need for clear guidance to support their future deployment.</p>","PeriodicalId":74325,"journal":{"name":"Nursing management (Harrow, London, England : 1994)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144009026","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}
Christopher O'Sullivan, Jordan Dolan, Amy Congrave, William Mullaney
{"title":"Nursing associate role: challenges and solutions in establishing it as a profession in its own right.","authors":"Christopher O'Sullivan, Jordan Dolan, Amy Congrave, William Mullaney","doi":"10.7748/nm.2025.e2149","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7748/nm.2025.e2149","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The nursing associate (NA) role, introduced in England in 2019, was initially designed to bridge the gap between healthcare assistants and nurses and widen access to a career in healthcare while helping to address workforce shortages. The literature suggests that there has been a shift in perceptions, with many now viewing the NA role as an alternative route to becoming a nurse rather than as a profession in its own right. However, if a substantial proportion of NAs choose to become nurses, the original purposes of the role can no longer be achieved. This article discusses the evolving role of NAs, highlighting research findings on aspirations, professional identity, recognition, integration and possible exploitation. The authors stress the importance of clarifying role boundaries, integrating and supporting NAs in the healthcare team, and providing them with opportunities to develop professionally within their role so that progression to registered nurse status is not their only career perspective.</p>","PeriodicalId":74325,"journal":{"name":"Nursing management (Harrow, London, England : 1994)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143994116","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}