Gillian Strudwick

Strategies Through Clinical Simulation to Support Nursing Students and Their Learning of Barcode Medication Administration (BCMA) and Electronic Medication Administration Record (eMAR) Technologies

The education of nursing students to use barcode medication administration (BCMA) and electronic medication administration record (eMAR) technologies has become an important subject for nursing educators. With the increased use of these forms of clinical technology within practice settings, generating best practices and directions for educators to embed and evaluate these forms of technology in educational settings is needed. This chapter will explore a range of topics related to BCMA/eMAR technology within nursing education, including: (1) the importance of the topic to nursing education; (2) implementation of a BCMA/eMAR platform for simulation; (3) best practices related to BCMA/eMAR education; and (4) observational, workflow analysis methods as a quality assurance tool to assist with BCMA/eMAR development and evaluation. With the use of BCMA/eMAR likely to increase in the coming years, nursing educators need to ensure students are educated with the skills, competencies, and knowledge to use these forms of medication administration technology safely and effectively.

Acute care nurses’ perceptions of electronic health record use: A mixed method study

The overall aim of this study is to examine nurses’ perceptions of electronic health record use in an acute care hospital setting.

Improving inpatient mental health medication safety through the process of obtaining HIMSS Stage 7: a case report

Abstract Although electronic health record systems have been implemented in many health settings globally, how organizations can best implement these systems to improve medication safety in mental health contexts is not well documented in the literature. The purpose of this case report is to describe how a mental health hospital in Toronto, Canada, leveraged the process of obtaining Healthcare Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Stage 7 on the Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model to improve clinical care specific to medication safety in its inpatient settings. Examples of how the organization met several of these HIMSS criteria are described as they relate to utilizing data from the system to support clinician practice and/or decision-making for medication safety.

Modification and Initial Psychometric Evaluation of the Physical Health Attitude Scale for Use in the Canadian Mental Health and Addictions Context

Abstract Introduction: The Physical Health Attitude Scale (PHASe) tool was developed to better understand mental health nurses’ attitudes towards their involvement and confidence in physical health care. This tool has been used in the United Kingdom and Australia; however, it has not been used in Canada. Aim: This study aims to modify and provide an initial psychometric evaluation of the PHASe tool for use in a Canadian mental health and addictions context. Methods: In Phase 1, clinical experts (n = 8) were consulted to provide feedback on the content and face validity of the PHASe tool. In Phase 2, the PHASe tool was piloted with nurses at a large urban mental health and addiction organization in Ontario, Canada (n = 77). Results: In Phase 1, 4 items were added and 5 items were removed from the tool based on feedback provided by experts. In Phase 2, 12 poorly correlated items were removed. A two-factor solution was identified, with subscales “confidence” and “barriers and attitudes”. Discussion: Initial psychometric evaluation suggests that a revised 15-item version of the PHASe tool is valid and reliable in a Canadian mental health and addictions context; however, more testing is recommended in larger, more diverse samples.

Engaging patients and family members in the evaluation of a mental health patient portal: protocol for a mixed-methods study

Introduction Twenty per cent of Canadians will experience a mental illness in any year. Mental health patient portals have been developed to support these individuals in taking more control over their own mental health and care. This may be done through electronic access to their health records and other supportive functions like completion of online self-assessments. To date, there has been limited research into the value that these portals may provide within mental health contexts. This study will identify what value mental health patient portals may offer to patients and their family members. Methods and analysis This study will use a mixed-methods design. Patients will complete a survey consisting of validated instruments at the time of enrolment in the portal, and at 3 and 6 months of portal use. Patient and family member focus groups will be conducted. Portal usage data will be collected to identify if there are differences in outcomes based on usage. The study will be done at Canada’s largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital, and will be conducted using a patient and family-oriented research approach, engaging these important representatives in all stages of the research process. The primary data analysis for the survey portion of the study will be done using linear mixed-effect models, assessing the differences between patients with different portal usage levels. A thematic analysis will be conducted of the focus group transcripts. Ethics and dissemination Approval from the study site’s Research Ethics Board has been obtained. The dissemination of findings of this study will be done through presentations at conferences, as well as a formal peer-reviewed journal article. Additionally, the research team will work with a group of patients and family members to identify opportunities to complete knowledge translation and dissemination activities in non-traditional venues.

Nursing Leadership: Making a Difference in Mental Health

Five nurse leaders in mental health offer their perspectives on key issues facing the sector and reflect on how nurses can make a difference in the following critical areas: nursing practice, transitions of care, innovative technologies, challenging stigma and creating patient partnerships.

Informatics competencies for nurse leaders: protocol for a scoping review

Introduction Globally, health information technologies are now being used by nurses in a variety of settings. However, nurse leaders often do not have the necessary strategic and tactical informatics competencies to adequately ensure their effective adoption and use. Although informatics competencies and competency frameworks have been identified and developed, to date there has not been review or consolidation of the work completed in this area. In order to address this gap, a scoping review is being conducted. The objectives of this scoping review are to: (1) identify informatics competencies of relevance to nurse leaders, (2) identify frameworks or theories that have been used to develop informatics competencies for nurse leaders, (3) identify instruments used to assess the informatics competencies of nurse leaders and (4) examine the psychometric properties of identified instruments. Methods Using the Arksey and O’Malley five-step framework, a literature review will be conducted using a scoping review methodology. The search will encompass academic and grey literature and include two primary databases and five secondary databases. Identified studies and documents will be independently screened for eligibility by two reviewers. Data from the studies and documents will be extracted and compiled into a chart. Qualitative data will be subject to a thematic analysis and descriptive statistics applied to the quantitative data. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval was not required for this study. Results will be used to inform a future study designed to validate an instrument used to evaluate informatics competencies for nurse leaders within a Canadian context.

Exploring the role of the nurse manager in supporting point-of-care nurses’ adoption of electronic health records: protocol for a qualitative research study

Introduction An increasing number of electronic health record (EHR) systems have been implemented in clinical practice environments where nurses work. Findings from previous studies have found that a number of intended benefits of the technology have not yet been realised to date, partially due to poor system adoption among health professionals such as nurses. Previous studies have suggested that nurse managers can support the effective adoption and use of the technology by nurses. However, no known studies have identified what role nurse managers have in supporting technology adoption, nor the specific strategies that managers can employ to support their staff. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to better understand the role of the nurse manager in point-of-care nurses’ use of EHRs, and to identify strategies that may be effective in supporting clinical adoption. Methods and analysis This study will use a qualitative descriptive design. Interviews with both nurse managers and point-of-care nursing staff will be conducted in a Canadian mental health and addiction healthcare organisation where an EHR has been implemented. A semistructured interview guide will be used, and interviews will be audio recorded. Transcripts will be analysed using a directed content analysis technique. Strategies to ensure the trustworthiness of the data analysis procedure and findings will be employed. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval for this study has been obtained. Dissemination strategies may include a paper submission to a peer-reviewed journal, a conference submission and meetings to share findings with the study site leadership team. Findings from this research will be used to inform a future study which aims to assess levels of competencies and perform a psychometric analysis of the Nursing Informatics Competency Assessment for the Nurse Leader instrument in a Canadian context.