Gina L. Schaar

Showcasing Differences Between Quality Improvement, Evidence-Based Practice, and Research

The literature confirms that much confusion exists regarding the terms quality improvement (QI), evidence-based practice (EBP), and research. A multifaceted approach was used to provide clarity regarding these three equally important concepts. First, the authors present a synthesis of the literature that discusses differences between QI, EBP, and research. Second, the authors introduce a newly created comparative table that synthesizes current literature and showcases differences between QI, EBP, and research. Finally, the authors highlight uses of the comparative table within multiple settings.

Nursing sabbatical in the acute care setting: what is the evidence?

PURPOSE To review and examine the literature supporting a professional sabbatical, a potentially viable and innovative change strategy that could renew, revitalize, and retain nursing staff practicing in the acute care setting. METHOD A literature search was completed using multiple search engines to procure articles that could answer the question: What is the evidence related to professional sabbaticals in nursing? FINDINGS The search yielded 19 articles: one historical document, eight scholarly business articles, and 10 nursing publications. The literature review revealed most sources described sabbaticals using anecdotal data and 14 of the 19 articles were labeled as expert opinion or consensus. CONCLUSION Borrowing from the successes in academia and other non-nursing professions, a human capital investment opportunity exists to design and test nursing sabbaticals. The authors identified a nursing sabbatical as a viable option, which can enhance nursing retention and revitalization.PURPOSE:  To review and examine the literature supporting a professional sabbatical, a potentially viable and innovative change strategy that could renew, revitalize, and retain nursing staff practicing in the acute care setting. METHOD:  A literature search was completed using multiple search engines to procure articles that could answer the question: What is the evidence related to professional sabbaticals in nursing? FINDINGS:  The search yielded 19 articles: one historical document, eight scholarly business articles, and 10 nursing publications. The literature review revealed most sources described sabbaticals using anecdotal data and 14 of the 19 articles were labeled as expert opinion or consensus. CONCLUSION:  Borrowing from the successes in academia and other non-nursing professions, a human capital investment opportunity exists to design and test nursing sabbaticals. The authors identified a nursing sabbatical as a viable option, which can enhance nursing retention and revitalization.

A Nurse‐led Initiative to Improve Obstetricians’ Screening for Postpartum Depression

Although up to 20 percent of women experience postpartum depression, screening is not standard practice. In a metropolitan area where only 1 of 30 obstetricians and two primary care clinics reported routine screening for postpartum depression, a nurse-led initiative to implement routine screening using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was carried out. Twenty-two obstetricians (76 percent) agreed to consistently implement screening for 3 months. Of the 21 participating obstetricians, 71.4 percent indicated that postpartum depression screening would become their standard care. This article describes implementation strategies and lessons learned.

Nursing sabbatical in the acute care hospital setting: a cost-benefit analysis.

Practice-based acute care nurses experience a high incidence of burnout and dissatisfaction impacting retention and innovation and ultimately burdening the financial infrastructure of a hospital. Business, industry, and academia have successfully implemented professional sabbaticals to retain and revitalize valuable employees; however, the use is infrequent among acute care hospitals. This article expands upon the synthesis of evidence supporting nursing sabbaticals and suggests this option as a fiscally sound approach for nurses practicing in the acute care hospital setting. A cost-benefit analysis and human capital management strategies supporting nursing sabbaticals are identified.

Evaluating senior baccalaureate nursing students' documentation accuracy through an interprofessional activity.

Today’s health care system is increasingly complex and involves synergybetweenmanyhealthcareprofessionals from varying disciplines. The electronic health record (EHR) allows health care providers to share information and work collaboratively to document and exchange information across the continuum of care. The EHR not only has the potential to improve the overall quality of health care delivery by making patients’ health and medical information readily accessible, but is also pivotal in leveraging improved quality of patient care, care coordination, and fostering more accurate diagnosis and health outcomes. Studies show the EHR facilitates and adds value to interprofessional communication. However, to achieve the desired communication goals, the end users (providers) must interact effectively with the EHR to ensure documentation accuracy. Complete, concise, and accurate EHR documentation not only helps ensure patient care quality, but it also lessens the burden of legal issues stemming from incomplete medical records. Failure to meet documentation standards, however, can undermine patient safety and create EHR inconsistencies that may be scrutinized in legal proceedings where the standard of care is being questioned. Despite the acknowledged benefits of accurate EHRdocumentation, studies describing undergraduate nursing students’ EHR documentation accuracy are absent. Our task as educators is to ensure our students are equipped with the skill set needed to accurately document in the patient’s medical record. This article reports senior-level nursing students’ real-time documentation accuracy as recorded in an academic EHR during a high-fidelity (HF) obstetrical simulation. This study was designed to be an interprofessional educational (IPE) activity with senior undergraduate nursing and health administration (HA) students.

A Balanced Scorecard With Strategy Map: Measuring the Value of a Nursing Sabbatical.

Seasoned nurses frequently resign from their positions due to burnout. An innovative idea that could support nurse retention is nurse sabbaticals. Balanced scorecards with strategy maps can display financial benefit, positive customer experience, and operational and human capital development required to initiate and sustain a professional nurse sabbatical. A balanced scorecard with strategy map is an effective tool that demonstrates connection between the organizational mission and the outcomes of a nurse sabbatical program.

Impact of an Educational Text Message Intervention on Adolescents’ Knowledge and High-Risk Behaviors

ABSTRACT Health care providers need to develop improved methods of educating adolescents. This study was developed to evaluate adolescents’ responses to and satisfaction with an educational text message intervention to promote healthy behaviors, reduce the incidence of unhealthy behaviors, and prevent high-risk behaviors. Adolescent participants received weekly text messages regarding high-risk sexual behaviors, healthy dietary habits, exercise, drug, or alcohol use, and social issues. Results indicate adolescents learned something new, made a behavioral change, and overall liked the delivery of educational information via text message. This indicates long-term continuation of a text message intervention is a viable means to deliver adolescent health information, thereby improving an adolescent’s current and future health status.