Joan Burtner

Use of outsourced nurses in long-term acute care hospitals: outcomes and leadership preferences.

When staffing effectiveness is not maintained over time, the likelihood of negative outcomes increases. This challenge is particularly problematic in long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs) where use of outsourced temporary nurses is common when providing safe, sufficient care to medically complex patients who require longer hospital stays than normally would occur. To assess this issue, the authors discuss the outcomes of their survey of LTACH chief nursing officers that demonstrated LTACH quality indicators and overall patient satisfaction were within nationally accepted benchmarks even with higher levels of outsourced nurses used in this post-acute care setting.

Effects of Outsourced Nursing on Quality Outcomes in Long Term Acute Care Hospitals

Use of outsourced nurses is often a stop gap measure for unplanned vacancies in smaller healthcare facilities such as long-term acute-care hospitals (LTACHs). However, the relationship of utilization levels (low, medium, or high percentages) of nonemployees covering staff schedules often is perceived to have negative relationships with quality outcomes. To assess this issue, the authors discuss the outcomes of their national study of LTACH hospitals that indicated no relationship existed between variations in percentage of staffing by contracted nurses and selected outcomes in this post-acute-care setting.

Formative assessment of a computer-aided analysis center: plan development and preliminary results

Mercer University School of Engineering received a grant to establish a computer-aided analysis center to enhance the undergraduate experience. Through learning modules selectively embedded into engineering courses, students are introduced to advanced computational techniques and analysis skills while they are learning engineering fundamentals. Establishing a routine use of the center and assessing its success and impact constitutes a three-year project beginning fall 2003. There are several critical objectives associated with this project including: a) the improvement of pedagogy and student learning, b) the enhancement of engineering analysis skills and abilities, c) the quantification of faculty workload, and d) the motivation of student efforts. Assessment plans consist of a project-level and learning module-level investigation. This paper discusses the project-level assessment plan, assessment instruments, and the preliminary results of one-semester of implementation. The assessment instruments of the current phase include student and faculty surveys, and center-usage monitoring.

Introducing fundamental technical concepts in a freshman design course

Freshman design courses are typically hampered by the fact that freshmen, even in their second semester, have had very little in the way of engineering course work. In the past, this situation has made it impractical for the instructors teaching Introduction to Engineering Design to require students to perform any meaningful calculations associated with their designs. In the Spring Semester of 2002, the course content was modified to include the introduction of fundamental technical concepts. The intent of these seminars was to provide students with engineering tools and quantitative methods for analyzing their designs prior to construction. This paper presents detailed information on the specification of one of the design projects, the design kit contents for this project, and the learning objectives from the technical seminars. Finally, a brief discussion of the impact of the technical seminars on the course is provided.

Time–Motion Analysis of Nurses Utilizing Insulin Pen Devices Compared to Vial and Syringe in an Inpatient Setting:

Objective: To compare the time taken and steps completed by nurses in the process of insulin preparation and administration using the pen device compared to the vial and syringe method. Methods: Observational and exploratory study utilizing a time–motion analysis of nurses’ administration of insulin using the pen versus vial and syringe delivery methods. Nurses were observed, video-recorded, and timed during insulin preparation and administration using each delivery method. The steps performed by nurses were observed against recommended processes for preparing and administering insulin, and the percentage of nurses completing each step was noted. Results: A total of 137 (94%) nurses participated. Nurses took less time preparing and administering insulin with the pen device compared with the vial and syringe method (79 ± 18 seconds vs 88 ± 20 seconds, respectively, P < .001). The overall average completion rate of steps with the pen device was 90% ± 7% compared to 88% ± 7% with the vial and syringe method. Conclusion: The time taken by nurses to prepare and administer insulin was lower with the pen device compared with vial and syringe. Furthermore, areas were identified for potential nursing education to enhance safe and appropriate use of insulin with both delivery methods.

Evaluating Both Usability and Desirability in the Evaluation of Cell Phones: Towards an Integrated Model

The goal of human-centered product design is to create products that are useful, usable, and desirable. For many years, human factors has been about research, modeling, and evaluating the functional usefulness and usability of products and systems. In recent years, however, the role of emotion in product design has become a ‘hot topic’ for human factors professionals, and a variety of methods have been developed for identifying emotional needs and the emotional response people have to products. In this paper, a preliminary study aimed at developing an integrated understanding of the functional and emotional aspects of user experience with cell phones is discussed. A variety of techniques were employed and the combined data analyzed to develop a holistic picture of the user experience. We anticipate that the results of the study will serve as ‘proof of concept’ for future development work.

Work in progress-using user experience research to develop needs assessment skills of undergraduates

In this paper, a case study of using faculty research as an educational tool for undergraduate students is described. In this case, a preliminary study aimed at developing an integrated understanding of the functional and emotional aspects of user experience with products was conducted. In addition to the primary objectives associated with this aim, the study serves as a educational tool for undergraduate students in industrial engineering and industrial management. The primary objectives of the study are to explore and use a variety of methodologies for developing an integrated understanding of user experience. Undergraduate students in three separate courses participated in the research by: 1) serving as study participants; 2) observing study sessions; and finally, 3) evaluating results. The researchers used the experience to help students improve data analysis skills and to use the results of human factors studies to identify customer needs. Based on the success of this initial endeavor, a variety of follow-up activities are planned.