Investing in Our Nurses

MAY 2017 | FUTUREOFHEALTHCARENEWS.COM

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Investing in Our Nurses

LEARN

about the nursing shortage plus the diverse opportunities for a career in the field.

BROWSE

more stories online, including one nurse’s touching tribute to her colleagues.

It’s time to focus on the personal health and well-being of our nation’s caregivers.

To the real superheroes, thank you.

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Medical Apparel Reimagined

2 | FUTUREOFHEALTHCARENEWS.COM | NEWS

Glimpsing the Future of Nursing with Simulation From an everyday procedure to a worst-case scenario, increasingly sophisticated simulated environments can offer nurses crucial training.

Immersive and interactive Nurses today care for increasingly complex patients, in increasingly demanding environments. Simulation is critical for training in new skills; developing experiences with rare events; and maintaining and expanding competence throughout one’s career.

Tech education I see three main areas of benefit from simulated nurse training and education. The first is attaining competency in technical skills. The second has to do with integrating cognitive and psychosocial skills into patient care. The third is enhancing team communication skills in a clinical environment.

By Christine Park, M.D., President, Society for Simulation in Healthcare

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For Nurses, Personal Health Goes Hand in Hand with Positive Impact Nurses need to set an example of wellness, shares the president of the ANA. See this principle at work in a touching story of friendship between a nurse and her patient.

W

hen Kaitlyn Suarez entered the hospital to face a second bone marrow transplant in her battle against Hodgkin’s lymphoma, she knew that in addition to her doctors and treatments, one of her biggest weapons would be a nurse named Jess.

An important friendship “When I found out she would be my primary nurse, I was like, ‘OK, now I know I’ve got this; I have Jess,’” says Suarez of Jessica Bilbo, the nurse she had grown close to during her first hospital stay.

While nurses play an important medical role, they also

By Paula Andruss

become trusted allies that help promote patients’ emotional well-being and overall hospital experience by fostering strength, hope and friendship with those in their care.

Bilbo says her main role is to be an advocate for her patients and their families, a job that requires wearing many hats, from acting as middleman (and often translator) between patients and doctors, to answering questions and supporting other family members, to providing emotional support and companionship. In addition to being cheerleaders for their patients, nurses offer a bit of normalcy that can be tough to find among friends and loved ones.

“Jess became my friend,” recalls Suarez. “Even though

I was in isolation, I didn’t feel isolated.”

A two-way street However, as Pamela F. Cipriano, president of the American Nurses Association (ANA), notes, nurses can’t juggle those roles if they don’t focus first on their own health. Just as Bilbo and other such terrific nurses try to provide a well-rounded experience for their patients, the ANA’s picture of a healthy nurse is multi-faceted. A healthy nurse, notes Cipriano, “actively focuses on creating and maintaining a balance and synergy of physical, intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual, personal and professional well-being.”

“Patients are influenced by the health care professional they see

in front of them,” she continues.

“Research has shown that nurses and other health care professionals are more likely to engage in patient education on healthy choices and behaviors if they themselves, for example, eat balanced meals, exercise, refrain from using tobacco products and manage their stress effectively.”

And when nurses focus on their well-being, it pays off, big time.

“Nurses have this ability to care with all their heart,” Suarez says. “They’re willing to talk to you and for you to get you through it, because while half of the battle is physical, the other half is mental. And when they come in every day with a smile on their face, patience and questions and answers, it’s pretty incredible. n

Publisher Flora Veitch Business Developer Shannon Pandaliano Managing Director Luciana Olson Content and Production Manager Chad Hensley Senior Designer Kathleen Edison Designer Quinton McMillan Copy Editor Emily Gawlak Production Coordinator Josh Rosman Contributors Paula Andruss, Cathie Manning, Christine Park, Cynthia D. Sweeney, Jordan Teicher Cover Photo Katie Callow All photos are credited to Getty Images unless otherwise credited. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve USA Today.

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YOU’RE WAY MORE THAN

Nursing is tough, but your job search doesn’t have to be.

Discover hospital and ambulatory care nursing jobs nationwide from top employers who want to hire you!

Take control of your schedule! Find part-time, per diem and travel nursing positions on your terms.

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4 | FUTUREOFHEALTHCARENEWS.COM | INSIGHT

Improving Patient Wellness

by Empowering Nurses Every day, nurses are our front line of patient care. We feature one critical care nurse who wasn’t afraid to effect change when it was needed.

H

ealth care is growing increasingly complex.

Everyone from hospitals and insurance companies to health care providers are looking for ways to improve the process and, more importantly, outcomes for patients and their families.

Leading-edge hospitals know the most direct route to enhancing patient outcomes is to invest in those closest to the patients — nurses. With an average 12-hour shift, nurses spend more time at the bedside than most other

health care team members and personally experience the challenges — and the joys — of providing quality patient care.

Recognizing a problem Cathie Manning, critical care staff nurse at the Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, witnesses the detrimental effects of delirium on patients all too frequently.

“I saw, firsthand, patients who came into the intensive care unit and, within a day or so, became confused, restless and agitated,”

said Manning. She also referenced the more serious potential consequences of delirium, including longer ICU stays, increased mortality and long-term cognitive impairment: “It was like their mind drifted off.”

“We know that certain medications, lack of sleep and immobility can contribute to delirium,” she continued. “I noticed our staff didn’t talk much about our patients’ sleep patterns and, at times, we were interrupting patients’ sleep to perform interventions that, with

thoughtful consideration, could be rescheduled.”

Making a difference Through a nurse empowerment program, Manning and a small team of nurses from her unit decided to do something about it.

With their leader’s support, the group introduced an initiative to change the unit’s approach to patient sleep. The initiative included educating the multidisciplinary team about sleep and delirium; regularly measuring noise levels inside and outside

patient rooms; implementing a new sleep protocol for naps, nighttime sleep and medication administration; and teaching families about the importance of rest.

“Assessing patients for delirium decreased rates in our unit considerably, helping our hospital avoid costs of nearly $900,000 and significantly improving the quality of life for patients and families,” Manning said. “Because of this work, we’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues from several Boston-area hospitals to form a groundbreaking nursing consortium focused on improving recognition and treatment of delirium across the state.”

Every day, staff nurses like Manning step forward and lead the charge for improved patient care.

Health care organizations that foster a supportive environment that empowers the expertise of nurses will enhance outcomes in the process. n SOURCE: AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF CRITICAL-CARE NURSES

Your nursing future is calling.

So is UVA, Virginia’s #1 hospital.* At UVA Medical Center, located in beautiful Charlottesville, Virginia, we are revolutionizing the delivery of healthcare by putting the patient at the center of all we do, embracing excellence at the point of care, advancing our clinical research, perfecting our teamwork and training the next generation of healthcare providers.

Happy Nurses Week to all our dedicated nurses.

You make the difference!

Apply today | UVAhealthjobs.com

Tomorrow can’t wait. *U.S. News & World Report’s 2016-2017 “Best Hospitals” guide The University of Virginia Health System is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Magnet® is a registered trademark of American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). All rights reserved.

MEDIAPLANET | 5

Professional Shortage Has Leaders Rushing to Recruit

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growing shortage of registered nurses (RN) is being recorded, inside hospitals and beyond. Nursing school leaders, federal and state legislators, hospital administrators and consumer advocacy groups are working together to find solutions, ensuring that the public’s access to health care is not compromised in the foreseeable future.

How will a shortage of nurses impact new recruits to the profession and those wishing to advance in their careers?

A golden opportunity There has never been a better time to become a nurse. Salaries are going up and working conditions are improving in an effort to appeal to new students and retain

working RNs in the profession.

Nurses are gaining more independence on the job, which enables them to use the full capacity of their education and expertise. Job security is also extremely high.

Though there is a great demand for nurses to provide direct care, nurses are also needed as researchers, health care administrators, policy analysts and nurse executives. The baccalaureate-prepared nurse enjoys the greatest opportunity for career advancement as well as the ability to move seamlessly into upperlevel roles requiring a master’s degree or doctorate.

A need for leaders One of the greatest areas of need is for nursing school faculty.

Nurse educators play a central

role in preparing new nurses and adapting curriculum in response to changing technology and professional practices. The shortage of nurse faculty is hindering the efforts of nursing schools in many parts of the country to expand enrollments in response to the projected shortage.

The nursing shortage has amplified the critical role nurses play in our nation’s health care system.

Nursing is a challenging, dynamic profession that brings many rewards and career advancement opportunities. With salaries climbing, working conditions improving and the demand for nursing services on the rise, it’s an exciting time to become a nurse. n

By Robert Rosseter, Chief Communications Officer, American Association of Colleges of Nursing

AWARD WINNING

Expressing a Gratitude Beyond Words In the wake of tragedy The DAISY Foundation was established by the Barnes family in memory of their son and husband, Patrick, who was 33 years old when he passed away from complications of a newly diagnosed autoimmune disorder.

The family felt a profound need to express their gratitude for Patrick’s nursing care. Patrick’s nurses were also their nurses.

Today, the DAISY Award is the hallmark recognition used by nearly 2600 organizations in 15 countries to acknowledge extraordinary and compassionate nursing care.

More meaningful thanks The nominated stories of care are foundational to the DAISY Award and are shared and celebrated. These extraordinary stories become models of nursing care, and they communicate the value that the Foundation has for nurses and their compassionate delivery of care. The stories serve to remind all of what extraordinary clinical competence and compassion looks like. The DAISY Award provides the means to recognize, thank and celebrate nurses in a meaningful way.

By Cynthia D. Sweeney, MSN, RN, CNOR, NEA-BC, Executive Director, DAISY Foundation

6 | FUTUREOFHEALTHCARENEWS.COM | INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

The Challenges and Joys of Nursing What was the most impactful moment in your career?

I

Rebekah Penton DNP, RN, AGPCNP-BC, Alumna of the University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston School of Nursing

cared for a Hurricane Katrina evacuee during his final stages of terminal cancer. It took time to gain his trust and elicit his goals. His story of survival, inner strength and continued humor throughout an immensely difficult situation was inspirational.

Rick Knochel RN, Alumnus of the Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences

three-month-old girl passed suddenly. The moments of that day are ingrained in my mind forever. It was a reminder that every day is precious, and it’s important to live life to its fullest.

Diane Yeager RN, Founder, EHR Tutor

Theresa Lovdal RN, BSN, CCRN, University of Virginia Medical Center

A I

brought all my years of nursing experience full circle when I developed my academic EHR business. Being able to pass my knowledge on to new instructors has impacted me in a way I could never have imagined.

M

y patient experienced a cardiac arrest and passed away. One of my coworkers suggested that we do “The Pause” after her death, so we all joined in a circle around the patient and took a moment to acknowledge her life.

What is the biggest misconception of being a nurse?

What is your advice for someone considering entering the field?

Many individuals think nurses only provide care under direction.

Registered nurses have a broad range of knowledge and skills, and while implementing medical orders is part of the care they provide, much of care patients receive is nurse directed.

Becoming a nurse is not just a career choice; it is a life choice.

You will need to stay informed of current research, provide direct care to patients and be involved in policy change to create a better health care system.

That nurses blindly follow physician orders. In reality, nurses work hand in hand with physicians and the rest of the health care team. Nurses utilize critical thinking and clinical judgement to improve patient care and overall health.

It is important to follow nurses in different fields. You will witness, firsthand, the roles, responsibilities and atmosphere of nursing. One of the greatest things about being a nurse is the endless range of opportunities.

Many people believe that nursing is limited to the old stereotype of “vital signs, baths and bedpans.” Nursing is such a diverse career, and the opportunities are limitless. Being a nurse is much more than the stereotype suggests.

Go for it! Although the nursing education requirements can seem rugged, the rewards are amazing.

Even if floor nursing is not for you, the opportunities offered in health care for anyone with a nursing degree are diverse and plentiful.

The nurses I work with are some of the most intelligent people I know, and they are managing more than you can imagine. Nurses sacrifice their personal comfort, time with their families, sleep and lunch breaks to save lives.

You have to talk with other nurses about your feelings, about what you’re going through. Know that it’s normal to have feelings of doubt, frustration and genuine fear. Give it time — it will get better.

SPOTLIGHT | FUTUREOFHEALTHCARENEWS.COM | 7

In a Changing Health Care Landscape, Nurses Embrace Educational Technology Nurses need to keep up with an expanding body of clinical knowledge. Many of the leading methods for delivering the best-prepared nurses are digital.

By Jordan Teicher SPONSORED

ety of clinical reasoning decisions that are tracked so each student receives personalized feedback.

“Virtual simulated learning helps students build their confidence and competence. By allowing repetitive practice, students can practice and reflect in a safe environment,” added Wolfe.

Nursing students must also be prepared to take their licensure exam, and in this area digitally-enabled tools are also making a difference. Efficacy studies have shown that students who learn on tools such as Lippincott PassPoint have higher pass rates on their licensure exams.

A

s America’s Baby Boomers get older and sicker, the demand for welltrained nurses has never been greater.

“No one comes into the hospital anymore with just one condition. They come in with multiple issues. For a new nurse to take that complexity, break it down and then determine what to do for their patient, it is very difficult,” said Anne Dabrow Woods, chief nurse of Wolters Kluwer’s Health Learning, Research and Practice business.

As a result of these shifts, and as nursing initiatives such as “The Future of Nursing Report” from the Institute of Medicine and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation indicate, the nursing profession is rapidly changing. It’s becoming more specialized, and is growing to support new healthcare models, from integrated wellness to transitional care. In this environment, equipping new nurse graduates for the job and preparing practicing nurses to maintain competency, licensure and certification can be overwhelming.

“The amount of new health care information is like a deluge.

From the time you’re a student throughout the entire time you’re in active practice, you must continue to learn and have resources readily available,” said Woods, DNP, RN. Consequently, both

schools and hospitals are turning to new ways to make trusted, accurate and evidence-based content easily accessible.

Technological solutions Nurse educators and practitioners say today’s health care learning must tie classroom learning and knowledge acquisition to clinical experience. Increasingly, technology is making that possible.

Wolters Kluwer’s digital learning programs integrate educa-

tional content with powerful tools that help nursing students absorb course materials in an engaging way, while building critical thinking skills and competency for practice. Integrated adaptive learning tools such as Lippincott CoursePoint also identify where students need remediation so they feel more prepared to treat real-life patients in a variety of settings.

“An important part of the education process for nursing students

is the exposure to real-life clinical situations. But because access to clinical spaces continues to be a challenge, different approaches are needed. Virtual simulation is one such approach,” said Cathy Wolfe, president and CEO, Wolters Kluwer’s Health Learning, Research & Practice business.

Wolters Kluwer’s virtual simulation, vSim for Nursing®, co-developed with Laerdal Medical, allows students to interact with virtual patients and make a vari-

Lifelong learning Today, there is a growing emphasis on the role of continuing professional development in nursing practice.

“Hospitals have come to understand the importance of keeping nurses current on the latest information. They’re purchasing continuing educational products and providing those courses straight to their nurses so they can get the added education they need,” Woods said.

For practicing nurses, online courses that utilize a range of media and digital tools are not only more efficient, they are also more likely to result in learning that stands the test of time.

“We’ve found adult learners learn best if they use all their senses,” said Woods. “In addition to reading, learning by watching a video or listening to a podcast really helps to cement that knowledge in nurses’ minds so it’s easier for them to recall it when they need it.” n

Honoring Nurses who Care with Compassion By helping them learn with confidence. TRC Nurse’s Letter makes it easy.

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Nurse’s Letter answers the latest tough questions about the biggest medication issues today with amazing clarity.

Nurses get brief, unbiased, practical, real-world recommendations in 30 lines or less. These clinical snippets address emerging trends in medications, helping nurses be “patient-ready” every day.

Nursing is a job that requires a lifetime of commitment and compassion. Experience Nurse’s Letter at nursesletter.com.

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