Digital Commons Network^™

Hippocrates And Nightingale: Ancient Medicine And Modern Nursing, Callie Wiedle

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

This presentation aims to examine and understand the influence that Hippocrates’ fundamental theories of medicine had on Florence Nightingale’s development of modern nursing care. Hippocrates has gained the nickname “the father of modern medicine” and Nightingale has claimed the title “the mother of modern nursing”. This presentation will argue that without Hipporcates’ revolutionary ideas in medicine the framework of modern nursing would have taken much longer to develop, if it was ever developed into what we know today. Nightingale took Hippocrates’ revolutionary ideas regarding hygiene, the environment, and holistic patient care; and adapted them into the systematic approach to modern …

Education, Evaluation, And Impact Of A Delegation Learning Session In The Care Pair Model, Tiffany Michelle Whitney

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

This study examines the relationship of a structured educational intervention related to registered nurse (RN) delegated practice within the Care Pair Model (CPM) in a medical-surgical unit for its potential to expand the utilization of Nursing Assistants (NAs) in the nursing shortage in health care. CPM employs NAs as complement staff for RNs thus shortening workloads and improving patient care but relies on the RN's ability to communicate clearly and delegate responsibilities. A literature review done identifies that there is a gap in available information about CPM and delegation and thus this study looks at the educational intervention of delegation. …

Implementing Adjunct Surgical Count Technology, Herschel Bernard Holden

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Adjunct surgical count technology refers to advanced methods and systems designed to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of surgical counts, which are critical for preventing unintended retained surgical sponges. This technology often incorporates digital tools like barcode scanning, radiofrequency identification (RFID), and intelligent surgical sponges. Automating the counting process reduces human error, allowing for real-time tracking of sponges throughout the surgical procedure. This can involve using handheld devices or integrated systems that automatically log usage. The systems integrate with the electronic health record (EHR) and surgical management systems, providing comprehensive tracking reporting capabilities. This integration facilitates better communication among surgical …

Fast Births, Ready Nurses: Simulation Training For Emergency Nurses, Jamie Clemons

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

The High-Fidelity Precipitous Delivery Management Simulation (PDM HFS) program was developed to address the critical need for specialized training among emergency department nurses, especially in rural communities where access to obstetric services is increasingly limited. As labor and delivery units continue to close, the responsibility for emergency departments to assume greater responsibility for managing precipitous deliveries and associated complications is increasing. The PDM HFS training program aims to enhance emergency department nurses' self-efficacy and clinical skills through high-fidelity simulation training, ultimately improving maternal outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the impact of the PDM HFS program in preparing emergency department …

Reminisce And Relive Joyful Memories Despite Dementia, Candice Cacal Nono

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Background: Dementia is a progressive neurological disease that affects cognition and behavioral and mood impairments, such as depression, that must be addressed. The DNP Project implemented an evidence-based intervention to improve healthcare outcomes involving depression in patients with dementia in a long-term care setting.

Problem: Dementia is a progressive neurological disease affecting mood and conditions that can lead to depression, affecting a patient’s quality of life. A quality improvement project was implemented in a long term care facility in Chicago, Illinois.

Methods: Eight residents with mild to moderate dementia participated in an eight-week Group Reminiscence Therapy program to measure the …

How Can A Strategic Plan Create And Sustain A Healthy Work Environment In The School Of Nursing?, Ashley Leak Bryant, Gabrielle Leonard, Lakecha Alston, Valerie Howard

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

To achieve the sustainable development goals by 2030, our School of Nursing is addressing how we create and sustain a healthy environment as we lead our profession and improve lives for the public good. Our School of Nursing’s strategic plan has 3 mission critical priorities: responsible growth, inclusive excellence, and operational excellence. The Office of Strategy and Global Affairs aligned our global priorities with the School of Nursing's strategic plan: global education, Fulbright Specialist/Scholar and Visiting Professorships, and sustainability. In this presentation, we provide 3 examples of how our School of Nursing is creating and sustaining a healthy work environment …

Development Of An Integrative Health And Holistic Nursing Fellowship Program, Katrina Vigo, Annie Kaplon

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Nurses are at increased risk of burnout due to the high levels of stress in the healthcare work environment. Furthermore, burnout has negative effects on one’s physical, emotional, and behavioral health and can be linked to harmful clinical outcomes (Hetzel-Riggin, Swords, Tuang, Deck, & Spurgeon 2020). The development of a holistic, integrative health fellowship provides nurses with knowledge related to holistic nursing, integrative health, and the mind-body connection while equipping them with practical resiliency and coping skills to enhance their own personal and professional wellbeing and the wellbeing of patients, caregivers, and colleagues. Incorporating holistic nursing theory (American Holistic Nurses …

Utilizing Evidence To Increase Knowledge Of Best Practices To Prevent Bloodborne Pathogen Exposures, Alyssa Macmurphey

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Background: Nurses (RNs) are at risk for exposure to bloodborne pathogens (BBPs) like HIV and Hepatitis B and C. In 2023 at a Sacramento, CA level I trauma center there were 412 BBP exposures (BBPEs) reported, 143 involving RNs, costing the institution well over $700,000 on lab costs and exposure medications. Indirect costs of these exposures include lost work time, anxiety, and job burnout. BBPEs can be prevented with safety devices, best practices, and PPE use. Preventable BBPEs occur due to a lack of knowledge of these best practices. Prior to this project at this institution there was no in-person …

Rewind And Reflect: Using Video Elicitation To Enhance Virtual Patient Care, Paula Dianne Koppel, Michelle Webb, Jennie De Gagne, Paige Randall, Denise Napveux, Janelle Bludorn, Neil Prose, Aviva Emmons

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Background: Videoconferencing visits (VV) are an important medium for delivering healthcare worldwide, but clinicians remain uncertain about how to establish rapport in telehealth.^1,2 Teaching rapport-building to practicing clinicians who must adapt established behaviors for VV, requires more than providing information. While simulation and debriefing are effective in prelicensure programs,³ they are less feasible for established practitioners. Reviewing video recordings of actual patient encounters, however, is a useful strategy for changing practice patterns.^4-7 When clinicians view video recordings of their own patient interactions, it encourages them to discuss ideas not typically addressed and reveal tacit knowledge and skills …

Communication Post-Covid: Overcoming Silos To Improve Workplace Collaboration And Well-Being, Rachel Bentley, Crystal O'Dell, Amy Richardson

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

With COVID-19, public health measures were adopted to prevent transmission in the workplace. As a consequence, the work environment changed with video conferencing utilized not as a novelty, but a necessity. The use of video conferencing is now routine, with 300 million daily meeting participants and ‘zoom fatigue’ a reality. Workplace culture shifted to virtual communication; however, little is known regarding the psychological impact, limiting personal engagement and collaboration and altering work relationships due to its silo effect.

The World Health Organization (WHO) provides a healthy workplace framework to protect and promote the well-being of workers by considering concerns of …

Preventing Aggression In A Pediatric Inpatient Unit: A Best Practice Implementation Project, Johnna C. Riddick

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

In pediatric settings, there has been an increase in patients with mental health problems, who experience aggressive and threatening behavior. Without proper policies, education, and means to identify triggers for aggressive behavior, nurses are unable to safely care for these children and are at risk of being injured. The objective of this project was to promote evidence-based practices regarding the prevention of aggression in hospitalized pediatric patients in medical-surgical units.

Using the JBI Evidence Implementation framework, this project sought to optimize compliance with best practices for early identification of aggressive behaviors in pediatric inpatient units. Three barriers to best practice …

Sustained Effects Of Resiliency Training On Well-Being In Nurse Leaders, Shirley D. Martin, Stephanie Bailey, Regina W. Urban

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Post-pandemic, as many as 40% of nurse managers considered leaving their jobs due to burnout.^1,2 Resilience is the ability to bounce back after stress, a trainable skill related to well-being that may help mitigate burnout.^3,4 There is a need to study factors to promote well-being in healthcare professionals.⁵ Research on sustainable outcomes of resiliency training in nurse leaders is lacking.

The purpose of this study was to prospectively examine effects of a 6-hour resiliency training program⁶ on well-being outcomes in nurse leaders. The team conducted a longitudinal study in the spring through fall 2022 and offered …

Mixed Methods Triangulation: Applying Just Culture Principles In Nurses' Transition To Practice, Manisa Baker, Rebecca Toothaker, Lora Hromadik, Randi Flexner, Linda Mcquiston, Danielle Walker

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

The transition from nursing student to registered nurse is fraught with challenges, including stress, knowledge gaps, miscommunication, and insufficient constructive feedback, which can cause uncertainty for new graduate nurses (NGNs). Although Just Culture principles are taught in nursing education, they are often difficult to apply in practice. The gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application can result in hesitation when reporting errors, communicating effectively with the healthcare team, or participating in quality improvement initiatives. This disconnect underscores the need for more robust support systems and education that bridge the transition from student to practicing nurse. This study aims to triangulate …

Cultivating Civility And Sense Of Belonging Amongst Nurse Leaders, Dajanae Gresham-Ryder, Sandy Phan

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

The goals were to identify learning needs and implement evidence-based educational interventions to close identified gaps to foster civility, belonging, and inclusive leadership practices.
PICOT: How does implementing civility and belonging best practices among experienced clinical nurses affect the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and practices within five months?

The outcomes of this project have substantial implications for nursing leadership practice. Conducting needs assessments and adopting evidence-based strategies improved nurse leaders’ knowledge and skills to foster a practice change in civility and inclusive environments to support nurse satisfaction and patient outcomes. Leadership considerations to mitigate perceived challenges include supporting a just culture, …

Crisis Intervention Training To Improve Nurse’S Job Satisfaction In Mental Health Settings, Maria Josephine Torres

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

This study addresses a specific issue in the psychiatric and mental health residential nursing setting. The objective of the study was to address the problem identified based on evidence-based practice and literature showing that there are weaknesses and gaps within the population. In a psychiatric and mental health care setting, would more specific and extensive crisis intervention training for nurses provide improved job satisfaction for those nurses in a 6-week period? The population included to address the clinical practice problem and objective is registered nurses with all levels of experience in residential psychiatric and mental health nursing, ranging from new …

Supporting The Well-Being Of Critical Care Nurses At A System-Level, Heidi K. Holtz, Guy Weissinger, Lindsay Tessmer

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Critical care nurses (CCNs) are a crucial part of the health care system, however, the long-term stressors and traumatic stress they are exposed to affect their health, well-being, and create work environments that make it difficult to provide safe and quality patient care. A healthy work environment for nurses will maximize the health and well-being of nurses, decrease burnout, lower turnover, and improve the quality of patient care[1]. There is limited evidence from previous studies carried out that can inform the selection of interventions to foster healthy work environments for nurses and manage traumatic stress[2,3].Therefore, indicating a critical need to …

Standards For Appropriate Staffing: One Element Of A Healthy Work Environment, Sarah Delgado, Michelle Kidd

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

The session describes AACN’s Standards for Appropriate Staffing in Adult Critical Care and their inextricable link to Healthy Work Environment standards. National work on acute and critical care staffing will be reviewed and strategies for applying the staffing standards will be discussed. The presentation emphasizes leveraging the other five Healthy Work Environment standards to implement the staffing standards. Audience questions and participation encouraged.

Cognitive Rehearsal Training For Nursing Workplace Incivility: A Quality Improvement Project, Tynesha Wade, Amy Gow, Salem Dehom

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Andersson and Pearson (1999) introduced the concept of workplace incivility as “low-intensity deviant behavior with ambiguous intent to harm the target, in violation of workplace norms for mutual respect” (p. 457). A systematic review of the literature noted nearly two-thirds of healthcare employees have witnessed incivilities perpetuated by nurses and cited a study in which 85% of responding nurses reported experiencing incivilities in the past year (Keller et al., 2020). It has been estimated that 44% of nursing staff have been bullied in the healthcare environment (The Joint Commission, 2021).

While often used interchangeably in practice and in the literature, …

Mindful Movements: Cultivating Resilience & Well-Being In Academia, Meghan Marie Pontz, Allison Maloney

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

There is a growing crisis of burnout and mental health concerns in post-secondary educators, with nearly 70% of faculty experiencing significant stress due to increased workloads, job insecurity, and the demands of teaching. This has led to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and burnout, contributing to decreased job satisfaction and higher turnover intentions within academia. These challenges are particularly acute in the nursing workforce, which is already grappling with significant shortages of practicing nurses and faculty. Out of this critical concern the Mindfulness and Movement project was cultivated by nursing faculty, both of whom are practicing mental health professionals and …

Oncology Caregiver Wellness Series: Boosting Resilience And Combating Burnout, Pakeeza Ali, Miles Kotchevar

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Burnout is an increasingly pressing issue in healthcare, especially for oncology caregiver teams who face immense emotional and physical demands. While wellness programs are often introduced to address burnout, the lack of clear definitions for both burnout and wellness makes it difficult to design effective solutions. Many wellness initiatives, though well-intended, fail to address the daily stresses caregivers face, particularly during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

From a leadership perspective, the issue becomes even more complex. As healthcare costs rise and take up a larger share of the economy, organizations are pressured to increase productivity and maximize staff efficiency. Unfortunately, …

The Art Of Saying No: Empowering Nurses To Set Boundaries For Well-Being, Sara Kaylor, Abby Horton, Haley Townsend, Meridith Rice, Susan Prevost

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

The nursing profession, long dominated by women, is shaped by societal norms that encourage selflessness and compliance, leading nurses to prioritize others over their own well-being. This expectation to always say yes, coupled with the demands of various practice settings, contributes to burnout and stress. This presentation advocates for a feminist approach to boundary-setting, offering strategies to help nurses confidently say no, establish healthy boundaries, and maintain a balanced career.

Putting People First: Nurse Leaders' Role In Prioritizing A Culture Of Workforce Wellbeing, Kimberly A. Bernard

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Leadership should prioritize the deliberate cultivation of healthy work environments to mitigate burnout. Nurses' lack of workplace well-being has been well-documented for decades, with significant exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic. These conditions can lead to poor mental health, as exhibited by feelings of stress, anxiety, depression, and physiological symptoms, which can ultimately contribute to burnout.
The literature suggests that nurse leaders are responsible for adopting and implementing healthy work environments that build, nurture, and sustain a positive, healthy culture. Leaders who cultivate a safe and supportive workplace and contribute to staff well-being will likely experience improved staff retention, increased productivity, …

When Good Clinicians Don’T Make Good Leaders: Closing The Gap With Multifaceted Leader Development, Rachel E. Wood, Jennifer Schmitz, Andrew Slifko

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Nurse leaders have significant opportunity to impact the health and well-being of the workforce. Leadership behaviors impact empowerment, motivation, performance, culture, and retention.^1–3 Often great clinicians are promoted to leadership roles with little to no training or support in developing their leadership style and practices.⁴ It is crucial to develop intentional, effective leaders to promote safe and healthy work environments and adaptable and enduring teams.^1–3 An effective leadership development program can advance a healthy work environment and reduce leader turnover.
Leaders play a critical role in promoting empowerment of their teams.^2,5 Nurses who are empowered formally …

Transforming Leadership Behaviors And Thriving Through The Storm In A High Reliability Organization, Rajveer Kaur, Jiji Andrews, Kambree Baxter

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

The structural inequities have affected critical care nurses, health care worker’s health and well-being (Durrah et al, 2022; Wells, S., 2024). Prioritizing nurse wellbeing has been formed to improve psychologically safe work environments associated with positively decreasing barriers in patient outcomes within the workforce (Wells, S., 2024). Authentic leaders developed patient advocacy, trusting relationships with their employees to increase the access to proper nursing services to enhance the ability to thrive at work ( Alhalal et al, 2024a; Durrah et al, 2022). Authentic leadership tool was introduced to design interventions and policies specifically for nurse manager’s authentic leadership style to …

Leveraging Meaningful Recognition To Create And Sustain Healthy Work Environments, Cindy Lefton

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Meaningful recognition, a form of feedback describing how one makes a difference in the life of another, also serves to illustrate the elements of a healthy work environment in action. Focusing on meaningful recognition as a catalyst to shape and drive healthy work environments, attendees will be introduced to evidence-based budget neutral practices they can utilize to positively impact team members, workplace culture, and patient experience.

Transforming A Nurse Residency Program: Building Resilience To Enhance Professional Well-Being, Deborah Ambrosio Mawhirter, Maria L. Triolo

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Introduction: A nurse residency program fosters professional growth and aids in the transition into practice. As nurses enter the workforce, they may become overwhelmed and stressed. There is a growing recognition that nurses need assistance in developing skills for resilience. A process of adapting when faced with challenges such as stress and adversity. Educating nurses in a residency program by providing interventions to promote healthy behaviors, self- care and develop a resiliency plan enhances the work environment and allows nurses to flourish. Nurses that build self-care into personal resilience plans bolster individual wellness and promote wellness. Integrating a culture of …

Combining Organizational Assessment And Evidence-Based Strategies To Address Incivility In Nursing, Guillaume Ngonmeudje

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

The workplace environment in healthcare is complex and negatively influenced by an increasing pattern of incivility. Recent reports of the increasing prevalence of incivility and related disruptive behaviors within nursing academic and clinical settings are alarming. Incivility threatens the sense of belonging needed to support and nurture the development of nursing students in the profession, and significantly impacts the work performance of front-line healthcare workers, contributing to medical errors and poor patient outcomes (Patel et al., 2022). Nurses and nursing students must be well equipped to effectively address incivility in the workplace and promote the collaboration necessary to optimize patient …

Enhancing Well-Being: Sensory Adhesive Strips And Box Breathing To Reduce Anxiety In Bsn Students, Beth Heuer, Tish Gill

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

In a recent meta-analysis, Vo et al.¹ reported that most nursing students experienced moderate stress (42.1%) and mild to moderate anxiety (19.4%-25.1%). Both physiologic and psychological calming can be enhanced through controlled breathing techniques. Breathing techniques have emerged as potential tools for stress management and well-being. Controlled breathing influences respiratory rate by increasing vagal tone during slowed expiration.² This reduction in respiratory rate can enhance mood and reduce negative emotions such as state anxiety.²

Recognizing the importance of addressing mental health in academic settings, this study was designed to teach a controlled breathing method (Box Breathing) to …

Aligning Operational Excellence With Sustainable Development Goals In A School Of Nursing, Ashley Leak Bryant, Gabrielle Leonard, Lakecha Alston, Julie Jacobson Vann, Valerie Howard

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Operational excellence is one of our priorities for the 2023-2028 strategic plan at our School of Nursing. The Office of Strategy and Global Affairs at UNC School of Nursing is committed to continuous improvement of sustainable operational excellence. The sustainable development goals/global goals were adopted by the United Nations in 2015, with a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity. The purpose is to present an overview of the formation, evolution, and evaluation of the Office of Strategy and Global Affairs in the School of Nursing …

Overcoming Challenges: Creating A Healthy Work Environment, Linda Eanes, Liji Mathew, Betty Phillips, Dalia Paul, Moncy Mathews

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

A healthy work environment improves patient outcomes and promotes resiliency by supporting the wellbeing of the nurses. The purpose of our study was to describe labor and delivery nurses’ experiences in caring for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. We used a descriptive phenomenological design and purposeful sampling to recruit experienced labor and delivery nurses for flexible semi-structured face-to-face audiotaped interviews. Constant comparison was used to analyze data. Ten nurses employed in a labor and delivery unit in two acute care hospitals in southern Texas participated and were interviewed from June through August 2022.

Five distinct themes were identified: Psychological stress …