Nursing Management

How Nursing Management Can Help Lower Serious Safety Events

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

By James M Katz, BA

The Role of the Chief Nurse in Ensuring Employee and Patient Safety:

As the chief nurse, it is your responsibility to ensure that serious safety events are prevented and reduced in your facility. In order to do this, you must be aware of the potential risks and hazards that exist in your facility. You must also have a system in place to identify these risks and hazards. Once you have identified the risks and hazards, you must implement strategies to mitigate them. Some strategies you may consider include:

-Educating staff on proper safety procedures: What instructions are you providing to your staff in regards to their safety?

-Conducting regular safety audits: How are you testing your staff safety readiness?

-Implementing security measures: Are you giving your staff the proper tools and policies to protect themselves as well as the patients?

-Creating a culture of safety in your facility: Are you cultivating a positive and safe working environment?

By taking these steps, you can help reduce the occurrence of serious safety events in your facility.

This article helps illustrate key points in employee and patient safety and how Nurse Management can implement strategies to proactively prevent common safety issues. Issues like; patient falls, common medication errors, lowering the chance of hospital acquired infections, and having resolutions in place to combat them. This article will not only help you identify potential safety hazards but also perhaps help you come up with policy solutions to prevent them from happening in the first place!

“Lanie Ward: The most common patient safety issues that I see through my eyes as a CNO are [these] three: medication errors, hospital-acquired infections, and patient falls. There’s no question that med errors happen with the greatest frequency. Many of them cause no harm to the patient, but some do cause severe harm and even result in patient death. That’s why it’s so important that we carefully evaluate all med errors, even if there was no harm.”

Chief Nurse: How to Reduce Serious Safety Events. By Carol Davis. Healthleaders.com. October 17, 2022
Access Article Here 

A sign that says Safety First

Commentary

The Importance of Communication and Collaboration Among Staff:

It is essential for staff members to be able to communicate and collaborate effectively with one another. Good communication ensures that everyone is on the same page and can work together efficiently to achieve common goals. It also allows for the sharing of ideas and knowledge, which can lead to better decision making and improved outcomes.

Furthermore, collaboration among staff members helps to build team morale and cohesion. When staff members are able to work together towards a common goal, it builds trust and respect for one another. This, in turn, leads to a more positive work environment where employees are more engaged and productive.

Good communication and collaboration are essential for any organization or business that wants to be successful. By fostering a culture of open communication and teamwork, businesses can create an environment where employees can thrive and reach their full potential.

Strategies for Reducing Falls and Other Common Safety Events:

Falls are one of the most common safety events in healthcare. They can lead to serious injury, and even death. However, there are strategies that healthcare managers can use to reduce the incidence of falls.

One strategy is to identify patients who are at risk for falling. This includes patients who are elderly, have a history of falling, or have certain medical conditions that make them more likely to fall. Once at-risk patients have been identified, steps can be taken to make sure they are being closely monitored.

Another strategy is to create a “fall prevention team”. This team should consist of nurses, doctors, and any other staff members who regularly interact with patients. The team should meet on a regular basis to discuss fall prevention strategies and share any new information about at-risk patients.

The Benefits of Using Data to Identify Trends and Target Interventions:

Nursing data is a powerful tool that can be used to identify trends and target healthcare interventions. By analyzing nursing data, healthcare professionals can develop more effective management strategies that improve patient outcomes and reduce costs.

Nursing data can be used to track changes in patients’ health over time, identify potential risk factors for certain conditions, and evaluate the effectiveness of various treatments. By understanding these trends, healthcare providers can tailor their interventions to more effectively address the needs of their patients.

In addition, nursing data can help assess the impact of external factors on patients’ health. For example, by tracking emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and readmissions, nurses can identify patterns that may be indicative of problems with access to care or poor quality of care. By using this information to target specific interventions, nurses can help improve the overall quality of healthcare delivery.

Conclusion: the Chief Nurse’s Role in Improving Patient Safety:

In conclusion, the chief nurse’s role in improving patient safety is essential. The chief nurse is responsible for ensuring that nurses are competent and safe, and for setting the tone for a culture of safety in the organization. The chief nurse can make a difference in patient safety by promoting a culture of safety, by leading by example, and by advocating for patients’ rights.

If you are a chief nurse or part of the nursing management staff and would like to further your knowledge and become a certified Nurse Management professional then perhaps you would like to visit our Nurse Management Certification Program? You can access our program and the required online courses here – Nurse Management CE Courses 

Additional Resources:

Control of hospital acquired infections and antimicrobial resistance in Europe: the way to go. Friedrich, A.W.  Wien Med Wochenschr 169 (Suppl 1), 25–30 (2019).
Access Here

Reducing hospital-acquired infections and improving the rational use of antibiotics in a developing country: an effectiveness study. Murni IK, Duke T, Kinney S, et al. Archives of Disease in Childhood 2015;100:454-459.
Access Here 

Can Rounding Reduce Patient Falls in Acute Care? An Integrative Literature Review Hicks, Darlene. Medsurg Nursing; Pitman Vol. 24, Iss. 1,  (Jan/Feb 2015): 51-55.
Access Here

Patient safety culture as perceived by operating room professionals: a mixed-methods study. Aouicha, W., Tlili, M.A., Sahli, J. et al. BMC Health Serv Res 22, 799 (2022).
Access Here 

 

 

Satisfaction among the Elderly with Telehealth during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

By James M. Katz, BA

Telehealth is a rapidly growing field in the healthcare industry that uses technology to deliver care and services remotely. Telehealth can be used for a variety of purposes, including appointments, consultations, prescriptions, and follow-ups.

While telehealth has many benefits, including increased access to care, improved quality of care, and lower costs, there are some challenges that need to be addressed. These challenges include provider training and reimbursement, as well as ensuring patient privacy and security.

Telehealth Concept Picture
Is Telehealth growing?

The article below discusses how health care professionals turned to telehealth as a way to deliver their services to patients during the Covid-19 pandemic. The patients in the study were mostly elderly and from various cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Most scored their satisfaction 6 out of 7. Some of the patients did not find telehealth enjoyable and preferred inpatient treatment. The following article goes into further detail.

“Amid the implementation of restrictions on in-person care during the COVID-19 pandemic, many patients and providers turned to telehealth. Telehealth helped maintain care access during this time, especially for seniors, but researchers from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center wanted to determine patient satisfaction levels among the geriatric population that used virtual care.

For the study, they sent a patient satisfaction questionnaire to 278 patients over 65, 208 of whom completed the survey. The study period ranged from April 2020 to June 2021.”

Older Adults Satisfied with Telehealth During COVID-19 Pandemic, Mark Melchionna, mHealth Intelligence. October 10, 2022
Access Article here 

Commentary:

Satisfaction of Telehealth:

Patients who used telehealth were more likely to report satisfaction with their care, including feeling more connected to their doctor and having better communication with their provider. They were also more likely to say they felt involved in their own care and that their care was coordinated.

Patients who used telehealth were also more likely to report better health outcomes, including fewer emergency room visits and hospitalizations, and better management of chronic conditions.

Benefits of Telehealth:

In recent years, telehealth has become an increasingly popular option for older adults. Telehealth allows patients to consult with their doctors remotely, using a computer, tablet, or smartphone. This can be especially beneficial for older adults who may have difficulty travelling to see their doctor in person.

There are a number of reasons why telehealth may be a good option for older adults. First, it can help them save time and money on travel costs. Second, it can provide them with more flexibility in terms of when and where they can consult with their doctor. And third, it can give them peace of mind knowing that they can still receive high-quality care even if they are not able to physically visit their doctor’s office.

In the past, patients had to physically go to a doctor’s office or hospital for medical care. This is no longer the case with the advent of telehealth, which allows patients to receive care remotely using technology. There are many benefits of telehealth, including increased access to care, improved outcomes, and lower costs.

Disadvantages of Telehealth:

Although telehealth has the potential to improve access to care, there are a few potential disadvantages of using telehealth services, especially when compared to in-person visits with healthcare providers. One such disadvantage is that patients may not be able to get the same level of care through a virtual visit as they would if they were meeting with their provider face-to-face.

Another potential downside to telehealth is that it can be difficult to build rapport and trust with your provider when you’re not meeting in person. This can be especially true if you’re using video conferencing for your visits, as it can be harder to read body language and cues when you’re not in the same room as the other person.

Finally, there’s always the possibility that technology will fail during a telehealth visit, which could lead to disruptions in care or even put patient safety at risk.

Is Telehealth for you?

When it comes to your health, you want the best care possible. You want to be able to see a doctor when you need to and get the treatments you need to feel better. But what if you can’t always get to the doctor’s office? What if you don’t have transportation or you live in a rural area? Telehealth might be the solution for you.

There are many benefits of telehealth. It increases access to care, especially for those who live in rural areas or who have transportation issues.

In conclusion, telehealth is a growing field that is changing how healthcare is delivered. It has the potential to improve access to care, reduce costs, and improve outcomes. However, there are challenges that need to be addressed, such as reimbursement, workforce issues, and technology infrastructure. With the right policies and investments in place, telehealth can help transform the healthcare system and improve the health of Americans.

Health Care Management:

Are you a health care professional who is interested in becoming certified as a Health Care Manager? If so, please review the Health Care Manager and Nurse Management Certification programs offered by the American Institute of Health Care Professionals, Inc. The program is based on open enrollment and is self-paced, meaning you are free to start whenever you are ready and you can move through it at your own speed. All of the exams are 100% online. The CE courses have board approvals as well. To begin, you may preview our program by Clicking Here.

Additional Resources:

Patient and family engagement: a survey of US hospital practices. Jeph Herrin, Et.Al. PMC PubMed Central Epub  June 16, 2015.
Access Here

VA/Pitt Study Shows Telehealth Effective, Preferred for Veterans’ Wheelchair Design and Fit. Sheila Tunney. University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Services, December 2020.
Access Here 

Strategies for Evaluating Telehealth. Dr. John Chuo Et.Al. American Academy of Pediatrics Volume 146 Issue 5. November 1, 2020
Access here 

Patient and clinician experiences with telehealth for patient follow-up care. Karen Dolenan Et.Al. The American Journal of Managed Care, 01  25(1):40-44 PMID: 30667610 January 2019.
Access here

 

 

Nursing Management and Nurse Shortages

Posted on by Mark Moran

With the recent pandemic and other stresses, numerous nurses may be looking to exit the field.  Nurse shortages are not something new and continues to be an issue.  The industry is in demand but needs to find ways beyond salary to attract more individuals to the field itself.  It is essential to better manage nurses and departments to ensure nursing satisfaction is met and nurses reap the rewards of a fulfilling career.  Flexibility and options are key.

The article, “Two-Thirds of Nurses Poised to Quit in Coming Years: 8 Steps Healthcare Employers Can Take to Address Potential Mass Exodus” by A. Kevin Troutman looks closer at the dilemmas facing the nursing industry.  In the article, Fisher poses the question how can nursing management and healthcare facilities attract more nurses but also keep the current staff satisfied.  He lists 8 steps healthcare employers can utilize in meeting these demands.  He states,

“The below list of eight suggestions is by no means an exhaustive list of things healthcare employers can do to deal with the challenges of the current nursing shortage. It does, however, illustrate that even in the face of dire predictions for the future, you can take steps to better protect your organization, your patients, and – most importantly – your employees.”

Two-Thirds of Nurses Poised to Quit in Coming Years: 8 Steps Healthcare Employers Can Take to Address Potential Mass Exodus.  A. Kevin Troutman. Fisher Phillips. JDSUPRA.  Oct 10, 2022. Access article here

Nursing shortages remain an issue in the healthcare industry. Nursing Management can play a key role

Commentary

With nurses playing such a key role in healthcare, it is important to address nursing shortages and why.  Finding solutions to find more nurses and retain existing staff is critical to the healthcare industry, especially after the recent pandemic issues.

The demand for nurses is determined by a number of factors, including the number of patients needing care, the severity of their conditions, and the availability of other health care professionals. The American Nurses Association estimates that there are currently more than 1.2 million nurses working in the United States, and that this number will need to increase to 2.4 million by 2030 to meet the demands of the growing population.  There is a current demand for nurses in the healthcare industry. This is due to the aging population and the need for more preventative care. The demand for nurses is expected to continue to grow in the coming years.

There are a number of reasons for the high demand for nurses. The first is the aging population. As people live longer, they require more medical care. This includes both acute care and chronic care. The second reason is the increase in chronic diseases. These conditions require ongoing management and often result in multiple hospitalizations. The third reason is the increasing complexity of care. With advances in medical technology, patients require more sophisticated and expensive treatments. This requires a higher level of nursing care.

However, within this demand is a fear of many existing nurses seeking to quit their positions.  The high turnover rate among nurses is a major problem for healthcare facilities. There are many reasons why nurses quit, but the most common ones are poor working conditions, low pay, and burnout. Healthcare facilities need to do more to retain their nurses by improving working conditions and offering competitive pay.

The pandemic has also played a key role on stress on nurses and why many may be looking for less stressful jobs.  The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on healthcare workers, particularly nurses, who are on the frontlines of the fight against the virus. The stress of working long hours in high-pressure situations can lead to burnout, anxiety, and depression. In order to support nurses during this difficult time, it is important to provide them with adequate resources and opportunities for self-care. Additionally, creating a supportive work environment where nurses feel valued and respected is essential.

Nursing Management can better retain nurses and attract other potential nurses

There are a few key ways in which nursing management can keep employees. First, it is important to establish clear expectations and goals for employees. Additionally, regular communication and feedback are crucial in order to ensure that employees are on track and meeting expectations. Additionally, providing opportunities for professional development and growth can help retain employees. Finally, creating a positive work environment and culture is also important in keeping employees engaged and motivated.

In addition to keeping employees, nursing management needs to find ways to attract new nurses to help with the work.

There are a few things that nursing management can do in order to attract new employees. One is to offer competitive salaries and benefits. Another is to create a positive work environment where nurses feel supported and valued. Additionally, nursing management can provide opportunities for professional development and career advancement. By doing these things, nursing management can make the profession more attractive to potential employees.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the nursing shortage is a problem that needs to be addressed. There are many ways to address the nursing shortage, but one of the most important is to keep nurses in the profession. To do this, we need to support nurses in their career development and provide them with opportunities to grow and advance in their careers. We also need to create a work environment that is conducive to retention and recruitment of nurses.

Please also review AIHCP’s Nursing Management Certification Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals.  The program is online and independent study and open to qualified nurses and professionals who are seeking a four year certification.   By completing the required courses, nurses can diversify their career and seek higher positions in the healthcare profession within the field of nursing management.

Additional Resources

“Global nursing shortages – action for change” Vari M Drennan and Fiona Ross. British Medical Bulletin. 2019.  Access here

“Innovative Information Technology Solutions: Addressing Current and Emerging Nurse Shortages and Staffing Challenges Worldwide”. Lloyd, Jenna; Ferguson, Stephanie L  Nursing Economics. Vol. 35, Iss. 4. July/August 2017.  Access here

“Why Is There a Nursing Shortage?”. Kristen Hamlin. Nurse Journal. August 29th, 2022.  Access here

“Understanding the American Nursing Shortage”. S. Behring. Healthline. August 11th, 2021.  Access here

Revamping The Old: Cleaning And Sanitation In “The New Normal” Of Healthcare

Posted on by Joseph Gerard

hospital bed

Written By Lucy Peters

Nearly 600 healthcare workers in the US have died from COVID-19, according to Lost on The Frontline. The study, conducted by the Guardian and Kaiser Health News, includes doctors, nurses, paramedics and other essential hospital staff like cleaning crews, administrators and special care caregivers. The pandemic has certainly made an impact on travel and how people live their daily lives. Another thing it will have a lasting impact upon is the concept of cleanliness in healthcare.

Hospital Cleaning Staff Gear

It is generally thought that Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is necessary to keep doctors, nurses and paramedics safe from COVID-19. However, it is now clear that it is no longer sufficient to keep a hospital in working order. Hospital cleaners who enter the premises must also have additional gear like an FFP2 mask, gloves, gown, face shields, and secure working boots, according to a study published by the Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences.

As cleaning crews often pass through different rooms and halls of hospitals, they must be duly protected from the transmission to enable them to keep rooms and areas sanitized. Beyond safety gear, their cleaning tools must have validated removal ratings that are certified from third-party laboratories. This is to ensure that their cleaning tools are actually doing their job rather than unknowingly spreading the virus around the hospital.

The Necessity Of Professional Sanitation Services

While hospitals do have their own sanitation staff, they may not be enough to ensure complete disinfection of surfaces, walls, hallways and bedding. There may simply be too much to do for regular cleaning crews to take on the load. As such, the presence and necessity of professional cleaning crews will increase in the immediate future. Professional crews possess heavy-duty cleaning equipment like steam machines that are 99.99% effective in removing germs and bacteria over a wide array of surfaces. The study, conducted by Michael Cazaban and others, established that a steam vapor system significantly eradicates S. capitis and other organisms from sensitive hospital areas.

Additional Cleanliness Protocols For Healthcare Workers

Gone are the days when healthcare professionals could simply perform hand-washing, take off any infectious gloves, and head on home. Now, it is advisable that healthcare professionals take spare clothing to wear separately and keep any work clothes and shoes in a separate plastic container, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. They found that excessive use of harder chemicals to wash clothes or bedding is unnecessary. Regular detergent is fine – as long as the laundry is done immediately prior to coming into any contact with any family members. The habit of wiping down surfaces of any vehicles used to go home with sanitation wipes must also be normalized.

This pandemic is effectively ushering new health protocols and stringent cleanliness requirements that will remain in place for the foreseeable future. While they may seem excessive, they are critical to maintaining the integrity and safety of healthcare workers everywhere. After all, it is they that are in the front lines fighting a virus that continues to threaten the human population.

 

 

Please also review AIHCP’s Nursing Management Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.  The program in online and independent study and open to qualified professionals.

 

AIHCP’s New Healthcare Management and Nursing Management Programs

Posted on by Mark Moran

The American Institute of Health Care Professionals has and continues to offer the most affordable, dependable and quality certifications in the healthcare field.  It has for twenty years offered Healthcare Case Management and Legal Nurse Consulting certifications for healthcare professionals and nurses.  It has since added a variety of programs, including Forensic Nursing, Holistic and Integrative Specialist and Nurse Educator Programs.  It now is offering a new and exciting program for nurses seeking to rise up the corporate ladder in leadership and management positions.

Learn how to enhance your resume and become a leader and manager within your nursing fields. Please review our Nursing Management Program

 

AIHCP is offering two new certification programs, Healthcare Management and Nursing Management.  Both aim to help nurses find the education and knowledge necessary to learn the key components of organizational leadership and healthcare departmental management.  The program offers 6 key courses for Healthcare Management and additional course for Nursing Management.  The courses focus on key concepts of healthcare management and nursing management, as well as leadership, organizational behavior, human resource, delivery models, budgeting concepts and insurance and reimbursement procedure.

With management and leadership positions so competitive it is key to have every advantage necessary to climb the corporate ladder.   Experience and good work history are the first ingredient with knowledge and education as the next critical ingredient.  Nurses who possess leadership qualities, can utilize their experience and education to boost their resume and present to management their qualification as a perfect candidate for manager positions within the healthcare system.   Certifications boost this credibility.

Certifications orbit the primary education, licence and experience of a nurse.   They enhance the resume and present additional education beyond the undergraduate and graduate degree.  AIHCP’s continuing education and certification model present an excellent tool to make a qualified nurse stand out among his or her peers.   The Healthcare Management and Nursing Management Certifications prepare and help the candidate to become viable options at the leadership level.

Again, the programs at AIHCP are online, self paced and independent study.  They allow the busy schedule of a licensed professional to not become interrupted by scheduled classes and exam times.  Instead, the programs at AIHCP allow the student to pick the time to read and take the exam.  Furthermore, all courses are mentored and the student has unlimited mentorship as needed from qualified instructors.

In addition to the certification, nurses have an opportunity, while working towards certification, to earn continuing education hours towards a renewal of nursing licenses.  All courses have the State Board of California Nursing approvals which have reciprocity in many states.   For those not seeking continuing education, the courses nonetheless, give the candidate the necessary skills and education to handle any manager position with confidence.

Make the transfer to leadership through AIHCP’s Healthcare Management and Nursing Management Programs and see if they meet your academic and professional goals

 

The Healthcare Management and Nursing Management certifications are four-year certifications.  Upon expiration, the certified member needs to demonstrate 500 hours of clinical, academic or professional work within the field of management and also present 50 hours of continuing education.  Renewal pushes certification to another four-year limit until re-certification again is required.

Nurses who become certified as a Healthcare Manager or Nurse Manager can have the confidence of possessing not only the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed, but also the comfort of possessing a high quality certification that will enhance their resume and status within the healthcare community and facility.  If you would like to learn more about the Healthcare Management Program and Nursing Management Program then please review them and see if they match your academic and professional goals.   With this certification, qualified applicants could be operating at a leadership and management level very soon and fulfilling their leadership aspirations.

 

Nursing Management Certification Program Article on Authentic Leadership

Posted on by Mark Moran

In Nursing Management, leadership is a quality that cannot be taught but one that is inherent with the individual.  Qualities that encourage excellence in others through dedication, trust and example help a unit or department excel.  Nurse Managers have the knowledge of their station but also must be able to make a cohesive unit work.  This in turn benefits the department and the patients that are served within the department.

Learn more about becoming a nurse manager. Please also review our Nurse Management Certification Program

 

Authentic leadership within the relation between a nurse manager and other staff is key.  The article, “Be you! Authentic leadership” by Rosanne Raso delves deeper into the importance of leadership, especially authentic leadership and how it plays out within the particular department.  She states,

“One of the relational leadership styles, authentic leadership is rooted in positive psychology—the scientific study of the strengths that enable individuals and communities to thrive. The values of honesty, trust, and integrity are the underpinnings of authentic leadership. The importance of these values is as old as Greek philosophy and as relevant today as it was centuries ago”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review our new Nurse Management Certification Program.  The program is designed for nurses looking to enter into various management fields.  The program is online and independent study and offers a four year certification.  Please review to see if it meets your academic and professional goals.