from the editor
from the editor
Researchers Issue a Blueprint for Change in Acute- and Critical-Care Nursing
In this issue , we present a significant amount of futures-facing material , based on opinions of experts from the infection prevention and control sector . You may have missed , however , a recent paper that proposes a significant shift in how nursing care is measured within acuteand critical-care settings . This Blueprint for Action seeks to revolutionize current methods by recognizing the full scope of a nurse ’ s work and its profound impact on patient outcomes .
“ The current measurement systems fail to capture the essence of what nurses truly do ,” explains lead-author Martha A . Q . Curley , PhD , RN , FAAN , professor of nursing in Penn Nursing ’ s Department of Family and Community Health . “ This blueprint outlines a new framework that acknowledges the diverse skillsets and contributions of nurses , ultimately leading to improved patient-care delivery and outcomes .” Key Components of the Proposed Blueprint are :
Nine Domains of Practice : The framework outlines nine core areas where nurses provide essential care , encompassing not just clinical expertise but also patient education , advocacy , and emotional support .
Supportive Hospital Environment : The blueprint highlights the importance of fostering a supportive hospital environment that empowers nurses to provide optimal patient care .
Precision-Based Outcomes : Moving beyond a simple focus on preventing negative events , the proposal advocates for measuring positive outcomes directly linked to nursing interventions .
Collaborative Partnerships : The paper emphasizes the need for collaboration between stakeholders – nurses , researchers , policymakers , and healthcare systems – to develop and implement new outcome measures .
By highlighting the work of bedside nurses , Curley says this blueprint has the potential to :
• Enhance patient outcomes : Making nurses ’ contributions visible can lead to better recognition of their impact on patient well-being .
• Empower nursing practice : Highlighting the full scope of nursing practice can lead to a more rewarding and fulfilling career path for nurses .
The paper outlines specific actions for individuals within the healthcare system :
• Nurses : Engage in discussions about impactful nursing practices and participate in data collection efforts .
• Nurse leaders : Utilize data and analytics to focus on patient outcomes derived from the full spectrum of nursing care .
• Nurse researchers : Partner with data scientists to develop new outcome metrics .
• Hospital systems : Implement information systems that capture data encompassing all nine domains of nursing practice .
• Policymakers and accreditors : Hold the profession accountable for developing metrics that reflect nursing excellence .
“ This blueprint marks a pivotal step toward a future where the value of acute- and critical-care nurses is fully recognized ,” said Curley . “ By working together , we can ensure that the impact of nurses ’ work is clearly visible , leading to better patient outcomes and a more rewarding profession for nurses .” Until next time , bust those bugs !
Kelly M . Pyrek Editor & Publisher Kelly @ healthcarehygienemagazine . com
Reference : Curley , MAQ . Nursing Outlook . Volume 72 , Issue 6 . November- December 2024 . Accessible at : https :// www . nursingoutlook . org / article / S0029- 6554 ( 24 ) 00164-7 / fulltext healthcarehygienemagazine
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6 • www . healthcarehygienemagazine . com • october 2024