Professional doctorate and professional nursing practice

The professional doctorate degree in nursing is a novel approach to gaining a doctoral qualification other than the traditional Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree. This taught programme aims at linking theory and practice innovations in addressing clinical nursing problems. This paper outlines the evolution of the professional doctorate in the USA, the UK and Australia and its differences from the traditional PhD. I argue that nurses enrolled in this course work programme will not only have the opportunity to pursue studies at the doctoral level, but it will also facilitate nurses to challenge and share their experiences in solving practice problems in a collegial manner. By understanding the broader perspective of an environment dominated by scarce resources and intricate socio-political relationship, nurses will be able to influence policy decisions and ultimately improve the standard of health care and enhance the professional status of nursing. It may even reduce the antagonism of the anti-intellectual environment of the workplace through practice-oriented research.     

Professional development for an advanced practice nursing team

Since its development in 1998, the Cardiology Advanced Practice Nurse team has been plagued by retention issues. The coordinator for the team developed this leadership project while participating in the 2008 to 2009 Maternal-Child Health Leadership Academy sponsored by Sigma Theta Tau International and Johnson & Johnson. The focus of this project was to develop, implement, and evaluate initiatives to empower the advanced practice nurse team, promote their professional development, and ultimately improve retention of team members. Although evaluation data show progress toward addressing work environment issues, retention remains an ongoing problem.     

Professional nursing practice: impact on organizational and patient outcomes

OBJECTIVE: To test a causal model of the impact of (a) nursing unit context on professional nursing practice; (b) professional practice on selected organizational (nurses' work satisfaction, nursing turnover, average length of patient stay) and patient outcomes (patient satisfaction, rate of reported medication errors, and falls); and (c) nursing unit context on these same organizational and patient outcomes. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Professional nursing practice has been linked to positive outcomes for both nurses and patients. In contrast to other studies, this study focuses on professional nursing practice specifically at the nursing unit level, and uses a new analytic technique that permits examination of the simultaneous effects of professional nursing practice on both organizational and patient outcomes. METHODS: Data were collected from 1682 registered nurses, and 1326 patients on 124 general medical-surgical nursing units in 64 general short-term acute care hospitals in the southeast. Multilevel structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: We found that professional nursing practice had consistent effects across model levels on nursing satisfaction, but very limited effects on other outcomes. Important differences in the hospital- and nursing unit level models support continued use of multilevel modeling techniques in the study of organizational and patient outcomes.     

基层医院建立专业小组参与护理质量管理的实践

目的：探讨基层医院建立护理专业小组在护理质量管理中的应用效果。方法建立9个护理专业小组,参与护理质量管理,每组设置组长1名及组员2名,制定小组职责,按照PDCA循环法开展护理质量管理工作。结果建立专业小组参与护理质量管理后,各项护理质量指标包括基础护理、文件书写、消毒隔离、急救物品、危重护理、技术操作合格率逐年提高,2009年基础护理、文件书写、消毒隔离、急救物品、危重护理、技术操作6个项目的合格率分别为90．6％,93．1％,93．7％,95．8％,92．5％,93．0％;2010年分别为95．8％,95．3％,95．0％,98．5％,94．5％,96．5％;2011年分别为97．2％,97．9％,98．3％,99．6％,96．8％,98．9％;2012年分别为98．9％,99．2％,99．2％,99．8,99．0％,99．1％;各年质量指标比较,差异有统计学意义（χ2值分别为8．993,7．391,4．784,6．615,6．584,6．987;P ＜0．05）。结论基层医院建立专业小组参与护理质量管理,有利于护理质量科学持续改进;减轻护理部管理人员工作压力,提高了管理效率;有利于护理质量的提高;提升了护理人员的工作成就感;有利于储备护理管理人才。     

Professional nursing practice in an HMO: the future is now

Managed care forms of service delivery now dominate the nursing practice environment. Nursing is potentially a key resource for helping the system to meet the increased and evolving demands, maintaining quality while decreasing costs. However, nurses need additional competencies to function effectively in this environment. Nurse educators need to prepare nurses for these new roles. This paper describes trends influencing nursing roles and identifies the nine categories of competencies needed by professional nurses practicing in HMO settings. Cost-reduction pressures have driven profound changes in the health care system in recent years. Countering these demands for cost-reduction are increases in costs driven by new, more expensive treatments and higher patient expectations. While the future of health care is anything but clear, certain features of the health care system seem relatively certain: major changes will continue to be cost-driven; more hospitals will close, or consolidate or collaborate to compete; and inpatient acuity will continue to increase. In addition, corporate America will increasingly influence how care is delivered and demands for information on health plan performance, such as the Health Employers Data Information System (HEDIS) (National Committee for Quality Assurance, 1997) will increase. These forces will inevitably redirect use of resources within health care organizations. Other external forces that will continue to influence how care is delivered are discussed below.     

护理专业学生实习前专业承诺状况及其影响因素

目的了解护理本科生及大专生实习前的专业承诺状况,并分析其影响因素。方法应用护理专业承诺量表对371名护理本科生及541名护理专科生进行问卷调查。结果实习前护理大专生总体专业承诺得分为(2.91±0.34)分,本科生为(2.79±0.35)分;不同性别、学历、成绩、专业兴趣、护理角色感觉、就读原因的学生,专业承诺水平差异有统计学意义。结论实习前护理专业学生专业承诺总体水平处于中等偏上,大专生的专业承诺水平高于本科生;性别、成绩、专业兴趣、角色感觉、就读原因对专业承诺有一定影响。     

Professional responsibility: implications for nursing practice within the realms of cardiothoracics

Through an exploration of the realms of professional responsibility this paper aims to illustrate its implications in nursing practice with particular refernce to the area of cardiothoracics. Throughout the paper issues surrounding the'Code of Professional Conduct for the Nurse, Midwife and Health Visitor' and the'The Scope of Professional Practice' released by the United Kingdom Central Council or Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (U.K.C.C.) in 1992 are considered.'The Code' as it will subsequently be referred to, and the'The Scope of Professional Practice'(U.K.C.C.) address issues of current change withing the nursing profession and provide a focus for discussion. While recognising both current constraints to clinical practice and the complexity of professional responsibility, it is concluded that the delivery of research based, quality patient care remains central to the role of all nursing professionals. With a primary focus on others before the self, nursing professionals must continue to address issues surrounding the maintenance and development of this care.     

Professional role synthesis for nursing faculty: a redefinition of faculty practice

Nursing faculty role is the synthesis of theory, education, practice, and research within a school of nursing environment. This model of nursing faculty role presents a synthesis and implementation of professional nurse role that nursing faculty might use to systematically meet the goals of developing nursing theory based on clinical practice, redefining and evaluating this theory through research, and educating students.     

护理专业实践模型在护理管理中的应用进展

从领导能力、护士的独立性及合作性、环境、护士的发展与认同、科研及创新、患者预后6方面阐述专业实践模型的框架,并对护理专业实践模型在医疗机构中的应用进行综述,以期为中国构建护理专业实践模型提供参考。