Feasibility of using the Omaha System to represent public health nurse manager interventions

ABSTRACT Objective: To test the feasibility of representing public health nurse (PHN) manager interventions using a recognized standardized nursing terminology. Design and Sample: A nurse manager in a Midwest local public health agency documented nurse manager interventions using the Omaha System for 5 months. Analytic Strategy: The data were analyzed and the results were compared with the results from a parallel analysis of existing PHN intervention data. Results: Interventions for 79 “clients” (projects, teams, or individuals) captured 76% of recorded work hours, and addressed 43% of Omaha System problems. Most problems were addressed at the “community” level (87.1%) versus the “individual” level (12.9%). Conclusions: Nursing practice differed between the 2 knowledge domains of public health family home visiting nursing and public health nursing management. Standardized nursing terminologies have the potential to represent, describe, and quantify nurse manager interventions for future evaluation and research.     

A crosswalk between the Omaha System and guiding undergraduate public health nursing education documents

The Omaha System is the hallmark evidence‐based clinical information management system used in nursing education, research, and practice. Multiple education documents guide public health workforce preparation. This qualitative study identified similarities and gaps between the Omaha System and seven guiding documents commonly used by nurse educators. A crosswalk design was employed. The setting was virtually based using online technology. Recommendations are for public health nurse educators to update their teaching practices using evidence‐based approaches.     

Effects of the implementation of a breastfeeding best practice guideline in a Canadian public health agency

Several strategies were used to implement a breastfeeding best practice guideline (BPG) in a Canadian public health agency. Nurses surveyed before and 1 year after implementation reported increased BPG‐related knowledge and stronger beliefs regarding breastfeeding duration beyond 1 year. Telephone surveys also were conducted with mothers; 90 before BPG implementation and another cohort of 141 mothers following implementation. Post‐implementation mothers were more knowledgeable about sources of breastfeeding help, obtained more help from public health nurses, and reported more breastfeeding‐related discussion with healthcare providers. Compared to the pre‐implementation cohort, mothers in the post‐implementation cohort who were still breastfeeding at 6 months intended to continue breastfeeding longer. Implementing a breastfeeding BPG can affect breastfeeding‐related experiences at a population level. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 35:435–449, 2012     

奥马哈分类系统应用于慢性持续性哮喘患者的效果观察

目的 探讨奥马哈分类系统应用于慢性持续性哮喘患者的效果。方法 选取2016年116例住院哮喘患者设为观察组,应用分类系统问题条目进行评估,并对症干预;选取2015年65例哮喘患者设为对照组,住院期间实施整体护理,病历资料按分类系统问题条目整理。比较2组问题条目应用情况。结果 2组患者使用分类系统问题的条目总数及部分条目应用存在差异性,其中6个问题未应用,4个问题全部应用,新增12个问题条目;观察组患者及医护人员对护理工作的满意度均高于对照组。结论 奥马哈分类系统有利于发现哮喘患者现存或潜在的问题,可预见性地采取有效措施预防哮喘急性发作,提高患者的满意度。     

Smoking in a public health agency: its relationship to sick leave and other life-style behavior

A survey questionnaire was administered to employees of a public health agency regarding their involvement with smoking and other life-style behavior. Responses were analyzed and combined with sick leave data to determine the use of sick leave among employees who currently smoke, those who never smoked, and those who formerly smoked. Current smokers took significantly more sick leave than those who have never smoked ("nonsmokers") or former smokers. Using an analysis of variance model, only smoking status, education level, and sex, among selected demographic variables, were significantly related to the amount of sick leave taken. Current smokers took excess sick leave (amounting to nearly $40,000) as compared with nonsmokers and ex-smokers combined over a 21-month period. This study also characterizes the relationship between smoking status and selected life-style behavior. Smokers were less active, less likely to use seat belts, less likely to believe that smoking is related to health, and more likely to be heavier and to eat a poor diet than their nonsmoking or former smoking counterparts. We make suggestions regarding the reduction of smoking and other deleterious behavior as a means of controlling costs and reducing employee morbidity.     

Home health patient classification system

A patient classification system has been developed for use in a home health setting. It is easy to use and is readily adaptable for computerization. The reliability and validity of the system has been supported through use by nurses on approximately 1,000 home visits. After appropriate adaptations are made, it can be a useful tool in measuring nurse workload and in costing out nursing services.     

Clinical application of the Omaha system with the Nightingale Tracker: a community health nursing student home visit program

The application of computer use in the clinical and educational arena needs to be emphasized for both the improved management of patient data and nursing knowledge. Faculty commitment to automation of home visit documentation records was essential to sustain the trial of implementing the Nightingale Trackers in the clinical area. The Nightingale Tracker is a software program that automates the Omaha system, a community-friendly nursing language that encourages a focus on health promotion. A team approach involving students, faculty, and technical support enabled the automation of the patient record of a home visiting program in a community health nursing course.