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A research poster should convey a project's key features while actively engaging the viewer and encouraging communication. Effectively designed conference posters disseminate important scientific research. This article reviews the steps needed to create an effective research poster for presentation at a conference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation (SBAR) protocol was used to improve shift reports and interdisciplinary rounding. On a medical-surgical unit, observations were conducted before and after implementation. Both processes were significantly shorter and more consistent. SBAR enabled more focused and efficient communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This exploratory paper describes associations between neonatal clinical data and behavioral outcomes among infants born with very low birth weight (VLBW) at 4 years of age. Statistical analysis of 24 VLBW infants was conducted using principal factor analysis (PFA). Multiple linear regressions were calculated to explore the relationship between identified risk factors (demographic and clinical data) and behavioral measures: the Battelle Developmental Inventory (2nd ed.) Screening Test (BDI-2 ST) and the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Gestational age was controlled for in the model. Exploratory PFA results indicated that two factors had greater ability to explain observed variations within the sample. The first factor significantly associated high-level neonatal care with aggressive behaviors (β = -0.7477, p < 0.05). The first factor was also predictive of lower personal-social, communication, and cognitive scores. The second factor significantly associated cardiopulmonary complications with pervasive developmental problems (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, depression, and oppositional defiant disorder) (β = 0.1977, p < 0.05). These results showed that behavioral consequences at 4 years of age were found among children born VLBW due to the severity of illness, the need of high-level care, and cardiopulmonary complications during the neonatal period. These findings suggest VLBW infants experience longer term effects from trauma early in life and warrant further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel learning model was implemented in an accredited nurse residency program to address gaps in foundational competencies. Results suggest the program positively contributed to bridging the new nurse education practice gap without increasing the total length of orientation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hospital admission can be particularly difficult for children with known behavioral health challenges, such as children on the autism spectrum disorder. Nurses are in an ideal role to ease the burden associated with hospitalization. The aims of this quality improvement (QI) project include creating and implementing an evidencebased visual schedule for use with children who have challenging behaviors, and designing and implementing education for nurses specifically intended to describe evidence behind the use of visual activity schedules (VAS) for children with challenging behaviors. A Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) method was used, and the intervention was evaluated via pre- and post-implementation surveys. The QI project was implemented on a 24-bed acute care unit at a large, tertiary care, Midwestern children's hospital. A sample of 46 nurses received the education, with 23 completing the pre-implementation survey and 6 completing the post-implementation survey. Education was provided through in-person teaching and handouts. Nurses initially had a poor understanding of the use of VAS, which improved following the education. They felt comfortable providing care for children at risk for challenging behaviors and in their knowledge about diagnoses for these patients, which remained unchanged following the educational program. Positive feedback was received following implementation, with nurses noting a greater understanding about VAS for children at risk for challenging behaviors. Nurses learned how to identify patients that could benefit from the use of a VAS and how to work with families to create a schedule that could benefit the child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article addresses how pediatric nurses and allied staff can encourage children and families to become more engaged and confident health care users, employing their professional training in and responsibilities around advocacy. Topics discussed include development of self advocacy, role of health care play in helping pediatric patients develop familiarity with equipment and procedures, and ways to promote self-efficacy and self-advocacy.

Nurses' role in assessing and managing patient mobility is critical due to negative consequences associated with immobility. Bedside Mobility Assess ment Tool (BMAT), a validated tool used to assess mobility in hospitalized patients, was implemented over 6 months on medical-surgical units. Use of the BMAT enhanced communication regarding mobility and mobility equipment, and improved patient and staff safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medication nonadherence can contribute to hospital readmissions. Medical-surgical nurses play a crucial role in reducing medication nonadherence by validating patient knowledge of home medications, providing early education on new medications, involving patients and caregivers when providing new education, and delivering effective communication during care transitions to home health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to increase palliative and hospice services in the United States requires comprehensive, standardized education for clinicians. With a rise in the number of patients living with serious illnesses, medical-surgical nurses would benefit from more palliative and end-of-life care education. In this study, nurses' comfort in addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual needs for patients receiving palliative and hospice care was examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Improvements in patient satisfaction are perpetual goals for health care organizations, and nurses are the health care providers most frequently in contact with patients and families. Understanding relationships between compassion satisfaction (CS), compassion fatigue (CF), and nurses' perceptions of their role with patient satisfaction may identify opportunities for improvement. Methods: A quality improvement survey pilot project was undertaken to establish data on the prevalence of CS and CF, as well as nurses' demographics and perceptions regarding patient satisfaction from a representative sample of hospital registered nurses from five clinical units. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative data, and for qualitative data, semantic content analysis was used. Outcomes: A total of 102 nurses voluntarily participated, and findings indicated moderate-high prevalence of CS (3.83 to 4.05) and moderate-low prevalence of CF (2.04 to 2.39) across all five pilot units without significant relationships with unit patient satisfaction ratings. Nurses (60%) perceived themselves as accountable for patient satisfaction and identified similar codes (> 75%) in open-ended responses. Conclusion: Implications for pediatric nursing were increased risk for CF, which can be mediated with proactive interventions that support nurse resiliency, and CS. Further investigation of correlations between nurse satisfaction and patient satisfaction, nursing work environment, communication, and family care in pediatrics is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Frequent blood lab testing within the hospitalized pediatric population can have undesirable consequences, including patient pain and anxiety, increased healthcare costs, and decreased caregiver satisfaction. Nurses on an inpatient unit at a large, urban, academic pediatric hospital recognized the need for quality improvement (QI) to decrease the frequency of lab draws when their patients were experiencing multiple lab draws each day. Methods: A unit-based, collaborative QI project was implemented. Education and communication interventions were developed based on knowledge gained from meetings with frontline workers and stakeholders. Medical resident and nurse education was delivered in the form of flyers, in-person sessions, and PowerPoint presentation. Lab checklists were implemented to facilitate interprofessional daily communication about labs on rounds. Pre-implementation and post-implementation data were collected retrospectively from the electronic health record and compared using paired t tests and percent changes. Results: The average number of lab draw encounters per total patient census per day decreased by 8.2% post-implementation. For patients who had lab draw encounters, their daily average number of lab draw encounters decreased by 7.5%. The average number of patients with lab-free days did not significantly change. Conclusions: Medical resident and nurse education and interprofessional daily communication about labs on rounds were cost-effective methods to improve lab practices within an academic pediatric hospital. QI initiatives can decrease healthcare costs and waste, and decrease patient discomfort and harm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines patient perceptions of nurse communications and actions that result in negative feelings among patients at increased risk for demoralization. Topics discussed include association between demoralization and adverse health outcomes, four instruments developed to identify demoralization in medical patients, and study on demoralization as a concept of distress in severely ill patients with mixed-diagnosis cancer.

The article discusses a quality improvement project on the implementation of the Discharge Hospitality Center (DHC) to minimize emergency department boarding. Nurse leaders need to consider strategies to improve patient flow and operational processes in every facet of the healthcare delivery system. The Joint Commission's patient flow standards known as LD.04.03.11 is discussed. The focus of education for implementing the DHC pilot was to general medicine department staff nurses.

The SBAR (Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation) tool was introduced to health care in 2002 to guide communication of patient care information. Evidence of an integrated literature review indicates SBAR is an effective intervention for patient safety through improved communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a cross-sectional study of missed nursing care in a community in Central New York using the MISSCARE survey. Topics mentioned include the statistical data about the respondents including specialty of care and experience in role, the factors that were identified by respondents as missed in patient care including interventions and assessment, and the causes of missed care including the lack of material resources including medication.

The article presents an overview of the leadership role of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) with the implementation and evaluation of a pediatric diabetes telemedicine program for a rural community with limited access to pediatric diabetes specialists. Topics include implementation of the innovative model of care, limitations and future quality improvement metrics, and benefits and challenges of telemedicine program.

The article presents the highlights of a healthy work environment conference sponsored by the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing in New Orleans, Louisiana in 2019. The conference included sessions on specific aspects of work environments of nurses. The themes of the conference included the impact of effective communication on job satisfaction and the quality of care delivery and the relationships of nurses with other nurses, managers and physicians.

The article discusses the background and description of shared decision making, and its importance in patient-centered care. Topics covered include the expansion of share decision making beyond the healthcare provider and patient dyad, the competencies for shared decision making, and the use of reflective questioning to enable nurses adjust their practice as they engage patients in shared decision making.

The article presents a research study to evaluate the role of nurses in early sepsis recognition and initiation of targeted treatment. Topics covered include the highlights of previous research articles relating to sepsis, sepsis screening, and sepsis bundles, the Six Sigma quality improvement model Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control (DMAIC) used in the study, and the need for educational intervention for nurses to increase their knowledge about sepsis.

The article discusses how nurse leaders can effectively lead virtual teams. The definition of e-Leadership and Virtual Teams are also provided. Also discussed are the eight guiding principles of e-leadership including the formation of a trusting relationship, establishing a presence for a sense of leadership, and promotion of social-emotional aspects. Also included is the clinical relevance of e-leadership to the nursing profession.

In the United States, one in every 68 children has autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). ASD is a developmental disorder of the brain that is characterized by impairments in social interaction, communication, and repetitive patterns of behavior (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). Nurses have a duty to provide high quality care to children with ASD. Effective communication is essential to providing quality care. Three main theories attempt to explain how the ASD brain functions and the implications on communication: lack of theory of mind, weak central coherence, and lack of executive function. Children with ASD have difficulties in vocalic, kinesthetic, and proxemic aspects of communication (Notbhom, 2006). Simple adaptations to environment and style can make the communication between nurses and children with ASD easier and more effective (Aylott, 2000; Green et al., 2010). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the provision of culturally competent health are for members of the transgender community. Topics covered include how to provide individualized care for a transgender patient, the transgender issues that affect institutions, health systems, and health providers, and the internal barriers that affect the provision of healthcare for transgender patients. It also discusses the importance of open communication between the health provider and transgender patient.