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The article focuses on the Hawai‘i Interprofessional Education Workgroup (HIPE) and its efforts to facilitate interprofessional collaboration among health professional students from various University of Hawai‘i (UH) schools, particularly the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy (DKICP). It mentions the outcomes of distance education initiatives, including telehealth simulations and telepresence robot-assisted exercises.

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused unprecedented disruption in health care systems and may continue to do so. Nurses, the largest contingent of the nation's health care workforce, have borne the brunt of those disruptions, which have caused increased workload and resultant occupational stress. This study identified differences in nurses' occupational stress by practice specialty, time spent caring for patients with COVID-19, and nurses' demographic characteristics. A descriptive crosssectional online survey of RNs and APRNs (N=328) was conducted at a Level 1 Trauma Center on the island of O'ahu, Hawai'i in September and October of 2021. Participants completed the 57-item Expanded Nursing Stress Scale (ENSS). Nurses reported an average overall stress score of 2.11 out of 4. The ENSS subscales of workload, patients and their families, inadequate preparation, and uncertainty concerning treatment all had higher mean scores than the total scale. Nurses working in perioperative/procedural areas and obstetrics reported lower overall occupational stress scores than nurses in other specialties. Nurses who spent > 50% of their time caring for patients with COVID-19 reported higher overall occupational stress scores than nurses who spent = 50% of their time caring for patients with COVID-19 (F = 8.21, P < .001). Nurses over the age of 50 reported less stress than their younger counterparts (F = 5.75, P = .004). Understanding how occupational stress impacts acute care nurses can aid employers in allocating resources to address the problem, and thus improve workforce retention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article, the author discusses how health employers in Hawai'i envision the roles of population health nursing in the health care sector, particularly in addressing societal inequalities. Topics include how people with limited access to health care services and poor economic and living conditions suffered higher rates of COVID-19 infection, hospitalization and death, and nurses' role as promoters of interconnections between health and social care in communities.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has placed extraordinary strain on health care systems. This has led to increased stress among health care workers, and nurses in particular, which has had a negative impact on their physical and psychosocial wellbeing. This is likely to negatively impact the nursing workforce at the state and national levels as the pandemic continues. The purpose of this study was to assess whether nurses licensed in Hawai'i have considered leaving the workforce. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among Hawai'i nurses at all levels of licensure, with 421 responding. Of these nurses, 97 (23.0%) reported considering leaving the workforce, with safety (39.2%) and family/caregiver strain (32.0%) being the most common reasons. Reconsidering whether they should stay employed in their current roles (Odds ratio [OR] 2.05; 95% CI 1.56 - 2.69) and fear to continue providing direct patient care (OR 1.97; 95% CI 1.54 - 2.54) were associated with increased odds of having considered leaving the workforce. Based on these results, the State of Hawai'i and local health care organizations need to adjust their nursing workforce estimates and address how to alleviate nurses' stressors and safety concerns to mitigate a potential workforce shortage. Research is needed to develop interventions to support and empower nurses in their current roles but also address future emergency preparedness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the discussion on health care educators being charged with implementing interprofessional education (IPE). Topics include competency in IPE is a requirement for nearly all health professional students endorsed by Health Professional Accreditors Collaborative (HPAC) and supported by accrediting bodies; and delivering patient-centered care and improving population health in an affordable and efficient manner.

The article presents the discussion on health professionals, workers, and students called to action helping in slowing the spread of a disease about the minimal knowledge. Topics include extensive clinical experience and expertise in global health, public health, emergency response, and disaster management; and statewide organization representing hospitals, hospice, long-term care, and other healthcare organizations requiring health care students.