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Aim: To describe clinical nurses' experiences with practice change associated with participation in a multi‐site nursing translational research study implementing new protocols for hospital discharge readiness assessment. Background: Nurses' participation in translational research studies provides an opportunity to evaluate how implementation of new nursing interventions affects care processes within a local context. These insights can provide information that leads to successful adoption and sustainability of the intervention. Methods: Semi‐structured focus groups from 30 of 33 participating study hospitals lead by team nurse researchers. Results: Nurses reported improved and earlier awareness of patients' discharge needs, changes in discharge practices, greater patient/family involvement in discharge, synergy and enhanced discharge processes, and implementation challenges. Participating nurses related the benefits of participation in nursing research. Conclusion: Participation in a unit‐level translational research project was a successful strategy for engaging nurses in practice change to improve hospital discharge. Implications for Nursing Management: Leading unit‐based implementation of a structured discharge readiness assessment including nurse assessment and patient self‐assessment encourages earlier awareness of patients' discharge needs, improved patient assessment and greater patient/family involvement in discharge preparation. Integrating discharge readiness assessments into existing discharge care promotes communication between health team members that facilitates a timely, coordinated discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite formidable barriers, some African American women (AAW) engage in breast cancer screening (BCS) behaviors. Understanding individual characteristics that allow AAW to overcome barriers to BCS is critical to reduce breast cancer mortality among AAW. A salutogenic model of health was used to evaluate the influence of sense of coherence, social support, spirituality and health perception on BCS motivation and behaviors in AAW, and to determine differences in these factors in AAW who participate in free BCS programs compared to AAW who do not. Findings revealed that greater levels of spirituality were significantly associated with greater motivation to practice BCS. Further, women who utilized free BCS programs reported significantly greater rates of both performing and of intent to perform breast self examinations (BSE) in the future, obtaining clinical breast exams and mammograms. Findings can inform the development of culturally specific programs to improve the utilization of BCS programs by AAW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer is particularly burdensome on African American women (AAW) ranking second among the cause of cancer deaths in AA W. Although the incidence of breast cancer is highest in White women, AAW have a higher breast cancer mortality rate at every age and a lower survival rate than any other racial or ethnic group. Statistics indicate that the gap is widening. The results of several studies suggest that breast cancer mortality among AA W would be reduced if breast cancer screening recommendations were more effectively utilized. Results of research studies aimed at identifying variables relating to AAW acceptance of breast cancer screening activities have not had an impact on the disparity in mortality rates. The goals of this paper are to summarize the accumulated state of the nursing science and knowledge concerning breast cancer screening behavior of African American women, and to highlight important issues that research has left unresolved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]