Aim: This paper reports on structures and processes of hospital care influencing 30-day mortality for acute medical patients. Background: Wide variation in risk-adjusted 30-day hospital mortality rates for acute medical patients indicates that hospital structures and processes of care affect patient death. Because nurses provide the majority of care to hospitalized patients, we propose that str...

W in a critical care setting is challenging even on the best of days— critical care providers routinely encounter situations that can create moral distress and provoke instances of incivility among colleagues. This type of constant stress ultimately can lead to nurse burnout and compassion fatigue. Creating and sustaining healthy work environments is imperative to prevent disrespectful interact...

While the nephrology nursing shortage persists despite the continued growth of the population of individuals with Stage 5 chronic kidney disease, there is a paucity of empirical data regarding nephrology nurses' perceptions of their work environments. Moreover, there are no studies that have examined the relationship of work environment attributes to patient and nurse outcomes in dialysis setti...

Connie Paine, RN, CCRN, is a staff nurse in the intensive care unit at UCSD/Thornton Hospital in La Jolla, California.

Nurse managers should check whether staff are morning larks or night owls before asking them to work night shifts, new research suggests.

This paper presents a general optimisation-based rostering engine developed by the University of Auckland. This engine is designed to solve a wide range of personnel scheduling (staff rostering) problems. The engine is currently being used to roster over 700 staff at an Australian call centre and also for the rostering of 50 immigration staff at Auckland International Airport. It is being trial...

This case study presents a consultation-liaison client and family. The author illustrates how a coordinated staff effort and the nurse-patient relationship resulted in improved treatment.

The traditional role of the acute care staff nurse is changing. The new norm establishes an expectation that staff nurses base their practice on best evidence. When evidence is lacking, nurses are charged with using the research process to generate and disseminate new knowledge. This article describes the critical forces behind the transformation of this role and the organizational mission, cul...

Background: Because of the economic crisis and nursing shortage, the situation for hospitals will be demanding throughout the decade in the 2010s. This poses challenges for nursing management. This article focuses on Finnish health care, particularly on nurse managers. Aim: The aim of this study is to describe and analyse future challenges in hospitals in one hospital district in Finland from t...

Reflection has recently gained increased recognition for its potential to facilitate learning. New insights gained through reflection enable the nurse to respond to clinical situations from a changed perspective. Skill, however, is required in learning to reflect. In this article, the author provides a systematic approach for staff development specialists to use to assist staff in reflecting on...