Practice patterns and organizational commitment of inpatient nurse practitioners

The relationship between emotional intelligence and organizational commitment among nurses working in governmental hospitals in Jordan

INTRODUCTION

Nurses' emotions and feelings in response to their environment and their ability to manage their emotions can significantly affect several aspects of their job. In Jordan, studies are still investigating whether emotional intelligence is significantly related to organizational commitment.

AIM

To investigate whether a significant relationship exists between emotional intelligence and organizational commitment among Jordanian nurses working in governmental hospitals in Jordan.

METHODS

The study used a descriptive cross-sectional correlational design. A convenience sampling method was used to recruit participants working in governmental hospitals. A total of 200 nurses participated in the study. A participant information sheet developed by the researcher was used to obtain the participants' socio-demographic characteristics, the Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS) developed by Schutte and colleagues, and the Organizational Commitment Scale developed by Meyer and Allen were utilized for data collection.

RESULTS

Participants had high levels of emotional intelligence (M, SD = 122.3, 14.0) and moderate levels of organizational commitment (M, SD = 81.6, 15.7). Emotional intelligence had a significant, positive relationship with organizational commitment (r = 0.53, p < 0.01). Male nurses, widowed nurses, and nurses with higher postgraduate qualifications demonstrated significantly higher levels of emotional intelligence and organizational commitment than female nurses, single nurses, and nurses with undergraduate degrees (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Participants in the current study were highly emotionally intelligent and moderately committed to their organizations. Policies supporting the implementation of interventions to improve organizational commitment and maintain a high level of emotional intelligence should be developed and promoted by nurse managers and hospital administrators, as well as decision-makers should magnet the nurses with postgraduate degrees at clinical sites.

The current state of transplant advanced practice providers: results of the advanced practice provider practice survey

Advanced practice providers (APPs) are trained, licensed health care providers. The American Society of Transplant APP community of practice developed an electronic survey to investigate transplant APP demographics, scope of practice, and academic activities. We defined the top of scope of practice as delivering health care to the fullest extent of APP education and training as allowed by state laws and regulations. From July 11, 2020, to August 31, 2020, 307 invitations were e-mailed and survey links were distributed electronically on the community of practice hub and social media. Two hundred fifty-three APPs responded. APPs practice in inpatient and outpatient settings. Among the respondent APPs, 11.5% assist in the operating room (OR), 46.3% of inpatient and 46.6% of outpatient APPs perform procedures, and 17.8% run specialized APP clinics. 26.2% feel they do not function at the top of their scope of practice and 29.7% were expected to function as a coordinator some or all of the time. Forty-three percent gave invited lectures, 41.5% have published, and 69.2% teach physician trainees. 74.7% and 35.1%, respectively, would like to participate in research and teach but are limited by time, opportunity, and experience. APPs should practice at the top of their scope of practice. Clinical workloads and lack of time limit the ability of APP to teach and contribute to evidence-based practice.

A translational research framework for nurse practitioners

AIMS

This study aims to explore a proposed translational research continuum for nurse practitioners.

BACKGROUND

Nurse practitioners are acknowledged as clinical leaders responsible for transforming health care delivery. It is important that nurse practitioners contribute to health care knowledge using scientific processes for the implementation of evidence-based practice and evaluation of outcomes of interventions for their patient groups.

EVALUATION

This paper provides a review of translational research literature including implementation science to align nurse practitioner activities to a modified translational research framework.

KEY ISSUES

A translational research framework has the potential to strengthen nursing research in the nurse practitioner role. Adapting an accepted translational research continuum for nurse practitioners places the clinical nursing leaders in an equitable research position with all health care professionals.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

The translational research continuum provides nursing management with a structure to benchmark nursing research. The continuum applies a modern research framework to support research engagement for the nurse practitioner role.

The Gaps of Healthcare Service Quality in Nurse Practitioner Practice and Its Associated Factors From the Patients' Perspective

PURPOSE

This study investigates the expectations, perceptions, and gaps of the healthcare service quality (HSQ) from the patients' perspective, and explores the significant demographic and clinical factors associated with the HSQ in nurse practitioner practice (NPP).

DESIGN

A cross-sectional design was carried out, with convenience sampling performed under the NPP in Taiwan, from June to November 2016.

METHODS

The Nurse Practitioner Healthcare Service Quality Scale was used to assess the expectations, perceptions, and gaps of the HSQ. The demographics, clinical characteristics, and symptom severity of patients were collected, and the Importance-Performance Analysis was applied to identify the priority of ranking items for the improvement of nurse practitioners (NPs). The Generalized Estimating Equation was used to explore the factors associated with the HSQ in NPP.

FINDINGS

A total of 200 patients completed the questionnaires. The results revealed that the patients had overall high expectations (M = 6.35, SD = 0.46), moderate perceptions (M = 4.21, SD = 0.95), and a mild HSQ gap (M = -2.14, SD = 0.69), with statistically significant differences (p < .001). In NPP, the largest gap in the HSQ dimensions was reliable responsiveness, followed by empathy, assurance, and tangibility. Patients with greater symptom severity and a longer in-hospital stay were associated with larger HSQ gaps; however, patients who were transferred from the emergency department had smaller gaps than those in the outpatient department.

CONCLUSIONS

The patients' expectations were not fully satisfied in the NPP, especially for the dimensions of reliable responsiveness and empathy. The patients' symptom severity was a significant factor related to the gaps in the HSQ. The awareness of unmet needs, from the patients' perspective, could guide the convergence of a rational policy to promote healthcare delivery in the NPP.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The managers of NPP need to pay attention to increasing NPs' reliable responsiveness and empathy, by setting the appropriate scope of practice, regulating the NP-to-patient ratio, applying for certification programs in prescribing training, and cultivating patient-centered care with shared decision making. In addition, building up the knowledge and competency of symptom management is also suggested for NP training.

An integrative review to identify evidence of nurse practitioner-led changes to health-care delivery and the outcomes of such changes

AIMS

This study aimed to identify evidence of nurse practitioner-led changes to health-care delivery and the outcomes of such changes.

BACKGROUND

Changing health-care delivery is synonymous with the nurse practitioner role. The literature is critical of the lack of research by nurse practitioners, reporting the effects of a change to health-care delivery.

DESIGN

This study used a systematic integrative review by using Torraco's approach.

DATA SOURCES

Databases Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, MEDLINE, Web of Science and SCOPUS were searched for peer-reviewed publications from 2000 to 2019.

REVIEW METHODS

A systematic approach was used to screen and analyse the literature. Inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied, and quality appraisal was undertaken by two reviewers.

RESULTS

Eighteen articles were selected. The research projects were across the community and acute care settings. Research methodologies varied including preintervention and postintervention studies, evaluation of quality improvement projects, randomized controlled trial and descriptive studies. Multiple data collection tools were used. Two major themes were identified including evidence-based practice champions and improved patient outcomes.

CONCLUSION

The nurse practitioner role is pertinent toward improving evidence-based practice in clinical settings. Positive patient outcomes and praise for clinical leadership are evident in the literature. Research by nurse practitioners to date has focused on individual services.

A survey identifying leadership and research activities among Nurse Practitioners

Background: Nurse Practitioners are identified as the ideal conduit to transform healthcare delivery internationally. Healthcare transformation requires the application of leadership and research skills. Current literature has limited information on NPs as leaders or researchers in the nursing profession.Objectives: Determine if Nurse Practitioners identify themselves as leaders in nursing. Identify the leadership and research activities and influencing characteristics of Nurse Practitioners in Ireland and Australia. Establish similarities in leadership and research activities between Nurse Practitioners in Ireland and Australia. To identify if there is a relationship between leadership and research activities.Design: A quantitative electronic survey.Methods: A survey instrument was developed by combining two previously validated instruments. Nurse Practitioners in Ireland or Australia that had practiced within the last five years, and members of the respective professional association were included. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the findings and explore relationships in the data.Results: 14% (n = 96) of Nurse Practitioners responded to the survey. Nurse Practitioners in Ireland and Australia identified themselves as leaders of the nursing profession. Nurse Practitioners work practices, leadership and research activities are similar in Ireland and Australia. The majority (n = 55, 57%), of participants reported being research active. There was an association between perceived leadership and research activities among participants.Conclusion: Nurse Practitioners in both Ireland and Australia identify themselves as leaders of the nursing profession. There is no difference in reported work practices, leadership or research activities of Nurse Practitioners in both Ireland and Australia. There is an association between perceived leadership and research activity.Impact Statement: Nurse Practitioners in Ireland and Australia percieved themselves as leaders in nursing and this perception increases with research activity.

Pediatric nurse practitioner's perceived organizational support in academic and nonacademic institutions

BACKGROUND

The role of the pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP) has changed since its inception over 50 years ago. Pediatric nurse practitioner practice has evolved from providing outpatient primary care to children to providing complex care in the acute practice environment.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to describe whether a difference existed in perceptions of organizational support (POS) of PNPs working in academic and nonacademic institutions and to describe the differences between PNP reporting structures and POS.

METHODS

A quantitative cross-sectional design was used with a convenience sample (n = 86) of PNPs from the membership list of the Pediatric Nurse Credentialing Board (PNCB). A formal written request was sent to the PNCB to access their membership after which institutional review board approval was obtained from Case Western Reserve University. Participants received an online cover letter with links to the surveys to be completed. The PNPs were asked to complete a demographic/institution characteristic survey and Eisenberger Perceived Organizational Support Survey (POS).

RESULTS

More than 63% of the PNPs participating in this national survey, practicing in both academic and nonacademic affiliated hospitals, had positive perceptions of organizational support. No differences were found between the academic and the nonacademic affiliations.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Because PNPs are integral to the provision of care to children, providing opportunities for PNPs to continue to enhance their clinical skills and practice to the full extent of their scope of practice will only enhance their perceptions of organizational support. This dynamic creates a win-win for the PNP, the institution, the patients they care for, and the US health care system.

Time use of advanced practice nurses in hospitals: A cross-sectional study

AIMS

To examine the use of time by advanced practice nurses and time use differences according to type of healthcare organization, work experience, and supervisor.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional, observational study.

METHODS

Non-participant observations were executed in Belgium (October 2015-January 2016). Time use was categorized in domains (patient/family, team, healthcare organization) and roles (clinical expert, educator/coach, change agent/innovator, researcher, leader, collaborator, and ethical decision-making facilitator). Proportional working time in domains and roles was calculated. Chi-squared tests identified differences in time use according to type of healthcare organization, number of years of work experience, and type of hierarchical/functional supervisor.

RESULTS

Participants mainly devoted time to the patient/family domain (30.78%) and the clinical expert role (34.19%). The role of leader and ethical decision-making facilitator covered, respectively, 4.84% and 0.07% of participants' time. Time distribution in domains and roles differed between participants in university and peripheral hospitals.

CONCLUSION

Activities were executed in all domains and roles, except for the ethical decision-making facilitator role. Further research could uncover barriers and facilitators for role execution, especially about leadership and ethical decision-making.

IMPACT

Advanced practice nurses, supervisors and policymakers could act to optimize advanced practice nurses' scope of practice.

Effect of organizational citizenship behavior on family-centered care: Mediating role of multiple commitment

Family-centered care is one the most important indicators of high-quality care. The organizational citizenship behavior and commitment can enhance the quality of healthcare. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the organizational citizenship behavior on family-centered care considering the mediating role of multiple commitment. This descriptive study was conducted on 237 nurses working in pediatric and infant units of hospitals in Tehran city, Iran. The subjects were selected using the convenience sampling method. Data collection was performed using the Organizational Citizenship Behavior Scale, Perceived Family-Centered Care Staff Questionnaire, Affective Commitment Scale, and Commitment to the Supervisor Scale. The SPSS v.22 and SEM-PLS v.2 software were used for data analysis. Results were extracted in the form of a standard model and fitted for indices pertaining to the measurement and structural models. Accordingly, the organizational citizenship behavior had a direct effect on family-centered care (β = 0.19, t = 2.39). Moreover, multiple commitment including commitment to the leader and commitment to the organization had indirect weak and moderate effects on the relationship between the organizational citizenship behavior and family-centered care, respectively. An inverse association was reported between commitment to the leader and family-centered care. Furthermore, the organizational citizenship behavior predicted family-centered care by 70% considering the mediating role of multiple commitment. Therefore, family-centered care as an indicator of high-quality care can be improved through enhancing the organizational citizenship behavior and organizational commitment among Iranian nurses working in pediatric wards.