Sonia Udod1, Maura MacPhee2, Joan I J Wagner3, Lois Berry4, Glen Perchie5,6, Aidan Conway7. 1. Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, College of Nursing, Helen Glass Centre for Nursing, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada. 2. UBC School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. 3. Faculty of Nursing, University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada. 4. College of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada. 5. Emergency Medicine Services for Southern Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada. 6. Saskatchewan Health Authority, Saskatoon, SK, Canada. 7. Saskatchewan Union of Nurses, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
Abstract
AIM: To explore emergency nurses' perceptions of how a nurse-driven patient needs assessment tool, the synergy tool, influenced their workload management. BACKGROUND: Quadruple Aim, particularly the fourth aim of improved staff work experiences, served as the conceptual framework to engage nurses in a participatory action research project. This project took place between 2017 and 2020 in two tertiary care emergency departments in one large Canadian city. METHOD: This study employed a qualitative descriptive component, focus group interviews and nurse comments on two open-ended survey questions. RESULTS: Use of the synergy tool heightened nurses' awareness of patients' holistic care needs. Nurses also stated how patient needs assessment data helped them identify unsafe workloads. CONCLUSIONS: The synergy tool, adapted for emergency department use by nurses, was a means to engage and empower nurses. Patient needs assessment data from the tool identified staffing gaps, resulting in additional nursing staff for both emergency departments. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: A focus on patient needs assessment can be an effective way to address nurses' workload concerns.
AIM: To explore emergency nurses' perceptions of how a nurse-driven patient needs assessment tool, the synergy tool, influenced their workload management. BACKGROUND: Quadruple Aim, particularly the fourth aim of improved staff work experiences, served as the conceptual framework to engage nurses in a participatory action research project. This project took place between 2017 and 2020 in two tertiary care emergency departments in one large Canadian city. METHOD: This study employed a qualitative descriptive component, focus group interviews and nurse comments on two open-ended survey questions. RESULTS: Use of the synergy tool heightened nurses' awareness of patients' holistic care needs. Nurses also stated how patient needs assessment data helped them identify unsafe workloads. CONCLUSIONS: The synergy tool, adapted for emergency department use by nurses, was a means to engage and empower nurses. Patient needs assessment data from the tool identified staffing gaps, resulting in additional nursing staff for both emergency departments. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: A focus on patient needs assessment can be an effective way to address nurses' workload concerns.
Authors: Tessa Maguire; Loretta Garvey; Jo Ryan; Michael Olasoji; Georgina Willets Journal: Int J Ment Health Nurs Date: 2022-05-19 Impact factor: 5.100