FRAMING A PRACTICE PROBLEM AS A CRITICAL QUESTION WITH MEASURABLE OUTCOMES

Throughout this course you have focused on practice problems to address in applying nursing and interdisciplinary theories, and in the  application of evidence-based practice for quality improvement. This week you begin exploring the components of evidence-based practice by framing a practice problem as a critical question. You will begin a search of the literature for evidence to answer the question and inform a practice change for quality improvement.

Respond to  two of your colleagues  by suggesting a different way of framing their critical question. Cite sources to support your posts and recommend to colleagues.

PEER #1

Shaunagay Kenney

Week 7 Discussion Main Post

A Critical Question with Measurable Outcomes

Question: Will adding pharmacological interventions to nonpharmacological treatments improve post-traumatic stress disorders in adults?

Article Selection

A total of six articles were discovered and appraised using the “Adapted Rating System for the Hierarchy of Evidence” (Dang & Dearholt, 2017; Fineout-Overholt et al., 2010). The type of article and information that supported the purpose statement were used in the selection process.

Critical Question Explanation

            Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has long been associated with military members

exposed to combat. Before PTSD was coined, Charles Myers used shell “shock” to describe injured soldiers during World War I (Horwitz, 2018). According to Friedman (2019), PTSD is defined as direct or indirect exposure to a traumatic event where a person is severely traumatized based on that event. According to the National Center for PTSD (2021), 60% of men and 50% of women will experience at least one traumatic event in their lives, 6% of the population will have PTSD at some point in their lives, and about 15 million adults have PTSD during a given year. For most individuals, psychotherapy is a sufficient treatment for PTSD, but not for others. Could pharmacological interventions assist individuals where psychotherapy alone does not work?       

Article Synthesis

            For some individuals, psychotherapy alone does not work. Similarly, pharmacological use alone can be ineffective (Raskind et al., 2018; Rasmusson et al., 2017). However, combining SSRIs or other medications with CBT or other therapies may reduce PTSD symptoms in some individuals (Mithoefer et al., 2019; Wagner et al., 2017). Mithoefer et al. (2019) found that MDMA- assisted psychotherapy effectively treated PTSD. According to Wagner et al. (2017), MDMA increases oxytocin, facilitates openness, and enhances the therapy's effectiveness. In the prolonged exposure and sertraline trial conducted by Rauch et al. (2020), PTSD subjects were given strict instructions on collecting their saliva for testing. They made a ground-breaking discovery about cortisol, finding that cortisol levels were lower in individuals with PTSD than those without PTSD (Rauch et al., 2020). Not only was this discovery made, but following the combination treatment of sertraline and prolonged exposure, significant improvements were noted for one year (Rauch et al., 2019). While combining psychotherapy with some drugs improved PTSD symptoms, others did not.

References

Dang, D., & Dearholt, S. (2017). 
Johns Hopkins nursing evidence-based practice: Model and     guidelines (3rd ed.). Sigma Theta Tau International.

Fineout-Overholt, E., Melnyk, B. M., Stillwell, S. B. & Williamson, K. M. (2010). Critical   

           appraisal of the evidence: Part I. 
American Journal of Nursing, 110(7), 47-52. 

https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NAJ.0000366056.06605.d2Links to an external site.

Friedman, M. J. (2019, October 14). 
PTSD History and Overview. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. 

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/essentials/history_ptsd.aspLinks to an external site.

Horwitz, A. (2018). 
PTSD: A short history. Johns Hopkins University Press

Mithoefer, M. C., Feduccia, A. A., Jerome, L., Mithoefer, A., Wagner, M., Walsh, Z., Hamilton,     S., Yaza-Klosinski, B., Emerson, A., & Doblin, R. (2019). MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of PTSD: Study design and rationale for phase 3 trials based   on pooled analysis of six phase 2 randomized controlled trials. 
Psychopharmacology,            236(9), 2735-2745. 

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-019-05249-5Links to an external site.

PTSD: National Center for PTSD. (2021, September 10). 
How common is PTSD in adults? U.S.       Department of Veterans Affairs.        

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/common/common_adults.aspLinks to an external site.

Raskind, M. A., Peskind, E. R., Chow, BB., Harris, C., Davis-Karim, A., Holmes, H. A., Hart, K.    L., McFall, M., Mellman, T. A., Reist, C., Romesser, J., Rosenheck, R., Shih, M. C.,           Stein, M. B., Swift, R., Gleason, T., Lu, Y., & Huang, G. D. (2018). Trial of prazosin for     post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans. 
The New England Journal of         Medicine, 378(6), 507-517. 

https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1507598Links to an external site.

Rasmusson, A. M., Marx, C. E., Jain, S., Farfel, G. M., Tsai, J., Sun, X., Geracioti, T. D.,    Hamner, M. B., Lohr, J., Rosse, R., Summerall, L., Naylor, J. C., Cusin, C., Lang, A. J.,         Raman, R., & Stein, M. B. (2017). A randomized controlled trial of ganaxolone in   post-traumatic stress disorder
. Psychopharmacology, 234(15), 2245-2257.            

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-017-4649-yLinks to an external site.
 

Rauch, S. A. M., Kim, M., Powell, C., Tuerk, P. W., Simon, N. M., Acern, R., Allard, C. B.,         Norman, S. B., Venners, M. R., Rothbaum, B. O., Stein M. B., Porter, K., Martis, B.,            King, A. P., Liberzon, I., Luan Phan, K., & Hoge, C. W. (2019). Efficacy of prolonged        exposure therapy, sertraline hydrochloride, and their combination among combat veterans             with post-traumatic stress disorder. 
JAMA Psychiatry, 76(2), 117-126.             

https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.3412Links to an external site.

Rauch, S. A. M., King, A., Kim, H. M., Powell, C., Rajaram, N., Venners, M., Simon, N. M.,   Hamner, M., & Liberzon, I. (2020). Cortisol awakening response in PTSD treatment:     Predictor or mechanism of change. 
Psychoneuroendocrinology, 118, 1-16.             

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104714Links to an external site.

Wagner, M. T., Mithoefer, M. C., Mithoefer, A. T., MacAulay, R. K., Jerome, L., Yazar-      Klosinski, B., & Doblin, R. (2017). Therapeutic effect of increased openness:  Investigating mechanism of action in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. 
Journal of  Psychopharmacology, 31(8), 967-974. 

https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0269881117711712Links to an external site.

PEER # 2

Samir Moneer Nawaf Hamed

 

Critical Question: Nursing burnout and its impact on nurses and patient care.

Nursing burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion resulting from prolonged and intense stress in the nursing profession. It significantly impacts nurses by causing increased job dissatisfaction, higher turnover rates, and adverse mental and physical health effects (Mudallal et al., 2017). Moreover, burnout has a direct and detrimental impact on patient care, leading to decreased quality, increased medical errors, and reduced patient satisfaction due to compromised nurse-patient interactions and reduced attention to detail (Garcia et al., 2019). Addressing nursing burnout is crucial for maintaining a resilient nursing workforce and ensuring high-quality patient care outcomes.

Synthesis of Scholarly Articles

1. Influence of Burnout on Patient Safety: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This study comprehensively analyzed existing research and found compelling evidence that burnout among healthcare professionals significantly impairs patient safety. The meta-analysis synthesized data from multiple studies, revealing a strong association between burnout and increased risks of medical errors, compromised quality of care, and adverse patient outcomes, highlighting the critical importance of addressing burnout as a crucial factor in ensuring patient safety in healthcare settings (Garcia et al., 2019).

2. Relationship between nurse burnout, patient and organizational outcomes: Systematic review

This study examined a broad range of studies and revealed a clear and intricate relationship between nurse burnout, patient outcomes, and organizational effects. It found that higher levels of nurse burnout are consistently linked to adverse patient outcomes such as increased mortality rates, longer hospital stays, and decreased patient satisfaction. Additionally, burnout has detrimental organizational consequences, including higher nurse turnover and lower overall workplace performance. This study underscores the interconnectedness of nurse well-being, patient care quality, and organizational success, emphasizing the urgency of addressing burnout to improve healthcare outcomes and workplace environments (Jun et al., 2021).

3. Nurse Burnout and Quality of Care: Cross-National Investigation in Six Countries

This study conducted a comprehensive cross-national analysis and identified a consistent and alarming pattern: nurse burnout substantially negatively impacts the quality of patient care across different healthcare systems and countries. The study's findings highlighted that high levels of nurse burnout were associated with lower perceptions of care quality among both nurses themselves and patients. This suggests that addressing nurse burnout is imperative not only for the well-being of healthcare professionals but also for maintaining and improving the quality of care delivered in diverse healthcare settings globally (Poghosyan et al., 2021).

4. Association of resident fatigue and distress with perceived medical errors

This study demonstrates a significant correlation between resident physician fatigue and distress levels and the perception of medical errors. The research findings suggest that higher levels of resident fatigue and distress are associated with increased instances of perceived medical errors. This indicates that addressing the well-being and mental health of healthcare providers, including reducing fatigue and distress, can play a crucial role in improving patient safety and reducing the likelihood of medical errors in healthcare settings, emphasizing the need for interventions and policies aimed at mitigating these factors to enhance patient care quality. (West, 2019)

Value for Stakeholders

Addressing nursing burnout is a moral imperative and a strategic quality improvement initiative. The identified articles provide compelling evidence that nurse burnout directly impacts patient satisfaction, healthcare outcomes, and organizational effectiveness (Mudallal et al., 2017). By investing in interventions to reduce burnout, healthcare organizations can enhance patient care quality, increase staff retention, reduce medical errors, and ultimately improve their bottom line. Moreover, addressing nursing burnout aligns with the mission of healthcare organizations to deliver safe, effective, and patient-centered care, enhancing their reputation and competitiveness in the healthcare industry (Jun et al., 2021).

 

References

Garcia, C. de L., Abreu, L. C. de, Ramos, J. L. S., Castro, C. F. D. de, Smiderle, F. R. N., Santos, J. A. D., & Bezerra, I. M. P. (2019, August 30). Influence of burnout on Patient Safety: Systematic Review and meta-analysis. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6780563/

Jun, J., Ojemeni, M., Kalamani, R., Crecelius , M., & Tong , J. (2021, March 26). Relationship between Nurse Burnout, patient and organizational outcomes: Systematic review. International Journal of Nursing Studies. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0020748921000742

Mudallal, R. H., Othman, W. M., & Al Hassan, N. F. (2017, January 1). Nurses’ burnout: The influence of leader empowering behaviors, work conditions, and demographic traits. Inquiry : a journal of medical care organization, provision and financing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5798741/

Poghosyan, L., Clarke, S. P., Finlayson, M., & Aiken, L. H. (2021, August). Nurse Burnout and quality of care: Cross-national investigation in six countries. Research in nursing & health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2908908/#:~:text=Across%20countries%2C%20higher%20levels%20of,quality%20of%20care%20in%20hospitals.

West, C. (2019, September 23). Association of resident fatigue and distress with perceived medical errors. JAMA. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/184625

suggesti an additional perspective on what it means to be a nurse with a practice doctorate, offer support to the expectations with obtaining the degree that your colleague posted, or expand upon your colleague’s post. Use 2 references 

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree has only been available to nursing scholars since 2004.  It was deemed necessary by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) because “changing demands of this nation’s complex healthcare environment require the highest level of scientific knowledge and practice expertise to assure quality patient outcomes” (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2023).  Because the degree is relatively new, the significance of the DNP is not yet widely understood.  A recent study determined that “DNP-prepared nurses typically function as APRNs in clinical care or as health care system leaders, while there is a low number of DNPs in clinical practice settings” (Beeber et al., 2019).  That being said, there is a great opportunity here for the DNP-prepared nurses of the future.  Tussing (2018) identified that there is “great potential for innovation around new care delivery models, interdisciplinary projects, and community involvement for a healthier society” if healthcare leaders consider the potential of redesigning or creating new roles for the DNP-prepared nurse.

Expectations of Doctor of Nursing Practice versus Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing

            The DNP degree is founded in nursing practice whereas a Ph.D. in nursing is rooted in research and teaching.  I chose to pursue the DNP because I believe it will allow me to effect social change on a larger scale and I enjoy the clinical side of nursing.  As a DNP-prepared nurse, I will “hold a broad foundation of knowledge from nursing, ethics, psychosocial and biophysical sciences, as well as from organizational and change theories” (Hartjes et al., 2019).  My professional goal is to serve as a Healthcare organization’s Chief Nursing Officer (CNO).  Nurses who hold a Ph.D. tend to pursue research opportunities or serve as professors at Universities.  Obtaining my DNP aligned with my professional goal of becoming a CNO.  Additionally, Walden University offers an executive nursing track which will set me up for success.

                                        Addressing a Gap in Practice

            As a nurse executive, it will be my role to identify and address gaps in practice.  At my current organization, one gap I will address is the workflow of admitting patients.  I work at an inpatient psychiatric hospital.  The current practice is that patients arrive to the hospital via ambulance and are rolled directly onto the unit.  There is minimal communication between the intake department, which accepts the patient, and the nurses who receive the patient on the floor.  I aim to create an admissions unit that will house the intake department.  This will help facilitate communication and create a better experience for the patient. 

                                                  References

American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2023). Fact sheet: The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/0/PDFs/Fact-Sheets/DNP-Fact-Sheet.pdfLinks to an external site.

      Beeber, A. S., Palmer, C., Waldrop, J., Lynn, M. R., & Jones, C. B. (2019). The role of Doctor of Nursing Practice-prepared nurses in practice settings. Nursing Outlook, 67(4), 354–364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2019.02.006Links to an external site.

Hartjes, T. M., Lester, D., Arasi-Ruddock, L., McFadden Bradley, S., Munro, S., & Cowan, L. (2019). Answering the question: Is the Doctor of Philosophy or Doctor of Nursing Practice right for me? Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 31(8), 439–442.               https://doi.org/10.1097/JXX.0000000000000273

Tussing, T., Brinkman, B., Francis, D., Hixon, B., Labardee, R., & Chipps, E. (2018). The impact of the Doctorate of Nursing practice nurse in a hospital setting. The Journal of Nursing Administration, 48(12), 600–602. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNA.0000000000000688

Tawanna Jackson

4:04am Aug 29 at 4:04am

Hello Class,

In my future nursing practice, I have identified “Evidence-Based Practice” and “Teamwork and Collaboration” as the two Massachusetts Nurse of the Future Nursing Core Competencies that will have a significant impact. By utilizing evidence-based practice, I can ensure that my nursing interventions are backed by current studies and clinical data. This approach allows me to critically evaluate data and incorporate it into my decision-making process, ultimately improving the standard of care I provide. Additionally, evidence-based practice promotes ongoing learning and development, enabling me to stay up-to-date with the latest developments and make decisions that best serve my patients' well-being. Teamwork and Collaboration are equally crucial, as they reflect the interconnected nature of healthcare delivery. Effective teamwork ensures seamless patient-centered care, which is essential in nursing practice, given the need to work alongside various healthcare professionals. Collaborating with diverse team members enhances my ability to gather varied perspectives, share knowledge, and collectively address complex patient needs. This competency fosters open communication, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to achieving optimal patient outcomes (Masters, 2021).

The intersections between both competencies are evident, as evidence-based practice often requires collaboration among interdisciplinary teams to implement new findings and collectively improve patient care. By effectively utilizing evidence and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, I can ensure that my nursing practice is not only evidence-driven but also inclusive and aligned with broader healthcare goals.

The AACN BSN Essential of Person-Centered Care is the most crucial feature that will significantly improve my future nursing profession. These essentials align with the core values of nursing and embody the holistic and empathetic attitude necessary for providing excellent patient care. Person-centered care promotes personalized, comprehensive care that takes into account each patient's unique requirements, preferences, and experiences. By focusing on the person's family, societal, and cultural circumstances, nurses can deliver just, respectful, and evidence-based care. Patient-centered care is the foundation of nursing practice because it strengthens nurse-patient relationships, encourages shared decision-making, and enables patients to participate in their treatment (AACN, 2021).

In my practice, person-centered care will improve patient experience and health outcomes. I can personalize my care plans to my patients' requirements by learning and respecting their diverse backgrounds, attitudes, and beliefs. This strategy targets physical, emotional, psychological, and social well-being. I also believe in healthcare team communication, empathy, and teamwork, which person-centered care supports (Masters, 2021b).

Finally, the AACN BSN Essential of Person-Centered Care aligns with my nursing ideals of providing holistic, compassionate, and tailored care that recognizes each patient's uniqueness. By embracing this fundamental strategy, I can improve patient outcomes and humanize healthcare by offering respectful, empowering, and values-aligned care.

References:

American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2008). 
The essentials of baccalaureate education for professional nursing practice. 

http://www.aacnnursing.org/Education-Resources/AACN-EssentialsLinks to an external site.

Links to an external site.

Masters, K. (2020). 
Role development in professional nursing practice (5th ed.). Jones & Bartlett.

Reply

 

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