Palliative Care Professional Development for Critical Care Nurses: A Multicenter Program

Aim: This paper will present a study, which tested a theoretical Critical Care Nurse Retention model and mechanisms that may influence intent to stay in the organization, unit and nursing profession. Background: The current international nursing shortage is worsening and is particularly acute in critical care settings. There is a rapidly aging nursing workforce and at the same time a significant shortfall in the number of new graduates to replace the large numbers of retiring nurses. Intensive care units have been shown to have the highest turnover rates and there is limited scientific evidence on how to retain critical care nurses. One of the most commonly listed incentives for nurses is organizational support in the form of access to educational opportunities and career development. Design: A quasi-experimental longitudinal design was used in a random sample of 363 critical care nurses from multiple hospital sites in Ontario. Method: The 374-hour intervention included an online component, high-fidelity simulation, and a preceptored clinical component. Data Analysis: ANCOVA and hierarchical regression were used to analyze the hypothesized model. Results: Findings showed the professional development intervention had a direct effect on intent to stay in the unit and intent to stay in the profession. Final analysis revealed that the model explained 23% of the variance in intent to stay in the profession. Conclusion: This research provides new evidence supporting the relevance and importance of investing in professional development opportunities and its subsequent impact on intent to stay.

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Critical Care Nurses’ Reasons for Poor Attendance at a Continuous Professional Development Program

American Journal of Critical Care ◽

10.4037/ajcc2017412 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 70-76 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Myra Viljoen ◽

Isabel Coetzee ◽

Tanya Heyns

Keyword(s):

Professional Development ◽

Critical Care ◽

Nurse Practitioners ◽

Development Program ◽

Critical Care Nurses ◽

Continuous Professional Development ◽

Professional Development Program ◽

Nominal Group ◽

Consensus Method ◽

Critical Care Units

Background Society demands competent and safe health care, which obligates professionals to deliver quality patient care using current knowledge and skills. Participation in continuous professional development programs is a way to ensure quality nursing care. Despite the importance of continuous professional development, however, critical care nurse practitioners’ attendance rates at these programs is low. Objective To explore critical care nurses’ reasons for their unsatisfactory attendance at a continuous professional development program. Methods A nominal group technique was used as a consensus method to involve the critical care nurses and provide them the opportunity to reflect on their experiences and challenges related to the current continuous professional development program for the critical care units. Participants were 14 critical care nurses from 3 critical care units in 1 private hospital. Results The consensus was that the central theme relating to the unsatisfactory attendance at the continuous professional development program was attitude. In order of importance, the 4 contributing priorities influencing attitude were communication, continuous professional development, time constraints, and financial implications. Conclusion Attitude relating to attending a continuous professional development program can be changed if critical care nurses are aware of the program’s importance and are involved in the planning and implementation of a program that focuses on the nurses’ individual learning needs.

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A Multisite Survey of Critical Care Nurses' Perspectives of Their Clinical Involvement in Palliative Care Communication (TH331D)

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management ◽

10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2015.12.162 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 51 (2) ◽

pp. 334

Author(s):

Deborah Boyle ◽

Kathleen Puntillo ◽

Kathleen Turner ◽

Susan Barbour ◽

Wendy Anderson

Keyword(s):

Palliative Care ◽

Critical Care ◽

Critical Care Nurses

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Acute and Critical Care Nurses’ Perceptions of Palliative Care Competencies: A Pilot Study

The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing ◽

10.3928/00220124-20140528-01 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 45 (6) ◽

pp. 265-277 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Kenneth R. White ◽

Marisa L. Roczen ◽

Patrick J. Coyne ◽

Clareen Wiencek

Keyword(s):

Palliative Care ◽

Critical Care ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Critical Care Nurses ◽

Nurses Perceptions

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Assessment of professional development of critical care nurses: a descriptive study

American Journal of Critical Care ◽

10.4037/ajcc2001.10.1.17 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 17-22 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

J Heath ◽

J Andrews ◽

J Graham-Garcia

Keyword(s):

Professional Development ◽

Critical Care ◽

Personal Growth ◽

Critical Care Nurses ◽

Influential Factor ◽

Specialty Area ◽

Level Of Involvement ◽

Professional Nursing ◽

Nursing Organizations ◽

High Level

BACKGROUND: With much attention focused on nurses and the nursing profession, self-evaluation of nurses' contributions to their personal growth and the profession as a whole is needed. OBJECTIVE: To describe professional development characteristics of critical care nurses. METHODS: A descriptive, exploratory approach was used to assess the professional development characteristics of a select population of critical care nurses. A 20-item self-administered questionnaire was given to 169 participants at a regional conference of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. The survey was designed to determine the level of involvement in professional opportunities and the perception of factors that influence professional development. RESULTS: Mean age of the respondents was 39 years; 72% had at least a bachelor's degree, and 82% were certified in at least one specialty area. Seventy-three percent were members of at least one professional nursing organization; but only 31% reported active participation with meetings and activities. Fifty-two percent considered themselves mentors, yet only 14% participated in scholarly activities at a high level, and 58% had not recognized a peer for nursing contributions. Seventy-six percent reported a high level of "passion about nursing and promoting the profession." Self-motivation was the leading influential factor (72%) for fostering individual professional development. CONCLUSIONS: Critical care nurses have high levels of motivation for professional development in the areas of education, certification, and membership in professional nursing organizations. However, the level of involvement with professional nursing organizations, promotion of nursing peers, and participation in scholarly activities is less than expected.

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Patients With Advanced Cancer Requiring Intensive Care: Reasons for ICU Admission, Mortality Outcomes, and the Role of Palliative Care

AACN Advanced Critical Care ◽

10.4037/aacnacc2021954 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 32 (3) ◽

pp. 324-331

Author(s):

Varsha N. Patel ◽

Stephanie D. Stone

Keyword(s):

Palliative Care ◽

Critical Care ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Critical Care Nurses ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Patients With Cancer ◽

The Past ◽

Care Services ◽

Palliative Care Services

Medical advancements in oncology and critical care during the past 2 decades have led to more patients with cancer being admitted to intensive care units. This article discusses the most common reasons for intensive care unit admission and factors associated with mortality among patients with cancer. It also reviews the multiple benefits of palliative care services in caring for critically ill patients with cancer and opportunities for critical care nurses working with these patients.

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