Promoting Certification

2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-82
Author(s):  
LuAnn Staul
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Continuing Education ◽  
American Association ◽  
Expert Knowledge ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Quality Care ◽  
Critical Care Nurses ◽  
Developmental Needs ◽  
Professional Careers

The mission of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses focuses on providing nurses with expert knowledge to promote delivery of excellent, safe, quality care to acutely and critically ill patients and their families. Chapters consist of professional leaders in a community who carry on the mission work of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses at the local level. Chapters can emphasize the value of certification and continuing education, because they offer a wide spectrum of opportunities to meet the learning and developmental needs of nurses as they advance in their professional careers. This article will highlight strategies that can be implemented by local chapters to facilitate and promote certification.

Compassion Fatigue and the Healthy Work Environment

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 351-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lesly Kelly ◽  
Michael Todd
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Compassion Fatigue ◽  
American Association ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Compassion Satisfaction ◽  
Critical Care Nurses ◽  
Healthy Work Environment ◽  
Healthy Work

Background:Burnout is a concern for critical care nurses in high-intensity environments. Studies have highlighted the importance of a healthy work environment in promoting optimal nurse and patient outcomes, but research examining the relationship between a healthy work environment and burnout is limited.Objective:To examine how healthy work environment components relate to compassion fatigue (eg, burnout, secondary trauma) and compassion satisfaction.Methods:Nurses (n = 105) in 3 intensive care units at an academic medical center completed a survey including the Professional Quality of Life and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses’ Healthy Work Environment standards.Results:Regression models using each Healthy Work Environment component to predict each outcome, adjusting for background variables, showed that the 5 Healthy Work Environment components predicted burnout and that meaningful recognition and authentic leadership predicted compassion satisfaction.Conclusions:Findings on associations between healthy work environment standards and burnout suggest the potential importance of implementing the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses’ Healthy Work Environment standards as a mechanism for decreasing burnout.

Family Presence During Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Invasive Procedures: Practices of Critical Care and Emergency Nurses

2003 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 246-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan L. MacLean ◽  
Cathie E. Guzzetta ◽  
Cheri White ◽  
Dorrie Fontaine ◽  
Dezra J. Eichhorn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ◽  
American Association ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Invasive Procedure ◽  
Critical Care Nurses ◽  
Invasive Procedures ◽  
Emergency Nurses ◽  
Family Presence ◽  
Do So

• Background Increasingly, patients’ families are remaining with them during cardiopulmonary resuscitation and invasive procedures, but this practice remains controversial and little is known about the practices of critical care and emergency nurses related to family presence. • Objective To identify the policies, preferences, and practices of critical care and emergency nurses for having patients’ families present during resuscitation and invasive procedures. • Methods A 30-item survey was mailed to a random sample of 1500 members of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and 1500 members of the Emergency Nurses Association. • Results Among the 984 respondents, 5% worked on units with written policies allowing family presence during both resuscitation and invasive procedures and 45% and 51%, respectively, worked on units that allowed it without written policies during resuscitation or during invasive procedures. Some respondents preferred written policies allowing family presence (37% for resuscitation, 35% for invasive procedures), whereas others preferred unwritten policies allowing it (39% for resuscitation, 41% for invasive procedures). Many respondents had taken family members to the bedside (36% for resuscitation, 44% for invasive procedure) or would do so in the future (21% for resuscitation, 18% for invasive procedures), and family members often asked to be present (31% for resuscitation, 61% for invasive procedures). • Conclusions Nearly all respondents have no written policies for family presence yet most have done (or would do) it, prefer it be allowed, and are confronted with requests from family members to be present. Written policies or guidelines for family presence during resuscitation and invasive procedures are recommended.

Activities Performed by Acute and Critical Care Advanced Practice Nurses: American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Study of Practice

2006 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Becker ◽  
Roberta Kaplow ◽  
Patricia M. Muenzen ◽  
Carol Hartigan
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Acute Care ◽  
Nurse Practitioners ◽  
Clinical Judgment ◽  
American Association ◽  
Critical Care Nurses ◽  
Advanced Practice ◽  
Clinical Nurse ◽  
Care Nurse ◽  
Clinical Nurse Specialists

• Background Accreditation standards for certification programs require use of a testing mechanism that is job-related and based on the knowledge and skills needed to function in the discipline. • Objectives To describe critical care advanced practice by revising descriptors to encompass the work of both acute care nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists and to explore differences in the practice of clinical nurse specialists and acute care nurse practitioners. • Methods A national task force of subject matter experts was appointed to create a comprehensive delineation of the work of critical care nurses. A survey was designed to collect validation data on 65 advanced practice activities, organized by the 8 nurse competencies of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Synergy Model for Patient Care, and an experience inventory. Activities were rated on how critical they were to optimizing patients’ outcomes, how often they were performed, and toward which sphere of influence they were directed. How much time nurses devoted to specific care problems was analyzed. Frequency ratings were compared between clinical nurse specialists and acute care nurse practitioners. • Results Both groups of nurses encountered all items on the experience inventory. Clinical nurse specialists were more experienced than acute care nurse practitioners. The largest difference was that clinical nurse specialists rated as more critical activities involving clinical judgment and clinical inquiry whereas acute care nurse practitioners focused primarily on clinical judgment. • Conclusions Certification initiatives should reflect differences between clinical nurse specialists and acute care nurse practitioners.

Novel Spanish Translators for Acute Care Nurses and Physicians: Usefulness and Effect on Practitioners’ Stress

2005 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 545-550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew C. Bernard ◽  
Audra Summers ◽  
Jennifer Thomas ◽  
Myrna Ray ◽  
Anna Rockich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Quality Care ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Critical Care Nurses ◽  
Survey Period ◽  
Acute Care Nurses ◽  
Quality Healthcare ◽  
Stress Levels ◽  
Nurses And Physicians

• Background Language barriers are significant impediments to providing quality healthcare, and increased stress levels among nurses and physicians are associated with these barriers. However, little evidence supports the usefulness of a translation tool specific to healthcare. • Objectives To evaluate the effectiveness of a novel English-Spanish translator designed specifically for nurses and physicians. The hypothesis was that the translator would be useful and that use of the translator would decrease stress levels among nurses and physicians caring for Spanish-speaking patients. • Methods Novel English-Spanish translators were developed entirely on the basis of input from critical care nurses and physicians. After 7 months of use, users completed surveys. Usefulness of the translator and stress levels among users were reported. • Results A total of 60% of nurses (n = 32) and 71% (n = 25) of physicians responded to the survey. A total of 96% of physicians and 97% of nurses considered the language barrier an impediment to delivering quality care. Nurses reported significantly more stress reduction than did physicians (P = .01). Most nurses and physicians had used the translator during the survey period. Overall, 91% of nurses and 72% of physicians found that the translator met their needs at the bedside some, most, or all of the time. All nurses thought that they most likely would use the translator in the future. • Conclusions The translator was useful for most critical care nurses and physicians surveyed. Healthcare providers, especially nurses, experienced decreased stress levels when they used the translator.

Safeguarding the Patient and the Profession: The Value of Critical Care Nurse Certification

2003 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 154-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
American Association ◽  
The United States ◽  
White Paper ◽  
Critical Care Nurses ◽  
Specialized Knowledge ◽  
Care Nurse ◽  
Call To Action ◽  
Knowledge And Skills ◽  
The Public

Today’s critically ill patients require heightened vigilance and extraordinarily intricate care. As skilled and responsible health professionals, the 403 000 critical care nurses in the United States must acquire the specialized knowledge and skills needed to provide this care and demonstrate their competence to the public, their employers, and their profession. Recognizing that nurses can validate specialty competence through certification, this white paper from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and the AACN Certification Corporation puts forth a call to action for all who can influence and will benefit from certified nurses’ contribution to patient care.

Preparing the Family for Home Tracheotomy Care

1990 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 367-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy M. Ronczy ◽  
Mary Anne Lichtenstein Beddome
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Continuing Education ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
School Personnel ◽  
Staff Nurse ◽  
Developmental Needs ◽  
Care Givers ◽  
Nurse Clinicians ◽  
The Family ◽  
Valuable Role

Children with tracheotomy tubes are frequently cared for by nurses in critical care settings, as well as on general patient care units. These children require tracheotomies for a variety of reasons and often are ready to be discharged before they are ready to be decannulated. As a result, many children are cared for at home by their parents, other family members, or other care givers. Discharging a child home with a tracheotomy is a process that involves many people. The staff nurse plays a valuable role in providing education and support to the child and family. After discharge, otolaryngology nurse-clinicians provide some of the support and continuing education the families may need, while parents and school personnel assist the families with support in normalizing their lives and meeting the developmental needs of the child

Geropharmacology

2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 134-151
Author(s):  
Catherine G. Ferrario
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Critical Care ◽  
Continuing Education ◽  
Adverse Reactions ◽  
Critical Care Nurses ◽  
Potentially Inappropriate Medications ◽  
Advanced Practice ◽  
Medication Therapy ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Inappropriate Medications

In the first part of this 2-part continuing education series, sources of medication errors were discussed. A predominant source of errors was the prescribing of potentially inappropriate medications for older adults. In this second part, drug classifications and drugs posing problems for older adults and cautions for advanced practice acute care and critical care nurses in their medication therapy management are highlighted. Cautions are advanced for anticholinergics, antihypertensives, analgesics, and psychotropics because of the severity of adverse reactions, including anticholinergic symptoms; mental status changes (especially confusion, sedation, delirium, and cognitive impairment); orthostatic hypotension; gastrointestinal tract problems (especially hemorrhage); depression; and neurobehavioral disturbances (agitation and aggressiveness). Risks of life-threatening outcomes associated with medications and adverse reactions are highlighted.

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