Discovery: topic and practice issue
The topic and the nursing practice issue related to this topic
The chosen nursing practice issue refers to burnout syndrome and its implications for care. The problem is important because burnout development is attributed to such factors as inadequate scheduling, poor environments at facilities, sociodemographic factors, and even psychological indicators.
The rationale for the topic selection. The scope of the issue/problem
The burnout syndrome among nurses has been studied extensively. It has been defined as a three-dimensional issue that combines emotional exhaustion, a low degree of personal (professional) accomplishment, and cynical treatment or negative thoughts toward patients and the rest of the nursing team (Abedi-Gilavandi et al., 2019). The importance of the study is attributed to the fact that burnout among healthcare professionals can lead to adverse consequences for patients and cause serious complications. This is also problematic for facilities that experience high rates of staff absenteeism, low care quality, and the rising rate of medical errors.
Summary: evidence to support the need for a change
The practice problem and the PICOT question
The increased prevalence of nurse burnout syndrome leads to potentially negative outcomes for professionals themselves, the facilities in which they work, and patients who receive care. The PICOT question associated with this problem may be the following:
In the population (P) of nurses, what is the impact of educational and scheduling interventions (I), compared to burnout of nurses who were not involved in the intervention (C), to improve patient outcomes and satisfaction rates (O) over a six-month period (T)?
The main findings from the systematic review and the strength of the evidence
The systematic review found that such issues as emotional exhaustion and inadequate personal accomplishment were common among nurses operating in primary care. The demanding nature of nurses’ work disrupts their confidence in professional achievement and creates barriers to reaching satisfaction with their work. In the review, the strength of evidence is of the “B” category.
Evidence-based solutions for the trial project
- Enhance environments in healthcare settings to cater to the needs of nurses.
- Provide educational and support services to manage burnout and dissatisfaction.
Translation: Action Plan
Care standards, practice guidelines, or protocols to support the intervention planning
To support intervention planning, it is essential to consider the positive programs outlined by Waddill-Goad (2019). These include using positive psychology principles, acting to improve both physical and mental health, getting adequate sleep, participating in team-building, and practicing mindfulness. These practices can significantly support intervention planning because they encourage positive behaviors that will help practitioners be more effective in participating in educational programs.
Stakeholders and their roles and responsibilities in the change process
- Facility directors – developing educational and support programs.
- Nursing managers – implementing scheduling, job assignment, and general management.
- Nurses – participating in the change process, developing positive teamwork practices, giving feedback.
The nursing role in the change process
In the change process, I will be responsible for data collection and analysis. Regular interactions with nurses, managers, and charge nurses are expected because of the need to collect as much data as possible to evaluate the project’s outcomes at its final stages.
Stakeholders by position titles
- Policymakers – changing hospital environments and offering resources for support and education. The role of healthcare policymakers is essential to influence hospital directors and enhance accountability when addressing the needs of practitioners.
- Charge nurses – collecting nurses’ feedback on the program. They care necessary to act as a communicator between nurses and the higher management.
Type of cost analysis needed prior to a trial
It is essential to consider the costs of resources available to nurses at facilities. Due to the need to increase the resources and invest in support and education, nursing managers and facility directors should be involved in the cost analysis.
Implementation
The process for gaining permission to plan and begin a trial
One should consider getting permission from facility directors to begin the trial. The process should involve a presentation of the project and the communication of statistics (preliminary measurements) of burnout rates at a specific facility.
The plan for educating the staff about the change process trial
The staff should receive training and coaching involving practitioners with experience in the field of nursing managers. Nurses will be directly affected by the trial because the environments will change as well as their preparation for work.
The implementation timeline for the change process
The overall project will take six months. The first month is for preparation, the next three months for the implementation of the change. The last two months will be dedicated to measurement and outcome evaluation.
The measurable outcomes based on the PICOT
Outcomes will include nurse satisfaction rates, rates of absenteeism, nurse turnover. Pre- and post-intervention statistics will be measured quantitatively by accessing nurse managers’ reports. A survey among nurses will be implemented to identify the effectiveness of the program based on their experiences.
Recording during the pilot change process
Written reports will be used to record the pilot change process. A researcher will observe the stages of the program and make notes on positive and negative aspects, with a specific focus placed on nurses’ experiences.
Resources available to staff during the change pilot
Educational resources (coaching sessions, team-building activities, work counseling) will be available to the staff during the change.
Meetings of certain stakeholders throughout the trial
Nurse managers will meet with nurses on a regular basis to communicate the progress of the project at the end of each week. Based on their feedback, adjustments to the project will be made to enhance the final outcomes.
Evaluation
Reporting the outcomes of the trial
A report on trial findings will be completed and disseminated within the healthcare facility.
The next steps for the use of the change process information
Best practices should be identified to implement in other settings. Continuous evaluations and adjustments based on outcomes should be integrated into nursing management.
References
Bogaert, P., Peremans, L., Van Heusden, D., Vespuy, M., Kureckova., de Cruys., … Franck, E. (2017). Predictors of burnout, work engagement and nurse reported job outcomes and quality of care: A mixed method study. BMC Nursing, 16(5), 1-14. – Mixed-methods research studying the factors that contribute to nurses’ burnout.
Monsalve-Reyes, C. S., San Luis-Costas, C., Gómez-Urquiza, J. L., Albendín-García, L., Aguayo, R., & Cañadas-De la Fuente, G. A. (2018). Burnout syndrome and its prevalence in primary care nursing: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Family Practice, 19(1), 59.
Waddill-Goad, S. (2019). Stress, fatigue, and burnout in nursing. Journal of Radiology Nursing, 38(1), 44-46. – A literature review article exploring the issue of burnout and strategies for managing it.