Includes bibliographical references.

The Moral Obligation of Nurse Leaders:: COVID-19 -- Losing Sight: The Importance of Nurse Leaders’ Maintaining Patient and Staff Advocacy -- Professional Discernment:: Discover the Leader in You! -- Self-Efficacy and the Nurse Leader --Cognitive Debiasing:: Learning to “Change Your Mind” -- When Mistakes Happen:: Using AONE Principles of a Healthful Practice Environment -- What Nurse Leaders and Adult Nurses Can Learn From Their Pediatric Nursing Colleagues:: A Leadership Change Perspective -- Improving Communication of the Plan of Care in the Acute Care Setting -- A Multifaceted Approach to Decreasing Burnout and Increasing Staff Engagement in Adult Critical Care -- Using the Electronic Medical Record to Engage Staff in Equitable Workload and Justify Staffing Levels -- A Means to an End:: Impacting Patient Satisfaction Through Nursing Strategic Initiatives -- Implementation of Crisis Standards of Care -- A Journey to Authentic Caring Leadership -- What Emergency Nurses Told Us About Their Impact on Outcomes and the Biggest Challenges They Face -- Leading on the Edge of Insanity.

[Article Title: The Moral Obligation of Nurse Leaders:: COVID-19 / Angela S. Prestia, p. 326-328

Abstract: The international pandemic of COVID-19 is unprecedented. Nurse leaders play a pivotal role in balancing the needs of their staff with the needs of the patients. Maintaining one’s moral compass during critical decision times is of the utmost importance. They do so to minimize the negative impact and maximize success for all key stakeholders and avoid moral distress. Transparent communication that is truthful, mindful, and relevant is only one of the competencies necessary to accomplish this. This article explores these challenges and offers some suggestions on staying resilient and upholding one’s moral obligations.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mnl.2020.04.008

[Article Title: Losing Sight: The Importance of Nurse Leaders’ Maintaining Patient and Staff Advocacy / Angela S. Prestia and Susan Macleod Dyess, p. 329-332]

Abstract: Competing priorities of operational directives and efficiency projects can leave even the most experienced nurse executives with little time for the core business of caring for people. Losing sight of this imperative is not uncommon. This article examines the caring values of nurse executives. Two scenarios are provided: sharing the consequences when caring is lost, but then regained by applying the 5 essentials of nurse executive caring values.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mnl.2020.04.005

[Article Title: Professional Discernment:: Discover the Leader in You! / Carol Tuttas, p. 333-338]

Abstract: An appealing characteristic of nursing as a professional career is the broad spectrum of tiered career path choices spanning diverse settings, geography, and specialties, which call for the specific body of knowledge, artful and scientific ways of thinking, and unique composites of experience acquired by nurses. Often, nurses aspire to assume leadership positions in health care. Purposefully developed professional discernment can illuminate the path to self-knowledge, which is an essential precursor to identifying a well-fit influential leadership role to pursue. In this article, the concept of professional discernment is expounded on as a powerful facilitator of self-assessment and decision support.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mnl.2020.05.002

[Article Title: Self-Efficacy and the Nurse Leader / Maria R. Shirey, p. 339-343]

Abstract: Self-efficacy refers to a person’s belief in their ability to succeed in completing tasks or achieving goals. Cultivating self-efficacy is thus an important concept to incorporate in increasing leadership capacity for the future. The purpose of this article is to discuss the concept of self-efficacy and explore its applicability to building nursing leadership capacity that enhances motivation, behaviour, and performance.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mnl.2020.05.001

[Article Title: Cognitive Debiasing:: Learning to “Change Your Mind” / Teresa M. Stephens, p. 344-351]

Abstract: Cognitive biases are flaws in our decision-making processes, often leading to negative outcomes. These biases, if not addressed, can block much-needed change efforts, including those addressing moral distress, burnout, and unhealthy work environments. Resistance to change is a common problem in nursing and health care in general.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mnl.2019.03.013

[Article Title: When Mistakes Happen:: Using AONE Principles of a Healthful Practice Environment / Karen R. Fowler, p. 352-355]

Abstract: Whether medical errors will occur is not the question. When and to what degree of harm will the patient, nursing staff, and organization experience is a more valid question. The nurse leader’s ability to navigate staff through the aftermath of a negative patient event has far-reaching consequences. Errors impact the organization financially and reputationally, and can have devastating results for the nursing staff. This paper explores the use of AONL’s 9 elements of a healthful practice environment. These elements offer structure and guidance for the nurse leader to mindfully lead the nursing staff through a difficult situation while enhancing staff resilience and organizational success.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mnl.2019.04.007

[Article Title: What Nurse Leaders and Adult Nurses Can Learn From Their Pediatric Nursing Colleagues: A Leadership Change Perspective / Courtnay Elizabeth Caufield, p. 356-363]

Abstract: There is a focus on the importance of the close partnership between the care team and the patient and family unit in pediatric units that differs from adult units with the approach and measures used. An opportunity exists to use similar measures with adult patients. By recognizing the importance of the patient and family partnership, an openness to explore alternative measures to provide excellence in human caring becomes evident. Pediatric nurse leaders can share tactics that are used in pediatrics in the adult population that may not have been considered previously.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mnl.2019.05.013

[Article Title: Improving Communication of the Plan of Care in the Acute Care Setting / Donna M. Prosser, p. 364-369]

Abstract: An intervention was designed in an acute care setting to improve communication of the plan of care, with the goal of increasing patient satisfaction and reducing the frequency of missed care. The pilot resulted in a 14.6% improvement in HCAHPS communication scores but did not result in a reduction of omitted care. Nurses reported a lack of familiarity with the patients’ plan of care and workload challenges. Nurse leaders have a responsibility to ensure well-resourced work environments that support the delivery of needed nursing care, which includes the effective communication of the plan of care to patients and families.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mnl.2019.05.014

[Article Title: A Multifaceted Approach to Decreasing Burnout and Increasing Staff Engagement in Adult Critical Care / Erin Roth, p. 370-375]

Abstract: Decreasing burnout and increasing resiliency in nursing is a trending priority for health care organizations. Three of the adult critical care units across the system implemented relationship-based care interventions including reigniting the spirit of caring, reflection rounds, and structured staff breaks following a patient’s demise. Findings showed improvement or maintenance of all metrics reviewed. The results support a structured approach to improving culture with a focus on the relationship-based care philosophies of care of self, care of coworkers, and care of patients.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mnl.2019.05.015

[Article Title: Using the Electronic Medical Record to Engage Staff in Equitable Workload and Justify Staffing Levels / Cynthia Hummel and five others, p. 376-380]

Abstract: Acuity-based staffing systems are often used in organizations to assist with staffing by providing recommendations for a given patient census based on workload. A quality improvement project using a system in the electronic medical record (EMR) was completed to identify whether it would improve staff and patient satisfaction. Results of the project indicated no statistical difference between staff satisfaction with the inception of the acuity-based staffing model. Slight increase of mean patient satisfaction scores was noted. The pilot organization has committed to continuing research and exploring options using the acuity-based system to evaluate the impact on satisfaction.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mnl.2019.09.018

[Article Title: A Means to an End:: Impacting Patient Satisfaction Through Nursing Strategic Initiatives / Sarah Margrave and Dagoberto Salinas, p. 308-314]

Abstract: Patient satisfaction is a vital metric that is reflective of the quality of care that health care organizations provide. Research studies have demonstrated a strong association between nursing and patient satisfaction scores, leading health care organizations to prioritize initiatives that positively impact nursing satisfaction. Challenges in today’s evolving health care—leadership changes, patient–nurse staffing ratios, burnout, and insufficient professional development opportunities—may negatively impact nursing satisfaction. This article calls on health care leaders to identify strategic solutions aimed at enhancing the patient experience through improving nursing satisfaction.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mnl.2019.09.017

[Article Title: Implementation of Crisis Standards of Care /Sharon L. Farra and Sherrill J. Smith, p. 386-390]

Abstract: During times of crisis or catastrophic events, altered levels of care may be required due to limited resources and/or patient surge. It is imperative that nurse leaders are prepared to respond to disasters and implement crisis standards of care when justified. To do so, nurse leaders must understand the legal, ethical, and economic implications of disaster response to ensure organizational readiness.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mnl.2019.09.014

[Article Title: A Journey to Authentic Caring Leadership / Pat McClendon, p. 391-394]

Abstract: Nursing leadership in health care organizations is full of critical challenges and decisions, competing demands, occasional failures, and successes that are never enough. This was my experience as a nurse leader over 3 decades, across 4 states, in community hospitals and for-profit health care systems. I was one of many well-intentioned nurse leaders who did not have the impact on nurses and caring practices I longed to achieve…until I did. This is my journey.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mnl.2020.01.002

[Article Title: What Emergency Nurses Told Us About Their Impact on Outcomes and the Biggest Challenges They Face / Janie Schumaker, p. 395-403]

Abstract: As part of the 2019 Emergency/Trauma/Transport Nursing Workforce Survey, nurses practicing across the emergency spectrum described their biggest challenges and recounted examples of when they or an emergency, trauma or transport nurse colleague made an important impact on a human, medical or operational outcome. Their frank, constructive and compelling responses offer nurse leaders and administrators a unique window into what nurses caring for emergent patients need to succeed and how they impact outcomes. This article presents 10 top themes from the impact and challenges data, features verbatim open-ended responses, and highlights select quantitative data from this expansive, first ever research.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mnl.2020.03.020

[Article Title: Leading on the Edge of Insanity / Sylvain Trepanier , p.404-406]

Abstract: COVID-19 has officially consumed every nurse leader's time and efforts. The purpose of this article is to share early learnings from the West Coast of the United States, where the first US case was cared for. In this article, I describe the emerging principles allowing us to respond to an unprecedented crisis: prevent, protect, and control. By the time this crisis is over, I do not doubt that we will have additional science and experience to support our frontline nurses and our nurse leaders. That said, I felt it was important to share our expertise in real time for others to benefit from. I would also point out that writing about what you are feeling is cathartic—I encourage my colleagues to join me in writing about what you are experiencing.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mnl.2020.06.002