Clinical Nurses' Perspectives on Discharge Practice Changes from Participating in a Translational Research Study. Journal Article


Authors: Bobay, KL; Conway-Phillips, R; Hughes, RG; Costa, L; Bahr, SJ; Siclovan, D; Nuccio, S; Weiss, M
Article Title: Clinical Nurses' Perspectives on Discharge Practice Changes from Participating in a Translational Research Study.
Abstract: AIM: To describe clinical nurses' experiences with practice change associated with participation in a multi-site nursing translational research study implementing new protocols for hospital discharge readiness assessment. BACKGROUND: Nurses' participation in translational research studies provides an opportunity to evaluate how implementation of new nursing interventions affects care processes within a local context. These insights can provide information that leads to successful adoption and sustainability of the intervention. METHODS: Semi-structured focus groups from 30 of 33 participating study hospitals lead by team nurse researchers. RESULTS: Nurses reported improved and earlier awareness of patients' discharge needs, changes in discharge practices, greater patient/family involvement in discharge, synergy and enhanced discharge processes, and implementation challenges. Participating nurses related the benefits of participation in nursing research. CONCLUSION: Participation in a unit-level translational research project was a successful strategy for engaging nurses in practice change to improve hospital discharge. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Leading unit-based implementation of a structured discharge readiness assessment including nurse assessment and patient self-assessment encourages earlier awareness of patients' discharge needs, improved patient assessment, and greater patient/family involvement in discharge preparation. Integrating discharge readiness assessments into existing discharge care promotes communication between health team members that facilitates a timely, coordinated discharge.
Journal Title: Journal of nursing management
ISSN: 1365-2834; 0966-0429
Publisher: Wiley Periodicals, Inc  
Date Published: 2020