This quality improvement project reduced 1:1 sitter usage by implementing a patient rounder role and evaluation tool. Results revealed a decrease in sitter hours per patient day without an increase in patient fall rates, supporting patient safety while reducing staffing burdens, cost, and enhancing capabilities to support unit staffing.
Age diversity in health care settings presents an increasing challenge for workforce sustainability. This study assessed work ability among family and community nurses (FCNs) within a large Local Health Authority in Tuscany, Italy, using the Work Ability Index (WAI). A total of 178 FCNs responded to a structured questionnaire, including demographic, occupational, and health-related variables. Results indicated a significant negative correlation between chronological age and work ability, with older professionals reporting lower perceived capacity. Factors such as care setting, educational attainment, and diagnosed health conditions significantly influenced WAI. Nurses working in home care and those with higher academic qualifications reported better work ability. Notably, musculoskeletal disorders were the most frequent health condition. These findings highlight the need for proactive, context-specific management strategies to support aging nursing staff and sustain high-quality care delivery (Byrd & Scott, 2024).
Direct primary care (DPC) is reshaping how patients experience primary care, trading insurance paperwork for time, trust, and access. By simplifying payment through a membership model, DPC removes administrative barriers that often distance clinicians from the people they serve. This article explores how nurses are helping to drive this shift, not only delivering clinical care, but also redesigning operations, championing equity, and redefining leadership in this growing model. It examines the practical realities of nurse-led DPC, from disease management and prevention to financial sustainability and quality improvement. Ultimately, it argues that when nurses are empowered to lead within DPC, they bring humanity, efficiency, and accessibility back to the heart of primary care, which helps to create a system that works better for both patients and providers.
Variability in advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) clinical hour requirements presents financial and logistical challenges for nursing schools and APRN students alike. This commentary proposes three solutions: standardize APRN clinical hour requirements, build a national preceptor database, and increase public funding for nursing clinical education.
Addressing a recognized deficit in nursing education specific to health care economics, a new standalone elective, "Value-Informed Nursing Practice," was developed and implemented across five geographically distinct Oregon prelicensure nursing campuses and the post-licensure RN-BS program, serving both Oregon and the broader Pacific Northwest. This educational improvement project aimed to equip future nurses to lead within value-based care models and redefine their role in modern health care. Course effectiveness was evaluated using both informal student reflections and formal course evaluation scores. Results from three terms of course delivery clearly demonstrate a high-impact educational experience, confirming significant gains in student knowledge and skills, high satisfaction scores, and achievement of all learning objectives. This scalable project is a successful catalyst for educational methods integrating health care economics into nursing curricula. It illustrates the successful positioning of future nursing leaders as equal decision-makers and contributors within the complex, value-driven health care landscape.
