Problem and Significance

A large medical center instituted a dyad model, which was derived from a presentation nursing leadership attended. The model pairs a nurse manager with an APRN or clinical practice partner (CPP), formerly known as a nurse educator in every hospital unit (thus the term dyad). Some units already operated under this type of model, while others did not.

Hypotheses, Overall Questions, Objectives

Two groups were surveyed: the first group was those who participated in the dyad and their respective directors. The second group was RNs and PCAs of the units where an APN or CPP did not exist prior to the implementation of the dyad model. The questions were: "What were the perceptions of the RNs and PCAs, MCO, APN, CPP, and directors of the dyad model?" and "Has the implementation of the model made a difference?"

Design and Methods

APNs, nurse managers, and CPPs will complete a 14-item survey with 4 questions utilizing a 5-point Likert scale, 3 open-ended questions, and 5 demographic information questions regarding their satisfaction about working in the model and the impact the model has made on themselves and the unit. Likewise, RNs and PCAs associates working on those units without an APN, CPP will complete a similar survey regarding the perceptions of the model and the impact the model has made on the unit. Setting: Large medical center in the Midwest.

Participants/Human Subjects Protection Assurance

The study will be conducted on selected units where the unit did not have an APN or CPP in place prior to the implementation of this model. The members of the dyad and their respective directors were surveyed. All survey data are kept onfidential/anonymous, with the only exception being a unit identifier. Both researchers completed the National Institute of Health Human Participants Protection Education for Research Team online course.

Interventions

Evaluating the dyad model 12 months postimplementation.

Study Results/Outcomes

Pending, results anticipated late fall 2004.

Conclusions/Implications

Pending, results anticipated late fall 2004. Anticipated implications for nursing are based upon the fact that a modified dyad model already existed in some clinical areas. Pairing clinical experts with leadership offers collaborative opportunities such as budget, staff development, and clinical excellence. With hospital, magnet designation being sought increasingly more by healthcare facilities, the roles of leadership and clinical experts are increasingly challenged. Additional improvements that should be reflected include nurse/physician partnership, nurse recruitment and retention, and improved processes and unit-based education. This evaluation adds support for a house-wide implementation of the Dyad model for additional APN, CPP coverage.

Section Description

This year's annual NACNS conference is planned for Orlando, Fla, March 9-12, 2005. Over 300 clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) are expected to attend, and as with past conferences, attendees will also include graduate faculty from CNS programs, nurse administrators, and nurse researchers. The theme of the conference, CNS Leadership: Navigating the Healthcare Environment Toward Excellence, was selected to showcase the many ways CNSs acquire and disseminate knowledge and innovative practices in their specialty areas. Two preconference sessions are scheduled. One session, sponsored by NACNS Legislative/Regulatory Committee, targets information for CNSs interested in understanding the legislative/regulatory process as it deals with the practice of nursing, and will also help build skills CNSs need to engage in the process. The second session, sponsored by NACNS Education Committee, focuses on CNS education issues, and as with the education preconferences of past years, anticipates informative dialogue and much sharing among CNS educators around curriculum design, teaching strategies, and indicators of quality in the curriculum that link to the NACNS education standards to program review and excellence. The conference planning committee is proud and pleased to have Jeanette Ives Erickson, MS, RN, CNA, Senior Vice President for Patient Care Services and Chief Nurse Executive of Massachusetts General Hospital as the opening keynote speaker. She will begin the conference by highlighting the importance of CNS practice on patient safety. The planning committee is equally proud and pleased to have NACNS past-president Rhonda Scott, PhD, RN, Chief Nursing Officer of Grady Health System as the closing speaker. Dr Scott will challenge attendees to use the information from the conference to shape quality care delivered in a safe environment and to advance the profession of nursing through direct care to clients, influencing standards of care delivered by other nurses, and influencing the healthcare delivery system to be to support innovative, cost-effective, quality nursing care. A total of 64 abstracts for podium and poster presentations were selected in addition to graduate student posters. The abstracts address the 3 spheres of CNS practice with a strong emphasis on clinical practice improvements. As you will note from the abstracts published in this issue of the journal, specialty practice areas represented in the abstracts include children, adults, and gerontological patient groups; hospital, outpatient, and home care settings, and community health. In addition, a wide variety of specialty topics including smoking cessation programs, end-of-life care issues, and protocols outlining nursing approaches to improved diabetes, cardiovascular and ventilator management. A number of the abstracts described hospital and healthcare system level innovations that resulted from CNS practice. Collectively, these abstracts reflect the breadth, depth, and richness of CNS contributions to the well-being of individuals, families, groups, and communities. The following abstracts are from those presenters who elected to have their work published in the journal so those who are unable to attend this year's conference can share in the knowledge of the conference. As you read each abstract, consider the talent and clinical scholarship of your CNS colleagues who are advancing the practice of nursing and contributing to improved outcomes for patients and healthcare organizations. You may want to contact individual presenters to network, collaborate, consult, or share your own ideas about these topics. Watch for next year's call for abstracts and consider submitting an abstract for presentation at NACNS's next conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, March 15-18, 2006.