Social network analysis can potentially uncover findings not accessible through methods commonly used in nursing research. Social networks can be analysed based on individual-level attributes, whole networks and subgroups within networks. Computations derived from social network analysis may stand alone to answer a research question or incorporated as variables into robust statistical models.

Nurse leaders must use behaviors that foster effective teams. The purpose of this study was to determine the behavioral style by 3,396 nurse leaders who attended leadership and communication continuing education courses. Sessions included identifying behavioral style preferences using the DiSC® Personal Profile Instrument. Of the four behavioral dimensions, Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness, 73% scored highest in Dominance and Conscientiousness. The remaining 27% scored highest in preferences for Influence and Steadiness. Nursing leaders may benefit from awareness of differences in behavioral style preferences to enhance communication and team effectiveness, as well as improve satisfaction among team members.

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Academic medical centers frequently serve as safety net hospitals, treating a large percentage of low income and uninsured patients. Emergency departments (ED) provide unscheduled care for these patients whose conditions range from non-urgent annoyances to life-threatening injuries. Most research has shown that only a fraction of these visits are truly emergencies. These visits contribute to ED overcrowding, often leading to delayed or denied admissions. A common misconception is that ED overcrowding is an ED problem. Rather, competing patient flows from ED and inpatient areas frequently converge to produce system-wide demand surges. During times of acute overcrowding, delays can frequently be attributed to lack of inpatient beds and resources, both of which are beyond the ED's control. Multidisciplinary collaboration and system-wide cooperation is critical for successful patient flow management. This article presents evidence that improving patient flow enhances access to care for underserved populations, leads to better patient outcomes, and improves revenue for the organization.