Essential Elements of an Optimal Clinical Practice Environment

Abstract

This study provides new insights into unique key elements essential for the development of scholarly nursing practice in hospital environments.

Nine Structures and Leadership Practices Essential for a Magnetic (Healthy) Work Environment

“…9,24,32,37,39,40 A third group of work processes is embedded in the themes identified by 36 experienced (24 mean years' experience) and educated (97% BSN and 47% MSN) clinical nurse experts, scholars, and mentors who were interviewed relative to the elements essential for an optimal clinical practice work environment. 41 They identified the following 4 elements: (1) valuation of scholarly nursing practice enables the balance of scholarly caregiving and professional development; (2) seamless support at all levels of the organization enables scholarship and caregiving processes; (3) structural supports are instrumental in promoting professional growth at all levels of career development; and (4) there must be reciprocal willingness on the part of nurses to use the support provided (P-S).…”

“…Examples of these structures include patient problem (pain management, electrolyte imbalance, elimination, groin bleeds)-based nursing EBP teams, EBP councils, inter-or intradisciplinary "boot camps" to facilitate instruction and acquisition of EBP skills, interdisciplinary protocol development teams, or an EBP component to graduate nurse residency program with residents required to conduct and present results of their EBP projects. 30,41 These EBP structures, often a component of the quality improvement infrastructure, were serviced by qualified mentors, librarians and information technologists.…”

Organizational impact of nurse supply and workload on nurses continuing professional development opportunities: an integrative review

“…An ageing nursing workforce at the same time as an increasing use of the acute healthcare sector sees nursing dealing with such issues as inadequate staffing levels often with inappropriate skill mixes, increasing reliance on part‐time staff and an inevitable rise in stress and conflict (Beal et al . , Twigg et al . ).…”

A new, four‐item instrument to measure workplace bullying

“…Over the last decade, researchers have underscored the contribution of a healthy work environment to positive job satisfaction, the quality of nurses' work life, and safe patient care (Beal, Riley, & Lancaster, 2008; Kramer & Schmalenberg, 2008). One of the nine elements that support a positive work environment is a collaborative practice culture involving respectful, collegial behavior and communication (Brady, 2010).…”