Thinking Ecologically for Safer Healthcare: A Summer Research Student Partnership

Abstract

As leaders for nursing education, nursing research, healthcare administration and patient safety, we asked one another: How do we use our collective resources to build health system capacity for clinically based research training and safer healthcare? Drawing on knowledge from the field of ecological restoration, which is the study and repair of damaged ecosystems, we partnered the Safer Systems research program of the Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, with Capital Health's Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH), the Caritas Health Group, the Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI) and several funding agencies to provide hands-on training in clinical research, infection control and patient safety policy development for nursing students during the summer months. As we plan ahead, our student and staff evaluations show that together, we can make concrete, vital contributions to student education, nursing research, evidence-informed practice, clinical quality improvement and national policy. We are using what we have learned to continually expand the range of undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral clinical learning opportunities in healthcare safety that are available year round. Our shared goal is to support current and future nurses in leading the way for safer healthcare systems and the safest possible healthcare. Wherever they work, visionary nurse leaders are striving to revitalize nursing education, research and practice in ways that generate sustainable improvements to practice environments and the outcomes of care (Lamb 2003; Green 2003). Deepening shortages in human resources, rising service demands and ongoing fiscal constraints call for creative strategies to meet our leadership mandates in academic research and education, high-quality health services and policy development for meaningful health systems change (

Building Knowledge for Safer Care

“…This is consistent with the growing literature base that posits that the engagement of nurses in research generates clinically relevant knowledge that both advances nursing practice 22 and enhances patient care. 9,13,14 The other key finding around the pivotal role of the supportive network identified by the Nursing RAP participants adds to a smaller body of literature on research capacity strategies in patient safety. 14,15 Within this network, study participants described gaining an appreciation for the iterative, stepwise nature of the research process (proposal development, proposal refinement, ethics approval, study implementation, and data analysis).…”

“…9,13,14 The other key finding around the pivotal role of the supportive network identified by the Nursing RAP participants adds to a smaller body of literature on research capacity strategies in patient safety. 14,15 Within this network, study participants described gaining an appreciation for the iterative, stepwise nature of the research process (proposal development, proposal refinement, ethics approval, study implementation, and data analysis). This theme is illustrated in the following narrative: "I didn't feel alone during the whole RAP program.…”

“…11,12 Strengthening the link between research and clinical practice involves generating questions from the perspective of nurses involved in patient care and management who are well suited to identify the phenomena and issues that are clinically relevant and appropriate for research. 5 However, the literature base describing the effectiveness of nursing research capacity strategies has been limited to academic departments, 13 students in internships/fellowships in patient safety, 14,15 257 258 JOURNAL OF NURSING CARE QUALITY/JULY-SEPTEMBER 2009 and research utilization and/or evidencebased practice among nurses in healthcare settings. 2,16 Currently, there is no literature describing safety-and quality-oriented research capacity building strategies for clinical nurses practicing in a hospital setting.…”

Social Participation in Health and the Nursing Role: Using the Ecological Model / Participação Social Na Saúde e o Papel da Enfermagem: Aplicação do Modelo Ecológico

“…In this study, research teams were led by nurses who applied knowledge of health sciences, health ethics, and ecological restoration to study and strengthen organizational ethics and safety practices in current health care environments, involving students, teachers, health policies, and services across the country and beyond it. 25 Ecological thinking encourages the ability to think, and eco-efficiency is achieved when researchers involve students, policy makers and community members in integrated cycles of research, practice and adaptive learning. 25 Hence, the nursing efforts to prevent and find ecosystem-related problems are important.…”

“…25 Ecological thinking encourages the ability to think, and eco-efficiency is achieved when researchers involve students, policy makers and community members in integrated cycles of research, practice and adaptive learning. 25 Hence, the nursing efforts to prevent and find ecosystem-related problems are important. These actions can define priorities and strategies for health management.…”