Collaborations; Aramark Healthcare, Nurse Executives, Studer Group Join to Develop Nursing Standards
Published Date: 08/05/2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Collaborations; Aramark Healthcare, Nurse Executives, Sutder Group Join to Develop Nursing Standards
Aramark Healthcare, with the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) Institute for Patient Care Research & Education and the Studer Group are partnering on a joint research project designed to create a standard tool for evaluating nursing satisfaction with key clinical support functions, including: nutrition, housekeeping, facilities management, patient transport, patient lift teams, security, supply management and clinical equipment maintenance staff.
Psychological Associates will conduct the research, which began in June 2006 and will conclude in April 2007. The project was announced at the Health Forum and American Hospital Association, 2006 Leadership Summit on Performance Improvement.
The study will determine key drivers to improve relationships among hospital nursing organizations and support services groups and will aid in creating a valid and reliable standard instrument for hospitals to identify and measure the variables of nursing satisfaction with clinical support services. The research aligns with AONE's strategic goal to improve the workforce environment for nurses and aims to support nursing satisfaction and retention, which are linked to patient satisfaction and quality outcomes.
"Chief Nursing Officers play a vital role in ensuring that the relationships between nursing and support service groups thrive," said Laura Caramanica, RN, PhD, VP for Nursing at Hartford Hospital in Connecticut and Chair of the AONE Institute. "This work will better equip Chief Nursing Officers to set expectations that build a collaborative culture that will promote employee satisfaction and foster higher quality care delivery."
The research sample will be comprised of nursing organizations in varied hospital settings throughout the U.S. The study methodology will include an assessment of both the strengths and development opportunities of the nursing and support services relationship. Survey questions will be designed to be actionable, so the results can be used to implement strategies for strengthening the nursing and support services relationship and positively impact patient outcomes.
"Presently, hospitals across the U.S. use a multitude of methods for evaluating nursing satisfaction with clinical support services," said Robert W. Carpenter, president of Aramark Healthcare. "This study will fill a gap and offer a standard approach for evaluating these relationships - enabling more accurate hospital-to-hospital comparison of nursing satisfaction."
This article was prepared by Mental Health Law Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2006, Mental Health Law Weekly via LawRx.com.
