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Biomedical subjects

Karen Drenkard

Publications and source records attributed to Karen Drenkard.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Effectiveness of a clinical ladder program.

A 5-hospital system shares results of the evaluation of a clinical ladder program. Improvements were noted in overall satisfaction with the program, nurse retention of those who participated in the program, and costs savings due to decreased turnover. The authors point out the importance of evaluating the effectiveness of advancement programs for nurses. The analysis of a clinical ladder program in relation to costs, financial impact, and benefits helps to justify the salary increments for the ladder programs. This article provides the nurse executive with appropriate justification and outcome data to effectively champion these programs.

Career Mobility↗

Nursing exploration summer camp: improving the image of nursing.

Improving the image of nursing and finding ways to encourage young people to enter the nursing field are two areas that need attention from nurse executives. That concept was turned into reality with Inova Nursing Exploration Summer Camp 2001, a camp for seventh and eighth graders who are exploring their interest in nursing careers. The camp was a unique partnership among a county public school system, a local university, and an integrated healthcare system. The program, developed by the system nurses in consultation with middle school educators, introduced students to the nursing profession via demonstrations, site visits at multiple hospitals, role-playing, discussions, and a trip to the local nursing school to experience life as a nursing student. The authors discuss the planning, implementation, and outcome of this unique summer camp.

Adolescent↗

Healthcare system disaster preparedness, part 1: readiness planning.

Recent world events have raised the scope and intensity of disaster planning and readiness activities, including assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation. In all efforts, the chief nurse executive is critical to the clinical operations and implementation of changes across a system, whether that system is a single hospital or a multiple site integrated healthcare system. In this article (part 1 of a 2-part series), the authors discuss the use of the nursing process as a framework to prepare for an all-hazards threat to disaster and mass casualty possibilities. They share one region's attempt to better integrate communication efforts across all care providers, including public health, county fire and rescue, state agencies, and hospital and service providers. Part 2 (October 2002) will discuss the role competencies of the nurse executive in disaster preparation.

Communication↗

Strategic positioning for nursing excellence in health systems: insights from chief nursing executives.

The emergence of health systems as a dominant structure for organizing healthcare has stimulated the development of health system chief nursing executive (CNE) positions. These positions have large spans of control, requiring CNEs to balance a wide range of responsibilities, making them accountable for fiscal management, quality of care, compliance, and contributing to organizational growth. As such the CNE is required to use principles of distributive justice to guide priority setting and decision making. This review addresses important questions about CNE system integration strategies, strategic priorities, and organizational positioning as they attempt to fulfill their ethical responsibilities to patients and the nurses they serve.

Benchmarking↗

Educating nurses for leadership roles.

As a result of the growing shortage of nurses and the dramatically changing role of the front-line nurse manager, leadership education for nurses is of critical importance. The purpose of the project described in this article was to design, implement, and evaluate an innovative model of nursing leadership development for students enrolled in registered nurse to bachelor of science in nursing or registered nurse to master of science in nursing programs. A guided "action-learning" course was designed that focused on both core knowledge and experiential learning. The course was developed with the assistance of an advisory panel of prominent nurse leaders with expertise in administration, health policy, informatics, and nursing education. The prototype course was offered for the first time as an elective in Spring 2003. Evaluation data indicated that the course was considered valuable by students and with modifications suggested by students, faculty, and advisory panel members, the course would be offered regularly as part of the curriculum. Recommendations also included adapting course content to a continuing education format.

Baltimore↗