Browsing by Author "Reilly, Sandra M."

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    How Does the Workplace Environment Affect the Health and Decision of Registered Nurses to Remain in Critical Care?
    (2019-04-30) Heistad, Amanda Lynn; Goldsworthy, Sandra; Reilly, Sandra M.; Hirst, Sandra P.
    Background. Retaining registered nurses (RNs) in critical care environments (CCEs) face many challenges. Firstly, these settings have exceptional demands of staff because of higher environmental stress, higher patient acuity, and higher patient mortality rates relative to other nursing units. Secondly, the combination of stressors in CCEs can have significant effects on providers’ health, which can lead to high voluntary turnover rates. This can aggravate an already difficult situation, which requires, at substantial human and financial cost, the preparation of new, and often less experienced RNs to care for some of the most vulnerable patients. Aim. The study aims to understand the relationship of critical care RNs’ perceived CCEs, workloads, their health, and their intention to stay in their current employment setting. The dearth of research available concerning these relationships leaves the search for solutions without sufficient empirical data to inform strategies that would retain these highly-trained providers. Research Methods. A cross-sectional study assessed the interaction of RNs’ work environment, their health, and their intent to stay in the CCE. Data was obtained from a sample of 302 critical care RNs across Alberta, Canada, which allowed for negative binomial and logistic regression modelling analyses. RNs were also asked what interventions would optimize their work environment and retain their critical care services. Results. Critical care RNs who scored their CCEs higher had lower sick time incidence and decreased intention to leave. Other important factors for RNs’ decision to stay in the CCE included their workload, increased educational opportunities, and increased availability of part-time scheduling. Conclusions. This study results showed strong positive relationships between CCEs, RNs’ health, and RNs’ turnover intention. RNs specifically request workload optimization, increased flexibility with shift rotations, and increased education opportunities on their units to optimize the environment and retain their services. Given the high demands associated with such services, decision-makers should consider these findings when anticipating the needs of RNs and patients. This would, at the very least, assure RNs that hospitals care as much for their health as the patients that RNs serve.
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    Water Birth: The Experiences and Perceptions of Childbirth Health Care Professionals in Alberta Hospitals
    (2020-01-15) Mercredi, Ashleigh; Goldsworthy, Sandra; Snell, Diana; Reilly, Sandra M.; Bouchal, Shelley Raffin
    The differences between the medical and midwifery models of childbirth challenge whether the medical model of childbirth represents the best standard of care for women. The introduction and progression of increased access of midwifery services in Alberta has led to water birth becoming more accessible. Water birth, is currently taking place in hospitals in Alberta with claims from midwifery clinics that over 70% of their mothers have given birth in water (Birth Partnership Midwives, n. d.). Although several studies have been conducted regarding patient perspectives surrounding this practice, very little research has been carried out to investigate the perceptions and experiences of childbirth health care professionals (HCPs) who either actively participate in water birth or are exposed to water birth in their work site. A quantitative, nonexperimental, descriptive research study design in the form of a cross-sectional online survey was used to gain a better understanding of the level of support that exists for this practice within the province and explore the overall perceptions and experiences of childbirth HCPs in terms of perceived benefits, risks and barriers toward water birth. Respondents comprised 214 registered nurses, 38 registered midwives, 41 physicians, and 11 obstetricians (N=304). Results showed that childbirth HCPs had a positive level of support for water birth as a practice in Alberta. A significant difference in support levels between the different HCP groups was noted, except for the physician-obstetrician pair. Childbirth HCPs generally perceived high benefits, but also high barriers, high maternal risk, and high other risk associated with water birth. Attitudes toward neonatal risk were more ambiguous. More research is needed to better understand what underlying factors impact the perception of water birth benefits, risks, and barriers to skew either more negatively or more positively. The future of water birth depends not only on more research, but on the beliefs and experiences of the people involved in the birthing process, which includes not only all varieties of childbirth HCPs and women experiencing childbirth, but also other roles within the health care system that impact the delivery of patient care (i.e., administrators, patients, and policy makers).