Graduate nursing education. What are the benefits and costs to hospitals?

Health services research methods: tools for nurse leaders

A political competency for leaders is to effectively articulate the evidence behind management best practices. Evidence-based practice requires special skills from the nurse leader, many of which are found in health services research (HSR) methods. This review presents approaches associated with HSR, which can be used by nurse managers for the benefit of their units. HSR methods reviewed are cost analyses, small area analysis, geographic information systems, use of existing databases, quality of care measures, and risk adjustment. This review examines the kind of evidence various HSR methods provide, as well as examples of their use and resources needed to apply them.

Nursing work force in practice and education: what can we learn from the current crisis?

A major factor in the growing crisis in health care is the serious shortage of nurses in practice and education. The current work force shortage is different and more critical than previous cyclical deficits. Because it is projected to be of unprecedented severity and to endure long into the future, it demands significant attention and innovation. Nurses in clinical practice and in faculty roles are growing older, and the nursing work force in general is becoming relatively less educated. A strong nursing work force of the future will require new approaches to recruitment, preparation, and retention of nurses, interdisciplinary partnerships, and infusion of support from a variety of sources.