A Professional Nursing Acute Care Practice Curriculum,
Caring for multiple complex patients simultaneously is 1 of the biggest challenges for clinical nurses (CNs) in acute care. We utilized the results of research to develop a 6-hour Professional Nursing Practice Curriculum (PNPC) specifically for CNs who are professionally and legally responsible for providing holistic care to an assigned group of patients on inpatient clinical units in acute care hospitals. The curriculum can be used by faculty to prepare senior nursing students for their 1st professional practice role in an acute care setting. Components of the PNPC will be beneficial for nurse leaders in an assessment of their educational practices for transitioning newly licensed RNs to practice and addressing professional development needs of CNs.

A Virtual Nursing Journal Club: Bridging the Gap Between Research Evidence and Clinical Practice
Creating a nursing journal club is an initiative to promote nurses' use of best evidence in practice. A virtual nursing journal club (VNJC) was implemented in a Magnet®-designated, midsize community hospital. The VNJC fostered nurses' reading nursing research studies and subsequent interaction with other nurses. The VNJC's formation, implementation, and evaluation are described. Quantitative and qualitative research critique items and an evaluation form are included that are essential to the site's ongoing processes.

Increasing Nursing Research Program Visibility: A Systematic Review and Implementation of the Evidence
In healthcare, timely communication of critical information is imperative among workforce members. Nurse leaders struggle with how to reach clinical staff effectively when informing them of program updates, practice changes, or available resources. This article provides a review of the marketing and communication literature sharing best practices for improving visibility and program uptake for infrastructure supporting the conduct of inquiry projects among hospital employees using an evidence-based practice approach.

Leading Effectively Through Change The pace of change in today's healthcare environment is unprecedented. What used to happen every few months now seems to happen every day. From rapidly shifting technology to evolving models of care to new payment systems, nursing leaders must navigate constant change to stay relevant. How well they manage it has a direct bearing on everything from patient safety and outcomes to nursing cohesion and satisfaction. In this month's Magnet® Perspectives column, we explore the essential elements that contribute to successful change management and the strategies leaders can employ to keep their nurses, and their organizations, forward-focused. In addition, we take a deep dive into the Magnet Model component of transformational leadership and examine its impact on creating and sustaining an environment where change flourishes and nurses thrive.

Academic-Practice Partnerships: Update on the National Initiative The American Organization of Nurse Leaders and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing have been working together since 2010 to address how academic-practice partnerships can most effectively advance the profession by preparing a well-educated workforce. This article describes the work to date and future strategic priorities.

Closing Nursing's Experience-Complexity Gap Hospitals and health systems are facing a new kind of shortage among the nursing workforce: a shortage of experience. As older nurses retire and the influx of new nurses continues to grow, the net effect is a decline in the overall experience of the nursing workforce. At the same time, care delivery is becoming more complex. We call this phenomenon “the experience-complexity gap.” If left unaddressed, the experience-complexity gap will widen and could put quality and safety at risk. In this article, the authors explore this new challenge and suggest 3 key strategies for addressing it.

The Development and Implementation of Nursing Professional Practice Model in a Tertiary Hospital in China Developing a professional practice model (PPM) is essential for hospitals seeking Magnet® designation. The article describes the development and implementation of a PPM in a tertiary hospital that was the 1st hospital in mainland China applying for Magnet recognition. This article provides a framework for hospital administrators who wish to reference a successful process when creating their own Magnet PPMs.

The Similarities and Differences in Transition to Practice Experiences for New-Graduate RNs and Practical Nurses in Long-term Care OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to describe the transition-to-practice experience of new-graduate nurses (NGNs) in long-term-care (LTC) settings. BACKGROUND Transitioning to professional practice is a challenging time for an NGN. This experience is scarcely described for RNs outside of acute care settings and not described for the LPN. METHODS A qualitative case study was used to explore the described transition-to-practice experience of new-graduate RNs and LPNs in LTC. RESULTS This study revealed that the transition-to-practice experience of new-graduate LPNs was similar to the experience described by RNs. Differences in experience were related to leadership roles in the setting. CONCLUSIONS Findings contribute to new understanding of the experience of the NGN in LTC settings. This study reinforces the need for greater support for nursing graduates in this setting.

Clinical Nurse Preparation and Partnership in Antibiotic Stewardship Programs: National Survey Findings Are a Call to Action for Nurse Leaders OBJECTIVE Describe clinical nurse involvement in antibiotic stewardship programs (ASPs). BACKGROUND The extent to which clinical nurses are supported and integrated into ASPs is unknown. METHODS Electronic survey of infection preventionists (IPs) working in acute care hospitals. RESULTS A total of 207 IPs nationwide reported on clinical nurses' involvement in their hospital's ASP. Among respondents, 42% reported the presence of a designated nurse executive that championed nurses' involvement in ASPs; 33% reported that the hospital provides antibiotic stewardship education and training to clinical nurses, and only 14% believed that clinical nurses have adequate stewardship knowledge to participate in ASP activities. CONCLUSIONS Study findings indicate the need for nurse leaders to improve the preparation and integration of clinical nurses in ASPs. While clinical nurses routinely perform activities that contribute to optimal antibiotic use, the knowledge and competency of clinical nurses in these activities and their formal integration in ASPs are minimal.

Assessing Executive Nurse Leaders' Financial Literacy Level: A Mixed-Methods Study OBJECTIVES To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Financial Management Competency Self-assessment (FMCA) in executive nurse leaders (ENLs) and to determine how ENLs develop and apply financial knowledge. BACKGROUND Financial literacy (FL) helps in planning, implementing, and evaluating fiscal decisions, but many ENLs report weaknesses in this core competency. METHODS An explanatory-sequential mixed-methods study was conducted to psychometrically test the FMCA and explore how ENLs with different levels of FL develop and apply financial knowledge. Eligible participants (n = 178) were recruited from a population of ENLs across the United States. RESULTS The test-retest reliability of the FMCA was good (mean difference, 6.80; 95% confidence interval). Correlations between domain scores (P < .01) and the overall score (Cronbach's α = .99) demonstrated the reliability and validity of the instrument. The cutoff scores were fair indicators of different levels of FL in ENLs (P < .001). Self-awareness, gaps in hospital and graduate nursing education, application of financial knowledge, and a micro versus macro view emerged as important themes in the qualitative analysis. CONCLUSION FMCA reliability and validity were established. FMCA cutoff scores were established to determine FL level, and the ENL lived experience described in financial knowledge development and application.