Implementing and evaluating an attending nurse model

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Psychology

Background:

• Experienced clinical nurses require roles offering greater autonomy and job satisfaction.
• The need for cost-effective nursing positions is a persistent challenge in healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the implementation and impact of the Attending Nurse role.
• To assess the effects of the Attending Nurse role on job satisfaction, role conflict, and retention.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of the Attending Nurse role within the Adolescent Developmental Disabilities Unit at UCLA Neuropsychiatric Hospital.
• Utilized Lewin's Theory of Change for project planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• Involved nursing personnel and the multidisciplinary team in all project phases.

Main Results:

• Positive response from nursing staff and the multidisciplinary team.
• Attending Nurses reported improved overall job satisfaction.
• Observed a decrease in role conflict and an increase in nurse retention.

Conclusions:

• The Attending Nurse role is a successful, cost-effective model for experienced nurses.
• This role positively impacts job satisfaction, reduces conflict, and enhances retention.
• Collaborative implementation involving multidisciplinary teams is key to success.