Health projects managed by Nursing Coordinators: an analysis of contents and degree of success

• Published in: Assistenza infermieristica e ricerca Vol. 31; no. 4; p. 177
• Main Authors: Palese, Alvisa, Bresciani, Federica, Brutti, Caterina, Chiari, Ileana, Fontana, Luciana, Fronza, Ornella, Gasperi, Giuseppina, Gheno, Oscar, Guarese, Olga, Leali, Anna, Mansueti, Nadia, Masieri, Enrico, Messina, Laura, Munaretto, Gabriella, Paoli, Claudia, Perusi, Chiara, Randon, Giulia, Rossi, Gloria, Solazzo, Pasquale, Telli, Debora, Trenti, Giuliano, Veronese, Elisabetta, Saiani, Luisa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Italian
• Published: Italy 01-10-2012
• Subjects: Accreditation - statistics & numerical data; Adult; Delivery of Health Care - statistics & numerical data; Female; Health Promotion; Health Services Needs and Demand; Hospitals; Humans; Italy - epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Nursing Research - statistics & numerical data; Nursing Staff, Hospital - statistics & numerical data; Nursing, Supervisory - statistics & numerical data; Pilot Projects; Quality Improvement - statistics & numerical data; Sampling Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Italy
• ISSN: 1592-5986
• DOI: 10.1702/1211.13404

To describe the evolution and results of health projects run in hospitals and managed by Nursing Coordinators.
A convenience sample of 13 north Italian hospital, and a sample of 56 Nursing Coordinators with a permanent position from at least 1 year, was contacted. The following information was collected with a structured interview: projects run in 2009, topic, if bottom up or top down, number of staff involved and state (ended, still running, stopped).
In 2009 Nursing Coordinators started 114 projects (mean 1.8±1.2 each): 94 (82.5%) were improvement projects, 17 (14.9%) accreditation, and 3 (2.6%) research. The projects involved 2.732 staff members (73.7%; average commitment 84 hours); 55 (48.2%) projects were still running, 52 (45.6%) completed, for 5 (4.4%) there was no assessment and 2 (1.8%) had been stopped.
Nurses are regularly involved in several projects. A systematic monitoring of the results obtained and stabilization strategies are scarce. Due to the large number of resources invested, a correct management and the choice of areas relevant for patients' problems and needs are pivotal.