Contribution of Nursing in Patient Care

Nurse graduated from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, a Master in Health Administration from the Universidad del Rosario and is currently aspiring to the Executive Master of Business Administration title from the INALDE Business School in The Universidad de la Sabana. Twenty-two years of professional experience and extensive experience leading nursing teams at the Fundacion Santa Fe de Bogota, where she currently works as Chief Nurse Officer, a role whose fundamental purpose is to raise the level of the nursing profession in Colombia and Latin America.

This article is based on an interview with Sandra Marcela Cortés Gómez, chief nursing officer at Fundacion Santa Fe de Bogotá – Colombia.

Impact of Latest Innovations In Services For Nursing Or Healthcare In Fulfilling Business Objectives

The latest innovations in nursing and healthcare, in general, can impact the challenges I face in fulfilling my business objectives in a number of ways:

• Increased Patient Expectations: As new technologies and treatments emerge, patients expect more and better from their healthcare providers. They want access to the latest and greatest care, and they want it to be convenient and affordable. From the nursing point of view, there are two great challenges: quality and excellence in care and extraordinary care experiences, which makes it necessary to ensure the best qualification of the nursing team as well as the development of skills to deliver compassionate nursing care.

• Improvement in Quality and Safety: They involve the incorporation of new and better care practices as well as the assurance of management of metrics to evaluate the quality of the health services provided. • Shortage of Qualified Nurses: One of the main challenges to guarantee the delivery of services of superior value which are influenced not only by the density of nursing in the country but by the quality of training of programs at the undergraduate and graduate level added to the difficulties of accessing postgraduate training programs.

• Resistance to change: In my opinion, many health professionals fear being replaced by new technologies such as artificial intelligence, remote monitoring devices and other technological tools. In this aspect, it is necessary to promote the understanding, appropriation and incorporation of these technologies and transform the way in which health services are provided.

Experiences from Successful Patientcentered Care Approaches Or Patient Success Stories That Highlight The Contributions Of The Nursing Team

One of the main experiences of which we feel deeply proud is the implementation of the shared governance strategy in nursing with three fundamental characteristics:

- Structural model through which nurses can express and manage their practice with a greater level of professional autonomy. This means decentralization of decisionmaking to the bedside of patients and giving the nursing team the responsibility of intervening and managing their care imbalances within the framework of the continuous improvement methodology.

-It is a model in which the traditional structures of organizations disappear and evolve as spaces of joint construction where the management team and the nursing staff have tan equal voice, and Redarchy takes on a leading role in this transformation. In practice, it is not about defining policies and procedures for the operation of the organization; it is about ensuring that people understand their purpose and, from this, recognize the value they contribute to the organization’s achievements.

- Clinical nurses are part of decision-making at all levels. Ensuring the appropriation of the organizational culture and strategy, as well as strengthening the leadership of clinical nurses, is essential. Today in Fundacion Santa Fe de Bogotá in Colombia, nursing staff present and manage their results at the patient’s bedside and also to the board of directors.

As a result, the leadership of the nursing team is recognized as a strength for national and international accreditations such as Joint Commission and Planetree, and we are working to obtain our first certification as a magnet hospital in 2024.

Challenges in the Nursing Profession Current Services Are Unable To Solve

I believe that there are several challenges in the nursing profession that current services are unable to provide an optimal solution. I will mention those that I consider most relevant.

• Workload: Nurses are often overworked and understaffed. This can lead to burnout and stress, which can impact the quality of care that nurses can provide. In the Colombian context, several elements to intervene in this regard:

• Pay: Nurses are often underpaid for the work that they do. This can make it difficult for nurses to make a living and can lead to high turnover rates.

• Respect: Nurses are not always given the respect that they deserve. This can be due to a number of factors, such as gender discrimination and the hierarchical structure of the healthcare system.

• Quality in Nursing Training Programs: Causes prolonged induction and training times in health organizations and increases the risk of errors in care, among others.

Although these are great challenges, I am convinced that the leaders of organizations have the responsibility to make the necessary efforts to retain the nursing staff: Generate attractive work environments, promote salary competitiveness, strengthen competencies and skills and, finally, remember that the success of organizations is in people.

Advice to Professionals Such As Physicians, Therapists, and Pharmacists to Provide Comprehensive Patient Care

I want to say that I love this question because I have had the privilege of being part of the transformations in nursing leadership that have also transformed our organization, and that makes this a great place to be a nurse.

• Define a higher purpose and make sure the people on your team share it

• Listen to your patients and your nurses! Take the time to understand their concerns and goals.

• Empower your patients and your nurses! Give them the tools and knowledge they need to manage their problems. Involve your patients in their care decision-making.

• Include your nurses in decision-making and trust them.

• Be empathetic. Put yourself in your patient’s shoes and try to understand their perspective. Take the time to get to know your patients.

• Be honest and transparent. Communicate with your patients about their condition, treatment options, and risks and benefits.

• Collaborate with other healthcare professionals. Work with your patients’ other doctors, nurses, and therapists to ensure that they are receiving coordinated care.