Work environment characteristics of high-quality home health agencies. 2011

Susan Tullai-McGuinness, and Jennifer S Riggs, and Amany A Farag
Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106-4904, USA. sxt32@case.edu

This concurrent mixed-method study examines the nurse work environment of high-quality Medicare-certified home health agencies. High-quality (n=6) and low-quality (n=6) home health agencies were recruited using agency-level publicly reported patient outcomes. Direct care registered nurses (RNs) from each agency participated in a focus group and completed the Practice Environment Scale of the Nurse Work Index (PES-NWI). No significant differences were found in the PES-NWI results between nurses working in high- and low-quality agencies, though nurses in high-quality agencies scored higher on all subscales. Nurses working in all the high-quality agencies identified themes of adequate staffing, supportive managers, and team work. These themes were not consistently identified in low-quality agencies. Themes of supportive managers and team work are reflective of effective leadership at the manager level. Agencies struggling to improve quality of care might consider developing their managers' leadership skills.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007857 Leadership The function of directing or controlling the actions or attitudes of an individual or group with more or less willing acquiescence of the followers. Influentials
D009726 Nurses Professionals qualified by graduation from an accredited school of nursing and by passage of a national licensing examination to practice nursing. They provide services to patients requiring assistance in recovering or maintaining their physical or mental health. Nursing Personnel,Personnel, Nursing,Registered Nurses,Nurse,Nurse, Registered,Nurses, Registered,Registered Nurse
D010348 Patient Care Team Care of patients by a multidisciplinary team usually organized under the leadership of a physician; each member of the team has specific responsibilities and the whole team contributes to the care of the patient. Health Care Team,Interdisciplinary Health Team,Medical Care Team,Multidisciplinary Care Team,Multidisciplinary Health Team,Healthcare Team,Care Team, Health,Care Team, Medical,Care Team, Multidisciplinary,Care Team, Patient,Care Teams, Health,Care Teams, Patient,Health Care Teams,Health Team, Interdisciplinary,Health Team, Multidisciplinary,Healthcare Teams,Interdisciplinary Health Teams,Medical Care Teams,Multidisciplinary Care Teams,Multidisciplinary Health Teams,Patient Care Teams,Team, Health Care,Team, Healthcare,Team, Interdisciplinary Health,Team, Medical Care,Team, Multidisciplinary Care,Team, Multidisciplinary Health,Team, Patient Care,Teams, Interdisciplinary Health
D010561 Personnel Staffing and Scheduling The selection, appointing, and scheduling of personnel. Staffing and Scheduling,Personnel Staffing,Work Schedule,Schedule, Work,Scheduling and Staffing,Staffing, Personnel,Work Schedules
D011361 Professional Competence The capability to perform the duties of one's profession generally, or to perform a particular professional task, with skill of an acceptable quality. Competence, Professional,Generalization of Expertise,Technical Expertise,Expertise Generalization,Expertise, Technical
D011787 Quality of Health Care The levels of excellence which characterize the health service or health care provided based on accepted standards of quality. Pharmacy Audit,Quality of Care,Quality of Healthcare,Audit, Pharmacy,Care Quality,Health Care Quality,Healthcare Quality,Pharmacy Audits
D003284 Contract Services Outside services provided to an institution under a formal financial agreement. Services, Contract,Contract Service,Service, Contract
D006278 Medicare Federal program, created by Public Law 89-97, Title XVIII-Health Insurance for the Aged, a 1965 amendment to the Social Security Act, that provides health insurance benefits to persons over the age of 65 and others eligible for Social Security benefits. It consists of two separate but coordinated programs: hospital insurance (MEDICARE PART A) and supplementary medical insurance (MEDICARE PART B). (Hospital Administration Terminology, AHA, 2d ed and A Discursive Dictionary of Health Care, US House of Representatives, 1976) Health Insurance for Aged and Disabled, Title 18,Insurance, Health, for Aged and Disabled,Health Insurance for Aged, Disabled, Title 18,Health Insurance for Aged, Title 18
D006699 Home Care Services Community health and NURSING SERVICES providing coordinated multiple services to the patient at the patient's homes. These home-care services are provided by a visiting nurse, home health agencies, HOSPITALS, or organized community groups using professional staff for care delivery. It differs from HOME NURSING which is provided by non-professionals. Domiciliary Care,Home Health Care,Care Services, Home,Home Care,Services, Home Care,Care, Domiciliary,Care, Home,Home Care Service,Service, Home Care
D014481 United States A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.

Related Publications

Susan Tullai-McGuinness, and Jennifer S Riggs, and Amany A Farag
October 1994, The Journal of nursing administration,
Susan Tullai-McGuinness, and Jennifer S Riggs, and Amany A Farag
February 2022, Health affairs (Project Hope),
Susan Tullai-McGuinness, and Jennifer S Riggs, and Amany A Farag
October 1987, NLN publications,
Susan Tullai-McGuinness, and Jennifer S Riggs, and Amany A Farag
January 1971, NLN publications,
Susan Tullai-McGuinness, and Jennifer S Riggs, and Amany A Farag
January 1987, Caring : National Association for Home Care magazine,
Susan Tullai-McGuinness, and Jennifer S Riggs, and Amany A Farag
December 1975, The New England journal of medicine,
Susan Tullai-McGuinness, and Jennifer S Riggs, and Amany A Farag
October 1987, NLN publications,
Susan Tullai-McGuinness, and Jennifer S Riggs, and Amany A Farag
March 2007, Western journal of nursing research,
Susan Tullai-McGuinness, and Jennifer S Riggs, and Amany A Farag
March 1984, The Journal of nursing administration,
Susan Tullai-McGuinness, and Jennifer S Riggs, and Amany A Farag
October 1970, NLN publications,
Copied contents to your clipboard!