news from ninr

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NURSING OUTLOOK MAY/JUNE 2000 127 Schmieding Minority Nurses in Leadership Positions: A Call for Action 48. Porter CP, Villarruel AM. Nursing research with African American and Hispanic people: guidelines for action. Nurs Outlook 1993;41:59-67. 49. Lynn MR, Cobb BK. Changes in nursing administration research priorities. A sign of the times. J Nurs Adm 1994;24(48):12-8. 50. Schmieding NJ. A novel approach to recruitment, retention, and advancement of minority nurses in a health care organization. Nurs Adm Q 1991;15(4):69-76. 51. Higginbotham AL Jr. American’s racial pathology. Boston Globe 1995 Oct 29;248(121):63. 52. Guinier L. Lift every voice. New York: Simon & Schuster; 1998. 53. Bowen WG, Bok D. The shape of the river. Princeton (NJ): Princeton University Press; 1998. 54. Malone BL. Why isn’t nursing more diversified? In: McCloskey JC, Grace HK, editors. Current issues in nursing. 5th ed. St Louis, Mosby; 1997. p. 578. T he National Institute of Nursing Research has entered the 21st century with the momentum of a 28.5% increase in budget. This increase will allow us to capitalize on opportuni- ties identified by the scientific community of nurse researchers. The next fiscal year’s budget activities began with the release of the President’s budget for 2001, which provides a 3.3% increase or $2.9 million (total acquired immunodefi- ciency syndrome and non–acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) funding for NINR. The overall average increase for all Institutes and Centers of NIH is 5.6%. In testimony before the House Appropriations Subcommittee* on March 2, 2000, I emphasized that in this period of rapid tech- nologic and demographic change, it is critical that nursing research grow to meet the present and future health care needs of Americans. I presented achievements and goals for fiscal year 2001 related to these concerns, especially in the areas of chronic illness, end of life, and health disparities. Regarding chronic illness, NINR plans to expand research to help patients manage their conditions. Progress in this area is encouraging. In one recent accomplishment, nursing research has further tested and confirmed the value of a tran- sitional care model with a multidisciplinary team and advanced practice nurses. The results of this study clearly indi- cate that 6 months after discharge, the intervention group, in this case older adults with common medical and surgical prob- lems, spent fewer days in the hospital and had fewer rehospi- talizations, at a total savings of nearly $600,000 to the health care system. Widespread use of this model could save signifi- cant health care dollars and improve quality of care. Most nursing research is clinical in nature and is carried out in settings that range from the hospital to the community. Nurse investigators are studying concerns the use of feeding tubes that are required to provide nutrition in many conditions of acute or chronic illness. They have discovered that a simple rapid chemical test of aspirated feeding tube contents is a more accurate alternative to use of a stethoscope, and a safer and less expensive alternative than radiographs. Clearly, it is also more convenient for use in homes or long-term care facilities. Just as biomedical advances are changing the way we live with illness, they are also changing the way we die. The dura- tion of both chronic illness and the dying process is now prolonged. NINR is the lead institute for coordinating end-of- life/palliative care research at the NIH. Studies that were funded in response to the Request for Applications for research on end of life last year will form a basis on which to build an important, growing effort. In fiscal year 2001, we plan to expand our focus on end of life to better understand and improve symptom management, decision making, and communication between patient, family, and the health team. With regard to health disparities, our efforts are directed toward closing the gap. Historically, nursing research has focused on minority health issues. Currently, about 20% of our budget is directed toward this area. In fiscal year 2001 we will focus particularly on diabetes self-management and the influence of ethnic and cultural differences on health. An example of progress in our efforts to reduce health care dispar- ities is a study in which nurse researchers adapted an arthritis self-help questionnaire for Hispanic patients. Throughout a 1- year period of follow-up, patients experienced significant improvements in mobility, pain, fatigue, and depression. Another version of this program is currently being tested in Hispanic populations with other chronic illnesses, and it has the potential to be expanded throughout the United States. Finally, we continue to emphasize training and career development. Building nursing research capacity remains an important challenge. In conclusion, continued growth of nursing research is vital to meet public demands and pressing national health needs. Our contributions to the scientific foundation for the work of health care practitioners, including the 2.5 million nurses throughout the United States, are already making a difference and have further significant potential to do so. Patricia A. Grady, PhD, RN, FAAN, Director, NINR, NIH News From NINR *The complete opening statement may be accessed on the NINR Web site (www.nih.gov/ninr).

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Page 1: News From NINR

NURSING OUTLOOK MAY/JUNE 2000 127

SchmiedingMinority Nurses in Leadership Positions: A Call for Action

48. Porter CP, Villarruel AM. Nursing research with African Americanand Hispanic people: guidelines for action. Nurs Outlook1993;41:59-67.

49. Lynn MR, Cobb BK. Changes in nursing administration researchpriorities. A sign of the times. J Nurs Adm 1994;24(48):12-8.

50. Schmieding NJ. A novel approach to recruitment, retention, andadvancement of minority nurses in a health care organization. NursAdm Q 1991;15(4):69-76.

51. Higginbotham AL Jr. American’s racial pathology. Boston Globe1995 Oct 29;248(121):63.

52. Guinier L. Lift every voice. New York: Simon & Schuster; 1998.53. Bowen WG, Bok D. The shape of the river. Princeton (NJ):

Princeton University Press; 1998.54. Malone BL. Why isn’t nursing more diversified? In: McCloskey JC,

Grace HK, editors. Current issues in nursing. 5th ed. St Louis,Mosby; 1997. p. 578.

The National Institute of Nursing Research has entered the21st century with the momentum of a 28.5% increase in

budget. This increase will allow us to capitalize on opportuni-ties identified by the scientific community of nurseresearchers. The next fiscal year’s budget activities began withthe release of the President’s budget for 2001, which providesa 3.3% increase or $2.9 million (total acquired immunodefi-ciency syndrome and non–acquired immunodeficiencysyndrome) funding for NINR. The overall average increase forall Institutes and Centers of NIH is 5.6%.

In testimony before the House Appropriations Subcommittee*on March 2, 2000, I emphasized that in this period of rapid tech-nologic and demographic change, it is critical that nursingresearch grow to meet the present and future health care needsof Americans. I presented achievements and goals for fiscal year2001 related to these concerns, especially in the areas of chronicillness, end of life, and health disparities.

Regarding chronic illness, NINR plans to expand researchto help patients manage their conditions. Progress in this areais encouraging. In one recent accomplishment, nursingresearch has further tested and confirmed the value of a tran-sitional care model with a multidisciplinary team andadvanced practice nurses. The results of this study clearly indi-cate that 6 months after discharge, the intervention group, inthis case older adults with common medical and surgical prob-lems, spent fewer days in the hospital and had fewer rehospi-talizations, at a total savings of nearly $600,000 to the healthcare system. Widespread use of this model could save signifi-cant health care dollars and improve quality of care.

Most nursing research is clinical in nature and is carried outin settings that range from the hospital to the community.Nurse investigators are studying concerns the use of feedingtubes that are required to provide nutrition in many conditionsof acute or chronic illness. They have discovered that a simple

rapid chemical test of aspirated feeding tube contents is a moreaccurate alternative to use of a stethoscope, and a safer and lessexpensive alternative than radiographs. Clearly, it is also moreconvenient for use in homes or long-term care facilities.

Just as biomedical advances are changing the way we livewith illness, they are also changing the way we die. The dura-tion of both chronic illness and the dying process is nowprolonged. NINR is the lead institute for coordinating end-of-life/palliative care research at the NIH. Studies that werefunded in response to the Request for Applications for researchon end of life last year will form a basis on which to build animportant, growing effort. In fiscal year 2001, we plan toexpand our focus on end of life to better understand andimprove symptom management, decision making, andcommunication between patient, family, and the health team.

With regard to health disparities, our efforts are directedtoward closing the gap. Historically, nursing research hasfocused on minority health issues. Currently, about 20% ofour budget is directed toward this area. In fiscal year 2001 wewill focus particularly on diabetes self-management and theinfluence of ethnic and cultural differences on health. Anexample of progress in our efforts to reduce health care dispar-ities is a study in which nurse researchers adapted an arthritisself-help questionnaire for Hispanic patients. Throughout a 1-year period of follow-up, patients experienced significantimprovements in mobility, pain, fatigue, and depression.Another version of this program is currently being tested inHispanic populations with other chronic illnesses, and it hasthe potential to be expanded throughout the United States.

Finally, we continue to emphasize training and careerdevelopment. Building nursing research capacity remains animportant challenge.

In conclusion, continued growth of nursing research is vitalto meet public demands and pressing national health needs.Our contributions to the scientific foundation for the work ofhealth care practitioners, including the 2.5 million nursesthroughout the United States, are already making a differenceand have further significant potential to do so. ■

Patricia A. Grady, PhD, RN, FAAN, Director, NINR, NIH

News From NINR

*The complete opening statement may be accessed on the NINR Web site(www.nih.gov/ninr).