title: A clinical nursing leadership model for enhancing continence care for older adults in a subacute inpatient care setting.
abstract: This article describes the application and evaluation of a clinical nursing leadership model to enhance continence care in an inpatient rehabilitation setting for older adults. Multiple strategies were employed to optimize the uptake and sustainability of 3 practice initiatives: (1) establishment of an enhanced role for ward-based nurses to provide clinical support to patients and other staff for the management of incontinence, (2) a new method for nursing assessment and management of bowel elimination, and (3) a framework for improved discharge care of patients with incontinence. Evaluation data indicated a high level of acceptance of the role of the ward-based continence resource nurses, improved assessment and management of bowel elimination, and enhanced discharge care for patients with incontinence. These initiatives were sustainable during a 2-year period after their introduction, despite the gradual withdrawal of the clinical leader.
authors.affiliation: Peter James Centre, Deakin University, Victoria 3125, Australia. joan.ostaszkiewicz@deakin.edu.au
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ostaszkiewicz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004282:Documentation; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000451:nursing*; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000592:standards; D012866:Skilled Nursing Facilities; D012944:Social Support; D019467:Subacute Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000451:nursing*