Background Although there is a demonstrated need for peer support programs for healthcare workers like Resilience In Stressful Events, little is known about their utilization. This study evaluated awareness and utilization of Resilience In Stressful Events among nurses at one teaching hospital; perceptions of program benefits; and resilience, burnout, and job satisfaction among Resilience In Stressful Events users versus non-users. Methods Cross-sectional surveys of staff nurses and nurse leaders. Pearson Chi-Square tests and logistic regressions were used to establish significant differences. Results There were 337 responses (response rate 8.3%) from staff nurses. Awareness of Resilience In Stressful Events was 87%, but there was limited Resilience In Stressful Events activation for oneself (23%) or others (6%). Among recent users (n = 30), 47% reported that Resilience In Stressful Events improved their ability to work with confidence, 65% felt better after using Resilience In Stressful Events, and 70% found the program helpful. Among non-users, 39% wished they had used Resilience In Stressful Events and 34% wished they had activated Resilience In Stressful Events on behalf of a colleague. Nurses who used Resilience In Stressful Events reported more burnout and greater resilience than those who had not, but similar job satisfaction. There were 75 responses from nurse leaders (response rate 69%), 93% of whom were aware of Resilience In Stressful Events; 56% had activated Resilience In Stressful Events. Eighty percent reported Resilience In Stressful Events was personally helpful and 68% reported the program was helpful for their staff. Nurse leaders who activated Resilience In Stressful Events were more resilient than those who had not, but similar in burnout and job satisfaction. Conclusions Nurses indicated favorable perceptions of using Resilience In Stressful Events, and its utilization was associated with greater resilience but higher burnout in frontline nurses.

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Objective: Explore veteran-specific factors impacting the acceptance of palliative care services at a Veterans Health Administration hospital. Methods: Prospective, focused one-on-one interviews were conducted with 18 inpatient veterans with an initial consult to receive palliative care services. Domains impacting reception of outpatient palliative care management were evaluated including knowledge deficit, emotional barriers, physical barriers, psychosocial barriers, and physical support. Themes and trends from interview responses were analyzed using a qualitative directed content analysis approach. Results: The following themes were discovered to influence veteran participation in outpatient palliative care: Knowledge Deficit, Environmental Factors, Positive Patient Satisfaction, Openness to Technology, and Resiliency. Characteristics of veterans interviewed included an average age of 71 with an average distance from the hospital of 59 miles. Conclusion: The identification of factors impacting veteran access to palliative care will be used to guide interventions and improve receipt of services. Care of seriously ill veterans may be substantially improved by facilitating access to palliative care.

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In 2007, 48% of U.S. students of grades 9 to 12 had experienced sexual debut, 7% before the age of 13 years. Preventing early intercourse, sexually transmitted diseases, adolescent pregnancy, and the loss of educational opportunity are important concerns for nurses and educators. A secondary data analysis of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) 2003 provided data identifying the relationships among age at sexual debut, gender, location of residence, and perceived school safety (PSS) as framed by the theory of problem behavior. Mean age at sexual debut was 14.4 years. Males were younger at sexual debut than females. Students reporting positive PSS were older at sexual debut. Age at sexual debut was significantly associated with PSS, gender, and location of residence. School nurses are positioned to identify evidence-based programs, facilitate the development of collaborative interventions to improve PSS, and change trajectories of sexual activity leading to poor health outcomes in adolescents and health risk behaviors in adults.