Planning Required For Your Nursing Research Goals

Karen Gabel Speroni

PhD, MHSA, BSN, RN

Magnet^®, Pathway to Excellence^®

Dr. Karen Gabel Speroni helps hospitals and hospital systems through all phases of their nursing excellence journey, including Magnet^®.

Dr. Karen Gabel Speroni helps hospitals and hospital systems through all phases of their nursing excellence journey, including Magnet®.

She is a research infrastructure and process expert who uniquely integrates organizational missions with research goals to facilitate evidence-informed practice of nursing, ultimately to advance the practice of nursing, including patient outcomes and work environment.

She has over 30 years of experience in biomedical research and hospital consultation, including hospital-based research, nursing excellence and evidence-based practice, as well serving on Institutional Review Boards, and university teaching.

Currently, Dr. Speroni:

Serves as a consultant and educator with the American Nurses Association, for hospitals on their Magnet® and Pathway to Excellence® journey; Certificate Holder, Fundamentals of Magnet;
Is adjunct faculty at Johns Hopkins School of nursing, serving as a Principal Investigator in multi-center, international research;
Provides inquiry methods and research consultation to develop and sustain research programs for Magnet recognition for multiple health care systems and hospital, including Johns Hopkins;
Presents research processes and research findings nationally and internationally, and
Authors research / healthcare related publications.

Summary of Services

Conducts organizational assessments.
Reviews application documents for Magnet.
Reviews ANCC requests for supplemental information and assists with responses.
Prepares organizations for successful ANCC site visits working with hospital groups, shared governance councils, and clinical nurses.
Assists with strategic planning for nursing excellence.
Mentors and works with teams to successfully achieve strategic outcomes.
Helps organizations develop effective shared leadership and decision-making structures, processes and outcomes, shared governance models and professional practice models.
Research process expert.
Utilizes iQuERY (Innovation, QUality improvement, Evidence-based practice, Research & You) to facilitate inquiry method best practices, a model which she innovated.

Education

PhD, Business Administration-Health Care Management, Eastern University
MHSA, Policy, Planning and Marketing, The George Washington University
BSN, Research College of Nursing-Rockhurst University

Certifications

American Nurses Credentialing Center–Certificate Holder in Fundamentals of Magnet^®

Professional Memberships

American Nurses Association
Sigma Theta Tau International
Virginia Nurses Association

Selected Recent Publications

1) Speroni, K.G., Antol, S., Lisle, L., Aroom, W. (2023). Differences by Nurse Type in Professional Quality of Life Perceptions from Pre-COVID-19 to Intra-COVID-19. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. 28, No. 3. DOI: 10.3912/OJIN.Vol28No03PPT75

2) Speroni, K.G. Remote Work in Nursing: Facilitators and Barriers. (2023). OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. 28, No. 2, Manuscript 1, DOI: 10.3912/OJIN.Vol28No02Man01

3) Speroni, K.G. Letter to the Editor by Karen G. Speroni to OJIN topic: Professional Pathways in Nursing: Options to Seek, Start, and Sustain a Career. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. March 20, 2023. Retrieved from: Letter to the Editor by Karen G. Speroni to OJIN topic: “Professional Pathways in Nursing: Options to Seek, Start, and Sustain a Career” | OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing (nursingworld.org)

4) Speroni, K.G., Budhathoki, C, Walters, C., Dutton, S., Mackay, P., Oguariri, R.M. (2022). Survey Research: Do all RN types have the same perceptions regarding professional nursing governance? Journal of Nursing Administration, 52(5) 258-265. 10.1097/NNA.0000000000001014

5) May, V, Knitting, J, Speroni, KG, Adil, M. Utilization of Emergent MRI in the Diagnosis of Acute Ischemic Stroke. (2022). Journal of Radiology Nursing.1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jradnu.2022.02.012

6) Hess, R., & Speroni, K.G. (2021). Onboarding best practices for professional nursing governance. Voice of Nursing Leadership, November: 4-6.

7) Speroni, K.G., & Hess, R. (2021). Pandemics challenges. Keeping nursing research alive. Journal of Nursing Administration, 51(7/8): 364-365.

8) Speroni, K.G., Wisner, K., Ober, M., Haines, F., Walters, C., & Budhathoki, C. (2021). Effect of Shared Governance on Nurse Sensitive Indicator and Satisfaction Outcomes by Magnet Recognition Status. Journal of Nursing Administration, 51 (7/8): 379-388. doi: 10.1097/NNA.0000000000001033

9) Speroni, K.G., Wisner, K., Stafford, A., Haines, F., AL-Ruzzieh, M.A., Walters, C., & Budhathoki, C. (2021). Effect of Shared Governance on Nurse Sensitive Indicator and Satisfaction Outcomes: An International Comparison. Journal of Nursing Administration, 51(5): 287-296. doi: 10.1097/NNA.0000000000001014

10) Lindauer, C., Speroni, K.G., Godinez, K., Lurz, T., Oakley, R., & Zakes, A. (2021). Effect of A Nurse-Led, Patient-Centered, Gratitude Intervention on Patient Hospitalization Experience. Journal of Nursing Administration. 51(4): 192-199. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33734178/

11) Cusanza, S., Speroni, K., Curran, C., & Azizi, D. (2020). Effect of Individualized Learning Plans on Nurse Learning Outcomes and Risk Mitigation. Journal of Healthcare Risk Management. 40(4): 17-29. DOI: 10.1002/jhrm.21442

12) Hess, B., Weaver, S., & Speroni, K.G. (2020). Shared Governance During A Pandemic. Nurse Leader. doi: 10.1016/j.mnl.2020.05.008

13) Lisle, L., Speroni, K.G., Aroom, W., Crouch, L., & Honigsberg, H. (2020). Differences in Compassion Satisfaction, Compassion Fatigue and Work Environment Factors by Hospital Registered Nurse Types. Online Journal for Issues in Nursing; 25(3). DOI: 10.3912/OJIN.Vol25No03PPT44

14) Speroni, K.G. (2020). Call to Action for a US Nurse General: From Ebola to Corona. Journal of Nursing Administration, 50(5): E1-E2.

15) Speroni, K.G., McLaughlin, M., Friesen, M.A. (2020). Use of Evidence-based Practice Models and Research Findings in Magnet®-Designated Hospitals Across the United States: National Survey Results. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing; 17(2): 98-10.

16) Baker, A., Speroni, K.G., Ruby, D., & Honigsberg, H. (2020). Health Care Professionals' Perceptions of Life-Sustaining Treatment Orders. Nursing2020; 50(2): 64-69.

For a listing of publications, click here

Planning Required For Establishing Your Nursing Research Council Goals

Inevitably, with each new year comes goal setting, which gives us an opportunity to identify what we would like to accomplish and establish a process to increase measurable success. The latter requires coordination through shared governance. Nurses must understand the important connection between coordinated goal setting that is aligned with the goals of unit councils and shared governance councils and the nursing division's strategic plan, all of which ideally align with the organizational strategic plan. For example, the following could be done annually to facilitate successful completion of the nursing research studies. In Q3, a council would discuss and vote to move forward their specific proposed goals for the upcoming year (annual or fiscal). In Q4, the coordinating council/governance council reviews the council's proposed goals in light of how they align with the nursing division and organizational strategic plans, and then approves those goals once it's certain the necessary resources will be available. Ideally, goals are reviewed and approved in Q4 by the coordinating council, allowing the specific shared governance council to initiate its goals in the subsequent Q1.

Here are some possible goals for the Nursing Research Council's consideration to support the infrastructure for nursing research study completion:

Initiate two* nursing research studies in the coming year that support the nursing strategic plan—whether related to nurse-sensitive indicators, satisfaction, core measures, community outreach, or some other component specific to the organization. Research findings that can be evaluated to improve processes likely will garner more of the resources needed for various phases of the study.
Hold quarterly journal clubs that support overall goals that align with the strategic plans. For example, if falls and pressure ulcer prevention are problematic, hold journal clubs on these issues. Include a literature review tool to help nurses review related journal articles.
Host a nurse research intern (NRI) program mentored by an experienced nursing researcher. Nurses can apply to conduct a nursing research study, with specific, designated hours of protected time provided by the NRI program. Again, topics for study would align with the overall plans.
Support evidence-based practice (EBP) projects on every nursing unit. Align topics with unit council goals, which will be aligned with overall plans.
Hold an annual nursing research/EBP conference.
Submit two* studies for national presentation.
Submit two* study manuscripts to peer-reviewed journals.

*This number will vary based on the scope of your research program and the support available for nurse researchers.

Transformational leaders can best support nursing shared governance when goals among the various councils and groups align. When that happens, more resources are available for the work associated with the identified goals, and all nurses in the organization will be empowered to provide exemplary professional practice and improve empirical outcomes

This article was originally published in March 2016.

*Use of ANA Consultation Services does not guarantee you will achieve an ANCC credential. ANA consultants and staff cannot influence the actions of ANCC program staff nor decisions of the Commission on Magnet® Recognition, Commission on Pathway to Excellence®, or Commission on Accreditation in Practice Transition Programs and the Commission for Nursing Continuing Professional Development..