Vocera Publishes CNO Perspective Report to Help Support and Safeguard Frontline Workers

Rhea-AI Summary

Vocera Communications (NYSE:VCRA) released its 2021 CNO Perspective report, authored by Chief Nursing Officer Rhonda Collins. The report, titled Protect the Nurse, Protect the Practice, examines the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on nursing, addressing issues like mental fatigue and the need for better resources. Dr. Collins proposes six solutions to support nurses, including ensuring safety and reducing communication task loads. Brent Lang, CEO, highlights the importance of listening to nurses' concerns. The report also invites nurses to participate in a study to measure their cognitive burden during communication.

Positive

• Release of the 2021 CNO Perspective report highlighting critical issues within the nursing profession.
• Proposed six actionable solutions to improve nurses' work conditions.
• Engagement in a study to understand and reduce cognitive burden, utilizing established measurement tools.

Negative

• Report emphasizes significant mental and emotional fatigue among nurses due to pandemic pressures.
• Concerns about potential nurse attrition if leadership does not address nurses' fears and needs.

Vocera Communications, Inc. (NYSE:VCRA), a recognized leader in clinical communication and workflow solutions, released its 2021 CNO Perspective report authored by Chief Nursing Officer Rhonda Collins, DNP, RN, FAAN. Dr. Collins, who is also a co-founder of The American Nurse Project, publishes a report every year around Nurses Week, examining the most pressing issues within the nursing profession worldwide. She also offers solutions to drive sustainable change and protect the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of nurses.

This year’s report, titled Protect the Nurse, Protect the Practice, reflects on how the COVID-19 pandemic put a spotlight on the realities of the nursing profession and how the lack of resources, infrastructure, and policies impact nurses’ work and lives. In the report, Dr. Collins addresses the toll of mental, emotional, and physical fatigue and outlines steps to help leaders create environments that protect the well-being of nurses and their patients.

“The COVID-19 pandemic tested nurses like never before, and I have never been more proud to be part of this sacred profession,” Dr. Collins said. “As many nurses embrace the mantra ‘Never Again’ and consider whether to continue a career in healthcare, nurse leaders must listen to, support and protect nurses. If we don’t listen to their fears, concerns, and ideas for improvements, or calls for help, we risk losing nurses whom we desperately need.”

Dr. Collins is focused on elevating the voices of nurses, sharing strategies to reduce cognitive overload, and deploying solutions that simplify clinical workflows and ease the burden of busy nurses. The 2021 CNO Perspective report offers six solutions to help support nurses and reduce stress and cognitive load in healthcare environments, factoring in lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic:

1. Keep nurses protected and safe
2. Empower nurses with control over patient-family communication
3. Reduce the stress of crisis care
4. Enable smooth movement from novice to expert and back
5. Protect nurses from workplace violence
6. Measure and solve for communication task load

The report closes with Dr. Collins asking nurses to participate in a study to measure the mental, emotional, and physical burden nurses experience during communication. The study will use the NASA Task Load Index (TLX), a tool that has been used to measure the task load of workers in high-intensity jobs, such as pilots and air traffic controllers. The objective is to gain insight and a body of knowledge toward reducing nurses’ cognitive burden going forward.

“The more we engage with and listen to nurses, the better prepared we are to support them,” said Brent Lang, chairman and CEO of Vocera. “Even before the pandemic, nurses were risking their well-being for ours. We must do whatever it takes to protect them. Dr. Collins’ new report is of the upmost importance as it offers tactical solutions to support and prioritize the safety and well-being of nurses around the globe. I look forward to seeing how this work transforms our understanding by studying the task load of clinical communication.”

To participate in the study with Dr. Collins and other nurses around the globe, reach out to her via LinkedIn or on Twitter @RhondaCNO.

About Vocera

The mission of Vocera Communications, Inc. is to improve the lives of healthcare professionals, patients, and families. Founded in 2000, Vocera provides solutions that help protect and connect team members, simplify workflows, increase efficiency, enhance quality of care and safety, and humanize the healthcare experience. More than 2,300 facilities worldwide, including nearly 1,900 hospitals and healthcare facilities, have selected Vocera solutions to enable their workforce to communicate and collaborate with co-

FAQ

What is the 2021 CNO Perspective report by Vocera Communications?

The report titled Protect the Nurse, Protect the Practice, authored by Rhonda Collins, addresses challenges faced by nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic and provides solutions.

What solutions are proposed in the CNO Perspective report?

The report outlines six solutions, including ensuring safety, empowering communication, and reducing crisis care stress for nurses.

How does the CNO Perspective report measure cognitive burden?

The report invites nurses to participate in a study utilizing the NASA Task Load Index to measure their cognitive workload during communication.

What impact does the COVID-19 pandemic have on the nursing profession according to the report?

The report indicates the pandemic has intensified mental, emotional, and physical fatigue among nurses, affecting their well-being.

Who authored the CNO Perspective report?

The report was authored by Rhonda Collins, Chief Nursing Officer at Vocera Communications.