New Knowledge, Innovation, and Improvements

Research is strongly encouraged and supported at Henry Ford Hospital (HFH). The quest for knowledge and ways to improve clinical practice is key to long-term success. Nursing research at HFH is backed by nursing scholars and researchers along with financial support for projects.

Henry Ford nurses use evidence-based practice and research to become innovative thinkers, find new knowledge and create clinical improvements. This in turn, allows them to positively impact the lives of their patients, families and colleagues. 

Center for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice

Advancing the practice of nursing

Henry Ford Health’s mission is to improve people’s lives through excellence in the science and art of health care and healing. To support this, Henry Ford Hospital (HFH) strongly encourages employees to participate in research within their clinical expertise.

The HFH Department of Nursing is no different and has always provided support for nurses interested in research and evidence-based practice (EBP). EBP refers to the translation of research results into practice so that patient care is based on the best scientific evidence available.

“To further support our nurses and facilitate research activities, we opened the HFH Center for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice in May 2019,” says Therese Mianecki, PhD, RN, nurse researcher and the Center’s co-lead.

The HFH Center for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice (CNRE) provides support for nursing research which focuses on issues of importance related to nursing such as patient care, nursing education, nursing administration and informatics.

The CNRE works with any nurse who has an idea for a research study or practice initiative. Nurses are provided with mentorship and support to be successful in their research journey. The Center also collaborates with partners throughout the health system as well as universities and external healthcare centers.

The Center is led by Mianecki and her colleague, Cathy Draus, DNP, ACNS-BC, clinical nurse specialist. Both are doctorally prepared with experience in nursing research, clinical practice, and in providing guidance and support throughout the research process.

Improving care for our older patients

NICHE designation

Since September 2016, the Henry Ford Hospital (HFH) B4 Internal Medicine Unit has set a goal to achieve Nurses Improving Care for Health System Elders (NICHE) designation. NICHE is a nursing education and consultation program designed to improve care of older hospitalized adults in healthcare organizations.

B4 noted restraint use on the unit was high among patients 65 and older. The nurses were researching evidence-based practices and programs to decrease restraint use. When they discovered the NICHE program, it became their goal to achieve designation. After extensive training and hard work, the program was fully implemented in June 2018.

“We want to make sure HFH provides a safe stay for those 65 and older,” said B4 Nurse Manager Rebecca White, BSN, RN. “We have worked hard to receive this designation. Our unit has executed safety methods and put precautions in place to reduce restraint use.”

The use of restraints on older patients puts them at a higher risk for poor outcomes that may result in functional decline, circulation issues, stress, pressure injuries and more. B4 reduced restraint use in their patients by over 50% since starting their journey to NICHE designation.

The unit implemented activity quilts to help keep patients busy and to reduce restlessness while in bed. They also began using sleeves to keep patients from pulling out lines, which reduces the need for restraints.

In order to achieve NICHE designation, the B4 nurses received additional training to enhance their care of the older patient. Several nurses have also taken extra courses to become experts in the care of the older patient. This process has changed the staff’s perspective and has helped them come up with innovative ideas to reduce restraint use. The outcome for the older hospitalized patient population is an improvement in safety and a decrease in falls.

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