The purpose of this K01 Mentored Research Scientist Development Award is to prepare Margo Brooks Carthon, PhD, RN, for an independent health services research career, with a special focus on disparities research. The career development plan entails three approaches to achieve the immediate and long-term career goals of the candidate, including 1) completion of training dedicated to acquiring skills in advanced health outcomes research methods and statistics;2) enlistment of an expert mentorship team including Dr. Linda Aiken, PhD, FAAN, RN, Dr. Herbert Smith and Dr. David Barton Smith and 3) the conduct of a study to evaluate the influence of nurse practice environments on hospital outcomes of minority patients, that will lead to future R-series grant applications. I have an offer for a faculty position from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing upon the completion of my post-doctoral research fellowship. The research project seeks to understand how characteristics of the nurse work force and the nurse practice environment influence outcomes among hospitalized minority patients. This study will employ a cross sectional, observational design to determine the effects of nurse work force and the practice environment on selected patient outcomes in order to assess what types of investments in nursing resources might be most beneficial to minority patient outcomes.
The specific aims of the research project are to: 1) examine the difference in post operative mortality and failure to rescue rates among minority and non-minority patients, and determine how much of the differences in minority patient outcomes are explained by underlying patient characteristics such as comorbidites or characteristics of the hospitals where minorities seek care;and 2) determine to what extent differences in minority patient post surgical outcomes are associated with nurse staffing, the proportion of nurses with BSN education, and the quality of the nurse practice environment. It is anticipated that the results of the study will inform managerial and policy initiatives on how to improve health outcomes, particularly in hospitals serving a large proportion of minorities.

Public Health Relevance

This proposal directly addresses the public health concern regarding disparities in health outcomes among hospitalized racial and ethnic minorities. Its results will represent one of the first initiatives to evaluate the influence of nursing care and the practice environment on minority patient outcomes and will provide a preliminary assessment of what kinds of investments in nursing are most beneficial.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research & Training (K01)
Project #
5K01NR012006-03
Application #
8267016
Study Section
National Institute of Nursing Research Initial Review Group (NRRC)
Program Officer
Cotton, Paul
Project Start
2010-07-01
Project End
2013-05-31
Budget Start
2012-06-01
Budget End
2013-05-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$91,368
Indirect Cost
$6,768
Name
University of Pennsylvania
Department
Other Health Professions
Type
Schools of Nursing
DUNS #
042250712
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19104
Brooks Carthon, J Margo; Nguyen, Thai-Huy; Chittams, Jesse et al. (2014) Measuring success: results from a national survey of recruitment and retention initiatives in the nursing workforce. Nurs Outlook 62:259-67
Brooks Carthon, J Margo; Jarrín, Olga; Sloane, Douglas et al. (2013) Variations in postoperative complications according to race, ethnicity, and sex in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 61:1499-507
Carthon, J Margo Brooks; Kutney-Lee, Ann; Jarrin, Olga et al. (2012) Nurse staffing and postsurgical outcomes in black adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 60:1078-84
McHugh, Matthew D; Brooks Carthon, Margo; Sloane, Douglas M et al. (2012) Impact of nurse staffing mandates on safety-net hospitals: lessons from California. Milbank Q 90:160-86
Brooks-Carthon, J Margo; Kutney-Lee, Ann; Sloane, Douglas M et al. (2011) Quality of care and patient satisfaction in hospitals with high concentrations of black patients. J Nurs Scholarsh 43:301-10
Carthon, Margo Brooks (2011) Making ENDS Meet: community networks and health promotion among Blacks in the city of Brotherly Love. Am J Public Health 101:1392-401
Sumpter, Danica Fulbright; Carthon, J Margo Brooks (2011) Lost in translation: student perceptions of cultural competence in undergraduate and graduate nursing curricula. J Prof Nurs 27:43-9
McHugh, Matthew D; Carthon, J Margo Brooks; Kang, Xiao L (2010) Medicare readmissions policies and racial and ethnic health disparities: a cautionary tale. Policy Polit Nurs Pract 11:309-16