Baccalaureate Nursing Students Research Articles

Teaching Mindfulness to Mitigate Burnout in a Pandemic.

Posttraumatic stress syndrome has been on the rise across all nursing specialties. When dealing with high-stress situations in the workplace, it has become clear that health care providers require tools to maintain a healthy environment. The purpose of this article is to describe an initiative to provide baccalaureate nursing students with mindfulness techniques to manage their internal reactions to day-to-day events during a pandemic. This is an innovative classroom initiative reviewing nursing student engagement on a discussion board related to mindfulness reflection questions before and after implementing an 8-week mindfulness program conducted from August to October 2020 in a first-year undergraduate nursing program in Texas. A total of 124 student nurses participated in a mindfulness program. The majority of these were women (83.9%), aged 19-50 years, single (78.2%), and Hispanic or Latino (84.7%). Discussion board engagement increased from n = 1,001 posts over 16-week premindfulness program implementation to n = 4,191 over the first 10 weeks of the program implementation. Nursing implications include providing an atmosphere in which nurses can practice mindfulness skills, such as being in touch with their thoughts and bodies, which will help them transition into the position of trauma nurse. As nurse educators, it is our responsibility to assist in developing tools that students and patients may use to deal with their anxiety and foster an environment that promotes learning, understanding, and compassion.

Nursing students’ risk perceptions related to medication administration error: A qualitative study

AimThe purpose of this study was to explore and describe pre-licensure nursing students’ perceptions of risk for medication administration errors in fourth-year baccalaureate student nurses from three campuses at a large central Pennsylvania university. BackgroundMedication administration errors continue to be a significant safety concern in healthcare settings. Pre-licensure nursing education is a critical time period during which to have an impact on future medication administration practices. Perception of risk influences decision making and behavior, including nursing clinical decision making. DesignThis descriptive, exploratory study involved a qualitative design. MethodsA thematic analysis of the qualitative data resulting from 60 individual, in-depth semi-structured interviews was conducted. ResultsThe participants offered rich, detailed narratives which revealed the following themes: (1) the nature of risk perceptions, (2) more opportunities to learn, (3) experiences with medication administration error, and (4) intrinsic characteristics influence errors. ConclusionsThe findings provide a broad description of the nature of student nurse risk perceptions for future medication administration errors. Recommendations for nursing education practice and pedagogy include additional clinical experiences, modified pharmacology curricula and instruction, and expanded simulations involving medication administration error.

Obligations and Behaviors That Impact Sleep in Prelicensure Baccalaureate Nursing Students.

Nursing students have obligations and behaviors that impact sleep. The purpose of this study was to investigate sleep among prelicensure baccalaureate nursing students and describe factors that impact their sleep quality and daytime sleepiness. Prelicensure nursing students (n = 254) completed questionnaires that included demographics; obligations and behaviors that always, sometimes, or never caused sleep loss on a daily or weekly basis; the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; the Epworth Sleepiness Scale; and the Sleep Hygiene Index. College classes were the most frequent reason why participants always lost sleep. Obligations of work, classes, and technology use into the night significantly predicted sleep hygiene; obligations of work, family, activity with friends, and classes significantly predicted sleep quality. There is a need for education about behaviors and obligations that impact sleep in undergraduate nursing students, along with resources to assist in coping with external stressors.

Cultivating practices for resilience with baccalaureate nursing students: A pilot study.

The purpose of Cultivating Practices for Resilience (CPR) was to develop, implement, and evaluate college-wide strategic initiatives to promote wellness and resilience and improve mental health outcomes in baccalaureate nursing students. Six hundred and fifty-four students were invited to complete a 24-item survey over 3 weeks in 2021. Descriptive statistics/logistic regression were used for data analysis. One hundred and thirty-one students completed the survey; 61% were sophomores. White students (p = 0.024) and males (p = 0.023) had higher intentions to refer colleagues to mental health services. Those perceiving CPR programming more helpful had higher intentions to refer (p < 0.001) and embrace the ANA's Healthy Nurse Healthy Nation™ campaign (p < 0.001). Stronger strategic efforts are needed to help shape an academic culture for cultivating practices for resilience among baccalaureate nursing students, especially females and underrepresented population groups.

Prevalence of problematic Internet use and its association with quality of life among undergraduate nursing students in the later stage of COVID-19 pandemic era in China.

Background and ObjectivesThe prevalence of problematic Internet use (PIU) in the post‐COVID‐19 pandemic era is not known. This cross‐sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of PIU among baccalaureate nursing students (hereafter: nursing students) in the post‐COVID‐19 era.MethodsA total of 1070 nursing students were consecutively invited to participate in this study from the nursing schools of five universities. PIU and quality of life (QOL) were assessed using the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Brief Version (WHOQOL‐BREF), respectively. t Tests, χ 2, tests, and Kruskal–Wallis tests were used to compare basic demographic and clinical characteristics between participants with and without PIU. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to examine independent correlates.ResultsThe prevalence of PIU was 23.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 20.7%–25.8%). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that second‐ (p = .024) and third‐year (p = .012) students were more likely to suffer from PIU compared with first year students. Students with more severe depressive (p = .014) and anxiety symptoms (p = .011) were independently and significantly associated with more severe PIU. After controlling for covariates, nursing students with PIU had a lower overall QOL score (p = .002).Conclusion and Scientific SignificanceProblematic Internet use (PIU) was common among nursing students in the post‐COVID‐19 era. Considering the negative impact of PIU on QOL and academic performance, regular screening should be conducted and effective interventions implemented for nursing students with PIU. This was the first study on the prevalence of PIU among nursing students in the post‐COVID‐19 era. The findings of this study could help health professionals and education authorities to understand the patterns of PIU and its influence on QOL among nursing students and to allocate health resources and develop effective measures to reduce the risk of PIU in this population.

Strategies to promote and sustain baccalaureate students' interest in pursuing a PhD degree in nursing.

PhD-prepared nurses are integral to the delivery of cost-effective, safe, and high-quality care to the increasingly diverse population in the U.S. Nurses with a PhD are needed to develop knowledge that informs and directs nursing care, promote positive health outcomes, and train the next generation of nurses and nurse scientists. Unfortunately, less than 1% of nurses have their PhD in nursing and there is an ongoing shortage of nurses in the U.S. that has not been effectively addressed. The PhD in nursing pipeline needs to be bolstered to address the escalating nursing shortage. This is especially important considering the importance of having an adequate number of well-prepared nurses to address the increasing complexities of health conditions and patient populations in the U.S. This paper presents strategies to promote and sustain interest in PhD in nursing among baccalaureate nursing students and discusses the importance of meaningful engagement in research and engaged faculty mentorship. It is important to incorporate research into undergraduate experiences, promote engaged mentorship during undergraduate level and beyond, and provide a conducive environment for undergraduate students to address their fears, misconceptions, and myths about PhD in nursing.

Professional Values Development Among Jordanian Baccalaureate Nursing Students.

The aims of the study were to identify professional values among third- and fourth-year baccalaureate nursing students at private and public universities in Jordan and to investigate the demographic variables correlating with professional values. Educational curricula reinforce professional values among nursing students. A cross-sectional design was used; the questionnaire included a demographic variable survey and the Nurses Professional Values Scale-3. The mean score for the overall value scale was moderate (3.5, SD = 0.4, range 1-5). The caring subscale was the highest (3.9); the professionalism and the activism subscales had the same mean (3.3). Male students, studying in private universities and employed in health care, scored higher (p = .002, .001, and .01, respectively). Study track and age were insignificantly correlated. The development of professional values is associated positively with practice and employment status; clinical experience improved students' sense of professionalism.

Assessing Baccalaureate Nursing Students’ Antibiotic Stewardship Knowledge Using Virtual Standardized Patient Simulations

Background: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the single most important factor leading to the development of antibiotic resistance (AMR) is the use of antibiotics. Studies indicate that up to 50% of hospitalized patients receive at least 1 antibiotic, half of which are inappropriate. The outpatient setting accounts for &gt;60% of antibiotic use and over half of these prescriptions are inappropriate. Antibiotic stewardship programs improve appropriate antibiotic use, reduce AMR, decrease complications of antibiotic use, and improve patient outcomes. Building a nursing workforce with necessary AMR and antibiotic stewardship knowledge and skill is critical. Nursing graduates can translate knowledge into practice, promoting the judicious use of antibiotics to keep patients safe from antibiotic harm. Methods: Third-year baccalaureate nursing students enrolled in a fall 2020 health promotion course at an urban university affiliated with an academic medical center participated. Students received a 3-hour lecture on antibiotics, AMR and antibiotic stewardship nursing practices and actively engaged in antibiotic stewardship simulations using standardized patient (SP) encounters. The SP participants were specifically trained for these activities. Simulations included a 30-minute brief before and a 60-minute briefing after the activities. All activities occurred via video conferencing. Case scenarios, developed by the authors, focused on penicillin-allergy delabeling of an adolescent prior to elective surgery and appropriate use of antibiotics in managing pediatric urinary tract infections and acute otitis media (AOM). Before-and-after tests were used to assess the impact on AMR and antibiotic stewardship knowledge. Results: Over a period of 4 days, all enrolled students (n = 165) participated in 1 three-hour virtual simulation session. Using Zoom video conferencing with multiple breakout rooms, the activities were easily managed. During the simulations, students often struggled with reading an antibiogram and applying the concept of “watchful waiting” in AOM management. Significant differences were found in before-and-after test results, with significant improvement in students’ general and specific knowledge and awareness of antibiotics (P &lt; .01). During the debriefing sessions, students reported increased awareness related to their role in advancing the judicious use of antibiotics. Conclusions: Initially, we planned to conduct in-person SP simulations. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, faculty and students demonstrated remarkable flexibility and resilience as we successfully converted to a virtual format. Virtual lecture and SP simulations, followed by debriefing, was an effective approach to educate baccalaureate nursing students about AMR and their role in antibiotic stewardship. Areas for course content improvement were identified.Funding: NoDisclosures: None

Evaluation of Anxiety and Self-Confidence Among Baccalaureate Nursing Students Post Pandemic Simulation Exercise

BackgroundSimulation-based exercises enhance self-confidence, skills, and knowledge acquisition in nursing education. This study explored clinical decision making (CDM) skills based on students’ anxiety and self-confidence. MethodsThis mixed-methods study used a 27-item self-administered questionnaire which assessed participants’ overall self-confidence and anxiety ratings on CDM pre- and post-simulation, as well as other three dimensions: “Using resources to gather information and listening fully,” “Using information to see the big picture,” and “Knowing and acting.” ResultsParticipants’ self-confidence increased and their anxiety levels decreased following the simulation exercise, both overall and in terms of the threeassessed subscales. All pre- and post-simulation differences were statistically significant and featured moderate effect sizes. ConclusionsThe results demonstrate the value of incorporating simulation as an effective teaching strategy to decrease anxiety and improve self-confidence in preparing future healthcare professionals to respond appropriately during a pandemic.

Second victims among baccalaureate nursing students in the aftermath of a patient safety incident: An exploratory cross-sectional study.

A patient safety incident (PSI) is considered to have an impact on nursing students. Healthcare professionals often feel personally responsible for the unexpected patient outcome and feel as though they have failed their patient. In this way they may become second victims of the incident. Little is known about possible initiatives from hospitals or teaching institutions regarding the support of their students involved in a PSI. The study aims to examine the prevalence, symptoms and support in the aftermath of a PSI in baccalaureate nursing students. A cross-sectional study in four teaching institutions for baccalaureate education across eleven campuses in Belgium. Students completed an online survey between February 2018 and March 2018. About one in three (38.4%) students were involved in a PSI during their clinical experience. Of these, 84.7% experienced second victim symptoms. Most common symptoms were hypervigilance (65.7%), stress (42.5%) and doubting knowledge and skills (40.6%). Besides negative effects, the PSI also led to a more positive attitude. Students expect most support and room for open discussion from staff nurses (80.8%). Nursing students may already become second victims during their education. PSIs have a major impact on their performance and personal life. Students have the right for a decent treatment, respect, understanding and compassion, support, transparency and the opportunity to contribute to improving procedures. Teaching institutions should therefore bear the responsibility to prepare students of the probability of the occurrence of PSIs during their clinical experience.

Baccalaureate nursing students' engagement with end-of-life curriculum: A grounded theory study

BackgroundThe art of being prepared to support patients and their families during end of life experiences is not always emphasized in nurse education. Despite the efforts from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and End of Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC), only 25% of nursing schools across the United States are using their modules. ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to explore how student nurses engage with end of life education. DesignQualitative study using a grounded theory approach. SettingBaccalaureate nursing program located in the rural agricultural western United States. ParticipantsUsing purposive sampling, a single cohort of baccalaureate student nurses in two focus groups (n = 17; n = 23). MethodsUsing a grounded theory approach, student experiences and engagement with the curriculum were explored. Using the constant comparative method, three researchers coded the data independently and then came together to reach consensus on themes and for the development of the conceptual model. ResultsThree categories emerged from the data to describe the student engagement with the curriculum: Novice, Evolving, and Prepared. The central theme for the Novice students was Being Afraid. Students expressed fear over the unknown and not knowing what to say or do. Becoming Aware was the central theme for the Evolving students which included a blend of being aware of their deficiencies as well as the important aspects of end of life care. The final category was Prepared. The theme for this category was Becoming Accomplished, which included recognition of respectful care, disrespectful care, team work, and advocacy. ConclusionEnd of life education is essential for nursing students to provide appropriate care at end of life, as well as providing improved knowledge, attitudes, and confidence of students. The End of Life Nursing Education Consortium modules, placed strategically within the curriculum, allow nursing students to move through the process of Being Afraid, to Becoming Aware, and finally Becoming Accomplished upon graduation.

Assessment of Structural Competency in Baccalaureate Nursing Students: A Descriptive Study.

Structural competency describes the ability to recognize structural factors that affect health disparities, such as inequity and stigma. These structural factors can alter a patient's symptoms and risk for certain diseases. The purpose of this study was to describe baccalaureate nursing students' attributions of the effects of structural factors on health. Participants in this study attributed structural factors as being relevant to adverse health outcomes. Findings demonstrated differences in attribution of structural factors by academic level. Given the shifting demographics in the United States and gaps in health care access, further research is needed on the development of structural competence in nursing students.

An Opioid Education Program for Baccalaureate Nursing Students.

Unintentional drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the United States. Previous research identified training health caregivers in the rescue medication naloxone as a strategy to prevent death from opioid overdose. Existing research on naloxone training with nursing students is limited. This educational research project investigated whether training on opioids, opioid toxicity, and overdose response could impact student knowledge, skills, and confidence responding to overdoses. Data were collected from baccalaureate nursing students using three sources: the Brief Opioid Overdose Knowledge questionnaire, a rubric based on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration opioid overdose prevention toolkit, and a researcher-developed evaluation. Planned repeated-measures analyses of variance conducted on data from 284 baccalaureate students indicated high uptake of knowledge and skills for opioid toxicity and naloxone administration. Results were maintained with slight enhancement at 1 week, and training was highly rated. Cohort analysis suggests efficacy across semesters. Education improved student opioid knowledge, skills, and confidence and was relevant across undergraduate nursing curricula.

Sleep Quality and Daytime Sleepiness in Prelicensure Baccalaureate Nursing Students.

Nursing students need to learn about sleep health to provide safe patient care. The purpose of this study was to investigate sleep in nursing students and describe factors that affect their sleep. This study used a cross-sectional descriptive design with a convenience sample from baccalaureate nursing programs in a midwestern region of the United States. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and Sleep Hygiene Index. Two hundred fifty-four nursing students reported poor sleep quality, excessive daytime sleepiness, and maladaptive sleep hygiene, regardless of their year of study or enrollment status. Behavior of technology use into the night was the most frequent reason why students lost sleep. Learning the importance of sleep hygiene, good sleep quality, and the associated health benefits may assist nursing students with achieving optimal daytime functioning. Consideration should be given to sleep health content as a thread through nursing curriculum. [J Nurs Educ. 2021;60(4):196-202.].

A Cross-Sectional Survey Exploring Nursing Students’ Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Opioids and the Opioid Epidemic

BackgroundThe opioid epidemic continues to be a serious public health crisis in the United States. One way to address this issue is to effectively educate future healthcare providers, especially nurses, who play a key role in managing pain and improving opioid-related outcomes. MethodsA 34-item electronic survey was administered to traditional baccalaureate student nurses at a large, public University School of Nursing. The survey was used to assess participant demographics, general knowledge, and attitudes regarding opioids and the opioid epidemic, and relevant personal and professional experiences. Quantitative responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ANOVAs, and logistic regression; free-text responses were categorized by frequency of keywords. ResultsIn all, 134 students (response rate 42.3%) completed the survey. Increases in student opioid knowledge and confidence scores over the 4 years were statistically significant (p< .001). General opioid attitudes were primarily negative (n = 70; 52.5%) or neutral (n = 54; 40.3%), and few students (n = 12; 9.0%) reported positive experiences caring for patients with substance use disorders. Free-text responses revealed that nursing students are eager to contribute to the conversation regarding how to address this critical public health issue and recognize they have a key role to play in safely supporting patients coping with pain. ConclusionsAlthough opioid knowledge and confidence scores were higher for 4th year compared with 1st year nursing students, there is room for continued improvement. Curricula and clinical experiences must thoughtfully integrate opioid and pain management content longitudinally across all years of a nursing program to optimize care for both patients in pain and those coping with substance use disorders.

Teaching Baccalaureate Nursing Students to Practice in Primary Care Settings.

The Affordable Care Act of 2010 emphasized the importance of primary care and preventative services as core components to promote the health of the U.S. A unique program was created for baccalaureate nursing students to provide learning and practice experiences in primary practice sites that emphasized chronic disease prevention and management, including mental health and substance abuse services. Students were selected using a holistic approach. Students were selected to participate in the project. A community leadership advisory board was created. Students were assigned to the Veteran Administration's primary care clinics for their clinical experiences. This project is well-developed to increase the knowledge of present and future RNs, interprofessional providers and educators, researchers, and policy makers in community-oriented primary care. [J Nurs Educ. 2021;60(3):129-135.].

Viewpoints on Undergraduate Research Among Nursing Students Conducting Q-Methodology Studies.

This article describes using Q-methodology to evaluate changes in attitudes about research among baccalaureate nursing students conducting Q-methodology studies as part of an undergraduate honors research program. Five senior students, who had designed Q-methodology studies, sorted 36 opinion statements about undergraduate research based on two conditions of instruction: (a) according to their current attitudes, and (b) according to their beliefs before they began the honors program. A two-factor final solution explained 70% of the variance. The Getting Ahead section of the study, associated with six sorting grids, also known as sorts, reflected positive beliefs about the professional benefits of engaging in undergraduate research. The Too Much Effort theme reflected beliefs held by three participants prior to engaging in the program. After engaging in an undergraduate research honors program where participants designed a Q-methodology study, this group of students reported gaining intellectual and practical skills and no longer found research to be as intimidating. [J Nurs Educ. 2021;60(2):96-98.].

Self-assessment of nursing informatics competencies and attitudes among baccalaureate-nursing students

Background The growing complexity of the healthcare field and nursing profession necessitates the nurses to incorporate evidence-based nursing informatics into everyday practices to manage acute and chronic illnesses. Aim This research aimed at self-assessing the nursing informatics competencies and attitudes among baccalaureate-nursing students. Participants and methods A descriptive, correlational design was used in this research, which was conducted in the Nursing Department of Applied Medical Sciences College, University of Hafr Al-Batin. The sampling consisted of 103 baccalaureate-nursing students. The data-collection tools included the adapted self-assessment nursing informatics competencies and attitudes toward using of nursing informatics in the healthcare system generally and the nursing profession specifically. Results This study illustrated that 70.5% of participants assessed themselves as competent, 21% of them were beginners, and only 8.5% of them were novices in the nursing informatics competencies, as well as the majority of them hold positive attitudes toward using of nursing informatics in the healthcare system and the nursing profession. Conclusion The study concluded that the baccalaureate-nursing students recognized the essentiality and magnitude of informatics in nursing education for providing safe, effective, and high-quality patient care. This research illuminated that the nursing students who hold a high level of informatics competencies had positive attitudes toward using of nursing informatics in the healthcare system and the nursing profession. Recommendations There is a need to integrate the nursing informatics subject into undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Moreover, there are continuing efforts from researchers in this area to address the challenges, barriers, and facilitators in nursing education and practice.

Emotional Response and Social Influence as Correlates of Perceived Empathy among Baccalaureate Nursing and Midwifery Students in Ondo State

Emotional Response and Social Influence as Correlates of Perceived Empathy among Baccalaureate Nursing and Midwifery Students in Ondo State

Addressing the Perioperative Nursing Shortage Via a Perioperative Nursing Preceptorship for Baccalaureate Nursing Students.

A growing demand for perioperative nurses, insufficient interest in the perioperative nursing specialty, and nurse retirements have resulted in a perioperative nursing workforce shortage. Undergraduate nursing students' limited exposure to perioperative content, along with facility hiring practices that exclude recently graduated nurses, further contribute to this shortage. To address these concerns, a large health care system in the midwestern United States partnered with a college of nursing to institute a perioperative preceptorship for baccalaureate nursing students during their final semester. After completing the preceptorship, students reported increased understanding of perioperative nursing roles and responsibilities, time management, and patient safety skills; ability to work effectively as a part of an interdisciplinary team; and independence in the perioperative setting. Future study is needed to examine rates of matriculation among program graduates into perioperative nursing positions and the program's effect on the length of orientation for recently graduated nurses and nurse retention.