Mean Score Of Nurses Research Articles

Evaluation of Microbiota Awareness Among the Healthcare Professionals in Kars Harakani State Hospital

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate microbiota awareness among the healthcare professionals in Kars Harakani State Hospital by their gender, educational status, marital status, and occupational groups. Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted between 1-31 December 2023 with the participation of the healthcare professionals (n=329) working at Kars Harakani State Hospital. In the study, a questionnaire form inquiring about sociodemographic characteristics and Microbiota Awareness Scale (MAS) were used. MAS consists of the subfactors of “general information”, “product information”, “chronic disease”, and “probiotic and prebiotic”. Results: Product information, chronic disease, and probiotic and prebiotic subscale scores and MAS total scale scores of females were found to be higher than males. The general information mean score of those with graduate education levels was higher than those with associate degree levels. The product information score of the married participants was determined to be higher than the single participants. The general information mean score of physicians was higher compared to the mean scores of nurses and technicians, while the product information mean score of technicians was lower than the mean scores of physicians, nurses, and midwives. The chronic disease mean score of nurses was higher than that of physicians, and their probiotic and prebiotic mean score and MAS total scale mean score were higher compared to the mean scores of technicians. Conclusion: Microbiota awareness levels among healthcare professionals vary according to their occupational groups.

Influence of information anxiety on core competency of registered nurses: mediating effect of digital health literacy

BackgroundIn the information age of health care, nurses often face information overload, leading to negative emotions, e.g., anxiety that may impede the adoption of evidence-based practice and clinical decision-making process. Nurses with higher digital health literacy can effectively process and manage information. Despite this, no research has explored the relationship between information anxiety, digital health literacy, and core competency among nurses. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the mediating effects of digital health literacy on information anxiety and core competency among nurses.MethodsFrom July to October 2023, the data for this cross-sectional study were collected. The study surveyed a total of 608 nurses from three tertiary hospitals in Fujian Province, and the survey instruments included a sociodemographic information questionnaire, Chinese revision version of the Digital Health Literacy Instrument (CR-DHLI), Information Anxiety Scale (IAS), and Competency Inventory for Registered Nurses (CIRN). Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis were conducted using SPSS 29.0, and the mediating effect of digital health literacy was examined using Mplus.ResultsThe mean score of nurses’ information anxiety, digital health literacy, and core competency was 3.03 ± 0.91, 2.46 ± 0.56, 2.72 ± 0.88, respectively. And the mediation model of information anxiety on core competency for nurses showed a good model fit index (χ²/df = 2.207, CFI = 0.985, TLI = 0.982, RMSEA = 0.045, SRMR = 0.035). Digital health literacy was positively correlated with nurses’ core competency but negatively correlated with information anxiety. The results of path analysis revealed that information anxiety had negative and significant direct effects on NCC (β = -0.119, P = 0.004) and DHL (β = -0.297, P < 0.001). DHL had a positive effect on NCC (β = 0.306, P < 0.001). Digital health literacy played a partial mediating role, accounting for 43.54% of the relationship between information anxiety and nurses’ core competency.ConclusionsInformation anxiety among nurses was at relatively high levels, which had a negative impact on the core competency of nurses. This issue requires attention from nursing managers. The mediating role of digital health literacy in the relationship between information anxiety and core competency among nurses has been established. Nursing managers should strengthen the evaluation of nurses’ DHL and devise effective support strategies to enhance DHL, thus improving the core competence of nurses in information age.

Pengaruh Pemberian Informasi tentang Asuhan Perkembangan pada BBLR terhadap Tingkat Pengetahuan dan Sikap Perawat di Rumah Sakit Al Islam Bandung

Development care is an effort to modify the environment and respond to changes in the behavior of newborns, especially in infants Low Birth Weight, The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of training on developmental care on nurses' ability to care for babies with low birth weight. The design of this study used "quasi experiment pre and post test control", which involved 19 nurses in the perinatology room of Al Islam Bandung Hospital. The results showed a significant increase in the mean score of nurses' knowledge, attitudes and actions after the intervention (p value = 0,000, α = 0.05). This training is effective in increasing nurses' knowledge and attitudes. The recommendation of this study is the need for socialization to all health workers supported by the hospital policy to implement development care and evaluate the implementation of development care in LBW care.

The relationship between nurses’ professional commitment and missed nursing care: a cross-sectional study in Iran

Background & aimsMissed nursing care is a global challenge that can have many consequences and it’s known as a common threat to the patient safety and quality of nursing care. The nurses’ professional commitment plays the final role in the occurrence of this issue. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between nurses’ professional commitment and missed nursing care in Iran.Materials & methodsThis cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 270 nurses working in two hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences (Sina & Shariati) from September to December 2023. The research community included all nurses working in medical-surgical wards in the designated hospitals. The research samples were included in a targeted and quota method after obtaining organizational permits, ethical approval and informed consent. Data collection was done using three questionnaires including demographic information form, Nursing Professional Commitment Scale, and MISSCARE Questionnaire. The collected data was analyzed in SPSS software, version 25.ResultsThe results of Pearson’s correlation test showed that there is a significant negative relationship between nurses’ professional commitment and missed nursing care scores (r=-0.23) (p < 0.001). The mean score of nurses’ professional commitment was reported at a moderate to high level (83.72 ± 16.02) and the mean score of missed nursing care was reported at a low level (47.84 ± 16.48). Nurses over 40 years old, morning shift and employed nurses showed higher professional commitment. Also, nurses under 29 years old and male nurses had more missed nursing care other than their participants. No relationship was observed between other demographic variables with nurses’ professional commitment and missed nursing care.ConclusionThe results of this study showed that higher nurses’ professional commitment leads to higher quality of care and less missed nursing care. Based on findings of this research, it is recommended for health care providers and nursing managers to adopt programs to increase nurses’ professional commitment and consequently reduce missed nursing care.

Does fear of compassion effect nurses' caring behaviours? a cross-sectional study.

Aims: The aim of this study is to determine the levels of nurses' fear of compassion for others, fear of compassion from others, and fear of self-compassion and to examine the effect of fear of compassion on caring behaviors. Design: A cross-sectional, quantitative design was used. Participants and research context: The study was conducted between October 2022 and April 2023 with 304 nurses working in two public hospitals. Data collection tools were the "Fears of Compassion Scales" and the "Caring Behaviors Inventory." Data were analyzed using a t test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis, and stepwise multiple regression model. Ethical considerations: Ethics committee approval of the research was obtained from the non-invasive ethics committee of Kütahya Health Sciences University (Reference No: 25.05.2022/2022/06-19). The principles of the Declaration of Helsinki were followed in the study. The purpose of the research was explained to all participants, and their verbal/written informed consent was obtained. Results: The mean scores of nurses on fear of compassion for others and from others were at a moderate level, and their scores on fear of self-compassion were close to a moderate level. It was found that the level of nurses' fear of compassion was related to their sociodemographic and professional variables. Fear of self-compassion, fear of compassion for others, and fear of compassion from others explained 33.5% of the total variance in caring behaviors. Conclusions: Nurses' caring behaviors were shown to be more associated with fear of self-compassion than fear of compassion for others. Fear of compassion may be one of the barriers to compassionate care. Interventions that will reduce nurses' fear of compassion may be one way to provide compassionate care. It is recommended to conduct awareness studies on self-compassion and accepting compassion from others in nurses.

The relationship between the COVID-19 burnout levels of nurses and their holistic nursing competence: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT This cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the relationship between the COVID-19 burnout levels of nurses and their holistic nursing competence. The data were collected from 468 nurses working in a hospital between 1 August 2021-9 September 2021 by using a Sociodemographic Information Form, the COVID-19 Burnout Scale(BCV-19S), the Holistic Nursing Competence Scale(HNCS). The mean scores on the total BCV-19S and HNCS were 36.36(9.51) and 194.27(35.71),respectively. It was found that the mean score on the total BCV-19S was significantly higher in nurses worked ≥ 51 hours a week on average, worked in the COVID-19 pandemic unit (p < 0.05). The mean score of nurses who worked ≤ 40 hours a week on average on the total HNCS was significantly higher (p < 0.05). In this study, it was determined that nurses’ COVID-19 burnout levels and holistic nursing competence were high. Nurses’ COVID-19 burnout levels positively affected their holistic nursing competence.

What Do Nurses Working in Primary Health Care Services Know About Medical Waste Management?

With the increase in population, the need for health services also uprises the production of medical waste. Nurses have important responsibilities in the management of medical waste with great risks for human and environmental health. The search was conducted as a descriptive study in order to evaluate the know ledge level of nurses working in primary health care units about medical waste. The research was conducted with nurses (N=80) working in primary health care units in a province in Türkiye/Central Anatolia Region, between January 5 and February 5, 2020, actively working, not on leave/report and volunteering to participate in the search (n=75). The data of the study were collected with the “Medical Waste Information Level Determination Form”. The form consisted of three parts, including socio-demographic characteristics, separation of waste types, and knowledge level of medical waste use, and 49 questions. In the results of the study, the mean score of nurses' knowledge of sorting waste types was 9.9±2.7 (min: 3, max:15 points), while the mean of medical waste use knowledge score was 19.2±2.7 (min:10, max:23 points).In order to meet the knowledge need of nurses, it should be ensured that the level of knowledge is determined, the practices in the field are supervised and developed, and in-service trainings should be provided within this scope.

Evaluating the Effect of TeamSTEPPS on Teamwork Perceptions and Patient Safety Culture among Newly Graduated Nurses

BackgroundQuality healthcare delivery is contingent upon effective teamwork and a patient safety-focused culture. TeamSTEPPS offers an evidence-based framework that enhances these competencies. However, the impact of TeamSTEPPS on newly graduated nurses, who undergo a significant transitional phase, has yet to be comprehensively explored. Consequently, the objective of this study was to assess the influence of TeamSTEPPS on perceptions of teamwork and patient safety culture among newly graduated nurses.MethodsThis study employed a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a single group, utilizing a convenience sample of 132 newly recruited nurses from a university hospital. The participants completed the hospital survey on patient safety culture and the TeamSTEPPS teamwork perceptions questionnaire at three different time points.ResultsThe impact of the TeamSTEPPS training program was found to be significant, as indicated by the substantial improvement in the mean scores of nurses’ perceptions regarding teamwork and the culture of patient safety across multiple assessments (p < 0.001). The effect size (η2p ≥ 0.14) suggests a large effect, further emphasizing the meaningful impact of the program on the measured outcomes.ConclusionsThe study underscores the effectiveness of TeamSTEPPS as a valuable framework for facilitating the seamless transition of newly graduated nurses into the healthcare field. Integrating TeamSTEPPS into nursing training programs can significantly enhance nurses’ perceptions of teamwork and the culture of patient safety. Therefore, it is crucial for nurse managers to implement TeamSTEPPS systematically, aiming to improve teamwork perception and cultivate a patient safety culture among nurses. Furthermore, they should establish mechanisms to ensure the consistent application of these skills over time.

NURSE-ON-NURSE VIOLENCE: EXPLORING COLLEAGUE BULLYING IN NURSING

Colleague violence in nursing, identified as bullying, represents a significant issue. This cross-sectional and descriptive study aims to investigate the prevalence of workplace bullying among nurses and how these perceptions of bullying vary according to their individual-professional characteristics, frequency of support from managers and colleagues, and the bullying situations encountered. The study was conducted on 323 nurses, with data collected through an online survey using a descriptive information form and the Negative Act Questionnaire-Revised (NAQ-R). Descriptive statistics, Mann Whitney U, and Kruskal Wallis H tests were utilized for the analysis in SPSS. The findings indicate that the mean score of nurses on the NAQ-R is 35.61±12.34. Significant differences were found in the scale mean scores based on age, type of institution, unit worked, shift type, frequency of support from managers and colleagues, and the bullying situations encountered (p

Improving Pediatric Critical Care Nurses' Practice in Implementing the Full Outline of Unresponsiveness Coma Scale.

Clinical estimation of consciousness is the most fundamental and crucial component of neurological examinations for pediatric patients in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). The full outline of unresponsiveness (FOUR) Coma Scale assesses four variables: eye response, motor response, brainstem reflexes, and respiratory pattern. A score of 0 represents non-function in each category, whereas a score of 4 indicates normal functioning. The FOUR Coma Scale is easy to apply and is currently the most widely used scale for assessing consciousness, particularly in intubated children. This study aimed to improve pediatric critical care nurses' practice in implementing the FOUR Coma Scale. A quasi-experimental research design (pre/post-test design) was employed on a convenience sample composed of 45 male and female nurses who participated in the study and provided direct care for critically ill children at the Medical Pediatric Intensive Care Unit affiliated with the Mansoura University Children's Hospital, Mansoura University, Egypt. All the participants completed the FOUR Coma Scale knowledge and practice assessment questionnaire. Majority of the nurses were females and had bachelors' degrees in nursing (94.6% and 71.1%, respectively). Moray Coma Scale was used to assess level of consciousness (LOC) by more than half the number of nurses (55.6%) in the PICU. All PICU nurses had poor knowledge and practice scores in the pre-intervention phase, and this percentage statistically significantly improved in the post-intervention phase (P = .001). The mean score of nurses' knowledge and practice on the FOUR Coma Scale significantly improved after the implementation of instructional intervention.

Compassionate care of nurses for the elderly admitted to the COVID-19 wards in teaching hospitals of southern Iran

BackgroundCompassionate care is the main indicator of the quality regarding nursing care. The importance of this care in the recovery process for the elderly hospitalized for COVID-19 has been under-researched in studies. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the compassionate care level of nurses to the elderly hospitalized in the COVID-19 wards of teaching hospitals in the south of Iran.MethodsThis descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 212 nurses working in the COVID-19 wards of teaching hospitals in the south of Iran, who were selected through census in a cross-sectional study. The data were collected using the Tehranineshat et al. nurses’ compassionate care questionnaire and then the data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics along with SPSS software version 22.ResultsThe mean score of nurses’ compassionate care was 130.18 ± 9.42, which was at a high level. The highest and lowest scores were related to professional performance (43.17 ± 2.799) and empathic communication dimension (27.76 ± 2.970). No significant relationship was found between variables such as gender, marital status, education, work experience, and job position with the compassionate care score (P > 0.05).ConclusionNurses providing care for hospitalized elderly are recommended to consider all aspects of compassionate care, especially empathic communication, in their educational planning.

Psychological capital among clinical nurses: A latent profile analysis.

To determine the psychological capital level of nurses and explore the latent profiles of nurses regarding their psychological capital scores. The use of individual-centered analysis for the connotation of nurses' psychological capital structure is less studied and still needs to be further explored. By the convenience sampling method, 494 clinical nurses from 7 general hospitals in Sichuan province were selected. The study was conducted from December 2022 to February 2023. Latent profile analysis was used for data analysis. We followed STROBE guidelines in this research. The total mean score of nurses' psychological capital is 5.17 (SD=0.8). The following four latent profiles were identified: "poor" (4.5%), "medium" (22.9%), "well-off" (41.5%), and "rich" (31.1%). Multiple logistic regression showed that the number of hours worked per day and the number of night shifts per month were negative predictors of psychological capital, and psychological training and job satisfaction were protective factors of psychological capital. Our study found that the four profiles can be distinguished by "poor," "well-off," "medium," and "rich" levels of psychological capital. Among them, more than 70% of the nurses belonged to the well-off and rich profiles, and the number of the poor profile was the lowest. The overall psychological capital of clinical nurses is at a medium-high level. Each profile is influenced by multiple sociodemographic factors (i.e., age, working hours, monthly income, psychological training, and job satisfaction). Administrators should develop enhancement strategies to improve the mental health of nurses based on the characteristics of their psychological capital profiles.

Emergency Department Nurses’ Clinical Competence and Its Related Factors: A cross-sectional study

Objectives: This study aimed to assess perceived clinical competence levels of emergency department nurses in Iran and to identify association with the demographic variables. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, all 131 employed nurses from emergency departments of four educational hospitals were included in the study using a census method. Data collection tools included a demographic information form and the “Nurse Competence Scale”. Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics. Results: The mean age of the nurses was 32.41± 6.35 years. 14 nurses were male and 117 nurses were female, the average work experience of the nurses was 8.48±5.98 years. The mean score of nurses' clinical competence score of the nurses was 68.68 ± 3.24 out of 100, which was a “good level”. Among the subscales of clinical competence, the highest mean score was related to “managing situation” and lowest to “ensuring quality”. There was no statistically significant difference of clinical competence by gender, age, and academic degree. However, the level of clinical competence differed significantly depending on work experience. Conclusions: The emergency department nurses at Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Iran, reported a good level of clinical competence across all categories. Hospital managers’ awareness of the level clinical competence of emergency department nurses helps them design educational programs and effective training session to improve the quality of nursing services. Moreover, it is necessary to upgrade nursing education programs at all levels of nursing education in to improve graduating nurses’ clinical competences.

Knowledge and Practice Regarding Pressure Injury Prevention among Nurses at King Abdul-Aziz Specialist Hospital

Context: Preventing hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPI) poses a significant challenge within tertiary service hospitals. These skin lesions cause discomfort and elevate the risk of severe infections, leading to increased healthcare costs and a high mortality rate due to sepsis. Thus, prevention requires an interdisciplinary approach to care.&#x0D; Aim: To determine knowledge and practice regarding pressure injury prevention among nurses at King Abdulaziz Specialist Hospital (KAASH). &#x0D; Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive research design was utilized in the current study. One hundred fifty-two staff nurses who work in inpatient units at KAASH were recruited. The researchers developed the knowledge assessment questionnaire and self-reported practice scale. They were used to assess the nursing staff's knowledge and self-reported practice regarding pressure injury prevention and barriers affecting it.&#x0D; Results: Out of the 152 participants, most were women (93.4%) and held a bachelor's degree (88.8%). The mean score for nurses' knowledge concerning preventing pressure injuries (PI) was 6.82±1.89 out of 10. Similarly, the mean score for nurses implementing PI prevention practices was 23.48± 2.81 out of 27. A statistically significant relationship was observed between participants' knowledge of PI prevention and their education, experience, source of PI education, and the most recent PI training attended (p&lt;0.05). Additionally, a statistically significant association was found between participants' implementation of PI prevention practices and their experience level (p&lt;0.05). Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was identified between participants' knowledge and their practices regarding PI prevention (p&lt;0.05). The reported barriers to effective PI prevention included a shortage of staff (lack of aids) reported by 85.52% of participants, and inadequate facilities and equipment mentioned by 69.07%.&#x0D; Conclusion: The results suggest that most nurses possessed a moderate level of knowledge regarding preventing pressure injuries (PI), whereas a significant portion, more than two-thirds of the participants, demonstrated a high degree of commitment to effective PI prevention practices. Developing continuous PI prevention and management training and overcoming barriers to optimal PI prevention practices can be helpful. Finally, monitoring and follow-up are important to ensure the nurses' compliance.&#x0D;

The Relationship Between Safe Nursing Care and Professional Commitment of Nurses in Iranian Educational-Therapeutic Hospitals

Background: Safe nursing care and professional commitment are known as two important components influencing the nursing service quality. Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the relationship between safe nursing care and nurses’ professional commitment. Methods: In the present cross-sectional correlational research, 263 nurses were selected from the intensive care unit/cardiac care unit (ICU/CCU), internal, surgery, pediatrics, gynecology and obstetrics, oncology, burn, orthopedics, infectious, and neurology wards of educational-therapeutic hospitals affiliated with Qazvin University of Medical Sciences by quota sampling method between May 2022 and September 2022. Data collection was performed using the nurses’ professional commitment scale (NPCS) and the assessment of safe nursing care (ASNC) questionnaire. Nurses were selected using a convenience sampling method. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tests (t-test, Pearson’s correlation, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA)) by SPSS software version 16. Results: The mean scores of nurses’ professional commitment and safe nursing care were 86.16 ± 4.92 and 134.57 ± 16.15, respectively. Pearson’s correlation test showed a significant relationship between nurses’ professional commitment and safe nursing care (r = 0.345, P ≤ 0.001). Also, the test results indicated that the level of nurses’ professional commitment varied among individuals with different employment types (P = 0.008). Conclusions: According to this study, safe nursing care and nurses’ professional commitment are two important components influencing each other. Therefore, these results have important implications for policymakers and healthcare systems involved in promoting the level of safe nursing care and nurses’ professional commitment.

INTENSIVE CARE NURSES' KNOWLEDGE, PRACTICE AND ATTITUDE IN PREVENTION OF CENTRAL LINE-ASSOCIATED BLOODSTREAM INFECTION (CLABSI)

Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) are mainly preventable with evidence-based guidelines. However, it needs to be made clear how well these guidelines are followed in critical care units in Malaysia. Therefore, this study evaluates critical care nurses’ knowledge, practices, and attitude toward evidence-based guidelines for preventing CLABSIs issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Malaysia Ministry of Health. This study aims to identify the level of knowledge, practice, and attitudes regarding preventing CLABSI among critical care nurses in a teaching hospital. A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among 203 nurses working in seven units consisting of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Coronary Care Unit (CCU), Intermediate Dependency care Unit (IDCU), Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Neurosurgery Intensive Care Unit (Neuro ICU), Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU), and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in University Malaya Medical Center in Kuala Lumpur. Nurses completed online questionnaires regarding their demographic characteristics, knowledge, practices, and attitudes toward evidence-based guidelines for preventing CLABSIs from December 2022 to January 2023. The data was analyzed using T-Test, ANOVA, and Fisher’s Exact Test. 203 ICU nurses completed the questionnaire, and none correctly answered all the knowledge-related questions. The response rate of the correct answer regarding the knowledge question was only 49.7%. Mean scores for 11 questions regarding knowledge of evidence-based guidelines for preventing CLABSI were low, 5.85 (± 1.29). Meanwhile, individual total scores were significantly associated with time spent as a nurse in the ICU (2–4 years). The mean score for eight questions related to CLABSI prevention was 4.19 (± 0.50), which was acceptable for the compliance score. There was an association between nurses’ gender (p-value: 0.01) and their duration of working experiences in the ICU (p-value: 0.04) with the practice regarding the prevention of CLABSI. The overall mean score for nurses’ attitudes toward the guidelines was high; 8.63 (± 1.37). However, there was no association between the demographic characteristic and attitude regarding preventing CLABSI. The knowledge and practice of ICU nurses need to be improved. Regular training with the implementation of available guidelines and protocols was essential to improve the knowledge and compliance on preventing CLABSIs in ICUs.

Nurses’ competencies in providing care to COVID-19 patient: survey of Jordanian nurses

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to assess the level of nurses’ competencies while providing care to COVID-19 patients.Design/methodology/approachA descriptive, correlational design was used to collect data from nurses who were providing care to COVID-19 patients at four public hospitals.FindingsA total of 377 nurses (64.5% females) aged 23–50 consented to participate and completed the survey. The mean score of nurses’ competencies in providing care to COVID-19 patients was 2.5 (SD = 0.81). The results of correlation coefficient tests disclosed a significant positive correlation between reported competence level and sex rpb (377) = 0.18, p < 0.01; working area rpb (377) = 0.2, p < 0.01; disaster experience rpb (377) = 0.16, p < 0.01; disaster education rpb (377) = 0.25, p < 0.01; and disaster training rpb (377) = 0.31, p < 0.01.Research limitations/implicationsThe COVID-19 pandemic response heavily relied on nurses. However, they had a gap in clinical competencies that indicates an urgent need to incorporate disaster management courses in basic nursing education and to update training in hospitals based on nurses’ needs to improve their capabilities in dealing with COVID-19 pandemic.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that investigated the perceived level of Jordanian nurses’ competencies in providing care to COVID-19.

Correlation between COVID-19-related health anxiety and coping styles among frontline nurses

BackgroundThe long-term epidemic of COVID-19 and its recurrence has exposed frontline nurses to mental disorders such as stress and health anxiety. High levels of health anxiety associated with COVID-19 may lead to maladaptive behaviors. There is no agreement on which coping styles are most effective against stress. Therefore, more evidence is required to find better adaptive behaviors. The present study was conducted to investigate the correlation between the level of health anxiety and the type of coping strategies used by frontline nurses fighting COVID-19.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study that was performed on a convenience sample of 386 nurses who are working in the COVID department from October to December 2020, coinciding with the outbreak of the third COVID-19 peak in Iran. Data were collected through a demographic questionnaire, the short version of the health anxiety questionnaire, and coping inventory for stressful situations. Data were analyzed using independent T-test, U-Mann-Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis statistical tests with SPSS version 23 software.ResultsThe mean score of nurses’ health anxiety was 17.61 ± 9.26 which was more than the cut-off point for health anxiety and 59.1% of nurses had COVID-19-related health anxiety. The mean score of problem coping style (26.85 ± 5.19), was higher than emotion (18.48 ± 5.63) and avoidance (19.64 ± 5.88) coping styles and nurses mostly used problem-coping strategies to deal with anxiety caused by COVID-19. There was a positive significant correlation between the scores of health anxiety and emotion coping style (r = 0.54; P < 0.001).ConclusionBased on the findings of this study, COVID-19-related health anxiety was high in front-line nurses and those with high health anxiety were more likely to use emotion-based coping strategies, which are ineffective. Therefore, considering strategies to reduce nurses’ health anxiety and holding training programs on effective coping methods in epidemic conditions are recommended.

Effect of Clinical Decision-Making Based on Interactive Training on Successful Extubations in Intensive Care Unit Patients

Background: The proper decision-making on weaning patients from the ventilator, removing the endotracheal tube, reducing complications, and the way of cooperating between doctor and nurse is always one of the concerns of intensive care unit (ICU) nurses. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effect of clinical decision-making based on interactive education on the successful extubations of patients in the ICU. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 50 nurses in the ICU of Ganjavian Hospital in Dezful, Iran, within August-December 2021. The nurses were selected based on inclusion criteria and randomly assigned into intervention and control groups. Clinical decision-making training regarding extubation was provided interactively for one month in five sessions in the experimental group. The data were obtained using a demographic information questionnaire, the Clinical Decision-Making Questionnaire by Lauri et al., and extubation checklist and analyzed using SPSS software (version 24) using descriptive and inferential statistics (i.e., chi-square test, covariance, independent t-test, and paired t-test). Results: No difference was observed between the two groups in terms of demographic information (P &lt; 0.05). After the intervention, the mean score of nurses’ clinical decisions and the number of successful extubations in the experimental group were higher than in the control group, with a statistically significant difference (P = 0.014). Conclusions: Interactive training effectively improves decision-making skills concerning successful extubations. Therefore, it is suggested to use this method in educational programs to improve the clinical decision-making of nurses, students, and nursing managers.

The effect of evidence-based pain assessment protocol in pediatric emergency department on nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards pain

PurposeThis study aimed to determine the effect of the “Evidence-Based Pain Assessment Protocol in Pediatric Emergency Department” on nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards pain. MethodA pretest–posttest quasi-experimental study was conducted with 11 nurses. Before the protocol was applied, 337 nurses' records were assessed for one month. Subsequently, the nurses were educated in the Evidence-Based Pain Assessment Protocol in the Pediatric Emergency Department. After the education, the researchers assessed 315 nurses' records for one month to evaluate the protocol's effect on the nurses' clinical practice. ResultsThe study found no significant difference in the mean scores of nurses' Pediatric Pain Knowledge and Attitude Scale between the pre-and post-education periods (p > 0.05). However, there was a significant difference in the types of pain assessment tools used between these two periods (p < 0.001). In the post-education period, the frequency of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions implemented increased significantly compared to the pre-education period (p < 0.001). Additionally, the study found that the frequency of nurses describing pain and reassessing pain increased significantly in the post-education period compared to the pre-education period (p < 0.001). ConclusionsThe study found that there was no significant change in the nurses' Pediatric Pain Knowledge and Attitude Scale scores before and after the training. However, it was observed that the frequency of nurses reassessing pain, using non-pharmacological interventions, and describing pain increased after the protocol was applied in the emergency department. In particular, therapeutic communication and the walking method were used more frequently in the post-training period among the non-pharmacological interventions applied by the nurses for pain.