Long-term Nursing Care Research Articles

Standards of conduct in residential long-term nursing care in view of the SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic

Introduction: SARS - CoV - 2 virus, which causes COVID - 19 disease, is transmitted mainly by droplets. The symptoms of infection are: fever, wet cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, headache, pain in muscles and bones, general malaise accompanied by exhaustion. Anosomy (loss of smell) and dysgeusia are also common, as well as vomiting, nausea, diarrhea. The diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection is based on molecular tests involving the detection of fragments of the viral genome in real time PCR (real time polymerase reaction) in nasopharyngeal swabs, less often throat swabs.
 Objective of the work: The aim of the study is to summarize the guidelines for long-term nursing care for a patient infected with SARS - CoV - 2 in the patient's home environment.
 Material and methods: The work was based on the method of non-systematic review of scientific literature. The following databases were searched: PubMed, EBESCO, SCOPUS, Web of Science, according to keywords in Polish and English: SARS - CoV - 2, long-term care, nursing, recommendations. The annual limits 2019 - 2020 were assumed as the search period.
 Results and conclusions:The SARS-CoV-2 virus appears in residential long-term care facilities primarily through its transmission from the external environment by the entity's employees. Proper management of long-term care facilities is the basis for reducing COVID - 19 transmission, and thus the number of confirmed cases. The knowledge about the recommendations and recommendations of authorized bodies regarding the proceedings limiting the transmission of the virus should be regularly updated.

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on Psychosocial Burden and Job Satisfaction of Long-Term Care Nurses in Poland.

Psychosocial consequences of the coronavirus pandemic are severe for health care workers due to their higher levels of exposure. Nurses often experience tremendous psychological pressure as a result of their workload in a high-risk environment. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the psychosocial burden and job satisfaction of nurses employed in long-term care. One hundred thirty-eight nurses employed in long-term care participated in the study. The respondents were 96.4% female and 3.6% male. The mean age of the respondents was 53.99 (standard deviation—4.01). The study was conducted between February and June 2021. The research tool was a standardized psychosocial risk scale questionnaire, which is a scientifically validated diagnostic tool with high reliability and accuracy coefficients. The primary tests used during the statistical analyses were non-parametric Mann–Whitney U (for two samples) and Kruskal–Wallis (for more than two samples) tests for assessing differences. During these analyses, in addition to standard statistical significance, appropriate p-values were calculated using the Monte Carlo method. Correlations between ordinal or quantitative variables were made using Spearman’s rho coefficient. The results obtained allow us to conclude that the respondents rated the characteristics present in the workplace that constitute psychosocial risks at an average level. Emotional commitment and continuance-type commitment to the respondents’ job position were also at a medium level. Respondents’ self-rated ability to work for nurses employed in long-term care during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and commitment to patient care was high at 4.0 and 4.18, with a maximum of 5 points.

Evaluation of the functioning of long-term at-home nursing care in Poland from the perspective of care providers: Mixed methods study.

This study aimed to analyse and evaluate the functioning of long-term at-home nursing care (LTHNC) based on the opinions of its service providers. Long-term at-home nursing care is a form of care for patients who do not need hospital treatment but need systematic nursing care because of their health problems. LTHNC in Poland involves guaranteed care services financed from universal health insurance contributions pursuant to contracts with the National Health Fund (NHF); the program has existed since 2004. A sequential-explanatory mixed-method design was used. The study was carried out using both quantitative and qualitative research methods. A questionnaire was distributed amongst 1119 care providers (the response rate was 38.2%). The qualitative research comprised semi-structured interviews with ten care providers, namely three nurses managing LTHNC facilities and seven nurses directly providing services as part of LTHNC. The STROBE checklist was used in reporting this study. We found that the main reasons for contracting LTHNC services were the increasing demand for this form of care, financial motives and an opportunity to introduce new organisational solutions. Our study shows that LTHNC is beneficial not only for the patients, but also for the nurses who provide the care. On the one hand, LTHNC provides positive results for patients and their caregivers (family members), and on the other hand, it affords a sense of satisfaction to the nurses and contributes to the development of their professional independence. According to care providers, improving accessibility through increasing the number of contracted services as well as raising the pay for 1day of care per patient may improve the functioning of LTHNC. The results of our study are a source of information for those who organise health care and administer resources on how to improve the functioning of LTHNC.

Lower Wages of Nurses in Long-Term Care: Does Racial and Ethnic Diversity Explain the Difference?

Registered nurses (RNs) are a key component of the long-term care (LTC) workforce and prior research demonstrates their importance to ensuring patient safety in LTC settings. RNs who work in LTC settings earn less than those who work in hospitals and also are more likely to be from racial and ethnic minority groups. This study seeks to measure wage differences between Registered Nurses (RNs) working in LTC and other settings (e.g., hospitals) and whether differences are associated with the characteristics of the RN workforce between and within settings. We used the 2018 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses (NSSRN) public-use file to examine RN employment and earnings. Our study population included a sample of 15,373 employed RNs who provided patient care. Characteristics such as race/ethnicity, type of RN degree completed, census region, and union status were included in bivariate analyses and multiple regression analyses to examine the effect of these characteristics on wages. Logistic regression was used to predict RN employment in LTC settings. We found that RNs in LTC experienced lower wages compared to those in non-LTC settings, yet this difference was not associated with racial/ethnic or international educational differences. LTC nurses were also significantly less likely to be represented by a labor union, and there was not a statistically significant wage difference for LTC RNs who were unionized. Because RNs in LTC earn lower wages than RNs in other settings, policies to minimize pay inequities are needed to support the RN workforce caring for frail older adults.

Internet System Supporting the Work of Nurses in Long-Term Geriatric Care

Abstract The development of health sciences along with the continuous technological progress contribute to the emergence of web applications. There exist many applications supporting the work of doctors, whereas the market definitely lacks solutions supporting the work of nurses. This is particularly evident in long-term geriatric home care, in which the nursing specialization is developing rapidly. Care of elderly patients requires the nurse to collect medical documents from each visit. Considering the large number of diseases affecting elderly people and the number of required visits – which should exceed 4 a week – a decision was made to develop an Internet application supporting the work of nurses in long-term geriatric care. The application facilitates the process of geriatric patient description in order to eliminate the need for filling in paper medical records. This study presents the method of developing an Internet application supporting the work of nurses in long-term geriatric care. The software was developed based on an analysis of conclusions from a social study carried out in a group of 42 nurses providing geriatric long-term home medical care services in the district of Białystok, Poland. The aim of the study was to determine the features, functionality, and declarative interest in using the software. Conclusions from the analysis indicated that the attempt to develop the application had been justified. Moreover, conclusions from the social survey formed the basis for formulating the design assumptions. The web application was developed in the following technologies: HTML 5, CSS3, JavaScript, PHP 7, and MySQL. First, a prototype of the solution was tested in a XAMPP environment. After successful tests, the app was tested in a nursing practice. The obtained test results raise high hopes for potential commercialization of the application.

Activation of PPCI team in the octogenarian and nonagenarians population: real-world single-centre experience

ObjectiveAdvancement in healthcare provision has led to increasing octogenarian ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) presentation to hospital for early revascularisation therapies. Limited literature to date exists to suggest octogenarian STEMI...

Informal Caregivers' Perspectives on the Mandated No Visitation Policy During COVID-19 Pandemic in Long-Term Care: A Qualitative Study.

The current descriptive qualitative study aimed to explore how informal caregivers of persons residing in long-term care (LTC) facilities are coping with the no visitation policy during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Semi-structured interviews were conducted approximately 1 month after the no visitation policy was implemented. Interview questions explored how informal caregivers are feeling, coping, and staying connected and involved with loved ones residing in LTC. Recruitment (N = 14) occurred through social media, email, and word of mouth. To maintain social distance and reduce transmission risk, interviews were conducted by phone. Through systematic data reduction, six themes emerged: (a) Reminiscing About Life Before COVID-19, (b) Feelings Related to Physical Separation, (c) Our Loved Ones Are Lonely and Don't Understand, (d) Creating Ways to Stay Connected, (e) Recognition and Concern for LTC Staff, and (f) Coping During Future No Visitation Mandates. Results of this study may assist LTC administrators and nurses if no visitation policies are required in the future. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 47(12), 19-26.].

To study the contributing factors and outcomes of Clostridioides difficile infection in patients with solid tumors

BackgroundClostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a considerable healthcare burden, and now identified as the leading cause of acquired diarrheal illness in patients receiving antibiotics. Patients with malignancies are more prone to acquire CDI, owing to their frequent exposure to risk factors. ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the factors affecting the outcome of Clostridioides Difficile Infection in patients with solid tumors at our community healthcare center. MethodsThis is a retrospective study that included a total of 59 patients with solid tumors who were hospitalized for Clostridioides difficile infection. ResultsThe median age of the study population was 79 years with 39 males and 20 females. The patients had a diagnosis of a malignancy involving the following sites: prostate (25), lung (19), colon (7), bladder (4), breast (3), and renal (1). There were 52 cases of first time and 7 cases of recurrent CDI admissions. 40 patients were detected to have CDI at presentation while 19 patients were diagnosed with CDI after admission. CDI was categorized as follows: non-severe (29), severe (28), and very severe (2). There were 33 patients on chemotherapy and 20 patients undergoing radiotherapy. Twenty-seven patients had a recent history of cancer care-related procedures or interventions. Twenty-nine patients were from either a rehabilitation center or a long-term nursing care facility. There were 39 recent hospitalizations with 29 patients receiving antibiotics. Almost half of the patients were on proton pump inhibitors (29) and 12 were on steroids (20.3%) at the time of developing CDI. Patients with a high-risk qSOFA score of 2 or more (p-value = 0.008) or a high white blood cell count of >15 × 109/L (p-value = 0.016) at the time of admission were found to have higher in-hospital mortality. Critical care data suggested that 9 patients required intensive care, 7 patients required vasopressor support, and 6 needed mechanical ventilation. Patients were treated with either vancomycin alone (13), or metronidazole alone (25), or combination therapy with vancomycin + metronidazole (21). The median duration of hospital stay was 6 days with 11 fatalities (18.64%). ConclusionsCDI causes significant morbidity in patients with malignancies. A high qSOFA score and leukocytosis are significantly associated with high morbidity and thus should be used to prioritize and intensify inpatient care of these patients.

Usability of the COPE Index in the assessment of subjective caregiving burden of family caregivers of older people: A cross-sectional Study.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the usability of the COPE Index in the assessment of subjective caregiving burden of family caregivers providing care for older people in their home environment. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 110 family caregivers. The criterion of including caregivers in the study was their provision of care at home for an older person who needed and received regular long-term nursing care in their home environment. The study was carried out using the COPE Index questionnaire in assessing the situation of family caregivers. The study was reported according to the STROBE checklist. The mean result of assessment of negative impact of care in the studied group of caregivers was 16.5±SD 3.0, positive impact of care - 10.4±SD 2.8 and the quality of support - 9.2±SD 1.8. A higher level of caregiving burden was found in 58.2% caregivers. The vast majority of the caregivers were women (83.6%). The care was most often provided by the elderly people's children (51.0%), less often by spouses (17.0%), siblings (10.0%), grandchildren (10.0%) and paid caregivers (10.0%). The COPE Index proved to be a useful instrument for routine application in home environment to identify care deficits. Greater caregiving burden of family caregivers of disabled older persons was associated with a higher number of nights devoted to care, growing limitations on professional life, choice to provide care, the caregiver's emotional state, the lack of support in the caregiving role, support from family members and the state of cognitive functions of the care recipient. This study may help identify and characterise the profile of family caregivers who are at risk of caregiving burden, and can be used to apply well-designed activities aimed at reducing their suffering and providing them support.

Supporting the Dynamic Careers of Licensed Practical Nurses: A Strategy to Bolster the Long-Term Care Nurse Workforce

Supporting the Dynamic Careers of Licensed Practical Nurses: A Strategy to Bolster the Long-Term Care Nurse Workforce

Resilience among nurses in long term care and rehabilitation settings

BackgroundNurses practicing in long-term care or rehabilitation settings face unique challenges from prolonged or repeated exposure to stressors, given their extended time with patients. This puts them at risk for compassion fatigue, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress, which can lead to decreased resilience and sleep problems. AimThe aim of this study was to examine relationships among resilience, professional quality of life, sleep, and demographics in nurses working in long-term care or rehabilitation settings, and to investigate whether demographics, professional quality of life, and sleep quality are significant predictors of nurses' resilience. MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we used the following measures: demographics, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Questionnaire, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL). Data were analyzed with SPSS v25. Data analysis consisted of descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, and multiple regression. ResultsParticipants (N = 120) were mostly female (85%) and registered nurses (90%). Mean scores were 52.13 for resilience and 7.53 for sleep quality. Mean ProQOL subscale scores were 41.78 for compassion satisfaction, 22.28 for compassion fatigue, and 23.92 for secondary traumatic stress. Multiple regression models showed that compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress significantly predicted resilience (β = 0.69, β = −0.61, and β = −0.34, respectively, all p < .05). ConclusionsResilience is important in nurses' personal and professional lives because it helps to protect nurses from the negative consequences of stressors. Strategies, resources, and workplace support can promote self-care and resilience.

The Association of Race, Ethnicity, and Wages Among Registered Nurses in Long-term Care.

Objective:This study seeks to measure wage differences between registered nurses (RNs) working in long-term care (LTC) (eg, nursing homes, home health) and non-LTC settings (eg, hospitals, ambulatory care) and whether differences are associated with the characteristics of the RN workforce between and within settings.Study Design:This was a cross-sectional design. This study used the 2018 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses (NSSRN) public-use file to examine RN employment and earnings.Methods:Our study population included a sample of 15,373 RNs who were employed at least 1000 hours in nursing in the past year and active in patient care. Characteristics such as race/ethnicity, type of RN degree completed, census region, and union status were included. Multiple regression analyses examined the effect of these characteristics on wages. Logistic regression was used to predict RN employment in LTC settings.Results:RNs in LTC experienced lower wages compared with those in non-LTC settings, yet this difference was not associated with racial/ethnic or international educational differences. Among RNs working in LTC, lower wages were associated with part-time work, less experience, lack of union representation, and regional wage differences.Conclusion:Because RNs in LTC earn lower wages than RNs in other settings, policies to minimize pay inequities are needed to support the RN workforce caring for frail older adults.

Effect of Dementia Training on Knowledge and Attitude Among Long-Term Care Staff in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

BACKGROUND: The number of patients with dementia has increased globally. Caring for these patients is very challenging and demanding. There are many patients with dementia in long-term care facilities in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. However, most staff members do not have proper training regarding how to care for patients with dementia. AIM: This research aimed to investigate the effect of dementia care skills training on knowledge and attitudes about dementia among long-term care staff in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. METHODS: A pre-experimental study was conducted using a one-group pre-test and post-test method. There were 30 staff members in a long-term care facility in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, who participated in this study in July 2019. Training given was the Dementia Care Skills 18 h version for care workers provided by Alzheimer’s Indonesia by two certified trainers. Outcomes measured were knowledge and attitudes of the participants, which were measured using the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale and Dementia Attitude Scale. Data were analyzed using paired and independent t-tests as well as Pearson correlation tests. RESULTS: The results showed that staff knowledge of dementia (t = 4.78, p = 0.000) and attitudes toward persons with dementia (t = 3.27, p = 0.003) were improved significantly after the dementia training provided by the Alzheimer’s Indonesia trainers. CONCLUSIONS: Training in dementia care can improve knowledge and attitude of long-term care staff. This study recommends that dementia care skills training be provided for staff and nurses in long-term care to improve their knowledge and attitudes regarding patients with dementia and their care.

It takes three to tango: An ethnography of triadic involvement of residents, families and nurses in long-term dementia care.

BackgroundResearchers often stress the necessity and challenge of integrating the positionings of residents, family members and nurses in order to realize each actor's involvement in long‐term dementia care. Yet most studies approach user and family involvement separately.AimTo explain how productive involvement in care provision is accomplished in triadic relationships between residents, family members and nurses.MethodsAn ethnographic study of identity work, conducted between 2014 and 2016 in a Dutch nursing home.FindingsWe identify four ideal‐typical identity positionings performed by nurses through daily activities. The findings reveal how their identity positionings were inseparable from those of the residents and family members as they formed triads. Congruent, or ‘matching’, identity positionings set the stage for productive involvement. Our systematic analysis of participants' identity work shows how—through embedded rights and responsibilities—their positionings inherently shaped and formed the triadic types and degrees of involvement observed within these relationships.Discussion and conclusionThis study both unravels and juxtaposes the interrelatedness of, and differences between, the concepts of user and family involvement. Accordingly, our findings display how residents, family members and nurses—while continuously entangled in triadic relationships—can use their identity positionings to accomplish a variety of involvement activities. To mirror and optimize the implementation of user and family involvement, we propose a rights‐based and relational framework based on our findings.Patient or public contributionConversations with and observations of residents; feedback session with the Clients' Council.

Long-Term Care Nurses' Experiences With Patient Safety Incident Management: A Qualitative Study.

Global trends in the aging population will increase the demands for long-term care (LTC) resources. Due to recent pressures to deliver more complex care, there is further risk to resident safety in LTC. Emphasis on the management and the delivery in safe and quality resident care in LTC is required. The purpose of this study was to describe nurses' experiences with patient safety incident (PSI) management involving residents living in LTC. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, 9 nurses were recruited in 3 LTC homes. Semistructured interviews were conducted, and data were analyzed using inductive content analysis. Three main categories emerged: commitment to resident safety, workplace culture, and emotional reaction. Providing nurses with an opportunity to share their PSI management experiences highlights the current factors influencing frontline resident safety in LTC. Study results can inform nursing practice and policy development to support PSI identification and management.

Supporting the Dynamic Careers of Licensed Practical Nurses: A Strategy to Bolster the Long-Term Care Nurse Workforce.

As the U.S. population ages and the demand for long-term care increases, an insufficient number of licensed practical nurses (LPNs) is expected in the nursing workforce. Understanding the characteristics of LPN participation in the workforce is essential to address this challenge. Drawing on the theory of boundaryless careers, the authors examined longitudinal employment data from LPNs in North Carolina and described patterns in LPN licensure and career transitions. Two career patterns were identified: (a) the continuous career, in which LPNs were licensed in 75% or more of the years they were eligible to be licensed and (b) the intermittent career, in which lapses in licensure occurred. Findings indicated that LPNs who made job transitions were more likely to demonstrate continuous careers, as were Black LPNs. These findings suggest the importance of organizational support for LPN career transitions and support for diversity in the LPN workforce.

End-Of-Life Care Communication in Long-Term Care Among Nurses, Residents, and Families: A Critical Review of Qualitative Research.

RNs in long-term care (LTC) are a critical nexus for end-of-life (EOL) care communication with older adult residents and their families. A critical review of 17 qualitative research studies examined nurses' experience with EOL care in LTC. Findings indicate that time, preparation, advocacy, organizational resources, and a continuous, relational approach support EOL care communication. Regulatory burdens, understaffing, workflow demands, family and organizational dysfunction, anxiety, and depression impede EOL care communication. The current review revealed a gap in the literature describing LTC RNs' unique perspectives and knowledge regarding EOL care communication with residents and families. There is a current, pressing need to understand the facilitators LTC RNs use to overcome obstacles to effective EOL care communication. Future research could inform clinical practice guidelines and EOL care nursing education, enhancing LTC nurses' capacity to develop trust-based relationships and improving the efficacy of current EOL care communication interventions in LTC. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 47(7), 43-49.].

Long-Term Care Nurse Leaders Find Calm in Chaos: Reflections from a CEO during a Global Pandemic

The author discusses one long-term care home's approach to supporting its registered nurse leaders during a global pandemic by building on its core values of person-centred care. Loch Lomond Villa chose to focus on maintaining connections with staff, providing practical support strategies and valuing transparency to build resilient nurse leaders.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health of nurses in British Columbia, Canada using trends analysis across three time points

PurposeThis study examined trends over time in the prevalence of anxiety and depression among Canadian nurses: 6 months before, 1-month after, and 3 months after COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. MethodsThis study adopted a repeated cross-sectional design and surveyed unionized nurses in British Columbia (BC), Canada on three occasions: September 2019 (Time 1, prepandemic), April 2020 (Time 2, early-pandemic) and June 2020 (Time 3). ResultsA total of 10,117 responses were collected across three timepoints. This study found a significant increase of 10% to 15% in anxiety and depression between Time 1 and 2, and relative stability between Time 2 and 3, with Time 3 levels still higher than Time 1 levels. Cross-sector analyses showed similar patterns of findings for acute care and community nurses. Long-term care nurses showed a two-fold increase in the prevalence of anxiety early pandemic, followed by a sharper decline mid pandemic. ConclusionsCOVID-19 has had short- and mid-term mental health implications for BC nurses particularly among those in the long-term care sector. Future research should evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of health workers in different contexts, such as jurisdictional analyses, and better understand the long-term health and labor market consequences of elevated mental health symptoms over an extended time period.

Is time a healer? Course of demands during the COVID-19 pandemic in long-term care: a repeated cross-sectional survey in Germany.

In the course of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, long-term nursing care facilities are faced with general and pandemic-specific demands. In our study, we examined their burden from the perspective of managers in long-term nursing care facilities and how it differed in outpatient and inpatient settings. A cross-sectional online survey of long-term care managers was conducted in April 2020 (n = 503) and December 2020/January 2021 (n = 294). Burdens have increased over the course of the pandemic especially for outpatient facilities and in terms of general demands referring to staff (e.g. (staff shortages and overload) and work organization (e.g. compliance with regulations on working hours or staffing ratio). Concerns about infections of people in need of care and of employees remain the highest burden in the course of the pandemic. This knowledge helps us to draw implications from the pandemic and to prepare for future crises.