Nursing Profession Research Articles

Fostering leadership development and growth of nurse leaders: Experiences from Midwest Nursing Research Society Leadership Academy

Leadership development and growth of nurse leaders is critically important for the thriving of the nursing profession. Formal leadership training programs are helpful in building leadership knowledge and skills. The Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS) launched the Leadership Academy (LA), a new initiative to foster leadership development among MNRS members and intentionally create a steady pool of members prepared to step into MNRS leadership positions. Mentoring by an experienced board member is a key component. The purpose of this article was to describe the experiences of a mentor and mentee dyad through the MNRS LA and discuss their perspectives on fostering leadership development and growth. The success of a leadership development program has a far-reaching impact on novice and potential future leaders. A tailored leadership mentoring relationship helps increase one’s self-confidence in being a leader and provides individualized leadership development opportunities. Engagement of both the mentee and mentor in the leadership mentoring relationship is a key to ensure an optimized leadership mentoring experience.

Nursing and Volunteerism: The Vital Link.

A commitment to community involvement is a fundamental component of the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Magnet Recognition Program®. It reflects the nursing profession's spirit of service to society, as well as the personal ethos of those who pursue a nursing career. As we enter the season of gratitude and giving, we explore the role volunteerism plays in an organization's Magnet® culture, how it contributes to a greater sense of purpose, and how nurses far and wide make an impact when they give back to their local, national, and global communities.

Trauma-Informed Care in Undergraduate Nursing Education: An Integrative Review.

Trauma-informed care (TIC) requires health care providers and organizations to provide care in a way that assumes everyone has a trauma history (Hopper et al.). Although there has been a recent rise to investigate TIC within various nursing specialties, knowledge related to integrating TIC into nursing curricula remains unclear. An integrative review following Whittemore and Knafl procedures synthesized the literature related to TIC in undergraduate nursing education. Five themes surfaced: (1) isolated tic integration in undergraduate courses; (2) TIC for safe learning environments; (3) inconsistent TIC definitions in nursing education; (4) prerequisite nurse educator training; and (5) students recognizing an implementation gap and seeking solutions. This review highlights TIC integration challenges in nursing education, emphasizing the need for ongoing research, training, and collaboration. These efforts are vital to equip future nursing professionals with the skills to provide high-quality trauma-informed care, benefiting students, patients, and health care delivery. [J Nurs Educ. 2024;63(11):737-745.].

A Study to Assess the Perceived Image of Nursing Profession and Influencing Factors among B.sc Nursing Students of Kamrup (Metro), Assam

Student nurses are the future of our nursing profession. If we mold them in a good way and educate them regarding all the aspect of nursing profession it will help to uplift our profession and it will also help the upcoming nurse to adopt a positive attitude regarding their profession. The objectives of the study is to to assess the perceived image of nursing profession among B.Sc Nursing student of Kamrup (Metro) Assam.To identify the influencing factors for enrollment to nursing programme at selected nursing colleges of KAMRUP (Metro), Assam.To find out association between perceived image of B.Sc nursing profession and selected demographic variables.To identify correlation between perceived images of B.Sc nursing students and influencing factors for enrollment in nursing program of KAMRUP (Metro), Assam. The research approach and design adopted for this study was quantitative research approach and descriptive research design. Convenience sampling technique was used to select two nursing colleges from Kamrup (Metro), Assam and to collect data from 80 students from selected nursing colleges of Kamrup (Metro), Assam. The data collection instruments consisted of three sections which were: Part I included questions related to socio demographic Performa, Part II included Self structured 5 point rating scale will be used to assess perceived image related to nursing profession. Part III included Self structured 5 point rating scale to assess the Factors influencing the nursing image as a profession among nursing students. . The data findings shows that majority of the participants 61(76.2%) are belonged to the age group of 22-23 years .Regarding gender that female 61(76.2%) are more enrolling into nursing profession than male 19(23.8%).Regarding Religion majority are from Hindu religion 31(38.8%) and from Muslim religion 27(33.8%) and from Christian religion 22(27.4%).Majority 67(83.8%) of participants reasons for enrolling into nursing profession were desire to serve humanity and 13(16.2%) of participants for were Availability of work. Regarding parents income maximum 49(61.3%) of participants parents source of income were father, 21(26.2%) of participants parents source of income were mother and 10(12.5%) of participants parents source of income were both father and mother. Majority 42(52.6%) of participants monthly income of family were 40000-60000, 33(41.2%) of participants were 20000-40000, and 5(6.2%) of participants monthly income of family were 60000-80000.Maximum 54(67.5%) of participants had no known person who is in nursing profession and 26(32.5%) of participants had known person who is in nursing profession. 11( 13.8%) of participants family members were in nursing profession, 10(12.5%) of participants relatives were in nursing profession and 5(67.2%) of participants friends were in nursing profession. Majority 45(56.2%) of participants were residing in rural area and 35(43.8%) of participants were residing in urban area. The overall perceived image score shows that the 50(62.5%) have positive perceived image regarding nursing profession and 30(37.5%) has uncertain perceived image and there is no negative perceived image of nursing profession among B.Sc nursing 4th year student of selected colleges. The influencing factors score revealed that majority 48(60%) of participants had moderately influencing factors and 32(40%) of participants had greatly influencing factors for enrollment to nursing program among B.Sc Nursing student. The association between perceived image of B.Sc nursing profession among B.Sc Nursing student and selected demographic variables which was tested by using chi-square test. The chi square values showed that age, gender, religion and monthly income of the family were found statistically significant association at p<0.05 level with perceived image of B.Sc nursing profession. The correlation between perceived images of B.Sc nursing students and influencing factors for enrollment in nursing program among B.Sc Nursing student which was tested by using spearman brown correlation with obtained (r=0.854, p=0.001) indicates good positive correlation between perceived images of B.Sc nursing students and influencing factors for enrollment in nursing program among B.Sc Nursing student was found to be statistically significant at p<0.05 level of significance.

Factors influencing nursing professionalism among nursing students in South Korea: a descriptive study.

This study aims to explore the factors influencing nursing professionalism among nursing students, focusing on the image of nurses, satisfaction with their major, and career metacognition. We conducted a descriptive survey with 185 nursing students from D city and K region on June 10-30, 2024. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS ver. 27.0 (IBM Corp.), employing descriptive statistics, t tests, one-way ANOVA, Scheffé tests, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and regression analysis. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify factors affecting nursing professionalism among nursing students. The regression analysis revealed that the image of nurses (β=.69, p<.001) and monitoring aspect of career metacognition (β=.13, p=.025) were significant predictors of nursing professionalism, accounting for 64.5% of the variance. The findings indicate that the image of nurses and monitoring component of career metacognition are critical in shaping nursing professionalism among nursing students. Therefore, nursing education programs should aim to improve the image of nurses and promote self-reflective career practices as strategies to foster professionalism among nursing students.

Nurse leaders’ recommendations for implementing LGBTQ+ inclusive practices in health systems: A qualitative descriptive study

BackgroundDiscrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, and other sexual and gender diverse (LGBTQ+) individuals in healthcare settings remains a priority issue. Nurse leaders, who oversee the largest healthcare workforce, are critical in implementing inclusive practices to address LGBTQ+ discrimination, yet implementing LGBTQ+ inclusive practices and effective strategies is inconsistent. This qualitative descriptive study explored nurse leaders’ perceptions of LGBTQ+ inclusive practices across the United States to inform recommended strategies within health systems. MethodsTwenty-one nurse leaders (e.g., chief nurse executives) from diverse healthcare settings (e.g., children's hospitals and public health centers) in 12 states across the United States participated in semi-structured interviews from October to December 2023. Interview transcripts were analyzed using content analysis to (1) describe nurse leaders’ definitions of LGBTQ+ inclusive practices and (2) identify effective strategies for their implementation. ResultsNurse leaders defined LGBTQ+ inclusive practices to include delivering culturally responsive and competent care, fostering safe and affirming environments, integrating inclusivity into daily interactions and organizational culture, and supporting the needs of both LGBTQ+ staff and patients. Key implementation strategies included fostering a flexible organizational culture through open communication; a diverse workforce; and inclusive mission statements, policies, and strategic plans. Supportive infrastructure involved effective LGBTQ+ training and adapting electronic health record systems to include information on sexual orientation and gender identity. Active and interdisciplinary engagement from staff and leadership, as well as systematic data collection on patient and staff experiences, were essential for driving inclusivity. The advocacy highlighted included legislative support, discourse within the nursing profession, and the incorporation of LGBTQ+ inclusion into healthcare regulations and accreditation standards. Additionally, multisectoral partnerships with LGBTQ+ health experts and external organizations, along with multilevel evaluations, were recommended to develop tailored interventions and promote LGBTQ+ inclusive practices. ConclusionImplementing LGBTQ+ inclusive practices in healthcare is a multifaceted effort influenced by strategies at various levels. Promoting a supportive organizational culture, establishing comprehensive support structures, encouraging active engagement, and fostering community partnerships can address the needs of LGBTQ+ individuals more effectively. Future implementation efforts should tailor strategies to accommodate variability across healthcare settings and regions, ensuring that practices are both adaptable and sustainable.

Safe limits on work hours for the nursing profession: a rapid evidence review.

Persistent staffing shortages in health care driven by years of inadequate funding and deficiencies in human resources planning, which overlooked the impacts of population aging, have converged into a crisis in health care settings. An essential consequence of the widespread and growing staffing shortfalls in health care has been increased pressure on nurses to work longer hours. The present rapid review has two major objectives: (1) to systematically review and synthesize evidence considering the health and human consequences of excessive work hours, work-related fatigue and associated occupational health and safety hazards; and, (2) to identify policies and practices that demonstrate efficacy in managing or mitigating the adverse effects of occupational fatigue. Findings show that shifts lasting longer than 12 h elevate the risk of occupational fatigue, leading to several fatigue-based hazards. Despite governmental restrictions on long work hours and occupational fatigue in safety-critical industries such as transport, aviation, and nuclear sectors, health care remains largely unregulated in this regard. Ensuring safe and high-quality care over the long term requires implementing adequate regulatory supports for work hour limits for nurses. These measures not only improve workplace satisfaction but also enhance patient outcomes, ultimately fostering a healthier and more resilient health care system.

The Lifestyle and Quality of Life Among Nursing Students.

Nursing students will graduate as professional nurses and serve as community health role models. They need to start living a healthy lifestyle and having a good quality of life as soon as feasible. However, their attitudes and actions often reflect the opposite, as if their learning has little bearing on their lives. This study examines nursing students' lifestyle and quality of life, as well as the relationship between lifestyle and quality of life at a private university in Tangerang, Indonesia. This study is cross-sectional. The population comprised up to 220 third-year nursing students from one of Tangerang's private universities. The sample size was 147 students, drawn from convenience sampling. Data were collected online using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire and a lifestyle questionnaire that has been validated and reliable. The findings revealed that most students had a healthy lifestyle (72.1%) but a low quality of life (62.6%). Furthermore, there was a significant association between lifestyle and quality of life in nursing students (p-value 0.003). Nursing students must maintain a healthy lifestyle to have a good quality of life. Building quality of life in nursing students is crucial since it can improve their overall well-being and future care quality.

Mediating Effects of Resilience on the Relationship Between Stress and Professional Commitment Among Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Research on the relationship between stress, professional commitment, and resilience among nursing students is lacking. To examine the mediating effect of resilience on the relationship between stress and professional commitment among nursing students during their fundamental nursing practicum. A cross-sectional design was used. Nursing students who were aged 17 to 20years and had completed fundamental nursing practicum within 1week were recruited. The survey covered stress, resilience, and professional commitment. The mediation analysis was conducted using the PROCESS macro with a bootstrap approach. This study recruited 485 nursing students. Stress was significantly negatively correlated with resilience and professional commitment, whereas resilience was significantly positively correlated with professional commitment. Furthermore, resilience partially mediated the relationship between stress and professional commitment. Appropriate interventions should be implemented to help nursing students reduce stress and improve their resilience, which can thus enhance their professional commitment to the nursing profession.

Enhancing digital health competencies: insights from european human resources for health

Abstract Background Mixed-skills for digital health transformation are critical for human resources for health (HRH). This study aimed to inform the design of new training programmes that address soft, hard and digital health skills. Methods Using a mixed-methods design science approach, focus groups were conducted by invitation and with informed consent, online or in-person. A script was prepared with key questions for orientation and facilitation, addressing the topics of current situation, desired situation, desired skills, practical and organisational needs to implement continuous training in healthcare. The collected data were analysed using Nvivo. Results Focus groups (14) had 87 participants (Norway, Latvia, Belgium, Italy and Portugal): 26 healthcare professionals (nurses, midwives, nutritionists, pharmacists, assistants and doctors); 27 managers or directors of hospitals and care centres; 34 experts (digital health specialists, researchers, technical officers, members of professional societies and national authorities). Real needs were identified, with 2 direct sub-themes that were best related to each other (Pearson coefficient, p &amp;gt; 0.40 - cluster analysis): 1. ‘Current situation’: Cybersecurity (eg. privacy, law and ethics); Time (work time versus private time, p = 0.69); Type (informal versus formal training, p = 0.32); Programmes (graduation, continuing education and post-graduation levels). 2. ‘Desired situation: Desired skills (eg. digital - basic ICT, data analysis, soft - communication, emotional intelligence, and hard skills - medication administration, catheters, ECG, vital signs, telehealth - digital stethoscope); Learning design and objectives (eg. collective learning, simulations, location - peer-to-peer and hybrid); Emergency care and the link between primary and secondary levels of care were considered important. Conclusions These findings of convergence among HRH inform Program design process to support the training programs and course syllabus design. Key messages • The identified needs and priorities inform Program design further to support Digital Health Transformation training programs and course syllabus design. • Real needs points to Current and Desired situation, where HRH give important insights that need to be considered to engage people to perform training courses.

An ACNAP survey assessing the cardiology multidisciplinary learning needs to support lipid management

Abstract Background/ Introduction: Reducing LDL cholesterol is a high priority in cardiovascular care but requires knowledge and skills to deliver effectively. Nurses and allied professionals (NAPs) can play a major role in supporting lipid optimisation. Most NAPs will work together with patients prescribed lipid lowering therapies, and some may be more closely involved in initiation and monitoring. The Association of Cardiovascular Nursing and Allied Professionals (ACNAP) wanted to gauge the level of understanding, confidence and learning needs of cardiology professionals to better implement European Society of Cardiology (ESC) lipid lowering guidelines. Purpose The aim of the project was to highlight gaps in knowledge to better inform needs for training and educational programmes developed by ACNAP. Methods A 29 question electronic survey was developed by expert consensus, exploring previous experience, clinical knowledge, and perceptions of learning needs. It was launched at the EuroHeartCare conference in June 2023, on social media, and members of the ESC were emailed inviting participation. Results 123 people responded. 29.5% of the respondents were physicians and 70.5% NAPs. Most respondents were involved in lipid optimisation of some description with only 7.0% of respondents having no direct involvement in their patient cohort. A higher percentage of respondents responded "totally agree" when asked it they knew what cholesterol targets to aim for in secondary prevention, compared to primary prevention (61% v 41.5%). 94% of respondents felt comfortable when to initiate statins and and 82% ezetimibe. This reduced to 45% for inclisiran and 40% for bempedoic acid. Similarly, the majority felt comfortable counselling a patient newly initiated on statins or ezetimibe, but significantly fewer the newer lipid lowering therapies. Experience and understanding of familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) was also explored. Only half the respondents would be comfortable in identifying and diagnosing FH and a further 25% unsure. A large percentage (37%) were unaware of the Simon Broome criteria or the Dutch Lipid Criteria Network (49%). When considering learning needs, 71% of NAP respondents needed extra support to help make lipid lowering decisions. This rises to 84% and 74% when looking at nurses and pharmacists separately, respectively. Nearly 76% would prefer any learning to be delivered online, with interactive online training packages being the most popular method. Conclusions The three main gaps identified by NAPs were: management in primary prevention (initiation and targets), the newer innovative medicines (bempedoic acid, inclisiran and PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies) and FH. Interestingly, these are the same gaps highlighted by physician responders. These findings can help guide ACNAP and ESC in the development of educational programmes with the aim to improve better lipid management overall.

Acquaintance, attitude, and perceived barriers regarding scientific research publications among clinical nurses: a cross-sectional study at tertiary care hospitals in western Rajasthan.

In today's era, conducting nursing research is crucial for the advancement of the nursing profession. Scientific publications in clinical research aim to improve patient care outcomes and foster a sense of importance for nurses within the healthcare team. However, clinical nurses often fall behind due to factors such as limited familiarity, attitudes toward research, and encountered barriers. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude, and perceived barriers regarding scientific research publications among clinical nurses at tertiary care hospitals in western Rajasthan. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among the clinical nurses. The participants were assessed for their knowledge, attitude, and perceived barriers regarding scientific research publications through a self-administered questionnaire. The study revealed that 92% of the participants lacked sufficient knowledge about scientific research publications and 78.3% experienced moderate perceived barriers. Pearson's correlation coefficient indicated a weak positive correlation (r = 0.143, p = 0.007) between knowledge and attitude and a significant negative correlation (r = -0.143, p = 0.012) between knowledge and perceived barriers. However, multiple linear regression analysis showed no significant relationship among the clinical nurses in terms of knowledge, attitude, and perceived barriers toward scientific research publications. This study on clinical nurses revealed that the majority had insufficient knowledge about scientific research, while over half had neutral attitudes toward research publications. In addition, a significant portion of the clinical nurses reported experiencing moderate perceived barriers.

ISCO-08 Classification and scope of practice of nurses: Survey among WHO-Europe member states

Abstract Background The expansion of nurse’s roles in the delivery of care needs transparent defining of roles, extra education/training opportunities, and complementary legislative regulations. Methods This cross-sectional study was planned to explore status of nursing and midwifery workforce in WHO Europe member states. Data were collected from December 2020 until September 2023. Results ISCO-08 2221 is used to classify for only bachelor prepared-nurses in 2 of countries (Bulgaria and Spain). Besides, it is used only for vocational prepared-nurses in 2 of countries (Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan). Those countries only have vocational or bachelor education. ISCO-08 2221 is used in 1 of countries which have two entry levels with vocational and bachelor prepared-nurses (Georgia). ISCO-08 3221 is referred to vocational training in 5 (20%) countries (Armenia, Finland, the UK, Croatia, Hungary). ISCO-08 2221 is main classification for all levels prepared nurses in 18 countries including Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Ireland, Israel, Iceland, Kazakhstan, Lithuania Latvia, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovakia, Türkiye. Scope of practice of vocational and bachelor prepared nurses is defined by law/legislation in 25 of member states. Scope of practice vocational versus bachelor depends on conduct scientific tasks (Switzerland), being broader (Kazakhstan), competency level (Hungary, Croatia, Portugal) exceptionally there is no difference in Malta. Scope of Registered Nurse, Specialist Nurse and Advanced Nurse Practitioner differ in 22 of countries of those which on activities/practice/roles, expanded authority, working with determined care group. As a result, while scope of practice of professional nurses varies in line with their education level, ISCO-08 2221 is used for nurses’ classification from all education levels in member states. Key messages • There is no classification for postgraduate trained nurses (as is the case for physicians), even though scope of practice is different across education levels. • When revising the ISCO-08 classification, it should be recommended that a common terminology is needed to define postgraduate nurses in region.

"Organizing practice": The hidden work of homecare nurses in fighting health inequity and advancing social justice.

The nursing profession has a long history of advocating for social justice and health equity, and both values profoundly infuse nursing ethics, theory, and education. Homecare nursing occurs between the patient's daily life at home and the public health care system. Therefore, homecare nurses ideally possess insight into the living conditions and social determinants of health that their patients experience. This interpretive phenomenological study explores the strategies employed by homecare nurses to fight health inequity and advance social justice. Data were collected through participant observations, situational interviews, and small group interviews with 12 homecare nurses from two municipalities. Three analytical approaches were used: paradigm cases, exemplars, and thematic analysis. The data identified two primary strategies homecare nurses use to circumvent, solve, and mitigate the negative consequences of social determinants of health on patients' care and treatment: "Negotiating practice" and "Aligning practice." "Negotiating practice" ensures that care and treatment are delivered in a way acceptable to all involved. "Aligning practice" ensures cohesion, progression in the treatment and care trajectory, and support for patients and relatives in navigating the system. Both strategies are part of nurses' largely hidden work, reflecting the nursing profession's position as nested between the individual patient and the system.

Knowledge and Consequences of Violence Against Health Professionals in Southern Portugal

Background: Violence against health professionals is a global and growing problem, with significant impacts on the quality of care and the mental health of workers. Objectives: To analyze the level of knowledge, reporting practices and consequences of violence against health professionals in the Alentejo region (southern Portugal). Methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional study involving 440 health professionals (doctors and nurses). Data were collected using an online platform and a structured questionnaire created specifically for this study. In the statistical analysis, the data were described as counts and proportions and the X2 test was used considering a significance level of 0.05. Results: This study reveals that violence against health professionals in the southern region of Portugal is a frequent problem (40%), with a higher incidence among nurses (80%). Despite awareness of the existence and functioning of reporting channels, reporting is low (52%). The main causes are related to the health system, professionals and users. The consequences include mental health problems and a reduction in the quality of care provided. Suggested measures to combat violence include improving security, training and punishing aggressors. Conclusions: This study reveals that violence against health professionals in the southern region of Portugal is a frequent, under-reported problem with serious consequences for professionals and the quality of care.

Nurses’ perceptions regarding the establishment of clinical education and training units in public hospitals in the North-West Province: a qualitative study

BackgroundA Clinical Education and Training Unit is defined as a unit in which the clinical orientation, teaching, learning, and assessment, mentoring and support of student nurses are coordinated to achieve the outcomes of their learning programmes in the health establishment. In South Africa, Clinical Education and Training Unit was developed to reconstruct and revitalise nursing education and training. The clinical education is crucial to enable nursing students to put what they learn in the classroom into practice as they direct patient care, practise therapeutic communication, hone technical skills, demonstrate caring behaviours, investigate ethical dilemmas, and take on the roles of nurses. The clinical teaching unit is one of the models that show potential in advancing clinical education. Since the proposed clinical education and teaching model concluded that Clinical Education and Training Units should be established in 2012, to the researcher’s knowledge, no research study has been conducted to explore and describe the nurses’ perceptions regarding the establishment of Clinical Education and Training Units, particularly in the North-West Province. This has resulted in the scarcity of literature on their perceptions. Thus, the researcher believed that it was essential to explore and describe the perceptions of professional nurses regarding the establishment of Clinical Education and Training Units in the North-West Province of South Africa, so that their perceptions may be known and understood.AimThe study aimed to explore and describe the perceptions of professional nurses regarding the establishment of Clinical Education and Training Units in public hospitals in the North-West Province.MethodsA qualitative-exploratory-descriptive and contextual research design was used. This method was used because it is known to unearth a wide range of views, opinions, thoughts, and feelings of the participants thus enabling a deeper understanding concerning perceptions of professional nurses regarding the establishment of Clinical Education and Training Units at the hospitals of interest. Participants were recruited using pamphlets and flyers. A non-probability convenience and purposive sampling techniques were used to select participants based on an inclusion criterion. From 09 September 2023 to 07 December 2023, the researcher used face-to-face group discussions to collect data and it was analysed using six steps of inductive thematic data analysis as outlined by Braun and Clarke.ResultsFour focus groups discussions were conducted with a total of 19 participants who were professional nurses. Responses were categorised into three domains: advantages of the Clinical Education and Training Unit, challenges of the Clinical Education and Training Unit, and recommendations for the Clinical Education and Training Unit. Subsequently, a total of three main themes with eight sub-themes were determined for advantages of the Clinical Education and Training Unit, two themes with six subthemes for challenges of the Clinical Education and Training Unit, and one theme with two sub-themes for recommendations for the Clinical Education and Training Unit respectively.ConclusionThe need to establish functional Clinical Education and Training Units is therefore very important not only to student nurses but also to health care professionals. Most of the participants emphasised that if Clinical Education and Training Units were fully established they would be beneficial in developing health care professionals, especially in terms of in-service training where nursing standards are emphasised as outlined by the South African Nursing Council. The research study results might contribute to the full establishment of CETUs in the hospitals of the North- West Province, South Africa.Trial registrationnot applicable to the study.

Best Practices in Supporting Inpatient Communication With Technology During Visitor Restrictions: An Integrative Review.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers around the world have experimented with technologies to facilitate communication and care for patients and their care partners. Our team reviewed the literature to examine best practices in utilizing technology to support communication between nurses, patients, and care partners while visitation is limited. We searched four major databases for recent articles on this topic, conducted a systematic screening and review of 1902 articles, and used the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice for Nurses and Healthcare Professionals Model & Guidelines to appraise and translate the results of 23 relevant articles. Our evaluation yielded three main findings from the current literature: (1) Virtual contact by any technological means, especially video visitation, improves satisfaction, reduces anxiety, and is well-received by the target populations. (2) Structured video rounding provides effective communication among healthcare workers, patients, and offsite care partners. (3) Institutional preparation, such as a standardized checklist and dedicating staff to roles focused on facilitating communication, can help healthcare workers create environments conducive to therapeutic virtual communication. In situations that require healthcare facilities to limit visitation between patients and their care partners, the benefits of virtual visitation are evident. There is variance in the types of technologies used to facilitate virtual visits, but across all of them, there are consistent themes demonstrating the benefits of virtual visits and virtual rounding. Healthcare institutions can prepare for future limited-visitation scenarios by reviewing the current evidence and integrating virtual visitation into modern healthcare delivery.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the professional commitment of male nursing students in China: a descriptive comparative study.

The social culture, gender stereotypes, and social status of nursing in China impact the professional commitment of male nursing students. Increasing the professional commitment of male nursing students is critical for alleviating the shortage of nurses and addressing the gender gap. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread public concern about the nursing profession and may have changed people's perception of the profession, which in turn may have a positive impact on the professional commitment of male nursing students in China. This research aimed to assess how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the professional commitment of male nursing students in China and to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on potential factors that might affect their professional commitment. A descriptive comparative study was conducted. This study involved total 368 male nursing students from five 4-year universities in Henan Province, China. 190 male nursing students were included before the COVID-19 pandemic (October to November 2019) and 178 were included after the COVID-19 pandemic (April to May 2023). The data, such as the sociodemographic characteristics and professional commitment of the two samples, were collected using a paper-and-pencil questionnaire. The research instruments used included the Professional Commitment Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and the General Self-efficacy Scale. The data analysis employed χ2-tests, t-tests and hierarchical regression models. The proportion of Chinese male nursing students who are interested in nursing and do not intend to leave the major has increased after the pandemic (65.17% vs. 29.47%, 61.80% vs. 39.47%, respectively). Male nursing students exhibited greater professional commitment (3.30 ± 0.63) after the pandemic compared to before the pandemic (2.77 ± 0.43). The various factors, such as grade, intend to leave the major, interest in nursing, social support, and general self-efficacy, were linked to professional commitment of male nursing students in China. Male nursing students in China exhibited greater professional commitment after the pandemic. This phenomenon may be attributed to the public's increased recognition of the significance of nursing work during the pandemic, and the social status and image of nursing profession have been improved. Given the changes brought about by the COVID-19, strategies should be considered by nursing decision makers and schools to strengthen the professional commitment of male nursing students and increase the number of male nurses in the post-pandemic era.

The Effects of a Web Application for Reducing the Risk of Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema on Health Literacy and Self-Efficacy in Managing Symptoms Among Patients With Breast Cancer.

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a web application on health literacy and self-efficacy in managing arm oedema symptoms among patients with breast cancer. The research was carried out in four phases as follows: Phase 1, using a qualitative approach to explore problems and information needs in educating breast cancer patients through in-depth interviews with 10 professional nurses who had experiences in caring for breast cancer patients and 20 breast cancer patients. Data were analysed by content analysis; Phase 2, designing and developing a web application and confirming its quality by five experts with experience caring for breast cancer patients; Phase 3, testing the web application with five breast cancer patients; and Phase 4, examining the effectiveness of a web application in breast cancer patients using a quasiexperimental research method. Patients were divided into 15 persons in control and 15 in intervention groups, a total of 30 persons. The tools used in the study consisted of (1) a web application on practices for reducing risk for arm oedema after breast cancer treatment, (2) a health literacy assessment tool, (3) a self-efficacy for managing symptoms questionnaire and (4) a web application satisfaction questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square and t test. Qualitative findings: The web application should cover patients' and nurses' views on arm oedema causes, assessment, prevention and self-care for managing swelling after breast cancer treatment. Characteristics of a web application required: large text, bright colours, clear visibility, accompanying pictures or videos, using simple language without official terminology, easy to access, convenient to use, concise, interesting content and shareable to others. Quantitative findings: The intervention group had significantly higher health literacy and self-efficacy in managing symptom scores than before the trial (p < 0.001). Sample groups were satisfied with the developed web application at a high level. When considering each item, it was found that all items were rated at high levels. Two items with the same highest score were ease of use and the attractiveness of the presentation style. This web application, aimed at reducing the risk of arm oedema after breast cancer treatment, is an effective tool for educating all hospitalized patients. In addition, further research should be conducted to monitor the sustainability of long-term and clinical outcomes.

Cultivating a Culture of Patient Safety in Healthcare Settings: A Systematic Review of Evidence-Based Interventions

Background and purpose: Establishing a robust culture of safety is essential for enhancing health outcomes and minimizing risks to patients. This systematic review aims to synthesize interventions designed to enhance safety culture in healthcare settings. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed across multiple databases, including PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus. The initial search yielded a total of 250 articles. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, which considered study design, population, and intervention type, 35 articles were shortlisted for full-text review. Ultimately, 21 studies met the final inclusion criteria, focusing on various interventions aimed at promoting safety culture. Results: The analysis revealed notable variation in the types of safety culture interventions implemented across the studies, with educational programs emerging as the most frequently adopted approach. The effectiveness of these interventions was found to be significantly influenced by both individual and systemic factors, highlighting the importance of contextual elements in promoting safety culture. Additionally, many interventions faced challenges related to sustainability and maintaining long-term impact, suggesting that ongoing support and resources are necessary for success. The review also indicated that the participation of nursing professionals in safety culture initiatives was often limited, despite their critical role in patient care, underscoring the need for strategies that engage this key group more effectively. Conclusion: The review underscores the necessity for targeted strategies that actively engage nursing professionals in safety culture initiatives to foster a safer healthcare environment. The findings serve as a valuable resource for policymakers and healthcare managers aiming to implement best practices for enhancing safety culture.