Voices Of Nurses Research Articles

A qualitative study of continence service provision for people living with dementia at home in the UK: Still inadequate?

IntroductionIncontinence is a major problem for people with dementia (PWD) and their family/friend caregivers, often causing substantial harm, including residential care admission. The incontinence needs of PWD are complex and different from those of people without dementia.The aim of this study was to investigate carer and nurse perceptions of continence service provision and potential improvements.MethodsA secondary analysis of qualitative data was undertaken. Semi-structured interviews (n = 45) were undertaken with PWD, family caregivers and healthcare professionals (continence or dementia nurses) in the UK. PWD and caregivers were recruited via www.joindementiaresearch.nihr.ac.uk and via dementia/carer groups. Nurses were recruited via their employers. Framework analysis was used. The COREQ Research guideline statement assists reporting.ResultsFour themes were found. Firstly, there was a lack of awareness of the service and waiting time. Many caregivers were unaware of continence services and dementia nurses often viewed it as a pad provision service. Caregivers reported long waits not meeting their urgent needs. Secondly, product provision was often inadequate. Most caregivers self-purchased all or many products and substantial variation in product provision was found. The number of products provided was often inadequate. Thirdly, a sense that “nothing can be done” was observed by some nurses and caregivers. Caregivers believed that, if nothing else, care information should be provided. Finally, suggestions for improvements were made, including proactive service signposting, joint clinics with dementia services, improved information before crisis point, dementia training for continence nurses and improved product provision.ConclusionContinence service inadequacies for PWD and caregivers have been reported for many years. This study demonstrates service provision remains unsatisfactory in the UK. Stakeholders propose a range of service improvements. It highlights that listening to the voices of PWD, caregivers and nurses is crucial for services seeking to improve continence services for PWD living at home.

Being the voice of pediatric nurses

Being the voice of pediatric nurses

Find your nursing voice and make sure it is heard

Finding your professional voice can help you stand out from the crowd and boost your confidence to grab every opportunity and ultimately find your ideal career path

An Overdue Reckoning on Racism in Nursing.

In response to the killing of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, and with a sense of urgency, the authors created and conducted a unique approach-a reckoning-to confronting racism in nursing. The project began with a series of five online discussions centering on the voices of nurses of color, followed by further ongoing discussions aimed at building antiracist capabilities for all participating nurses. This article describes the implementation and early outcomes of the project and provides its underlying principles, which are based on insights from activists and scholars whose work has focused on antiracist guidelines.

Public Opinion Leadership in Nursing Practice: A Rogerian Concept Analysis.

In the Dutch nursing context, work remains in strengthening the voice of nurses serving as frontline health care providers and board members alike. Conceptual clarity of Public Opinion Leadership (POL) in nursing practice is needed to provide attributes, antecedents and consequences for nurses and nurse leaders so they can contribute in the public debate and policy making processes. Using Rodgers’ method of evolutionary concept analysis and the key words “POL,” “lobbying” and “public affairs,” we searched PubMed (including MEDLINE), CINAHL, PsycINFO and Cochrane Library for articles written in English, published between January 1999 and May 2020, which resulted in a final selection of seven studies. In addition, transcripts of an expert panel discussion regarding POL were analyzed. Attributes of POL are credibility, accessibility, altruism, dynamic networking and sense of systemness. Antecedents are a clinical background, authentic authority, policy and political awareness and strategic skills. The main consequences of POL entail influencing those who are involved in policy making processes, a new generation of public opinion leaders, and the raising of bottom-up political leaders. POL is a relatively new concept for nursing, with increasing interest given the need to ensure quality of care by increasing the use of evidence in clinical practice. POL in nursing practice is defined as the action of influencing public debate regarding policy making processes by maintaining dynamic (social) networks, having a high sense of systemness, and being (clinically) credible, altruistic and accessible to peers and a wide variety of stakeholders.

Photovoice Exploration of Frontline Nurses' Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The current COVID-19 global pandemic has had a profound impact on the health care system and on the physical and psychological well-being of nurses. Previous pandemics have led to nurses leaving the profession. Therefore, it is important that we hear the voices of nurses who experienced the pandemic on the frontlines to influence future planning and policy development. The purpose of this study was to explore frontline nurses' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic through photos, narratives, and group discussions. Twelve nurses in two groups shared their lived experiences through Photovoice, a participatory action approach. Photos and narratives were collected over five weeks per group. One group at the beginning of the pandemic and the other group six months later. Focus group discussions were held following each group. Five themes emerged from the photovoice data: (1) The work of nursing; (2) Miscommunication; (3) Fatigue; (4) Resilience; and (5) Hope for the future. Various subthemes were noted within each theme to delineate the lived experience of frontlines nurses working in the COVID-19 pandemic. The voices of nurses and their experiences on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic need to be considered in pandemic planning and integrated into health care policy, guidelines, and structural changes.

Unobserved Observers: Nurses' Perspectives About Sharing Feedback on the Performance of Resident Physicians.

Postgraduate training programs are incorporating feedback from registered nurses (RNs) to facilitate holistic assessments of resident performance. RNs are a potentially rich source of feedback because they often observe trainees during clinical encounters when physician supervisors are not present. However, RN perspectives about sharing feedback have not been deeply explored. This study investigated RN perspectives about providing feedback and explored the facilitators and barriers influencing their engagement. Constructivist grounded theory methodology was used in interviewing 11 emergency medicine and 8 internal medicine RNs at 2 campuses of a tertiary care academic medical center in Ontario, Canada, between July 2019 and March 2020. Interviews explored RN experiences working with and observing residents in clinical practice. Data collection and analysis were conducted iteratively. Themes were identified using constant comparative analysis. RNs felt they could observe authentic day-to-day behaviors of residents often unwitnessed by supervising physicians and offer unique feedback related to patient advocacy, communication, leadership, collaboration, and professionalism. Despite a strong desire to contribute to resident education, RNs were apprehensive about sharing feedback and reported barriers related to hierarchy, power differentials, and a fear of overstepping professional boundaries. Although infrequent, a key stimulus that enabled RNs to feel safe in sharing feedback was an invitation from the supervising physician to provide input. Perceived hierarchy in academic medicine is a critical barrier to engaging RNs in feedback for residents. Accessing RN feedback on authentic resident behaviors requires dismantling the negative effects of hierarchy and fostering a collaborative interprofessional working environment. A critical step toward this goal may require supervising physicians to model feedback-seeking behavior by inviting RNs to share feedback. Until a workplace culture is established that validates nurses' input and creates safe opportunities for them to contribute to resident education, the voices of nurses will remain unheard.

Raising Nursing's Voice Beyond a Global Pandemic

Previously I reported on the World Health Organization's (WHO) goal to elevate the visibility, voice and importance of nurses’ work and the profession during the 2020 International Year of the Nurse and Midwife.1 Soon after, a deadly coronavirus pandemic emerged to engage our world in a most frightening way. In response to pandemic stress placed on the profession, the WHO extended its Year of the Nurse and the Midwife into a second year and further proclaimed 2021 the International Year of Health and Care Workers.

The Effect of Media on Nursing Image in Societies: A Systematic Review

Background and Objectives: The image of nursing has a considerable impact on identity and professional self-esteem in nurses. In this regard, the media can be an effective important factor in drawing a positive or negative image of the nursing profession. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the effect of media on nursing image in societies. Methods In this systematic review, national and international electronic databases including SID, Magiran, IranMedex, Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed were systematically searched in October 2020 to retrieve articles published up to 2020, using the keywords nursing profession, nursing image, nursing public image and Social/Mass media. According to the aim of study and inclusion criteria, 15 articles among all obtained articles were assessed to appraise their quality. Finally, the content of final selected articles was reported as extraction tables. Results The search yielded 958 articles, but consideration of inclusion criteria led to final selection of 7 articles. The most important effects of media on the image of nursing included the effect of media on the academic and clinical image of the profession, nursing professional roles, as well as gender and media bias towards the nursing profession. Conclusion More attention to media productions should be considered in order to improve the image of nursing. Additionally, with greater presence, nurses can find in media programs to introduce the reality of their profession the greater help this will be for the voices of nurses to be heard.

Gender Bias and the Lack of Equity in Pandemic Nursing in China: A Qualitative Study.

There has long been a gender bias in medicine. This qualitative study aims to identify the experience of sexism among frontline female nurses and further explore their expectations and possible strategies to get rid of gender bias. This is a descriptive phenomenological study of 23 female nurses with 11 ± 3.98 years of experience who spent 36 ± 6.50 days at the frontline during the initial COVID-19 outbreak. We employed Colaizzi’s phenomenological analysis method to understand the subjective experiences, revealing the following themes: (a) materialization of gender identity; (b) incoordinate relationships; (c) future voice of female nurses. The gender bias experienced by female frontline nurses further challenges their emotional identity and self-identity. Therefore, it is important to require extensive consciousness-raising and policy support to defend female nurses’ rights.

Voices of Nurses During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Call to Action.

The Covid-19 pandemic is having a significant impact on the well-being of nurses and has exacerbated long-standing issues of stress and burnout. Expecting or hoping that nurses will recover quickly or bounce back from the stress and deep trauma of the pandemic is not realistic. Each nurse has a story, and while these stories may have similar themes, they are all different. It is important to reflect on our stories, identify the myriad of emotions we are experiencing, and find ways to work through our feelings. Ignoring, denying, or suppressing feelings does not serve us well in the long run. Stifling negative emotions does not make them go away. A Call to Action is needed to address the impact of the pandemic, clinician burnout, and systemic racism on health-care organizations and educational institutions. Strategies are identified that will support personal and organizational well-being.

Provision of Care to the People with HIV: Voices of Professional Nurses in the Public Hospitals of Limpopo Province, South Africa.

The battle against the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) epidemic are still raging in South Africa (SA) despite all the preventive strategies implemented via the five-year strategic plan (2011–2015). The intensity of the AIDS pandemic in SA creates additional challenges for the health workers as they have to deal with an increasing number of people who suffer from this disease. Professional nurses are a critical part of the workforce. The qualitative, explorative, descriptive, and contextual study design was conducted in five public hospitals from each district of Limpopo Province. The purpose of the study was to explore and describe experiences regarding support received by professional nurses while providing care to HIV and AIDS patients in the public hospitals of Limpopo Province. Purposive sampling was employed to select the participants who provided care to HIV and AIDS patients for 24 months or more. The recruitment of participants continued until data saturation was reached at participant number 20. Data were collected through face-to-face individual interviews using a semi-structured guide. Data were analyzed using Tech’s qualitative data analysis method. Trustworthiness was measured through credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability. Findings: Emotional and physical strain due to a shortage of staff, heavy workload, staff turnover, and high absenteeism were experienced by the nurses fulfilling these tasks. Exhaustion, fatigue, increased levels of stress, and lack of training, counselling, debriefing sessions, recognitions, and reward systems were also experienced. Recommendations: A program for support of all professional nurses providing care to HIV and AIDS patients should be conceptualized and implemented.

Nursing and values-based leadership: A literature review.

To explore literature that supports an understanding of values-based leadership in nursing. Understanding values-based leadership in nursing means understanding several leadership theories such as authentic, servant and congruent leadership. Electronic databases were systematically searched to locate studies with the terms values-based, authentic, servant and congruent leadership. The literature was assessed with the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tools and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and meta-analysis approach and a thematic analysis. Existing evidence focuses on specific perspectives within three dominant leadership approaches under the umbrella of values-based leadership: authentic, servant and congruent leadership. Limited literature suggests that values-based leadership can support professional collaboration, enhanced trust and voice for nurses, support for staff well-being, empowerment, job satisfaction, patient-focused outcomes and quality care. A dearth of empirical literature concerning values-based leadership and nursing exists. Evidence suggests that authentic, servant and congruent leadership correlate with values-based leadership theories and core nursing values. Nurse managers should recognize the potential benefits of a values-based leadership approach for staff well-being, enhanced professional collaboration and the nurses voice, improved insight into clinical leadership attributes and improvements in quality patient care.

Educating Nursing Students Through the Pandemic: The Essentials of Collaboration.

IntroductionThroughout the COVID-19 pandemic, meeting regulatory educational requirements and graduating students competent for nursing practice was essential. Competent graduates were needed to support a strong nursing workforce in Connecticut during this chaotic time in health care. This paper describes the powerful impact of statewide collaboration toward meeting this goal.MethodsThe Connecticut League for Nursing Council of Deans and Directors (Council) organized six work groups to address the practice issues brought about by COVID-19 to continue educating nursing students and ensure a robust nursing workforce for the state. Volunteers from the Council offered to lead the groups and members joined based on interest. The six work groups were: (1) enhance communication with the Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing (BOEN), (2) examine academic progression policies across programs to ensure academic rigor, (3) examine integration of nursing students into professional practice and the provision of support for new graduates, (4) Strategize on transition to practice issues, (5) ensure APRN students meet the required 500 precepted direct client care hours, and (6) examine summer clinical experience options for RN and LPN students.ConclusionThe Council's top priority was to graduate competent nursing students ready for practice. This necessitated the establishment of a framework for ongoing deep, timely discussions among Council members and with the BOEN regarding the new education imperative for creative patient care learning experiences. Through collaborative efforts, the Council was able to enhance robust and timely sharing of strategies, policies, and other guidelines. The Council has partnered with the Connecticut Nurses Association, Connecticut Hospital Association, and the Connecticut Center for Nursing Workforce to provide a strong united nursing voice for executive decision-making and within the political arena in support of the role of nursing students and faculty, and their continuous involvement within direct caregiving environments.

Challenges to delivering family‐centred care during the Coronavirus pandemic: Voices of Italian paediatric intensive care unit nurses

Challenges to delivering family‐centred care during the Coronavirus pandemic: Voices of Italian paediatric intensive care unit nurses

Outsiders in Nursing - Voices of Black African Born Nurses & Students in the US: An Integrative Review

Purpose:The purpose of this integrative review was to describe the experience of being outsiders in nursing as described by Black African Born Nurses and Student Nurses (BABN&SN) in the U.S., give voice to their experiences in U.S. academia and healthcare settings, discuss the implications of the BABN&SN othering on the U.S. healthcare systems, and offer recommendations to address the issues based on the literature.Methods:An integrative review approach discussed by Whittemore and Knafl was utilized to review literature from nursing journal published from 2008 to 2019.Results:Major findings include collegial/peer isolation and loneliness; racism and discrimination, unwelcoming environment, silencing of voices, personal resilience, and sense of belonging. The results of this review indicate that BABN&SN experience in U.S. nursing contribute to harrowing periods of feeling like ‘an outsider.’Conclusions:BABN&SN are integral part of the U.S. nursing workforce and the healthcare system. Academic and work environments that support all nurses and students, despite their perceived differences, are essential to promoting an inclusive environment. Understanding the relational pattern that guides the BABN&SN socialization into nursing is vital to developing targeted support especially when entering the clinical practice environment.

Striving to be the voice of all community-based nurses for 30 years

As we mark 30 years of Primary Health Care and reflect on how this nursing journal has strived to be the voice of nurses working across community, general practice and public health settings, it is tempting to ask: ‘What’s changed?’

The uniqueness of the kidney care specialty: personal reflection

In this issue's update, Helen Hurst reflects on a nursing career in kidney care and considers the uniqueness of the specialty and how ANN UK aims to provide a voice for nurses in this field.

Raising the voice of practice nurses in 2020

In a new quarterly column, Crystal Oldman explains how the Queen's Nursing Institute aims to make the voices of practice nurses heard in 2020

Leadership Mentoring Needed!

Leadership mentoring is needed in nursing to nurture nurse leaders globally. It requires the selfless giving of our time and insight while encouraging us to be open to a new generation of nurses and nursing vision. In addition, leadership mentoring provides us with opportunities for advocacy for our profession and its worldwide mission. Virtual mentoring communities have been developed through Sigma Theta Tau International (Sigma) and the Roy Adaptation Association (RAA). These engage emerging nurse leaders to contribute to their organizations and to the profession of nursing. From frontline clinical practice, to nursing organizational leadership, to health policy development, leadership mentoring means engaging nursing voice. It means investing the time and talent to nurture and teach leadership in new ways with the next generation. Seeking out opportunities for leadership mentoring is the first step!