Outcomes of professional misconduct by nurses: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Professional misconduct by nurses is a critical challenge in providing safe quality care, which can lead to devastating and extensive outcomes. Explaining the experiences of clinical nurses and nursing managers in this regard using an in-depth qualitative method can be beneficial. This study was conducted with the aim of explaining the experiences of nurses regarding the outcomes of professional misconduct.

METHODS

The present study used a qualitative descriptive with a conventional content analysis approach. A total of 22 clinical nurses and nursing managers were selected through purposive sampling until data saturation was reached. Data were collected using semi-structured in-depth interviews and analyzed using Graneheim and Lundman's approach.

RESULTS

Analyzed data were categorized into four main themes and 11 subthemes: (1) Physical outcomes: critical threat and weakening patients' safety; (2) Psychological outcomes: psycho-emotional responses of patients and their families, moral distress, and cautionary tale of nurses; (3) Financial outcomes: imposing costs on the patient and financial loss of the nurse; (4) Organizational outcomes: the normalization of misconduct, chaos in the organization, waste of the organization's resources, and reputational damage to the organization.

CONCLUSION

Professional misconduct by nurses can have adverse outcomes for patients in physical, mental, and financial dimensions, their families, nurses, and healthcare organizations. Therefore, it is indispensable to adopt management strategies to reduce the rate of professional misconduct.

Lived experiences of young adults facing a recent diagnosis of cancer: A phenomenological study

INTRODUCTION

Young adulthood is a period of prosperity and freshness characterized by developmental achievement, which can be inhibited by various diseases such as cancer. Typically considered a terminal disease, if diagnosed in young adulthood, cancer may trigger a tremendous psychosomatic shock. The nature of facing a recent cancer diagnosis affects the whole coping process. Addressing young adults' experiences at the confirmation point of cancer diagnosis will facilitate supporting them through the early recognition of probable problems in the future. Therefore, the present study aimed to analyse the lived experiences of young adults facing a recent cancer diagnosis.

METHODS

This qualitative study adopted an interpretive phenomenology design. In this study, 12 patients (with an age range of 20-40) were selected using the purposive sampling method. Data collection was done through in-depth, semistructured interviews. The data were analysed following the method proposed by Diekelmann et al. FINDINGS: Three main themes and nine subthemes were extracted from the data: (1) spiritual detachment and then acceptance through spirituality in the form of denial and then forced acceptance, sense of guilt and spiritual help-seeking, and anger towards God and then humbleness, (2) the shock of facing an extraordinary life shaped by disturbed role-play and unusual lifestyle, (3) anticipatory anxiety concerning the sense of rejection, negative perspective towards future, inability to afford the costs and worries about the future of the family members.

CONCLUSION

This was the first study providing significant insights into the experiences of young adults facing a recent cancer diagnosis. The diagnosis of cancer can shadow all aspects of young adults' lives. The findings of the present study empower healthcare professionals to provide newly diagnosed young adults with appropriate health services.

PATIENT CONTRIBUTIONS

To identify and recruit the participants, we explained the objectives of the present study to the unit managers either by phone or in person. The participants were approached and interviewed by three authors. Participation was voluntary and the participants received no financial contribution for their time.

Ethical Challenges to the Self-care of Nurses during the Covid-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND

The emerging working conditions triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic have imposed numerous ethical challenges on the nurses, which, in turn, can negatively impact the nurses' physical and mental health, and thus their work performance through intensifying negative emotions and psychological pressures.

AIM

The purpose of this study was to highlight the nurses' perceptions of the ethical challenges that they faced regarding their self-care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

RESEARCH DESIGN

A qualitative, descriptive study with a content analysis approach.

PARTICIPANTS AND RESEARCH CONTEXT

The data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 19 nurses working in the COVID-19 wards of two university-affiliated hospitals. These nurses were selected using a purposive sampling method and the data were analyzed using a content analysis approach.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

The study was approved by the TUMS Research Council Ethics Committee under the code: IR.TUMS.VCR.REC.1399.594. In addition, it is based on the participants' informed consent and confidentiality.

FINDINGS

Two themes and five sub-themes were identified, including ethical conflicts (the conflict between self-care and comprehensive patient care, prioritization of life, and inadequate care) and inequalities (intra- and inter-professional inequalities).

CONCLUSION

The findings demonstrated that the nurses' care is a prerequisite for the patients' care. Considering that the ethical challenges faced by nurses are related to unacceptable working conditions, organizational support, and lack of access to facilities such as personal protective equipment, it seems essential to support nurses and provide adequate working conditions to provide patients with quality care.

Nurses' safety-related organisational challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study

AIM

To explore nurses' perspectives on and experiences of safety-related organisational challenges during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak by Iranian nurses.

BACKGROUND

In different clinical contexts, nurses face numerous organisational challenges threatening their safety because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

INTRODUCTION

Exploring nurses' perceptions towards safety-oriented organisational challenges might inform nurse managers, healthcare managers, educators and policymakers on the priorities that should be considered to increase organisations' readiness and safety.

METHODS

This qualitative descriptive study is reported according to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines. Through purposeful sampling, 19 participants were involved. The research data were collected from March to August 2021 by conducting semi-structured interviews that were analysed through the content analysis approach.

FINDINGS

Three organisation-related safety challenges experienced were related to (1) human resource, (2) educational and (3) workforce protection issues.

DISCUSSION

Nurses experienced several safety issues related to the complexity faced by the health care organisations during the pandemic, exacerbated by previous frailties of the nursing system.

CONCLUSION

The three challenges that emerged might be considered a priority in building pandemic plans, transforming the experiences of nurses as a source of learning for all, capitalising on their suggestions and rendering healthcare facilities ready to deal safely with future crises.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY

Adopting appropriate measures to decrease human resource issues and that related to education, and promoting workforce health protection, are both recommended to improve nurses' work environment and satisfy their safety needs.

Physical problems of prolonged use of personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review

Background

It is widely believed that using personal protective equipment (PPE) provides high levels of protection for healthcare workers (HCWs) in the fight against coronavirus disease (COVID‐19). However, the long‐term use of PPE is inconvenient for HCWs and may cause physical discomfort. These factors could result in poor compliance and disrupt the health and safety of HCWs, which may negatively affect the patient's safety.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the literature for the purpose of collecting convincing evidence of HCWs' physical problems associated with PPE use during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Methods

This scoping review was conducted using PubMed, Embase, ProQuest, Science Direct, Springer, Biomed Central, and Google Scholar to identify the related literature.

Results

HCWs have experienced various physical disorders including skin, respiratory, musculoskeletal, nervous, urinary, and circulatory system problems that are associated with PPE in various body systems. Among these, skin problems were the most frequent physical problems.

Conclusions

The literature demonstrated the adverse impacts of using PPE on HCWs. Therefore, healthcare policymakers should take the appropriate measures to improve the work environment during the COVID‐19 pandemic, which could consequently prevent and mitigate the adverse effects of using PPE.

Comparison of the effect of teaching Bundle Branch Block of electrocardiogram through storytelling and lecture on learning and satisfaction of nursing students: A quasi-experimental study

AIM

In this study, we taught learners the interpretation of the bundle branch block in two ways of storytelling and usual lecture, then compare the effect of these two methods on the level of learning and satisfaction. Storytelling can lead to deep learning, promoted critical thinking of students and enhanced clinical skills. It is an effective teaching method engaging nursing and midwifery students in clinical education.

DESIGN

A quasi-experimental study.

METHODS

We conducted this study in the training hospital, Ardabil, Iran, from 2019 to 2020. We selected 70 nursing students of semesters 6th and 7th through convenience sampling then allocated them randomly into two groups of intervention (n = 40) and control (n = 30). We taught the same topics to the intervention group via the storytelling method and the control group via lecturing. Data collection tools included a standard questionnaire of satisfaction with the teaching method and learning how to interpret an electrocardiogram. Data were analyzed using chi-square and independent t-tests. The significance level was considered less than 0.05.

RESULTS

Students in the control group had a higher mean score of satisfaction with the teaching method (30.00 ± 2.00) than students in the intervention group (29.00 ± 3.00). Also, There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding learning quality (P = 0.20).

CONCLUSION

Both methods of storytelling and lecturing were effective in increasing students' satisfaction. However, the liking of the teaching method, learning in a short time and high motivation for learning in the intervention group were higher. It is suggested to teach electrocardiogram interpretation to nursing students first through lecturing and then stabilize the concepts in their minds through storytelling.

Exploring nursing managers' perceptions of nursing workforce management during the outbreak of COVID-19: a content analysis study

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic is a serious threat to public health worldwide. Therefore, a coordinated global response is needed to prepare health care systems to face this unprecedented challenge. Proper human resource management can increase nurses’ productivity and quality of care. Therefore, the present study aims to explore the nursing managers’ perception of nursing workforce management during the outbreak of COVID-19.

Methods

This is a qualitative study with conventional content analysis using Granheim and Landman approach. In this study, 15 nursing managers were selected by purposeful sampling method. Data were collected using in-depth semi-structured interviews. Ethical considerations were applied to all stages of the study. In this study, MAXQDA software version 10 was used to help manage the data.

Results

66% of the participants (10/5) were female. The mean age of participants was 44 years, mean work experience of 19 years, and mean management experience of 9 years. Three categories and seven sub-categories emerged from the data analysis: 1) management of workforce recruitment (volunteer workforces, non-volunteer workforces), 2) management of workforce arrangement (flexible work schedule, rearrangement of the workforce), and 3) management of workforce retention (preventive measures, motivational measures, and psychological support).

Conclusion

Management in critical situations requires the use of flexible and situational management principles to recruit, arrange and retain workforce, and also to compensate for the lack of manpower.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12912-021-00546-x.

Effect of Foot Reflexology and Olive Oil Foot Massageon Asthma Control

<p><strong>BACKGROUND:</strong> There are some non-invasive and affordable treatments for asthma with fewer side effects, such as reflexology and olive oil foot massage in complementary and alternative medicine. There is a lack of studies regarding the efficacy of olive oil foot massage and reflexology for asthma control. This study was done to investigate the effect of foot reflexology and olive oil foot massage on asthma control.</p><p><strong>METHODS:</strong> This randomized controlled clinical trial study was performed in 2013 on 45 adult patients suffered from asthma. Participants were divided into three groups (15 in each group): foot reflexology (R), olive oil foot massage (O) and control(C). The reflexology and olive oil foot massage were done by a massage therapist for ten sessions, three times a week for 15 minutes. Asthma control questionnaire (ACQ) was used to determine the adequacy of asthma control. Data were analyzed by SPSS 18. P-value&lt;0.05 was considered statistically significant.</p><p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>Significant difference was seen in Asthma Control mean scores for both of reflexology and foot massage groups at the baseline and after the intervention (p&lt;0.01). There was no significant difference between R and O groups in their asthma control mean scores at the end of the intervention.</p><p><strong>CONCLUSION</strong><strong>: </strong>The results showed that foot reflexology and olive oil foot massage could improve the asthma control. Further study is needed on the interaction of these two interventions, to compare them with the use of specific drug treatments, and to investigate the effect of olive oil absorption on asthma.</p>