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Aims: To explore the experiences of refugees who became registered nurses after arriving to Australia. Design: Qualitative description using a naturalistic inquiry framework. Methods: Between February 2018 and September 2019, the lead author conducted semi‐structured interviews with employed registered nurses (RNs) that are former refugees and English‐speaking. Interviews were 45–90 min' duration and digitally recorded. Participants provided voluntary informed consent and were sent questions beforehand. Data were collected and coded into themes. Rigor was achieved with multiple transcript readings by the research team to confirm common themes. Results: Twelve participants discussed their story. Three major themes were identified: (1) Milestone of being a refugee; (2) Milestone of resettling in Australia; (3) Milestone of becoming a RN. Conclusion: Each participant's story started at a place of disadvantage. They progressed successfully through the three milestones; despite living with traumatic experiences, they learned new skills, developed English literacy, became a RN and juggled the demands of life. This paper highlights the poorly understood pockets of the current Australian RN workforce. Impact statement: The nuanced stories of RNs with refugee backgrounds in this study move beyond trauma and struggle and demonstrate the important journey this particular group of health professionals undertake. Increasing the contextual knowledge of the complex lives of former refugees turned nursing professionals will raise public awareness of the diversity of life experiences of RNs working in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This paper seeks to explore general practice nurses' perceptions of interactional factors supporting communication with patients about lifestyle risk. Design: Qualitative descriptive study embedded in a concurrent mixed methods design. Methods: Fifteen Australian general practice nurses were interviewed following video‐recorded chronic disease management consultations between August 2017 ‐ March 2018. Results: The theme of 'Interactional Factors' comprised of the subthemes 'Relational factors' and 'Patient factors'. Relational factors referred to communication techniques and methods supporting temporal continuity with patients about lifestyle risk. Patient factors included consumers' motivation, willingness, and readiness to prioritize lifestyle changes. Lack of awareness of the nurses' role was perceived to have an impact on initiation of lifestyle risk conversations. Conclusion: Strategies optimizing continuity of nursing care enhance the capacity for lifestyle risk reduction conversations with patients. Ongoing training in patient‐centred communication and increasing patients' awareness of general practice nurses' roles would also better support these discussions. Impact: This research identifies ways the general practice nurses' role in supporting lifestyle risk reduction can be improved. Optimizing the general practice nurses' role in lifestyle risk communication can enhance the behaviour change and chronic disease management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To describe the development, testing, and implementation of a data registry of nursing‐sensitive indicators for measuring the quality and safety of nursing practice. Background: Recent research has established causal links between nurse staffing and patient outcomes. Unit level data is necessary for implementation of evidence‐based strategies on nurse staffing and nursing care processes. Design: Multi‐site, cross‐sectional design. Methods: Retrospective data were collected from administrative data sets on nurse staffing, patient flow, and adverse events in three hospitals in 2016. Periodic observational surveys on pressure injury prevalence, hand hygiene practices, and documentation of processes of care were also conducted. Prospective data were collected from patients at time of discharge using the Caring Assessment Tool. Nurses' perceptions of their practice environment were assessed using the Nursing Work Index – Revised: Australian. Data from annual Press Ganey® surveys on patient satisfaction/experience were obtained. Results: The Australian Nursing Outcomes Collaborative (AUSNOC) data registry was developed in three phases. Phase 1 involved development of a data codebook; phase 2 involved development and testing of data collection methods; and phase 3 involved development of data reports and data dissemination strategies. This paper gives an overview of these phases and includes a summary of the descriptive statistics from the indicator set. Conclusion: Unit level data is pivotal for measuring the quality and safety of nursing care. Data from the Australian Nursing Outcomes Collaborative (AUSNOC) can be feasibly collected and used to benchmark nursing performance, evaluate patient outcomes, and identify areas for practice improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To examine whether the work–life interface (through work–family conflict and overall work–life balance) moderates the relationship between work ability and workplace demands and resources. Design: This study used a cross‐sectional survey design to collect data from 426 employees working in residential aged care. Methods: A paper‐based questionnaire was distributed to all permanent and casual employees at eight aged care facilities in Melbourne, Australia, between June ‐ September 2013. Moderation analyses were conducted using PROCESS v. 2.13 in SPSS v. 22. Results/Findings: As expected, workplace demands and resources directly influenced workers' work ability. In addition, moderate‐to‐high levels of work–family conflict and low‐to‐moderate levels of satisfaction with work–life balance combined interactively with particular workplace demands and resources (relationships with management, physical demands, and safety climate) to reduce work ability. Conclusions: This study advances understanding of how work–life balance and work–life conflict can influence work ability levels and shows that addressing the work–life interface may be a legitimate means to improve work ability, potentially leading to continued workforce participation. Impact: Staff retention in the residential aged care sector needs to be addressed. One possible means of achieving this is through improving work ability. This study expanded knowledge of how the work–life interface may influence work ability. The research demonstrated that relationships between work ability and particular workplace demands and resources were moderated by the work–life interface. This finding has implications for how human resources managers of residential aged care facilities may improve workforce retention—through facilitating employees to manage the work–life interface better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To report a systematic review of the psychometric properties of self-report instruments to identify the symptoms of anxiety in pregnancy to help clinicians and researchers select the most suitable instrument. Background Excessive anxiety in pregnancy is associated with adverse birth outcomes, developmental and behavioural problems in infants and postnatal depression. Despite recommendations for routine psychological assessment in pregnancy, the optimal methods to identify anxiety in pregnancy have not been confirmed. Design Psychometric systematic review. Data sources A systematic literature search of the multiple databases (1990-September 2014). Review methods Identification of self-report instruments to measure anxiety in pregnancy using COSMIN guidelines to assess studies reporting a psychometric evaluation of validity and reliability. Results Thirty-two studies were included. Studies took place in the UK, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Italy, Scandinavia, Spain and the Netherlands. Seventeen different instruments were identified. Measures of validity were reported in 19 papers and reliability in 16. The overall quality of the papers was rated as fair to excellent using the COSMIN checklist. Only one paper scored excellent in more than one category. Conclusion Many instruments have been adapted for use in different populations to those for which they were designed. The State Trait Anxiety Inventory, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale have been tested more frequently than other instruments, yet require further assessment to confirm their value for use in pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim This protocol paper describes a study that aims to determine if protected mealtimes implementation closes the energy deficit of 1900 kJ between estimated requirements and actual energy intake of hospitalized adults in the subacute setting. Background Protected mealtimes, a strategy developed to address the prevalence of malnourished hospitalized adults, aims to minimize unavoidable and unnecessary interruptions at mealtimes. It has been implemented widely with limited high-quality studies as to its effect. Design A pragmatic stepped wedge cluster trial. Primary outcomes are daily energy and protein intake. Methods Funding was awarded in October 2014. In this study, protected mealtimes implementation will occur across each cluster (ward) chosen at random. A waiver of consent has been endorsed, enabling all patients to receive the intervention. Patients excluded from outcome evaluation will be those receiving end of life care and patients who are nil by mouth. The selection of patients for outcome evaluation will also occur randomly. Sample size, randomization, statistical analysis and contamination issues consider the reporting guidelines of the CONSORT statement: extension to cluster randomized trials. Conclusions The methods selected will ensure that the research is of high quality with conclusions useful and relevant for translation into practice settings. The study does not aim to assess whether the intervention is sustainable beyond the study period, rather it will establish whether the removal of known barriers to intervention uptake enables high fidelity with the intervention. As a result we will have a greater understanding of the nutritional consequences of protected mealtimes in subacute care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim This paper aims to explore women's experiences with healthcare providers to ascertain ways health care may be improved for women disrupted in their mothering. Background Women can find it difficult to relinquish care even when they are acutely unwell requiring hospitalization. Despite mothering being a priority for women, many healthcare professionals do not understand the importance of continuing to mother during maternal illness. Design This research used a qualitative methodology drawing on principles of feminism and storytelling. Methods Women's stories were collected through face-to-face interviews, email and via the telephone. The twenty-seven women who participated were from either Australia or the USA, had between one and six children and identified themselves as having been disrupted in their mothering by illness. Data were collected in 2011 and were analysed thematically. Findings The majority of participants had been hospitalized at some point in time for acute illness. A subset of participants reported feeling judged by nurses and that their efforts to continue to mother their newborn children despite their illness were misunderstood and not facilitated. Conclusion Findings from this study suggest that women are more likely to remember times that health professionals failed to understand the primacy that mothering held for them or facilitate their efforts to continue to mother despite illness. Nurses and midwives should regularly reflect on their personal values in regard to mothering, validate women's attempts to mother to the best of their ability during illness and find ways to support and empower women in their mothering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To report observational data collected as part of a multi-phased study examining violence in the health sector. The findings presented detail the nature of verbal abuse experienced by nurses during their everyday interactions with patient, their families, or companions. Background Nurses have unacceptably high levels of exposure to violence, which commonly includes verbal abuse. However, relatively little is known about the nature of verbal abuse against nurses. Design Observational design. Methods During 2010, 1150 hours of observation resulted in data on 220 patients displaying cues for physical violence and 210 qualitative observational notes. These observational notes constitute the data for this paper and reveal the nature of verbal abuse experienced by nurses in their everyday work. Results A mosaic of abuse was revealed through three major categories: a discourse of gendered verbal abuse that was largely: sexual; insults, ridicule, and unreasonable demands; and hostility, threats, and menacing language. Conclusions For the nurses observed in this study, everyday nursing practice occurred in a backdrop of verbal abuse and hostility, which had a strong theme of gendered and sexualized overtones. We recommend that interventions that target verbal abuse should address the gendered and sexualized nature of the abuse experienced by nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To synthesize evidence and knowledge from published research about nurses' experiences of nurse-patient relationships with adult patients in general, acute inpatient hospital settings. Background While primary research on nurses' experiences has been reported, it has not been previously synthesized. Design Meta-ethnography. Data sources Published literature from Australia, Europe, and North America, written in English between January 1999-October 2009 was identified from databases: CINAHL, Medline, British Nursing Index and Psyc INFO. Review methods Qualitative studies describing nurses' experiences of the nurse-patient relationship in acute hospital settings were reviewed and synthesized using the meta-ethnographic method. Results Sixteen primary studies (18 papers) were appraised as high quality and met the inclusion criteria. The findings show that while nurses aspire to develop therapeutic relationships with patients, the organizational setting at a unit level is strongly associated with nurses' capacity to build and sustain these relationships. The organizational conditions of critical care settings appear best suited to forming therapeutic relationships, while nurses working on general wards are more likely to report moral distress resulting from delivering unsatisfactory care. General ward nurses can then withdraw from attempting to emotionally engage with patients. Conclusion The findings of this meta-ethnography draw together the evidence from several qualitative studies and articulate how the organizational setting at a unit level can strongly influence nurses' capacity to build and sustain therapeutic relationships with patients. Service improvements need to focus on how to optimize the organizational conditions that support nurses in their relational work with patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

scott k., white k., johnson c. & roydhouse j.k. (2011) Knowledge and skills of cancer clinical trials nurses in Australia. Journal of Advanced Nursing 68(5), 1111-1121. Abstract Aims. This paper is a report of the development and testing of a questionnaire measuring knowledge and skills of cancer clinical trials nurse in Australia. Background. The role of cancer clinical trials nurse, widely acknowledged as an integral member of the clinical research team, has evolved in recent years. Elements of the clinical trials nurse role in cancer have previously been described. To evaluate specific cancer clinical trials nurse educational and training needs, the development of a valid and reliable tool is required. Methods. In 2009, a study was conducted in three stages. Stage I: questionnaire development and pilot testing; stage II: focus group; stage III: national survey. Internal consistency reliability testing and multi-trait analysis of item convergent/divergent validity were employed. Regression analysis was used to identify predictors of clinical trials nurse knowledge and skills. Results. The national survey was a 48-item questionnaire, measuring six clinical trial knowledge and seven skills sub-scales. Of 61 respondents, 90% were women, with mean age 43 years, 19 years as a Registered Nurse and 5 years as a cancer clinical trials nurse. Self-reported knowledge and skills were satisfactory to good. Internal consistency reliability was high (Cronbach's alpha: knowledge = 0·98; skills = 0·90). Criteria for item convergent/divergent validity were met. Number of years as cancer clinical trials nurse was positively related to self-reported knowledge and skills. Conclusion. Preliminary data suggest that the national survey is reliable and valid. Data have contributed to better understanding the knowledge and skills of cancer clinical trials nurse in Australia and development of a postgraduate course in clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Title. Chinese Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire: development andpsychometric testing with Chinese-Australian women. Aim. This paper is a report of the development and psychometric testing of the Chinese Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire, a culturally sensitive questionnaire for measuring Chinese-Australian women’s beliefs, knowledge and attitudes towards breast cancer and breast screening practices. Background. Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer morbidity among Chinese-Australian women. They are, however, 50% less likely to participate in all types of breast examination. A valid and reliable instrument to explore the breast cancer beliefs is essential for the development of interventions to promote breast cancer screening practices. Method. Items for the questionnaire were drawn from a literature review and in-depth interviews. A panel of professional experts and lay women evaluated face and content validity. The instrument was translated from English to Chinese using back-translation. In 2008, a total of 292 Chinese-Australian women aged 22–78 years who were resident of Australia were included in testing the instrument. Multi-trait analysis and Cronbach’s alpha were used to assess internal consistency reliability and exploratory factor analysis assessed construct validity. Results. The final 13-item questionnaire had satisfactory validity and internal consistency. Cronbach’s alpha for the total scale was 0·76, and for the three subscales ranged from 0·70 to 0·79. Exploratory factor analysis showed that the scale reduced to three factors. Conclusion. Preliminary data suggest that the Chinese Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire is a valid, reliable and culturally sensitive instrument for the measurement of Chinese-Australian women’s beliefs, knowledge and attitudes about breast cancer and breast cancer screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]