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Aims and Objectives: The critical care nursing workforce is in crisis, with one‐third of critical care nurses worldwide intending to leave their roles. This paper aimed to examine the problem from a wellbeing perspective, offering implications for research, and potential solutions for organisations. Design: Discursive/Position paper. Method: The discussion is based on the nursing and wellbeing literature. It is guided by the authors' collaborative expertise as both clinicians and researchers. Data were drawn from nursing and wellbeing peer‐reviewed literature, such as reviews and empirical studies, national surveys and government and thinktank publications/reports. Results: Critical care nurses have been disproportionately affected by the COVID‐19 pandemic with studies consistently showing critical care nurses to have the worst psychological outcomes on wellbeing measures, including depression, burnout and post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These findings are not only concerning for the mental wellbeing of critical care nurses, they also raise significant issues for healthcare systems/organisations: poor wellbeing, increased burnout and PTSD are directly linked with critical care nurses intending to leave the profession. Thus, the wellbeing of critical care nurses must urgently be supported. Resilience has been identified as a protective mechanism against the development of PTSD and burnout, thus offering evidence‐based interventions that address resilience and turnover have much to offer in tackling the workforce crisis. However, turnover data must be collected by studies evaluating resilience interventions, to further support their evidence base. Organisations cannot solely rely on the efficacy of these interventions to address their workforce crisis but must concomitantly engage in organisational change. Conclusions: We conclude that critical care nurses are in urgent need of preventative, evidence‐based wellbeing interventions, and make suggestions for research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the levels and influencing factors of mental workload in intensive care unit nurses. Background: Intensive care unit nurses have a high mental workload level. To our knowledge, no meta‐analytic research investigating the levels of mental workload in intensive care unit nurses and related factors has yet been performed. Design: This article is a systematic review and meta‐analysis. Methods: Eleven electronic databases were searched from the database setup dates until 31 December 2022. The research team independently conducted study selection, quality assessments, data extractions and analysis of all included studies. The PRISMA guideline was used to guide reportage of the systematic review and meta‐analysis. Results: Seventeen studies were included. In these studies, the pooled mean score of mental workload was 68.07 (95%CI:64.39–71.75). Furthermore, subgroup analyses indicated that intensive care unit nurses' mental workload differed significantly by countries, sample size and publication year. The mental workload influential factors considered were demographic, work‐related and psychological factors. Conclusion: Hospital administrators should develop interventions to reduce mental workload to enhance the mental health of intensive care unit nurses and nursing care quality. Hospital managers should pay attention to the mental health of nurses and guide them to correctly relieve occupational stress and reduce mental workload. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? The prevalence of mental workload among ICU nurses is higher than in other departments in hospital.There are no published systematic review and meta‐analysis studies that synthesize the current evidence. What this paper adds? This review estimated overall mental workload scores, which indicated that ICU nurses have a high level of mental workload.The levels of mental workload among ICU nurses may be influenced by multiple factors, classified for this review in terms of demographic, work‐related and psychological factors. The implications of this paper: Demographic, work‐related and psychological variables should be taken into account in developing comprehensive interventions to reduce nurses' mental workload.Similar meta‐analyses in the future can evaluate other healthcare workers and those in other regions to determine in what departments the level of mental workload is high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: High cognitive load in nurses is a common problem in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, it remains unclear what different types of cognitive load the ICU nurses have experienced during the implementation of delirium interventions. Aim: To describe the characteristics and explore the effect of implementing a delirium intervention on the cognitive load of nurses working in the ICU. Methods: A cluster‐randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted. Six ICUs were randomized in a 1:1 ratio, and eligible nurses from these units provided either a delirium bundle intervention in addition to usual care (27 nurses) or usual care alone. An instrument was used to measure different types of cognitive load (MDT‐CL), assessing intrinsic, extraneous and germane cognitive load. The repeated measures analysis of variance was used to detect between‐group differences. Results: Among these nurses, significant between‐group differences were identified in terms of their overall (P < 0.001), intrinsic (P < 0.001) and extraneous (P < 0.001) cognitive load. There was no significant change observed in the germane cognitive load (P = 0.489) in the delirium intervention group. Conclusion: It is important to understand how the implementation of a delirium intervention affects different types of cognitive load in nurses, in order that tailored strategies can be applied to reduce cognitive load in ICU nurses. Summary statement: What is already known about the topic? ABCDEF bundle interventions are effective to reduce ICU delirium incidence and improve clinical outcomes.Nursing care in the intensive care units is characterized by elevated demand on workloads and increased cognitive load.Cognitive load has been identified to include three different types: intrinsic cognitive load, extraneous cognitive load and germane cognitive load. What this paper adds? The application of a delirium intervention in ICU nurses can increase the intrinsic, extraneous and overall cognitive load but had no effect on the germane cognitive load in ICU nurses.It is important to understand how the implementation of a delirium intervention affects different types of cognitive load in nurses so that tailored strategies can be applied to reduce cognitive load in ICU nurses. The implications of this paper: Evaluating different types of cognitive load in ICU nurse is helpful to support appropriate allocation of nursing resources and improvement of patient safety.This study highlights the necessity of improving efforts focusing on reduction of the intrinsic and extraneous cognitive load related to nursing care for delirium in ICUs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The U.S. Military uses handwritten documentation throughout the continuum of combat casualty care to document from point-of-injury, during transport and at facilities that provide damage control resuscitation and surgery. Proven impractical due to lack of durability and legibility in arduous tactical environments, we hypothesized that mobile applications would increase accuracy and completeness of documentation in combat casualty simulations. We conducted simulations across this continuum utilizing 10 two-person teams consisting of a Medic and an Emergency or Critical Care Nurse. Participants were randomized to either the paper group or BATDOK and T6 Health Systems mobile application group. Simulations were completed in both the classroom and simulated field environments. All documentation was assessed for speed, completeness, and accuracy. Participant demographics averaged 10.8 ± 5.2 y of military service and 3.9 ± 0.6 h of training on both platforms. Classroom testing showed a significant increase in completeness (84.2 ± 8.1% versus 77.2 ± 6.9%; P = 0.02) and accuracy (77.6 ± 8.1% versus 68.9 ± 7.5%; P = 0.01) for mobile applications versus paper with no significant difference in overall time to completion (P = 0.19). Field testing again showed a significant increase in completeness (91.6 ± 5.8 % versus 70.0 ± 14.1%; P < 0.01) and accuracy (87.7 ± 7.6% versus 64.1 ± 14.4%; P < 0.01) with no significant difference in overall time to completion (P = 0.44). In deployed environments, mobile applications have the potential to improve casualty care documentation completeness and accuracy with minimal additional training. These efforts will assist in meeting an urgent operational need to enable our providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy in conjunction with the combination therapy of atezolizumab (T) and bevacizumab (A) is widely used in hepatocellular carcinoma. Some adverse events such as hypertension, weakness and elevated transaminase levels occurred during treatment, while there is currently no reported case about thrombocytopenia with concomitant HLA antibody‐positive PTR. We summarize the critical care nursing experience of a patient with PTR because of HLA antibody positivity during hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy in conjunction with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (T + A) regimen. This paper explains the nursing measures for patients with severe thrombocytopenia and proposes nursing measures for situations where conventional treatments are ineffective. Key nursing points include the administration of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and HLA‐compatible platelets, prevention of complications, psychological care, oral care, and skin management. Through systematic treatment and targeted nursing care, the patient's platelet count rebounded after 9 days, leading to a successful recovery and discharge. Subsequent follow‐up assessments revealed the patient's sustained well‐being. Thrombocytopenia is a potential adverse reaction during the treatment of liver cancer. When platelet transfusion is ineffective, vigilance is necessary for the possibility of HLA positivity, and prompt symptomatic management is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Background Method Result Discussion Conclusion and implications for nursing and/or health policy This research examines the effects of artificial intelligence (AI)‐based decision support systems (DSS) on the operational processes of nurses in critical care units (CCU) located in Amman, Jordan.The deployment of AI technology within the healthcare sector presents substantial opportunities for transforming patient care, with a particular emphasis on the field of nursing.This paper examines how AI‐based DSS affect CCU nursing workflows in Amman, Jordan, using a cross‐sectional analysis. A study group of 112 registered nurses was enlisted throughout a research period spanning one month. Data were gathered using surveys that specifically examined several facets of nursing workflows, the employment of AI, encountered problems, and the sufficiency of training.The findings indicate a varied demographic composition among the participants, with notable instances of AI technology adoption being reported. Nurses have the perception that there are favorable effects on time management, patient monitoring, and clinical decision‐making. However, they continue to face persistent hurdles, including insufficient training, concerns regarding data privacy, and technical difficulties.The study highlights the significance of thorough training programs and supportive mechanisms to improve nurses' involvement with AI technologies and maximize their use in critical care environments. Although there are differing degrees of contentment with existing AI systems, there is a general agreement on the necessity of ongoing enhancement and fine‐tuning to optimize their efficacy in enhancing patient care results.This research provides essential knowledge about the intricacies of incorporating AI into nursing practice, highlighting the significance of tackling obstacles to guarantee the ethical and efficient use of AI technology in healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient teamwork is crucial to provide optimal health care. This paper focuses on teamwork between Anaesthesiologists (ANES), Certified Registered Nurse Anaesthetists' (CRNA) and Critical Care Registered Nurses (CCRN) working in challenging environments such as the intensive care unit (ICU) and the operating room (OR). Conflicts are common between physicians and nurses, negatively impacting teamwork. Social hierarchies based on professional status and power inequalities between nurses and physicians plays a vital role in influencing teamwork. Foucault was a famous thinker especially known for his reasoning regarding power/knowledge. A Foucauldian perspective was therefore incorporated into this paper and the overall aim was to explore CCRN/CRNA perception of knowledge/power in teamwork with ANES. Methods A mixed-method approach was applied in this study. Data was collected using a web-based questionnaire containing both closed-end and open-ended questions. A total of 289 CCRNs and CRNAs completed the questionnaire. Data analysis was then conducted through five stages as outlined by Onwuebugzie and Teddlie; analysing quantitative data in SPSS 27.0 and qualitative data with a directed content analysis, finally merging data together in ATLAS.ti v.23. Results The result reveals a dissonance between quantitative and qualitative data; quantitative data indicates a well-functioning interdisciplinary teamwork between CCRN/CRNA and ANES - qualitative data highlights that there are several barriers and inequalities between the two groups. Medicine was perceived as superior to nursing, which was reinforced by both social and organisational structures at the ICU and OR. Conclusion Unconscious rules underlying current power structures in the ICU and OR works in favour of the ANES and biomedical paradigm, supporting medical knowledge. To achieve a more equal power distribution between CCRN/CRNAs and ANES, the structural hierarchies between nursing and medicine needs to be addressed. A more equal power balance between the two disciplines can improve teamwork and thereby reduce patient mortality and improve patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has adversely affected intensive care nurses; for instance, they have fought against an unknown disease, and their workload has increased. In addition, the COVID‐19 pandemic has led intensive care nurses to work in new settings and with new teams. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore and describe the caregiving experiences of nurses who were working in a new COVID‐19 intensive care unit in Turkey and providing care for patients infected with SARS‐CoV‐2. Method: In this descriptive qualitative study, semi‐structured interviews were held from 22 July to 31 August 2020 and were recorded and analysed based on thematic analysis. The researchers followed the COREQ checklist in reporting the study. Findings: From interviews held with 11 nurses, four main themes (uncertainty and challenges in the 'danger zone', emotional and psychosocial changes, professional effects of the pandemic and being ready for a future pandemic) were derived from 11 sub‐themes. Conclusions: The new setting and the ever‐changing team make caring for the COVID‐19 patient even more difficult. A good organization, an experienced permanent team, a known setting and good working conditions are essential to be prepared for possible pandemics in the future. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Pandemics are emergencies that can lead the health system to collapse.Patient care quality is associated with nurses' knowledge and experience.The COVID‐19 pandemic has led intensive care nurses to work in new settings and with new teams. What this paper adds? Nurses described challenges such as the fear, stress and stigma they experienced in the ICU during the first wave of the pandemic, which negatively affected patient care.The new setting and the ever‐changing team make caring for the COVID‐19 patient even more difficult. The implications of this paper: A good organization and an experienced permanent team should be established in order to ensure patient safety and high‐quality care in ICU settings for COVID‐19 patients.Working conditions of nurses should be improved without changing their setting during the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the phenomenon of moral distress has been critically examined—and for a good reason. There have been a number of different definitions suggested, some that claimed to be consistent with the original definition but in fact referred to different epistemological states. In this paper, we re‐examine moral distress by exploring its relationship with moral agency. We critically examine three conceptions of moral agency and argue that two of these conceptions risk placing nurses' values at the center of moral action when it ought to be the patient's values that shape nurses' obligations. We propose that the conception of moral agency advanced by Aimee Milliken which re‐centers patient values, should be more broadly accepted within nursing. We utilize a case example to demonstrate a situation in which the values of a patient's parents (surrogates) justifiably constrained nurses' moral agency, creating moral distress. Through an examination of constraints on nurse agency in this case, we illustrate the problematic nature of 'narrow' moral distress and the value of re‐considering moral distress. Finally, we provide an action‐oriented proposal identifying mediating steps that we argue have utility for nurses (and other healthcare professionals) to mediate between experiences of narrow moral distress and the exercise of moral agency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID‐19 pandemic placed unprecedented stress on the National Health Service and critical care units including those with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) facility as this intervention had proved successful with H1N1 patients in 2009. To successfully care for the influx of ECMO patients, an ECMO clinical support team (ECST) formed by redeployed staff was created to assist critical care nurses. Aim: This service evaluation aims to review the experience of critical care nursing staff working with an ECST during the period of increased provision of ECMO care. Study Design: A UK‐based single‐site qualitative service evaluation was followed. Method: Critical care nursing staff's feedback was anonymously collected using a paper questionnaire designed for this project. Data were analysed using inductive content analysis. Findings: Approximately 40 critical care nurses were invited to complete a questionnaire, 19 (48%) of whom completed it within the available timeframe. A variety of themes were identified including 'Prior knowledge of ECST', 'Management matters', 'ECST in action', 'ECST response', 'Emotions' and 'Overall experience of the ECST'. Staff initially reported apprehension regarding a new team and training responsibilities. Following the rollout of the ECST, nurses' accounts described the utilization of the ECST and subsequent stress relief. Feedback commented on the ECST's positive attitude, effective team working with the critical care team and provision of moral support. Nurses' gratitude was strongly conveyed throughout, with many expressing the positive effect of the ECST on staff emotional well‐being. Conclusion: The implementation of the ECST provided clinical and emotional support to nurses. The ECST demonstrated the effective use of redeployed health care staff to support the critical care unit at a time of a significant increase in patients requiring ECMO. This could be used as a model to enhance staffing levels in the event of future viral outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper talks about the effectiveness of structured teaching programme on knowledge and attitude regarding legal aspects of organ donation among staff nurses in critical care and emergency units in selected hospitals of Gwalior, MP. The objectives of the study were to assess the effectiveness of Structured Teaching Programme on knowledge and attitude regarding legal aspects of organ donation among staff nurses in critical care and emergency units, and to find out the correlation between knowledge and attitude regarding legal aspects of organ donation among staff nurses of critical care and emergency units and also to find out the association between knowledge and attitude with selected background variables. The research approach adopted for the study was evaluative approach and the research design adopted was pre-experimental, one group pre-test - post-test design. Structured questionnaire containing 25 items on knowledge and of 15 statements 5 point Likert scale on assessing attitude were used. The findings of the study revealed that the Structured Teaching Programme on knowledge and attitude regarding legal aspects of organ donation was effective and the post test knowledge and attitude score on legal aspects of organ donation was higher than the pretest score. There found a significant association in the knowledge and attitude with previous source of information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Moral distress is recognized as an international problem that contributes to decreased work productivity, job dissatisfaction and intent to leave for adult Critical Care nurses. Aim: To explore Critical Care nurses moral distress levels using the Moral Distress Scale Revised (MDS‐R) and its relationship with intention to stay. The study reported in this paper was part of a larger study that also investigated Critical Care nurses' work environment in Canada and the Midlands region of the UK. Study design: During January to August 2017 a cross‐sectional survey was distributed to adult Critical Care nurses in the Midlands region of the UK. Methods: Surveys were distributed to adult Critical Care Registered Nurses in the Midlands region of the UK examining moral distress levels and intention to stay in Critical Care, the organization (NHS Trust) and in the nursing profession. Results: Two hundred sixty‐six number of a potential sample of 1066 Critical Care nurses completed the survey (25% response rate). Age and moral distress were significantly positively correlated with intention to stay on their current unit (r = 0.16, P =.05), indicating older nurses were more likely to stay in the critical care unit. Moral distress was negatively correlated with intent to stay scores, showing critical care nurses with higher levels of moral distress were less likely to stay on their unit (r = −0.20, P =.02). Moral distress was also significantly negatively correlated with intention to stay with their current employer (r = −0.28, P <.001). Nurses that stated they had high rates of moral distress were more likely to consider leaving their current employer. Conclusion: Moral distress appears to be an issue among adult Critical Care nurses requiring further exploration and development of effective strategies to reduce this phenomenon and stabilize the workforce by reducing turnover. Relevance to clinical practice: By identifying the top causes of moral distress, tools and strategies can be developed to allow the Critical Care nurse to work within an ethically safe clinical environment and reduce the turnover of experienced adult Critical Care nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Moral distress, which is especially high in critical care nurses, has significant negative implications for nurses, patients, organizations, and healthcare as a whole. Aim: A moral distress workshop and follow-up activities were implemented in an intensive care unit in order to decrease levels of moral distress and increase nurses' perceived comfort and confidence in ethical decision-making. Design: A quality improvement (QI) initiative was conducted using a pre- and post-intervention design. The program consisted of a four-hour interactive workshop, followed by two individual self-reflection activities at 2–3 weeks and 5–6 weeks after the workshop. Participants: Critical care nurses working in a heart and vascular intensive care unit at a large academic medical center. Ethical Considerations: This study was deemed to be a QI project by the institution's Institutional Review Board. Participation was voluntary. Findings: Nurses experienced a significant decrease in moral distress. The participants' average ethical confidence increased in four areas (ability to identify the conflicting values at stake, knowing role expectations, feeling prepared to resolved ethical conflict, and being able to do the right thing), with knowledge of role expectations and feeling prepared to resolve ethical conflict yielding statistically significant increases. Qualitative findings resulted in consistent themes related to causes of moral distress and ways nurses approached addressing moral distress. Discussion: This study reinforces previous evidence on moral distress and its causes in critical care nurses, and provides a mechanism for improving moral distress and ethical confidence. Conclusions: This QI study demonstrates the effectiveness of an evidence-based program for decreasing critical care nurses' moral distress and increasing their ethical confidence. The strategies described in this paper can replicated by nursing leaders who wish to effect change at their local level, or adapted and expanded to other professions and clinical care units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moral distress (MD) has received considerable attention in the nursing literature over the past few decades. It has been found that high levels of MD can negatively impact nurses, patients, and their family and reduce the quality of patient care. This study aimed to investigate the potentially effective interventions to alleviate MD in critical care nurses. In this systematic review, a broad search of the literature was conducted in the international databases including PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus, as well as Google Scholar search engine using keywords such as moral distress, intensive care unit, ICU, nurses, and critical care nurses from 1984, when the concept of MD was first introduced in the nursing literature, up to 29 October 2020. Studies focusing on the interventions for managing MD in critical care nurse were evaluated. The quality of eligible papers was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklist. A total of 8 studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria. Three studies had RCT design and five studies had quasi-experimental design. All studies were conducted in the United States or Iran. Educational workshop, moral empowerment program, social work intervention, nursing ethics huddles, and multifaceted resiliency bundle intervention were effective interventions for managing of MD among critical care nurses. There is limited but promising research evidence evaluating the efficacy of educational interventions for managing of MD among critical care nurses. Although some positive results have been reported, there is limited generalizable evidence due to the variability of interventions. These findings highlight the need for further studies to validate the efficacy of these interventions or develop more potent and efficient interventions for reducing MD in critical care nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine (ISCCM) guidelines on Planning and Designing Intensive care (ICU) were first developed in 2001 and later updated in 2007. These guidelines were adopted in India, many developing Nations and major Institutions including NABH. Various international professional bodies in critical care have their own position papers and guidelines on planning and designing of ICUs; being the professional body of intensivists in India ISCCM therefore addresses the subject in contemporary context relevant to our clinical practice, its variability according to specialty and subspecialty, quality, resource limitation, size and location of the institution. Aim: To have a consensus document reflecting the philosophy of ISCCM to deliver safe & quality Critical Care in India, taking into consideration the requirement of regulatory agencies (national & international) and need of people at large, including promotion of training, education and skill upgradation. It also aiming to promote leadership and development and managerial skill among the critical care team. Material and Methods: Extensive review of literature including search of databases in English language, resources of regulatory bodies, guidelines and recommendations of international critical care societies. National Survey of ISCCM members and experts to understand their viewpoints on respective issues. Visiting of different types and levels of ICUs by team members to understand prevailing practices, aspiration and Challenges. Several face to face meetings of the expert committee members in big and small groups with extensive discussions, presentations, brain storming and development of initial consensus draft. Discussion on draft through video conferencing, phone calls, Emails circulations, one to one discussion Result: Based upon extensive review, survey and input of experts' ICUs were categorized in to three levels suitable in Indian setting. Level III ICUs further divided into sub category A and B. Recommendations were grouped in to structure, equipment and services of ICU with consideration of variation in level of ICU of different category of hospitals. Conclusion: This paper summarizes consensus statement of various aspect of ICU planning and design. Defined mandatory and desirable standards of all level of ICUs and made recommendations regarding structure and layout of ICUs. Definition of intensive care and intensivist, planning for strength of ICU and requirement of manpower were also described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients intoxicated after abusing illicit drugs constitute a significant proportion of patients cared for in intensive care units. Intensive critical care nurses who nurse accidentally intoxicated patients face complex and demanding situations, and there is a lack of studies regarding this topic. Aims and objectives: To illuminate Swedish intensive critical care nurses' experiences of nursing accidentally intoxicated patients after abuse of illicit drugs. Design: A qualitative design with an inductive approach was used. Methods: Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with eight intensive critical care nurses at an intensive care unit in Sweden. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Findings: The themes found illuminate intensive critical care nurses' experiences of nursing accidentally intoxicated patients after their abuse of illicit drugs: feeling empathy and a wish to provide dignified care; dreading nursing the patient and feeling a lack of empathy; feeling frustration and questioning the care; lacking knowledge about a complex and challenging situation. Conclusions: It is essential to respond to intoxicated patients with empathy and dignity. Intensive critical care nurses should learn how to identify factors that lead to provocation and agitation in order to reduce the occurrence of dangerous situations in intensive care units. Relevance to clinical practice: To create a caring environment where the interaction becomes more positive and harmonious, an intensive care nurse needs a deep understanding of what a drug abuse disorder means. Moreover, the ability to see the person behind the abuse and to provide non‐judgemental support is required. What is known about this topicPatients intoxicated after abuse of illicit drugs constitute a significant proportion of patients cared for in ICUs worldwide.Intensive critical nurses who nurse accidentally intoxicated patients face complex and demanding situations, and few studies have addressed this topic.What this paper contributesIt is essential to respond to intoxicated patients who are admitted to the ICU with empathy and dignity, as well as to learn how to identify factors that lead to provocation and agitation in order to reduce the occurrence of dangerous situations.Education is warranted and must be enhanced, including knowledge about drug abuse and training in communication and empathyNursing should include an understanding of what the disease of drug abuse means and the development of the ability to see the person behind the abuse and to provide non‐judgemental support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To develop and evaluate a Zambian context‐specific mentorship model that supports registered nurses completing emergency, trauma and critical care programmes in Zambia. Background: In Zambia, emergency and trauma and critical care nursing are relatively new specialties, with education and training programmes less than a decade old. A train the trainer mentorship programme was developed and delivered at two colleges of nursing. Ethics approval was gained in both Zambia and the UK. Sources of evidence: Documentary data analysis and focus groups were used. Focus groups included stakeholders and nurses in practice who had completed the train the trainer programme and were using the mentorship model. Discussion: The critical review of the literature revealed there was a paucity of evidence on the role of mentors in critical care. However, national documentation identified that most post basic education programmes are at Diploma Level with limited content that focuses on bedside teaching, mentorship and assessment content. Conclusion: Feedback from representatives attending the stakeholder workshops and focus groups which included participants who had completed the training programme enabled the mentorship model and workshop to be developed and evaluated. Implications for nursing practice: Nurses are the backbone of healthcare systems in Africa and the world. Mentorship and assessment in practice enables nurses to develop the competence and skills to lead practice, support peers and junior colleagues. Implications for nursing policy: This paper has identified the need for a context‐specific formalised mentorship model to support specialist practice and this project has provided the foundations for mentorship of emergency, trauma and critical care nurses in Zambia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pain assessment and management are imperative parts of nursing care and considered as one of the most fundamental patient rights. The role of pain management education is well established in improving knowledge and attitude among nurses. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the impact of pain management educational program on the knowledge and attitudes of intensive care unit (ICU) staff nurses toward pain assessment and management. The baseline score of pain assessment and management knowledge and attitude of ICU nurses has been identified in a previous research, and the result showed immense lack of knowledge and poor attitudes among ICU nurses toward pain assessment and management when dealing with ICU patients. Methods: This is a pretest-posttest experimental study, utilizing a self-reporting questionnaire tool to obtain information about nurses' knowledge and attitudes toward pain assessment and management after implementation of new pain management educational program for critical care nurses. Data were collected using the Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain tool that measures knowledge with 22 question items and measures attitude with 17 question items. Paper-based questionnaire was distributed to nurses for data collection. Results and Conclusion: The results showed significant improvement in knowledge and attitudes about pain assessment and management among ICU nurses; it was evident after delivering pain management education program. At baseline, 204 ICU nurses gave consent and completed the questionnaire and thus included in Background: Pain assessment and management are imperative parts of nursing care and considered as one of the most fundamental patient rights. The role of pain management education is well established in improving knowledge and attitude among nurses. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the impact of pain management educational program on the knowledge and attitudes of intensive care unit (ICU) staff nurses toward pain assessment and management. The baseline score of pain assessment and management knowledge and attitude of ICU nurses has been identified in a previous research, and the result showed immense lack of knowledge and poor attitudes among ICU nurses toward pain assessment and management when dealing with ICU patients. Methods: This is a pretest-posttest experimental study, utilizing a self-reporting questionnaire tool to obtain information about nurses' knowledge and attitudes toward pain assessment and management after implementation of new pain management educational program for critical care nurses. Data were collected using the Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain tool that measures knowledge with 22 question items and measures attitude with 17 question items. Paper-based questionnaire was distributed to nurses for data collection. Results and Conclusion: The results showed significant improvement in knowledge and attitudes about pain assessment and management among ICU nurses; it was evident after delivering pain management education program. At baseline, 204 ICU nurses gave consent and completed the questionnaire and thus included in baseline measurement before implementing the intervention. In the postintervention measurement, the questionnaire was distributed to the same participants included in the baseline phase from which 181 participants completed the questionnaire for the second time, with a response rate of 89%; the deficits and preconception in pain assessment and management can be improved through implementing pain management educational programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Critical care nurses are faced with many challenges, and one that is particularly stressful is caring for obstetric patients. This care can become more complex when the obstetric patient requires extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. It is imperative that critical care nurses have knowledge about this unique population, the expected physical changes of pregnancy, and the management of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Obstetric patients present unique challenges, and care is focused on the woman and her family. The purpose of this paper is to provide information for critical care nurses regarding care of obstetric patients who receive extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phoebe Coghlan never intended to write children's poetry, but when she started putting pen to paper five years ago, she found it was a great escape from the intensity of her job in critical care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

iliopoulou k.k. & while a.e. (2010) Professional autonomy and job satisfaction: survey of critical care nurses in mainland Greece. Journal of Advanced Nursing 66(11), 2520-2531. Aim. This paper is a report of a study conducted to describe Greek critical care nurses' views on professional autonomy and its relationship with job satisfaction and other work-related variables. Background. Professional autonomy is generally considered a highly desirable nursing attribute and a major factor in nurse job satisfaction. In the critical care environment, a high level of accountability, responsibility and autonomy are required to optimize outcomes of critically unstable patients. Method. A questionnaire survey was conducted with a convenience sample of Greek critical care nurses ( n = 431; response rate 70%) in 2007. Data were collected on professional autonomy, job satisfaction, role conflict and role ambiguity. Results. Overall, nurses reported acting moderately autonomously. Younger nurses reported statistically significant lower levels of autonomy. Higher levels of autonomy were reported by female nurses. Multiple logistic regression revealed that appointment level, type of critical care unit and registration with a professional organization were independently associated with autonomy. A positive moderate association was found between reported autonomy, job satisfaction, role conflict and role ambiguity, but there was no relationship between job satisfaction and reported role conflict and role ambiguity. Conclusion. Further education, role enhancement and support are required for nurses working in critical care in Greece if they are to achieve the maximum potential of their professional role. Failure to address the perceptions of professional autonomy may have an impact on staff retention, because of job dissatisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. The aim of this paper was to explore nurses’ stress experiences of working under the current health care system in Tawain (the context) using a qualitative approach. Background. Although most global health care institutions have been changing in response to the economic contraction, there is a deficit of information in understanding the changes of the ecology of the health care system in Taiwan from nurses’ perspectives. Design. Grounded theory. Methods. A grounded theory approach was used to collect the data from a sample of 28 critical care nurses from seven hospitals in Taiwan. Data were analysed using a multi-step analytic procedure, based on the approaches of Glaser, Chesler and Strauss and Corbin. Findings. The health care system changes were found to increase critical care nurses’ occupational stress and work dilemmas. For the purpose of this study, the two categories that emerged in the ‘context’ component of the paradigm model are investigated. They were: hospital reorganisation and cultural burden of the nurse’s role. Conclusions. The findings indicated that hospital organisational changes and people’s own belief of the nurse’s role were recognised as the environmental pressures which increase critical care nurses’ occupational stress. Cultural background may play an important role in influencing nurses’ work atmosphere and their ways of being seen. Relevance to clinical practice. Critical care nurses perceived that their hospitals were under huge demands due to the changes in health care policies; these had subsequently caused them a high level of occupational stress. Beliefs in the embedded culture were also identified as significant factors in causing nurses’ role stress. These findings could enhance the knowledge of critical care nurses’ occupational stress and identify the most appropriate stress management skills available to them. Findings will add to the understanding of Chinese nurses who may work globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper presents the results of a survey into the experiences and attitudes of 124 European critical care nurses to the presence of family members during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Nurses from mainland Europe were less experienced and less sure about the consequences of relatives witnessing resuscitation than United Kingdom (UK) nurses. Generally, nurses supported the presence of family members, although UK nurses held significantly more positive attitudes than their non-UK counterparts in the areas of decision-making, processes and outcomes of resuscitation. Differences in attitudes are explored in the discussion. On the basis of results from this study, it is recommended that further policy guidance is required. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]