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Background: Nursing education starts in the classroom environment with a focus on the nurse educator-nursing student relationship. 'Presence' is defined as "a practice where the caregiver relates her/himself to the other in an attentive and dedicated way, by doing so learns to see what is at stake for the other; from desires to fear, and, in connection with this, come to understand what could be done in this particular situation and who she/he can be for the other". 'Presence' forms an integral part of the nursing profession and the value thereof should be facilitated during teaching and learning. Reflective practices may offer a teaching–learning strategy to facilitate presence in nursing students by nurse educators in large class settings. Having large classes presents challenges including from nurse educators' lack of knowledge about alternative teaching approaches; time demands for designing, implementing and testing new teaching methods; a lack of confidence in implementing new teaching approaches in the classroom; selecting and grading assessments; as well as feelings of discomfort and anxiety. A model to facilitate presence through reflective practices has already been developed and published by the present authors. The model relies on well-established steps in theory development covering concept analysis, model development and description (published in two papers by the present researchers) and model evaluation (the subject of this paper). The evaluation was carried out by a panel of experts and nursing participants. Methods: An explorative and descriptive qualitative design was followed. The developed model was evaluated and refined in two steps (covered in this paper). In Step 1, the model was evaluated by a panel of experts in model development, reflective practices and presence. The panel used critical reflection resulting in the refinement of the model. Step 2 involved an empirical phase where the model was evaluated by participants through participatory evaluation. Participants were selected through purposive sampling. Data collection methods included online semi-structured focus group interviews with nurse educators and virtual World Café sessions with nursing students. Content analysis was done through open coding. Results: Five themes emerged from the empirical phase, namely: Theme 1: understanding of the model; Theme 2: benefits of the model; Theme 3: limitations of the model; Theme 4: pre-existing conditions needed for successful implementation of the model; and Theme 5: recommendations for further development of the model. Conclusions: The results produced a refined model to be implemented into the curriculums of undergraduate, postgraduate and continuous professional development programmes across nursing education institutions. This model will significantly contribute to the body of knowledge and increase nurses' awareness of presence by transforming the way they feel, think, care and act in practice, which contributes to personal and professional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nurses contribute the largest portion of Uganda's health workforce providing care to individuals of all ages and communities. However, despite the growing number of the elderly population in Uganda with improved life expectancy, there is hardly any study that has looked at the elderly health care competencies in the nursing training programs at various levels. This paper provides an overview of the gaps in elderly health care competencies in nursing education in Uganda. Methods: We conducted a descriptive qualitative cross-sectional study that involved document review, Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with nursing leaders, and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with faculty at all levels of nursing training and nurses in practice. Data was analyzed using latent and manifest content analysis with Open Code software 4.03. Common categories were identified and incorporated into a matrix to create themes. Results: Almost all the curricula and minimum standards for training nurses at certificate, diploma, and degree levels lack a module and nursing competencies on elderly nursing care. This is aggravated by a lack of faculty trained in elderly health care skills, and a lack of specialized wards for nursing elderly care clinical training among others. Conclusions: There is hardly any elderly health care training module and elderly nursing competencies at all levels of nursing training in Uganda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite advanced nursing roles having a research competency, participation in research is low. There are many barriers to participation in research and few interventions have been developed to address these. This paper aims to describe the implementation of an intervention to increase research participation in advanced clinical nursing roles and evaluate its effectiveness. Methods: The implementation of the intervention was carried out within one hospital site. The evaluation utilised a mixed methods design and a implementation science framework. All staff in advanced nursing roles were invited to take part, all those who were interested and had a project in mind could volunteer to participate in the intervention. The intervention consisted of the development of small research groups working on projects developed by the nurse participant/s and supported by an academic and a research fellow. The main evaluation was through focus groups. Output was analysed using thematic analysis. In addition, a survey questionnaire was circulated to all participants to ascertain their self-reported research skills before and after the intervention. The results of the survey were analysed using descriptive statistics. Finally an inventory of research outputs was collated. Results: In the first year, twelve new clinical nurse-led research projects were conducted and reported in six peer reviewed papers, two non-peer reviewed papers and 20 conference presentations. The main strengths of the intervention were its promptness to complete research, to publish and to showcase clinical innovations. Main barriers identified were time, appropriate support from academics and from peers. The majority of participants had increased experience at scientific writing and data analysis. Conclusion: This study shows that an intervention, with minor financial resources; a top down approach; support of a hands on research fellow; peer collaboration with academics; strong clinical ownership by the clinical nurse researcher; experiential learning opportunities; focused and with needs based educational sessions, is an intervention that can both increase research outputs and capacity of clinically based nurses. Interventions to further enhance nursing research and their evaluation are crucial if we are to address the deficit of nurse-led patient-centred research in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Home based care is a vital, and growing, part of the health care system that allows individuals to remain in their homes while still receiving health care. During a disaster, when normal health care systems are disrupted, home based care remains a vital source of support for older adults. The purpose of this paper is to qualitatively understand the barriers and facilitators of both patients and providers that influence the provision of home based care activities in two hurricane affected communities. Methods: Using qualitative inquiry informed by the social ecological model, five focus groups were conducted with home based care providers (n = 25) in two settings affected by Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Harvey. An open-source database of home health agencies participating in Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services programs was used to identify participants. Data were manually coded and larger themes were generated from recurring ideas and concepts using an abductive analysis approach. Results: Twenty five participants were included in one of five focus groups. Of the 22 who responded to the demographic survey, 65 % were registered nurses, 20 % were Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN), and 15 % were other types of health care providers. 12 % of the sample was male and 88 % was female. Five themes were identified in the analysis: barriers to implementing preparedness plans, adaptability of home based care providers, disasters exacerbate inequalities, perceived unreliability of government and corporations, and the balance between caring for self and family and caring for patients. Conclusions: This study provides qualitative evidence on the factors that influence home based care provision in disaster-affected communities, including the barriers and facilitators faced by both patients and providers in preparing for, responding to and recovering from a disaster. While home based care providers faced multiple challenges to providing care during and after a disaster, the importance of community supports and holistic models of care in the immediate period after the disaster were emphasized. We recommend greater inclusion of home health agencies in the community planning process. This study informs the growing body of evidence on the value of home based care in promoting safety and well-being for older adults during a disaster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Childbirth reserves respect, as emphasized by the World Health Organization in 2018, and the focus towards the need for positive, dignified delivery experiences has become an integral aspect of Respectful Maternity Care (RMC). It is a known fact that RMC is pivotal for favourable birth outcomes and contributes to the satisfaction of maternity care. The absence of RMC negatively affects women's and newborns' rights. The study aimed to explore healthcare providers' perspectives on sustaining RMC actions that mothers previously reported. Methodology: This study was conducted in five hospitals in the Eastern province of Rwanda, involving 5 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with midwives and nurses. For interviews, we purposively selected 5-unit managers and five physicians. Additionally, 40 midwives and nurses were recruited for the FGDs. The research utilized the Dream phase of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) for interviews and Focus Groups. Data collection aimed to gain insights into Healthcare Providers' perceptions of how RMC is provided and how to establish and sustain RMC in Rwandan health facilities. Nvivo 12 was employed for organizing codes and creating a codebook, and thematic analysis was applied. Results: Four themes with sub-themes emerged. Namely, 1) Women-centered care, with Compassionate care, Privacy and confidentiality maintenance, Information provision and Liberty in decision making, Effective communication, Family involvement, Cleanliness, and Equality care. 2) Professionalism compliance with Motivated staff, Teamwork, Continuous development, Quality work provision, and Community trust. 3) RMC encounters 4) RMC sustenance. Conclusion and recommendations: The continuous pursuit of high RMC standards in Rwanda involves improving childbirth experiences through utilizing existing resources, ongoing improvement, and sustaining achievements. Key recommended actions in this study for sustaining RMC encompass promoting women-centred care, enhancing healthcare provider attitudes, ensuring professionalism, building community trust, maintaining conducive health facility environments, and involving leadership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence-based practice, in conjunction with optimum care quality, improves patients' clinical outcomes. However, its implementation in daily clinical practice continues to present difficulties. The aim of this study was to identify the strategies applied by Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) to foster adherence to clinical practice guideline recommendations. Methods: An exploratory qualitative study was conducted with six focus groups at three public hospitals belonging to the Balearic Islands Health Care Service (Spain). The study participants were 32 ward nurses and 5 advanced practice nurses working routinely with inpatients at these hospitals. The study was conducted from November 2020 to January 2021, using thematic analysis, based on the COREQ checklist. Results: Four major themes related to the facilitation process were identified either by RNs and APNs: the context of the project, APN contribution to nursing team management, healthcare provision on the ward, and the acquisition and application of knowledge. Conclusions: The APNs adapted their actions to the characteristics and needs of the local context, employing strategies aimed at improving teamwork, healthcare, and knowledge management. Each of these contributions enhanced the sustainability of the changes made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although there is a growing literature on the use of telepresence robots in institutional dementia care settings, limited research focused on the perspectives of frontline staff members who deliver dementia care. Our objective was to understand staff perspectives on using telepresence robots to support residents with dementia and their families. Guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, we conducted four focus groups and 11 semi-structured interviews across four long-term care (LTC) homes and one hospital in Canada. We included 22 interdisciplinary staff members (e.g., registered nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, recreational therapists) to understand their experiences with telepresence robots. Thematic analysis identified three key themes: 1) Staff Training and Support; 2) Robot Features; 3) Environmental dynamics for Implementation. Our results underscore the imperative of structural support at micro-, meso- and macro-levels for staff in dementia care settings to effectively implement technology. This study contributes to future research and practice by elucidating factors facilitating staff involvement in technology research, integrating staff voices into technology implementation planning, and devising strategies to provide structural support to staff, care teams, and care homes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The relationship between the nurse and the patient with mental health disorder is crucial to the recovery process. Thus, patients with mental health disorders should be active subjects in this relationship by having autonomy and self-determination. Methods: This study aimed to explore the perspectives of adult patients with mental health disorders on the relationship with nurses. A qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory study was conducted in March 2023, using focus group meetings in an association to support patients with severe mental health disorders in the Northern region of Portugal. The study followed the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ). A total of 8 patients participated in the study. Two focus group meetings were conducted. The inductive method was used, and content analysis of the transcripts was performed. The QDA Miner Lite 4.0 and Microsoft Excel were used for content analysis. Results: Participants considered the relationship with nurses important for their recovery and expected nurses to provide support and help, being able to identify their needs, thus personalising their care. Attitudinal and communication aspects were also considered crucial for establishing a solid, trusting, and meaningful relationship. Conclusion: According to the findings nursing care is expected to focus on the patient, his/her preferences, expectations, and the uniqueness of each individual. The results of this study may be useful for the reflection and improvement of nurses in their relational and communication skills and the driving force for nursing students' awareness of the perspective of the relationship with patients with mental health disorder and its relevance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the increased use of technology for teaching and learning in clinical nursing education, relatively little attention seems to be directed toward the usefulness of digital educational resources (DERs) to support nurse educators' educational role in clinical nursing education. Methods: An interpretive descriptive qualitative study design was conducted to evaluate the usefulness of a DER to support nurse educators in clinical nursing education. Data were collected through two focus group interviews with part-time and novice educators (n = 5) and full-time, more experienced educators (n = 5), after they had overseen student nurses in nursing home placements. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines were used for this study. Findings: The analysis identified three themes related to nurse educators' experiences of the usefulness of a DER to support their educational role while overseeing first-year students on clinical placements in nursing homes: (1) Provides academic support and a sense of security (2) promotes pedagogical efficacy, and (3) represents a flexible resource for educational planning. Conclusion: This study shows that a digital educational resource can be an efficient and useful supplementary strategy to support the nurse educator's role in clinical nursing education. Future research is required to systematize knowledge about the impact of DERs on orientation and training, as well as motivation and facilitators for, and barriers to, their use to enhance quality and strengthen the nurse educator's role in clinical nursing education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a grooving body of evidence emphasising the need to support and enhance effective mentorship practices for nursing students in nursing home placements, including strengthening of the pedagogical competence of registered nurse mentors. Owing to the necessity for multifaceted mentoring competence and the challenges of workload registered nurses are facing, the use of flexible digital educational resources has been suggested. However, current knowledge on the effectiveness of digital educational resources in enhancing mentorship practices in nursing homes is scarce. This study aimed to explore the perception of registered nurse mentors regarding the effectiveness of a digital educational resource, particular its usability and value-in-use in supporting and enhancing mentorship practices in nursing homes. Methods: The study applied an exploratory descriptive qualitative design. Pre- and post-mentoring semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted among a total of 23 registered nurse mentors across three Norwegian nursing homes. The transcribed interviews were thematically analysed. Standards for reporting qualitative research were followed. Results: The analysis yielded one pre-mentoring theme: (1) predominant enthusiasm and satisfaction and three post-mentoring themes: (2) enhanced confidence and motivation, (3) enhanced mentoring competence in supporting the nursing students' learning process, and (4) factors influencing the value-in-use of the digital educational resource. Conclusions: Digital educational resources support effective mentorship practices by enhancing the confidence and motivation in the mentor role and by enabling more goal-oriented supervision and assessment tailored to the learning goals of students. The implementation of digital educational resources to support and enhance effective mentorship practices is an important avenue for further research towards achieving high-quality learning environments in clinical nursing education in general and nursing homes. Based on the study findings, nursing educational institutions should consider offering digital educational resources to develop, support, and advance mentorship training, which may more effectively impact and improve the quality of clinical nursing education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a global shortage of nurses, with particularly acute shortfall in General Practice Nursing in the United Kingdom estimated at as high as 50% vacancy rate by 2031 by some sources. There has previously been reluctance for General Practices to host student nurses on placement, but it has become imperative to increase placement capacity if practices are to be able to recruit a future workforce. Collaborative Learning in Practice is a means of organising placement learning for student nurses using a coaching model, that allows for leadership development, peer support and earlier engagement in patient care, and increases placement capacity. Methods: This was a mixed methods study using qualitative data from focus groups to evaluate the implementation of Collaborative Learning in Practice, and routinely collected audit data on numbers of clinic appointments to investigate the potential impact an increased capacity of student nurses might have on patient access to services. The aims of this study were: to implement and evaluate Collaborative Learning in Practice in General Practice Nursing settings; to explore issues of interprofessional learning; to explore patient access to services related to increased student nurse capacity. Results: Our qualitative data indicated the following themes as important to students and staff: Peer Support; Interprofessional Learning; and the Importance of 'own clinics' for students to see patients. The audit data indicated that having students leading their own clinics increased the clinic numbers available by approximately 20% compared to when students were not in placement. Conclusions: This study shows that student nurses increased clinic capacity and improved access for patients. Students valued their placement, felt that they were more 'part of the team' than in other placements and consequently had a greater sense of belonging. This was multifaceted, coming in part from the welcoming practice staff, in part from the opportunities for peer support engendered by the collaborative learning in practice model, and in part from the interprofessional learning opportunities available. General Practice Nursing placements for students are important for future workforce recruitment and can help meet Quality and Outcomes Framework targets for General Practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research shows that poor provider–client interactions in maternity and child health (MCH) continue to affect health outcomes, service uptake, continuity of care, and trust in formal healthcare systems. Objective: The study's objective was to jointly create a prototype intervention package for enhancing nurse-client relationships using human centered design (HCD) approach. Methods: A five-step HCD methodology was used: (1) Community-driven discovery through qualitative descriptive research methods using 9 focus groups with nurses and clients and 12 key informant interviews with MCH administrators; (2) consultative ideation and co-creation meetings with 10 nurses, 10 clients, and 10 administrators to co-design a rough prototype model; (3) rough prototype validation through qualitative insight gathering using 6 FGDs with nurses and clients; (4) refinement and adaptation meetings with 14 nurses, 14 clients and 12 administrators; and (5) documentation and sharing of lessons learnt. Results: According to the community-driven research, poor service, a lack of concern, poor communication, a bad attitude, and unhappiness at work are the nurse factors that affect the relationships between nurses and their patients. Non-compliance with procedures, unfavorable attitudes, poor communication, low education, poverty, and faith in conventional healers were among the client-related factors. Inadequate funding, bad management techniques, improper policy execution, and a lack of an independent institution for handling complaints are the health system factors that affect nurse-client relationships. In response, three ideation and co-creating meetings resulted in 24 interventions. Seven (7) of these were rated as more acceptable and feasible in the local context and formed a rough prototype. During validation, there were some disagreements on the feasibility of curriculum and resource-related interventions. Refinement meetings resulted in a final prototype including four interventions: (i) promotion of patient-centred care; (ii) awards and recognition for nurses; (iii) strengthening complaints mechanisms and (iv) disciplinary measures for abusive nurses and clients. The lessons learnt have been shared through publications and institutional research meetings. Conclusions: HCD approach provides a novel entry point for providers and clients to examine the problems and design interventions for strengthening their therapeutic relationships in MCH care. Researchers, practitioners, and policy developers are welcome to consider the emerging prototype as it was deemed acceptable and potentially feasible in rural African contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: COVID-19 has spread worldwide. Older adults are at the greatest risk of contracting and dying from the virus. Nursing homes are densely populated places for older adults who are generally vulnerable and at high-risk. Although Chinese nursing homes have been trying to protect their residents, the needs and expectations of the residents and their families have been ignored. This study aimed to promote the safety of NH residents, including their physical and psychological safety, and to meet their expectations during the COVID-19 pandemic in China. Methods: Data were collected through face-to-face semi-structured interviews with nursing home residents and focus group online interviews with family members between June 2021 and February 2022. Data analysis was performed using inductive content analysis. Results: 16 residents and 24 family members were interviewed. Four themes with 10 sub-themes were identified from the participants' descriptions. Their expectations were mainly focused on prevention and control measures for COVID-19, medical capacity of nursing homes, health literacy and expectations for some aged care policies. Conclusions: In the face of concerns about the impact of COVID-19 on nursing homes, we sought to bring firsthand perspectives to the forefront by interviewing residents and their family members about their expectations for safety to address this issue. Our findings provide important areas on which should be focused and may improve the sense of gain, happiness, and security of nursing home residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and related public health measures added a new dynamic to the relationship between caregivers and care staff in congregate care settings. While both caregivers and staff play an important role in resident quality of life and care, it is common for conflict to exist between them. These issues were amplified by pandemic restrictions, impacting not only caregivers and care staff, but also residents. While research has explored the relationship between caregivers and care staff in long-term care and assisted living homes, much of the research has focused on the caregiver perspective. Our objective was to explore the impact of COVID-19-related public health measures on caregiver-staff relationships from the perspective of staff in long-term care and assisted living homes. Methods: We conducted 9 focus groups and 2 semi-structured interviews via videoconference. Results: We identified four themes related to caregiver-staff relationships: (1) pressure from caregivers, (2) caregiver-staff conflict, (3) support from caregivers, and (4) staff supporting caregivers. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted long-standing relationships between caregivers and care staff, negatively impacting care staff, caregivers, and residents. However, staff also reported encouraging examples of successful collaboration and support from caregivers. Learning from these promising practices will be critical to improving preparedness for future public health crises, as well as quality of resident care and life in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Substantial mass migrations to the Scandinavian countries have made them heterogeneous and multicultural societies. Migration has also influenced the workforce, especially the healthcare system that has had to accommodate a culturally diverse population. This qualitative study aimed to explore nurses' experiences in caring for patients with an ethnic minority background. Methods: Focus group interviews with a total of 21 nurses were conducted. Thematic analysis was performed on the transcribed and translated interviews. Results: The findings of this study revealed three major themes: various experiences concerning language barriers and the use of interpreters, the impact of religious and cultural values, and caring for patients with an ethnic minority background is professionally interesting but demanding. Conclusions: Caring for culturally diverse patients offers both challenges and opportunities to enhance cultural competence and cultural sensitivity among nurses. Various culturally divergent needs of patients such as family visits, food preferences, expression of pain, and gender sensitivity are interlinked and depend on effective communication during encounters with nurses and the healthcare system at large. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Safe medication management for older adults after hospital discharge requires a well-coordinated, interprofessional, patient-centered approach. This study aimed to describe the perceived needs for collaborative medication management for older adults taking several different medications at home after hospital discharge. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with older adults (n = 28), informal (n = 17), and professional caregivers (n = 13). Results: Findings revealed four main needs: older adults and informal caregivers' perceived needs for greater involvement in discharge planning; older adults' perceived needs to be informed, listened to, and to be actively involved in decision-making; informal caregivers' perceived needs for help in supporting and coordinating medication management; and older adults' and informal and professional caregivers' perceived needs for better communication and coordination between professional caregivers. Conclusion: This study revealed two underutilized pathways towards improving collaborative medication management: medication follow-up involving a community healthcare professional taking an overarching responsibility and empowering older adults and their informal caregivers in medication management after hospital discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Improving understanding about dementia in nursing is a priority area for educators and policymakers. This is due to poor professional understanding about dementia and suboptimal healthcare practice. While many educational interventions exist, there has been a paucity of research which has considered the use of artist-produced photobooks to improve knowledge and understanding about dementia. The aim of this study is to understand the impact of an artist-produced photobook on nurses' attitudes and beliefs about dementia. Results: Following a thematic analysis of four focus group interviews with 22 nurses and nursing students from Northern Ireland, three themes emerged. Theme one was about how the artist-produced photobook helped participants to humanise the person living with dementia. Theme two related to how the artist-produced photobook supported participants to actively construct their own meanings about dementia based on their previous professional and personal experiences. Theme three explored how an artist-produced photobook could be successfully used to complement existing dementia education in the future. Conclusions: Using an artist-produced photobook was an innovative way to learn about dementia for nurses and nursing students. The photobook functioned as a tool underpinned by arts-based pedagogy (ABP), supporting nurses to understand the person behind the dementia disease. As such, an artist-produced photobook has the potential to be a useful complementary resource for supporting professional education about dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Task-shifting, the distribution of tasks among health workers to address health workforce shortage, has been widely used to tackle mental health treatment gaps. However, its implementation in Indonesia has still been rarely explored. This study aimed to explore stakeholders' perspectives on the implementation of mental health task-shifting to nurses in Indonesia's primary health care. Methods: An exploratory descriptive approach using in-depth interviews and focused group discussions (FGDs) was used. The study involved 19 stakeholders from the government's ministry directorates, professional organisations, and mental health practitioners. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: Three themes emerged namely, task-shifting feasibility and acceptability, shared task implementation, and nurse role enhancement issues, with 14 sub-themes. Conclusions: Task-shifting on mental health issues in the eye of Indonesian stakeholders is viewed as a matter of sharing and collaboration. Implementation of task-shifting in Indonesia may require policies in place and political will across stakeholders. Further scrutiny on task-shifting implementation is needed by considering the local context and national environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The time that nurses spent on documentation can be substantial and burdensome. To date it was unknown if documentation activities are related to the workload that nurses perceive. A distinction between clinical documentation and organizational documentation seems relevant. This study aims to gain insight into community nurses' views on a potential relationship between their clinical and organizational documentation activities and their perceived nursing workload. Methods: A convergent mixed-methods design was used. A quantitative survey was completed by 195 Dutch community nurses and a further 28 community nurses participated in qualitative focus groups. For the survey an online questionnaire was used. Descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon signed-ranked tests, Spearman's rank correlations and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used to analyse the survey data. Next, four qualitative focus groups were conducted in an iterative process of data collection - data analysis - more data collection, until data saturation was reached. In the qualitative analysis, the six steps of thematic analysis were followed. Results: The majority of the community nurses perceived a high workload due to documentation activities. Although survey data showed that nurses estimated that they spent twice as much time on clinical documentation as on organizational documentation, the workload they perceived from these two types of documentation was comparable. Focus-group participants found organizational documentation particularly redundant. Furthermore, the survey indicated that a perceived high workload was not related to actual time spent on clinical documentation, while actual time spent on organizational documentation was related to the perceived workload. In addition, the survey showed no associations between community nurses' perceived workload and the user-friendliness of electronic health records. Yet focus-group participants did point towards the impact of limited user-friendliness on their perceived workload. Lastly, there was no association between the perceived workload and whether the nursing process was central in the electronic health records. Conclusions: Community nurses often perceive a high workload due to clinical and organizational documentation activities. Decreasing the time nurses have to spend specifically on organizational documentation and improving the user-friendliness and intercommunicability of electronic health records appear to be important ways of reducing the workload that community nurses perceive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A renewed interest in nursing homes as clinical placement settings for nursing students has been prompted by the growing healthcare needs of an ageing population. However, if future nurses are to be enthusiastic about working in this healthcare context, it is essential that higher education institutions that educate nurses and nursing homes that provide placement experiences to students do so with a supportive, positive, and enriched approach. Methods: To explore first-year nursing students' placement experience in nursing homes, we conducted an exploratory qualitative study in three city-based nursing homes in western Norway. Thirteen first-year nursing students participated in the study. Three focus group interviews were conducted to explore the students' placement experiences. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings were reported using the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR). Results: The analysis describes five themes relating to first-year students' placement experience in nursing homes; (1) variations in utility of pre-placement orientation and welcome at placement site; (2) a challenging learning environment; (3) spending considerable placement time with non-registered nurses; (4) considerable variability in supervision practices; and (5) a vulnerable and demanding student role. Conclusions: The research provides insight into the contextual characteristics encountered by first-year students that influence the quality of their placement experiences. Consequently, these characteristics impede access to important role models who lend support to a student's growth and professional development, preventing full utilisation of the learning potential offered in nursing homes. Hence, we propose that targeted efforts are warranted to foster positive placement experiences and enhance students' clinical education in nursing homes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inadequate health human resources is a key challenge to advancing child survival in Ghana. Nurses are an essential human resource to target because they represent the largest portion of the health workforce. Building on lessons learned from our pilot pediatric nurse training project and World Health Organization guidelines for transforming and scaling up health professional education, this project aimed to; train 500 pediatric nurse specialists through a one-year training program; develop and integrate a critical mass of pediatric nursing faculty and establish a national standardized pediatric nursing curriculum. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a national pediatric nurse training program in Ghana at the end of 4 years, including eight cohorts with 330 graduates. Methods: This was a mixed-method evaluation with surveys, focus groups and a pre-test/post-test design. Before and after surveys were used to measure knowledge and confidence at baseline and graduation. Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE) were used to measure clinical skills at baseline, graduation, and 14 months follow-up. At the end of every module, surveys were used to measure students' satisfaction. Focus groups at graduation qualitatively measured program outcomes. Repeat focus groups and surveys at 14 months after graduation captured the graduates' career progress, experiences reintegrating into the health system and long-term program outcomes. Results: Overall, the graduates completed the program with significantly increased knowledge, confidence, and clinical skills. They also had increased job satisfaction and were able to apply what they learned to their jobs, including leadership skills and gender-sensitive care. Data from 14-month follow-up OSCEs showed that all graduates remained competent in communication, physical assessment, and emergency care, although some obtained a lower mark compared to their performance at graduation. This finding is linked with the observation that the amount of mentorship, support from leadership and equipment that the graduates accessed from their respective facilities varied. Conclusions: Mixed-methods evaluations demonstrated significant increases in knowledge confidence and skills by completing the program and maintenance of skills more than 1 year after graduation. Findings have implications for those working on the design, implementation, and evaluation of nursing education interventions in low- and middle-income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: People living with dementia in nursing homes are most likely to be restrained. The primary aim of this mixed-method education intervention study was to investigate which factors hindered or facilitated staff awareness related to confidence building initiatives based on person-centred care, as an alternative to restraint in residents with dementia in nursing homes. The education intervention, consisting of a two-day seminar and monthly coaching sessions for six months, targeted nursing staff in 24 nursing homes in Western Norway. The present article reports on staff-related data from the study. Methods: We employed a mixed-method design combining quantitative and qualitative methods. The P-CAT (Person-centred Care Assessment Tool) and QPS-Nordic (The General Nordic questionnaire for psychological and social factors at work) instruments were used to measure staff effects in terms of person-centred care and perception of leadership. The qualitative data were collected through ethnographic fieldwork, qualitative interviews and analysis of 84 reflection notes from eight persons in the four teams who facilitated the intervention. The PARIHS (Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services) theoretical framework informed the study design and the data analysis. Six nursing homes were selected for ethnographic study post-intervention. Results: Qualitative data indicated increased staff awareness related to using restraint - or not- in the context of person-centered care. A slight increase in P-CAT supported these findings. Thirteen percent of the P-CAT variation was explained by institutional belonging. Qualitative data indicated that whether shared decisions of alternative measures to restraint were applied was a function of dynamic interplay between facilitation and contextual elements. In this connection, the role of the nursing home leaders appeared to be a pivotal element promoting or hindering person-centered care. However, leadership-staff relations varied substantially across individual institutions, as did staff awareness related to restraint and person-centeredness. Conclusions: Leadership, in interplay with staff culture, turned out to be the most important factor hindering or promoting staff awareness related to confidence building initiatives, based on person-centered care. While quantitative data indicated variations across institutions and the extent of this variation, qualitative data offered insight into the local processes involved. A mixed method approach enabled understanding of dynamic contextual relationships. Trial registration: The trial is registered at Clinical Trials gov. reg. 2012/304 NCT01715506. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nutritional care is a basic human right for all people. Nevertheless, undernourishment is known to be a frequent and serious health care problem among elderly hospitalized patients in Western Europe. Nutritional documentation contributes to ensuring proper nutritional treatment and care. Only a few studies have explored how nurses document nutritional care in hospitals, and between hospitals and nursing homes. Available research suggests that documentation practices are unsatisfactory. The aim of this study was to explore how nurses document nutritional treatment and care for elderly patients in hospitals and how nurses and undergraduate nurses communicate information about patients' nutritional status when elderly patients are transferred between hospital and nursing homes. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using a phenomenological-hermeneutic approach. Data was collected in focus group interviews with 16 nurses in one large university hospital, and 11 nurses and 16 undergraduate nurses in five nursing homes associated with the university hospital. Participants from the university hospital represented a total of seven surgical and medical wards, all of which transferred patients to the associated nursing homes. The catchment area of the hospital and the nursing homes represented approximately 10% of the Norwegian population in heterogenic urban and rural municipalities. Data were coded and analysed thematically within the three contexts: self-understanding, critical common sense, and theoretical understanding. Results: The results were summarized under three main themes 1) inadequate documentation of nutritional status on hospital admission, 2) inadequate and unsystematic documentation of nutritional information during hospital stay, 3) limited communication of nutritional information between hospital and nursing homes. The three main themes included seven sub-themes, which reflected the lack of nutritional screening and unsystematic documentation on admission and during hospital stay. Further the sub-themes elucidated poor exchange of information between hospital and nursing homes regarding the nutritional status of patients. Conclusion: Overall, the documentation of nutritional treatment and care for elderly patients was inadequate in the hospital and between health care settings. Inappropriate documentation can create a negative nutritional spiral that leads to increased risk of severe health related complications for elderly patients. Moreover, it hinders nutritional follow-up across health care settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Nurses in Sweden have a high absence due to illness and many retire before the age of sixty. Factors at work as well as in private life may contribute to health problems. To maintain a healthy work–force there is a need for actions on work-life balance in a salutogenic perspective. The aim of this study was to explore perceptions of resources in everyday life to balance work and private life among nurses in home help service. Methods. Thirteen semi-structured individual interviews and two focus group interviews were conducted with home help service nurses in Sweden. A qualitative content analysis was used for the analyses. Result. In the analyses, six themes of perceptions of recourses in everyday life emerged; (i) Reflecting on life. (ii) Being healthy and taking care of yourself. (iii) Having a meaningful job and a supportive work climate. (iv) Working shifts and part time. (v) Having a family and a supporting network. (vi) Making your home your castle. Conclusions. The result points out the complexity of work-life balance and support that the need for nurses to balance everyday life differs during different phases and transitions in life. In this salutogenic study, the result differs from studies with a pathogenic approach. Shift work and part time work were seen as two resources that contributed to flexibility and a prerequisite to work-life balance. To have time and energy for both private life and work was seen as essential. To reflect on and discuss life gave inner strength to set boundaries and to prioritize both in private life and in work life. Managers in nursing contexts have a great challenge to maintain and strengthen resources which enhance the work-life balance and health of nurses. Salutogenic research is needed to gain an understanding of resources that enhance work-life balance and health in nursing contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Globally, the burden of tuberculosis or human immunodeficiency virus (TB/HIV) is at 24% and this alarming rate compelled the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare the African region as a critical workforce shortage area. To facilitate adherence to treatment guidelines, WHO recommended a strategy of task shifting for countries with high health workforce shortages. The strategy aimed at the redistribution of health care tasks to available workers. The study aimed to determine the factors facilitating nurse-initiated management of antiretroviral therapy (NIMART) trained nurses' adherence to TB/HIV treatment guidelines. Methods: The study employed an exploratory-descriptive design. The study was conducted in Ugu and Ngaka Modiri Molema Districts of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and North West (NW) Provinces of South Africa. The population comprised of 24 participants who were purposively selected. The in-depth focus group discussions were conducted and ATLAS T.I. was used for data analysis following the basic steps of notice-collect-think (NCT) analysis. Trustworthiness and adherence to ethics were ensured. Results: The singular theme of factors facilitating NIMART trained nurses' adherence to treatment guidelines which included positive attitudinal needs and positive behavioural change emerged from raw data. Conclusion: Continuous training, support supervision, and improved relationships with colleagues need to be enhanced to enable NIMART trained nurses to adhere to treatment guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]