Search

Background: Nurses' core competency directly affects patients' safety and health outcomes. Gerontological nurse specialists play an essential role in improving older adults' health status. However, little is known about their core competency level and the factors influencing core competency. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the status of core competency and factors influencing the core competency of gerontological nurse specialists in China. Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted on gerontological nurse specialists certified by province-level or above organizations across China between March 2019 and January 2020. The Revised Core Competency Evaluation Instrument for Gerontological Nurse Specialists was used to measure participants' core competency. The median, frequencies, and percentages were used to describe participants' characteristics and level of core competency. Multivariate stepwise regression analysis was applied to analyze the factors influencing core competency. Results: The median score of gerontological nurse specialists' core competency was 3.84, and professional development skills and research and analysis decision-making skills had the lowest scores among the dimensions. The multivariate stepwise regression analysis showed that individual-level factors (i.e., working experience length of geriatric nursing and attitudes toward caring for older adults), employer-level factors (i.e., departments, job responsibilities, the degree of satisfaction toward the attention and support and the promotion rules provided by the hospital or department), and training-associated factors (i.e., economic zone where training organizations are located and the degree to which the training content met clinical needs) are independently associated with gerontological nurse specialists' core competency level (P < 0.05). Conclusions: This study showed that gerontological nurse specialists' core competency needs further improvements, especially regarding professional development skills and research and analysis decision-making skills. Additionally, individual-, training-, and employer-level factors could influence their core competency level, indicating that interventions targeting these factors could be applied to improve the core competency of gerontological nurse specialists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim(s): To construct structural equation models to test the mediating role of emotional intelligence in the relationship between mindfulness and occupational burnout. Background: Reports assessing the relationships among mindfulness, emotional intelligence and burnout, specifically in ICU nurses, are scarce. Methods: This was a descriptive, correlational, cross‐sectional research design with 883 ICU nurses enrolled by convenience sampling from 29 ICUs in seven tertiary hospitals in urban areas of Chengdu, China. Mediation analysis was performed by structural equation modelling. Indirect effects were evaluated through bootstrapping. Results: The associations among mindfulness, emotional intelligence, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal accomplishment were all significant (p <.001). In the mediation models, emotional intelligence partially mediates the relationships between mindfulness and emotional exhaustion (indirect effect 0.118, p =.006; direct effect −0.374, p =.010; total effect −0.492, p =.011) and between mindfulness and depersonalization (indirect effect −0.182, p =.006; direct effect −0.452, p =.015; total effect −0.633, p =.018). Emotional intelligence plays a total mediating role between mindfulness and personal accomplishment (indirect effect 0.293, p =.004; direct effect 0.119, p =.053). Conclusions: The results suggest that nursing manager could implement mindfulness training to improve occupational burnout in ICU nurses. Implications for Nursing Management: Nursing managers could help create a more favourable working environment by providing mindfulness training. Such mindfulness training could help improve nursing quality, reduce errors and ensure patient safety, possibly improving patient prognosis and probably satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To examine the mediating effect of general self-efficacy on the relationship between the source of meaning in life (SML) and prosocial behaviours in vocational college nursing students. Methods: Between March and June 2019, a cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted, and 799 nursing students from three vocational colleges completed the Source of Meaning in Life Scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale and Prosocial Behaviours Scale. Data were analyzed using structural equation modelling and statistical analysis by SPSS (version 23.0, IBM). Results: The average SML, general self-efficacy and prosocial behaviours scores of the 799 nursing students were 6.43±0.83, 2.48±0.59 and 3.69±0.62, respectively. Correlation analysis showed that SML, general self-efficacy and prosocial behaviours were positively correlated (P<0.01). General self-efficacy partially mediated the relationship between SML and prosocial behaviours (P<0.01); this mediating effect contributed 22.97% of the total effect and explained 17.6% of the variance in the dependent variable. Conclusions: Educators should focus on cultivating nursing students' cognition and experience of meaning in life and their efficacy in life, study and work, which can improve students' "people-oriented" service and prosocial behaviour and the quality of nursing services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: General self-efficacy is considered one of the most influential parameters affecting the quality of clinical practice and nurses' perceived professional benefits (NPPB). Perceived organizational support (POS) is regarded as being central in understanding job-related attitudes, and it is important to enhance POS for nurses to maintain their current employment. NPPB can further reduce nurses' job burnout and turn-over intention. Many studies have explored the relationships among general self-efficacy, POS, nursing practice environment (NPE) and NPPB. However, a moderating effect of NPE has not been fully explored in nurses, especially among paediatric nurses.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from July to October 2018 with 300 paediatric nurses from 3 Class A tertiary hospitals in Jilin Province. The respondents completed the General Self-Efficacy Scale, Perceived Organizational Support Scale, Practice Environment Scale and Nurses' Perceived Professional Benefits Scale. The data were analyzed using path analysis and SPSS (version 23.0, IBM).Results: General self-efficacy and POS were significantly positively associated with NPPB, which showed that the model had a good fit to the data. NPE was found to play a partial mediating role between POS and NPPB and also had a complete mediating role between general self-efficacy and NPPB.Conclusions: The results suggest that general self-efficacy indirectly influences NPPB, and POS directly and indirectly influences NPPB by NPE. Effective measures should be taken to improve nurses' practice environment in hospitals to raise nurses' enthusiasm and confidence in their work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nursing students from vocational college programs contribute to over 60% of the nursing student population in China. However, there remains a lack of systematic, quantitative studies examining the prevalence of mental health problems in this population. The purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms and associated factors in vocational college nursing students in Sichuan, China. A total of 554 nursing students from vocational colleges participated in this cross-sectional study. Outcomes were measured with the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale 21 (DASS 21). Logistic regressions analysis was performed to examine correlates of mental health problems. The prevalence rates of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms among vocational college nursing students in China were 28.7% (95% CI 24.9%–32.5%), 41.7% (95% CI 37.6%–45.9%) and 20.2% (95% CI 16.8%–23.6%). Mental health problems were elevated as compared to a reference population of Chinese college students of all majors. However, only two percent indicated to seek treatment. The most consistent correlates of mental health problems were reduced engagement in physical and other leisure activities, poor sleep quality, experience of negative life events and poor self-perceived mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to examine the independent associations of each individual physical performance measure (i.e., grip strength, walking speed, repeated chair stands, and balance test) with subdomains of cognitive function and to determine predictors for each subdomain of cognitive function. A secondary data analysis was performed using a nationally representative middle-aged and older sample of hypertensive population. The findings showed that after adding all four physical performance measures, stronger grip strength was significantly associated with better visuospatial abilities, episodic memory, orientation/attention, and overall cognitive function. In addition, faster walking speed and faster repeated chair stands were strongly associated with better episodic memory and overall cognitive function, respectively. Because grip strength was significantly associated with several subdomains of cognitive functioning, it seems conceivable that increasing physical activity would improve both grip strength and cognitive function in patients with hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the status of caregiver burden and identified the factors related to caregiver burden among family caregivers of patients with heart failure in southwest China. A cross-sectional descriptive design with a convenience sample was adopted. Patient and family caregiver dyads ( n = 226) in four hospitals in Chengdu, China were recruited from June 2013 to July 2014. The instruments used in this study included the Social Support Rating Scale, the Zarit Burden Interview, and the General Self-Efficacy Scale. Multivariate analysis was used to identify the factors associated with caregiver burden. Forty-four percent of the variance of the caregiver burden was explained by the payment type for treatment, monthly family income, relationship to the patient, caregivers' self-efficacy, and social support. The caregiver burden in southwest China was higher than studies conducted in developed areas. Specific to southwest China, the financial burden and insufficient resources are the main factors associated with caregiver burden. The results suggest that self-efficacy and social support in underdeveloped areas are potential areas for future intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives To examine the associations among professional self-concept, organisational commitment and burnout, and to analyse the mediating role of organisational commitment on the relationship between professional self-concept and burnout among community health nurses in Chengdu, China. Background Previous studies have focused on work environmental variables that contributed to burnout in nurses. However, no study has explored the mediating effect of organisational commitment on the correlation between professional self-concept and burnout in community health nurses. Design A cross-sectional descriptive study. Methods This study was conducted at 36 community health centres in Chengdu, China with 485 nurses sampled using a two-stage sampling method. The measures used in our study included Nurses' Self-concept Questionnaire, Organisational Commitment Scale and Maslach Burnout Inventory. Results The results of structural equation model techniques indicated that, in the direct approach, positive professional self-concept resulted in increased organisational commitment and reduced burnout. Higher organisational commitment resulted in less burnout. In the indirect approach, organisational commitment performed as a partial mediator on the correlation between professional self-concept and burnout. Conclusions Positive perception of professional self-concept can result in reduced burnout via enhancing organisational commitment. Relevance to clinical practice It is crucial for nursing administrators to develop effective intervention strategies such as skills escalator training and assertive training, and establishing a supportive working environment to enhance nurses' professional self-concept and organisational commitment, and decrease burnout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To investigate the current situation regarding the activities of daily living (ADL) of older adults living at home in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China and to analyze the associated factors of ADL performance so that we can provide references for the implementation of pension policies and long-term care insurance of older adults living at home.Methods: We surveyed a total of 1040 older adults who live at home and receive home-based care in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region by a face-to-face evaluation. A logistic regression model was used to analyze the factors associated with ADL performance.Results: In the study, 82.79% of the older adults living at home can live independently. A total of 11.92% of the older adults have mild dysfunction, 4.33% have moderate dysfunction, and 0.96% have severe dysfunction. Multiple logistic analyses indicated that older adults with very difficult economic conditions (OR 3.212; 95% CI(1.209-8.534)) and without a spouse (OR 1.616; 95% CI(1.098-2.377)) were significantly associated with ADL limitations. In addition, the risks of ADL limitations in older adults aged 60-69 years and 70-79 years were 0.187 and 0.4307 times, respectively, that of older adults over 80 years old. The risk of ADL limitations in older adults of the Han nationality was 0.605 times that of the minority population. More highly educated and older adults without diseases have a lower risk of ADL limitations.Conclusions: Compared with the national average in China, the number of ADL limitations of older adults in Ningxia is greater and is associated with advanced age, ethnic minority status, low education level, low income, lacking a spouse and having diseases. As the number of older adults increases, maintaining and improving their ability to perform ADL and providing comfortable pension services and health services urgently need to be solved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]