Search

The prevalence of chronic diseases (such as diabetes, obesity, cancer, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) continues to increase among patients with mental illness. This cross-sectional study investigated the factors affecting nurses' views on the provision of physical healthcare to patients with comorbid mental illness and chronic disease. In total, 369 nurses working in mental health were assessed for the physical healthcare attitudes and practices using the Physical Health Attitude Scale for Mental Health Nurses. The results of generalized linear modelling indicated that nurses' involvement in physical healthcare was associated with psychiatric mental health nurse credentials (B = 1.560, 95% CI = 0.292-2.828, P = 0.016) and their confidence in delivering physical healthcare was associated with prior physical healthcare training (B = 0.639, 95% CI = 0.104-1.174, P = 0.019). In addition, the frequency with which the nurses engaged in physical healthcare practices was associated with working in a community unit (B = -7.416, 95% CI = -9.652 to -5.180, P < 0.001), involvement in physical healthcare (B = 0.349, 95% CI = 0.162-0.535, P < 0.001), and confidence in delivering physical healthcare (B = 1.148, 95% CI = 0.776-1.519, P < 0.001). Our findings suggest that interventions aiming to help nurses assess and improve their own physical healthcare practices should consider nurses' background and patients' physical health needs in various settings and focus on cultivating an organizational culture that gives nurses confidence in providing physical healthcare., (© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

Although rotating shifts have a negative health impact, their association with hospital nurses’ health risks remains controversial due to incomplete adjustment in lifestyle patterns and heterogeneity of work schedules. However, whether work schedule characteristics are associated with lifestyle patterns and perceived stress remains undetermined. We assessed the correlations of work schedule characteristics, lifestyle patterns, and perceived stress among hospital nurses. This cross-sectional study included 340 nurses from two hospitals. Final data from 329 nurses regarding work schedule characteristics, lifestyle patterns (physical activity, dietary behavior, and sleep pattern), and perceived stress were analyzed via linear regression models. Fixed-day-shift nurses had reduced perceived stress (β = 0.15, p = 0.007) compared with rotating-shift nurses. Additionally, among rotating-shift nurses, fixed-evening- and fixed-night-shift nurses had longer sleep duration (β = 0.27, p < 0.001; β = 0.25, p < 0.001) compared to non-fixed-rotating-shift nurses. Longer rotating-shift work was associated with healthier dietary behaviors (β = 0.15, p = 0.008), better sleep quality (β = −0.17, p = 0.003), lower perceived stress (β = −0.24, p < 0.001), and shorter sleep duration (β = −0.17, p = 0.003). Hospital nurses’ work schedule characteristics were associated with lifestyle patterns, dietary behavior, sleep pattern, and perceived stress. Fixed-shifts were beneficial for lifestyle and lower perceived stress. Longer rotating shifts could help nurses adjust their lifestyles accordingly.

Background: In the context of professional nursing, the concept of job satisfaction includes the degree to which a nurse is satisfied with the nursing profession, his/her personal adaptation to this profession, and his/her current working environment. No validated scale that addresses the job satisfaction of nurses working in hospitals currently exists in Taiwan., Purpose: To develop a reliable and validated scale for measuring the job satisfaction of hospital nurses in Taiwan., Methods: A three-phase, cross-sectional study design was used. First, a literature review and expert focus group discussion were conducted to develop the initial scale items. Second, experts were invited to validate the content of the draft scale. Finally, convenience sampling was used to recruit 427 hospital nurses from 6 hospitals. These nurses completed the scale and the results were analyzed using item analysis, factor analysis, and internal consistency analysis., Results: The 31-item Taiwanese hospital nurse job satisfaction scale developed in the present study addresses 5 factors, including supportive working environment, professional autonomy and growth, interpersonal interaction and collaboration, leadership style, and nursing workload. The overall Cronbach's α was .96. The results indicate that the developed scale provides good reliability and validity., Conclusions / Implications for Practice: This study confirms the validity and reliability of the developed scale. It may be used to measure the job satisfaction of nurses working in hospitals.

Background: Taiwan's Department of Health (DOH) promotes a standardized 2-year training program to raise the competence of newly certified nurses in the realms of patient care, nursing professionalism and communication skills as well as to ensure professional nurse training program quality., Purpose: This study evaluated training program participants' self-perception of nursing competency., Method: We used a cross-sectional approach and structured questionnaire to evaluate the nursing competency of 128 nurse trainees at a medical center. Questionnaires were filled out independently by participants and thus reflect participant self-assessments of questionnaire items. Descriptive and correlation analyses further explored data., Result: Results showed: mean scores were 3.80 ± .60 for clinical technique; 3.78 ± .67 for administrative skill; and 3.21 ± .88 for educational and research skills . Nursing ability correlated significantly with age, seniority, nursing grade, and courses taken. The relationship between participant total score and program completion ratio formed a "V"-shaped distribution., Conclusions / Implications for Practice: The DOH training program was has a positive effect on nursing competency in nurse trainees. Results also provide valuable information and suggestions for revising the DOH's nurse training program in the future.

Aim and Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to design a preceptorship programme and to evaluate its effects on turnover rate, turnover cost, quality of care and professional development., Background: A high turnover rate of nurses is a common global problem. How to improve nurses' willingness to stay in their jobs and reduce the high turnover rate has become a focus. Well-designed preceptorship programmes could possibly decrease turnover rates and improve professional development., Design: A quasi-experimental research design was used., Methods: First, a preceptorship programme was designed to establish the role and responsibilities of preceptors in instructing new nurses. Second, a quasi-experimental design was used to evaluate the preceptorship programme. Data on new nurses' turnover rate, turnover cost, quality of nursing care, satisfaction of preceptor's teaching and preceptor's perception were measured., Results: After conducting the preceptorship programme, the turnover rate was 46.5% less than the previous year. The turnover cost was decreased by US$186,102. Additionally, medication error rates made by new nurses dropped from 50-0% and incident rates of adverse events and falls decreased. All new nurses were satisfied with preceptor guidance., Conclusions: The preceptorship programme effectively lowered the turnover rate of new nurses, reduced turnover costs and enhanced the quality of nursing care, especially by reducing medication error incidents. Positive feedback about the programme was received from new nurses., Relevance to Clinical Practice: Study findings may offer healthcare administrators another option for retaining new nurses, controlling costs, improving quality and fostering professional development. In addition, incentives and effective support from the organisation must be considered when preceptors perform preceptorship responsibilities.

Sleep is a basic human need. A good night's sleep shapes our physical and mental health. Female nurses experience particularly complex sleep disturbance problems because of after working rotating shifts, as well as because of the effects of the female reproductive hormones. Both issues present a challenge to the understanding of female nurses' sleep. This paper summarizes the existing knowledge about sleep in women, including shift workers in relation to their reproductive status, and introduces practical sleep hygiene concepts and strategies for female nurses.

Objectives: To examine the mechanisms of coping strategies on nurses' psychological well‐being, practice environments and safety attitudes. Methods: A cross‐sectional study design was used. Structural equation modeling was performed to analyze the results. Five hundred clinical nurses were randomly selected from a large group of 1,500 from a medical center with 1,350 beds in Taipei, Taiwan, from July to October 2015. Self‐report questionnaires were administered to measure coping strategies (Brief COPE), psychological well‐being (Ryff's Psychological Well‐being Scale), nurses' practice environments (Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index), and safety attitudes (Safety Attitudes Questionnaire). Results: Of the 500 participants who gave written consent, 474 (94.8%) filled out the questionnaire. Results showed that using more approach‐oriented coping strategies and fewer avoidant coping strategies was associated with greater psychological well‐being. Psychological well‐being was directly associated with quality of nurses' practice environments and safety attitudes. The impact of psychological well‐being on safety attitudes was mediated significantly by the quality of the practice environment. The use of approach‐oriented coping strategies was significantly predictive of positive psychological well‐being, a good practice environment, and good safety attitudes. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: This study found a distinct pathway for the relationships between clinical nurses' psychological well‐being, practice environment, and safety attitudes. Psychological well‐being in clinical nurses was higher for those with more approach‐oriented coping strategies. Psychological well‐being directly impacted safety attitudes, which mediated nurses' practice environments. The practical implications of the results suggest that interventions designed to promote positive psychological well‐being may help improve nurses' practice environments, which, in turn, may result in better safety attitudes and nursing care outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Because patients in disaster areas require the most critical care, mobilising hospital nurses has become a pivotal strategy. Given the importance of disaster nursing training programmes, understanding how well prepared hospital nurses are to provide disaster care is vital. Objectives This paper analyses the perceived readiness of hospital nurses for a disaster response and the factors influencing their report for work outside the hospital environment. Design A cross-sectional research design was used. Settings This study was conducted at a military hospital in Taiwan. Participants A sample of 311 registered nurses participated in this study. Methods Data were collected on readiness for disaster responses using a 40-item researcher-designed, self-administered questionnaire found to have satisfactory reliability and validity. The questionnaire has four domains: personal preparation (16 items), self-protection (11 items), emergency response (6 items), and clinical management (7 items). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, independent t -tests and generalised linear models. Results The majority of hospital nurses demonstrated poor readiness for disaster responses. Scores on the four domains were most associated with nurses' disaster-related training, experience in disaster response and emergency/intensive care experience. Conclusions Our results indicate that disaster-related training should be included in undergraduate programmes and continuing education courses to help hospital nurses recognise and improve their own readiness for disaster responses outside the hospital environment. Future research is needed to improve hospital nurses' disaster-response readiness in Taiwan and other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

itle. Sleep quality and quality of life in female shift-working nurses. Aim. This paper is a report of a study of the factors that influence sleep quality and quality of life among shift-working nurses and the relationship between their sleep quality and quality of life. Background. Although shift-working nurses strive to adapt their life schedules to shift rotations, they tend to suffer from severe sleep disturbances and increased rates of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, digestive disease and irregular menstrual cycles. Poor sleep is also associated with medical errors and occupational injuries. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2008 with a convenience sample of 435 female nurses from five regional hospitals in Taiwan. Data were collected on sleep quality and quality of life using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument-BREF Taiwan version respectively. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, analysis of variance and Pearson correlations. Findings. The majority of female shift workers (57%) had global sleep-quality scores ≥5, indicating poor sleep and all mean scores in four domains of the quality-of-life measure were statistically significantly lower than those of females in Taiwan’s general population. Scores for poor sleep quality and quality of life were related to premenstrual dysphoria, occupational injury, illness and medication use. In addition, the associations between scores on the sleep-quality and quality-of-life scales were statistically significantly inversely correlated. Conclusion. Advice should be included in both undergraduate programmes and continuing education to help nurses to recognize and improve their own sleep quality and life quality managers should create a supportive environment to encourage shift-working nurses to engage in healthy behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Lifestyle modification is often difficult for middle-aged and older women living in the community who are at high risk of physical inactivity and metabolic syndrome. Objectives To examine the effects of telephone-based motivational interviewing in a 12-week lifestyle modification program on physical activity, MetS, metabolic risks (fasting plasma glucose, blood pressure, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, and central obesity), and the number of metabolic risks in community-living middle-aged and older women diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. Research design and method A randomized controlled trial was conducted. Recruited were 328 middle-aged and older women from a community health center in Taiwan. Eligible women medically diagnosed with metabolic syndrome ( n = 115) were randomly assigned to one of three groups: The experimental group received an individualized telephone delivered lifestyle modification program that included motivational interviewing delivered by an experienced nurse. The brief group received a single brief lifestyle modification counseling session with a brochure. The usual care group received standard care. Physical activity was assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and metabolic risks were determined by serum markers and anthropometric measures at pre- and post-intervention. One hundred women completed the study and an intention-to-treat analysis was performed. Generalized estimating equations were used to examine the intervention effects. Results Women in the experimental group increased physical activity from 1609 to 1892 MET-min/week ( β = 846, p = .01), reduced the percentage of diagnosed with metabolic syndrome to 81.6% ( β = −0.17, p = .003), and decreased the number of metabolic risks from 4.0 to 3.6 ( β = −0.50, p < .001), compared to the usual care group (4.4–4.6). There was not a reduction in the percentage of diagnosed with metabolic syndrome in the brief group, but they had fewer metabolic risks after 12 weeks (mean = 4.0 vs. 4.6, β = −0.2, p = .02) compared to the usual care group. Conclusions Motivational interviewing as a component of an individualized physical activity and lifestyle modification program has positive benefit in reducing metabolic risks in middle-aged and older women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]