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Analysis of student journals examined the effect intergenerational service-learning had upon undergraduate students' attitudes and perceptions of older adults. Students (N = 102) engaged in 12 hours of service-learning with older adults that included writing structured reflection journals. Coding involved open, axial, and selective coding with common themes identified from the journals. Results revealed a positive attitude shift toward older adults over the course of the semester, greater comfort with the idea of aging, and a propensity to describe the experience as being personally and professionally influential in their own lives. Students also reported increased course understanding and a desire to continue volunteering. Implications for intergenerational service-learning are discussed.

The health outcomes of infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) may be jeopardized when required nursing care is missed. This correlational study of missed care in a U.S. NICU sample adds national scope and an important explanatory variable, patient acuity. Using 2016 NICU registered nurse survey responses (N = 5,861) from the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators, we found that 36% of nurses missed one or more care activities on the past shift. Missed care prevalence varied widely across units. Nurses with higher workloads, higher acuity assignments, or in poor work environments were more likely to miss care. The most common activities missed involved patient comfort and counseling and parent education. Workloads have increased and work environments have deteriorated compared with 8 years ago. Nurses' assignments should account for patient acuity. NICU nurse staffing and work environments warrant attention to reduce missed care and promote optimal infant and family outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine factors associated with nurses' intent to leave their positions and absenteeism. Background: There is a recognized global shortage of nurses but limited data describing and determining factors associated with nurse absenteeism and intent to leave. Methods: This study involved a secondary analysis of the results from direct‐care registered nurses' responses to the MISSCARE Survey, with data from seven countries included. Multi‐level modelling was used to determine nurse characteristics and working environment factors associated with nurse absenteeism and intent to leave. Results: The level of absenteeism and intent to leave varied significantly across countries, with registered nurses in Lebanon reporting the highest intention to leave within 12 months (43%) and registered nurses in Iceland and Australia the highest level of absenteeism (74% and 73%, respectively). Factors associated with outcomes included perceived staffing adequacy of unit, job satisfaction, and age of the nurse. Conclusions: A significant difference between countries was identified in nurse absenteeism and intent to leave. Increased perception of unit staffing inadequacy, lower job satisfaction, less nurse experience, and younger age were significant contributors to nurse absenteeism and intent to leave. Implications for Nursing Management: These findings suggest that regardless of country and hospital, by ensuring that units are adequately staffed and increasing job satisfaction, younger, less experienced nurses can be retained and absenteeism reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shares perspectives on the implications of nursing for health care in the U.S. Need for nursing's inclusion in health care reform; Demand for new health care services; Significance of modern communications for health care.

Missed nursing care refers to omission of standard required nursing care of patients in acute care hospitals. The objective of this study was to compare the amounts and reasons of missed nursing care, the level of nurse staffing, and job satisfaction between the United States and Lebanon. Several studies in the United States have shown that a significant amount of care is being missed. This study is designed to determine if Lebanon is experiencing a similar phenomenon and what reasons are given for missing nursing care. Findings support that a substantial amount of nursing care is missed in Lebanon, although less than that in the United States (t = 11.53, P <.001), that nurses in Lebanon were less satisfied with being a nurse than are nurses in the United States, and there was no difference in the identification of staffing resources as a reason for missed care in the 2 countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on the MISSCARE Survey, a quantitative tool, which revealed a significant amount of missed nursing care in the United States based on its psychometric properties. It discusses the study results, which show that MISSCARE Survey-Turkish meets standards of validity and reliability for a new measurement tool. The article also mentions that Turkey reported significantly less missed nursing care in than in the United States.

Objective To examine whether actual nurse staffing predicts missed nursing care, controlling for other unit characteristics. Design This study utilized a cross-sectional, descriptive design. Setting Ten hospitals in the Midwestern region of the USA. Participants Nursing staff members with direct care responsibilities (n = 4288) on 110 care units. Main Outcome Measures The MISSCARE Survey was utilized to capture respondents’ perceptions of missed nursing care as well as other unit characteristics (i.e. demographics, work schedules and absenteeism). Actual staffing data (hours per patient day [HPPD], registered nurse hours per patient day [RN HPPD], skill mix) and unit level case mix index were collected from the participating hospitals for the mean scores of 2 months during survey distribution. Results HPPD was a significant predictor of missed nursing care (β = −0.45, P = 0.002). Conclusions Findings from this study suggest that missed nursing care may explain, at least in part, the relationship between staffing levels and patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

, & (2010) Journal of Nursing Management 938-947 The aim of the present study was to explore the influence of unit characteristics, staff characteristics and teamwork on job satisfaction with current position and occupation. Teamwork has been associated with a higher level of job satisfaction but few studies have focused on the acute care inpatient hospital nursing team. This was a cross-sectional study with a sample of 3675 nursing staff from five hospitals and 80 patient care units. Participants completed the (NTS). Participants' levels of job satisfaction with current position and satisfaction with occupation were both higher when they rated their teamwork higher ( P < 0.001) and perceived their staffing as adequate more often ( P < 0.001). Type of unit influenced both satisfaction variables ( P < 0.05). Additionally, education, gender and job title influenced satisfaction with occupation ( P < 0.05) but not with current position. Results of this present study demonstrate that within nursing teams on acute care patient units, a higher level of teamwork and perceptions of adequate staffing leads to greater job satisfaction with current position and occupation. Findings suggest that efforts to improve teamwork and ensure adequate staffing in acute care settings would have a major impact on staff satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article compares the nursing in China and the U.S. with emphasis on nursing supply, nurses' demographic characteristics, educational programs, and staffing patterns and levels. It notes that the U.S. has 5,756 hospitals with 946,997 beds, while China has 18,703 hospitals with 2,445,012 beds. It mentions that there are 9.37 nurses per 1,000 population in the U.S. compared with 1.05 in China. It adds that people in both countries need nursing care.

The article discusses a study conducted on students of Wheaton College, Illinois, to examine their perceptions of an organized solo within a wilderness experience program (WEP) and the influence of students on that perception. The study was conducted in several phases including pre-trip questionnaire and post-solo questionnaire. It is found that the solo is one of few times during a wilderness experience program.

SUMMARY: With competition increasing for scarce personnel resources, recruitment and retention processes must be efficient and effective. The author reports the results of an extensive study of recruitment processes and systems in acute care hospitals throughout the United States and the major recruitment factors that lead to job choice decisions by staff nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the role of women military nurses in the future military plans in the U.S. According to the author, military policy has attempted to protect female personnel from the brunt of battle, yet unforeseeable events often have placed nurses in mortal danger from enemy action. In addition, the military services have encouraged their nurses to volunteer for special duties in areas known to carry great risk of enemy attack. They found the nurses efficient and circumspect in their social interactions with the men.