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To examine informal carers' experiences during their child's hospitalization and evaluate the associations with care received and care context. What is described in this article is only a part of the larger study, RN4CAST@IT-Ped, a multicenter cross-sectional study, with multi-level data collection through convenience sampling, the Child Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey was used to collect data from informal carers of pediatric patients, applying the "top box" approach. Nine hospitals, 1472 nurses, and 635 children's parents were involved. A correlation was found between patient safety and satisfaction outcomes and nursing staff characteristics. Adequate workloads for nurses improved carers' assessment of their experience in the hospital. Adequate staffing management could significantly improve informal carers' satisfaction with the care provided to their children during hospitalization. Children's informal carers greatly value the care they receive in pediatric hospitals. Adequate workloads for nurses improve carers' overall evaluation of the care their children receive during hospitalization. Nursing management should consider improving these aspects to ensure high-quality care in children's hospitals. • Child and Family Centered Care is an important outcome to take in consideration. • Child H-CAHPS is a validated tool to measure user satisfaction with healthcare received. • Hospital environment and healthcare staff have an impact on family satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reveal the effectiveness of didactic architectures and pedagogical strategies to be implemented in nursing curricula to develop and improve Emotional Competencies (EC) in undergraduate nursing students. Systematic review of effectiveness conducted according to Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines. We followed the PRISMA statement to guarantee the transparency of the review and the GRADE to report the strength of evidence. Seven databases were searched: MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO and ERIC. Grey literature was also searched through the OpenGrey database. Studies focusing on educational programmes and/or activities to develop EC in nursing curricula, published in English or Italian were included. Quality assessment of the studies was evaluated using JBI critical evaluation tools and the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MAAT). Following JBI guidelines, a narrative synthesis was performed. A total of 19 studies from 8 countries were included. The population varied from first to fourth-year students in relation to the duration of the undergraduate nursing program across the various countries. Most of the students were females. The age of the participants ranged between18 and 56 years. The most common pedagogical strategies were simulation, role playing, and face-to-face lessons. In some cases, studies combined two or three pedagogical strategies in the same intervention. The most effective strategy was simulation, which improved EC, compassion, self-awareness, self-efficacy, empathy, critical thinking, clinical practice skills, and teamwork skills. Furthermore, the combination of lessons, simulation, and literature exploration effectively developed communication skills, and improved students' satisfaction. Investing in simulation, role-playing activities, and lessons regarding the importance of EI, empathy and compassion, and the role of an emotionally competent nurse leads to improved nursing care and wellbeing. • It is important to improve and develop EI in nursing students. • The review identified different strategies to improve EI in nursing students. • Simulation proved to be an effective strategy to improve EI in nursing students. • Combining lessons, simulation, and literature exploration is also effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sharing LearnIng from Practice for Patient Safety (SLIPPs) is an innovative online educational package to assist patient safety learning. Based on student reported data and educational theory, multiple elements were iteratively developed by a multicountry, multidisciplinary group. The educational materials include a student reporting and reflection tool, virtual seminars, student reports dataset, a pedagogical game, high-fidelity simulation scenarios, scenario development and use guidelines, a debriefing model, and videos of simulations. These are freely available at the SLIPPs Learning Centre (https://www.SLIPPs.eu). Background: Patient safety is a global concern. Learning to provide safe, high-quality care is core to nursing education. Problem: Students are exposed to diverse clinical practices, and experiences may vary between placements and across countries. Student experience is seldom used as an educational resource. Approach: An international, European Union-funded project, Sharing Learning from Practice for Patient Safety (SLIPPs), aimed to develop an innovative online educational package to assist patient safety learning. Based on student reported data and educational theory, multiple elements were iteratively developed by a multicountry, multidisciplinary group. Outcomes: The educational package is freely available on the SLIPPs Web site. Materials include a student reporting and reflection tool, virtual seminars, student reports data set, pedagogical game, high-fidelity simulation scenarios, scenario development and use guidelines, debriefing session model, and videos of simulations already performed. Conclusions: E-learning enables removal of physical barriers, allowing educators, professionals, and students from all over the world to collaborate, interact, and learn from each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Underpinning all nursing education is the development of safe practitioners who provide quality care. Learning in practice settings is important, but student experiences vary. Purpose: This study aimed to systematically develop a robust multilingual, multiprofessional data collection tool, which prompts students to describe and reflect on patient safety experiences. Approach: Core to a 3-year, 5-country, European project was development of the SLIPPS (Sharing Learning from Practice for Patient Safety) Learning Event Recording Tool (SLERT). Tool construction drew on literature, theory, multinational and multidisciplinary experience, and involved pretesting and translation. Piloting included assessing usability and an initial exploration of impact via student interviews. Outcomes: The final SLERT (provided for readers) is freely available in 5 languages and has face validity for nursing across 5 countries. Student reports (n = 368) were collected using the tool. Conclusions: The tool functions well in assisting student learning and for collecting data. Interviews indicated the tool promoted individual learning and has potential for wider clinical teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Web-based learning, on its own or in combination with traditional teaching methods, has become a consolidated practice in many countries, and has been described as a valid and effective method that supports practical learning in undergraduate nursing students. The aim of this study was to explore the perception and effectiveness of web-based learning in facilitating the development of clinical skills in undergraduate nursing students. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted including online videos in three nursing schools of a university in Northern Italy. The participants were 26 undergraduate nursing students. A dedicated website was built including four videos and the respective checklists of four nursing techniques: insertion of a urinary catheter; insertion of a nasogastric tube; taking a blood sample; and the insertion of a peripheral intravenous line. Three Focus Groups were conducted, one for each nursing school. Thanks to its ease of use and unlimited access, web-based learning effectively supported students' clinical learning process by offering additional virtual visual support. Web-based learning could be effectively used to reduce the gap between theory and practice, and even as an upgrade for already qualified nurses. • Web-based learning in nursing is growing, but its use is still limited. • Few studies have explored how web-based learning can improve clinical skills. • Web-based learning impacts on patient safety and the quality of nursing practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This protocol proposes a systematic review to identify and disclose learning strategies and evaluation tools to improve Emotion Intelligence (EI) in undergraduate nursing students. EI improves the ability to manage emotions and their consequences. Management of emotions is fundamental in nursing both at inter- and intra-professional levels, and with the patients and their family carers. Systematic review protocol of effectiveness based on the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines. All articles based on educational programmes and/or activities to develop EI in nursing curricula will be included in the review. It will analyse the principle EI attributes and outcomes such as burnout, intention to leave and problem-solving skills. Based on the review question, seven databases will be searched: MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO and ERIC. Also, grey literature (Google Scholar and Open Gray) will be searched. Since no similar systematic reviews are present in the literature, no time limits will be set. To establish the quality of studies JBI tools will be used. When appropriate, we will meta-analyse prevalence and incidence estimates or we will meta-synthesize themes and findings. This systematic review is expected to provide an overview of educational and training methods, pedagogical strategies and evaluation tools to address EI in nursing and provide high-quality care to patients and their families. Results of the review will support nursing educators and leaders in implementing teaching and learning strategies to improve the Emotional Intelligence of undergraduate nursing students. Mastering emotions is fundamental for nurses. Implementing education courses based on EI according to the best training methods and pedagogical strategies could become key for nursing curricula. Moreover, after the review, it will be possible to identify the best training methods and pedagogical strategies for implementing continuing professional development (CPD) courses in EI in the courses of following graduation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To describe the experience and sources of comfort and discomfort in tracheostomy patients, when they communicate with nurses in the Intensive Care Unit. Research methodology/design Benner’s interpretive phenomenology. Data were collected through: a) semi-structured interviews conducted with the patients after leaving the intensive care unit; b) participant observation; c) situated interviews with intensive care nurses. Setting The intensive care unit of a hospital in Northern Italy. Findings Eight patients and seven nurses were included in this study. Two main themes were identified 1) feeling powerless and frustrated due to the impossibility to use voice to communicate; 2) facing continual misunderstanding, resignation, and anger during moments of difficulty and/or communication misunderstandings. The main communication discomfort factors were: struggling with not knowing what was happening, feeling like others had given up on me, living in isolation and feeling invisible. The main comfort factors were: being with family members, feeling reassured by having a call bell nearby and nurses' presence. Conclusions This study highlights the important role of communication in tracheostomy patients in intensive care and how closely it is linked to all the aspects of a person’s life, which cannot be underestimated as just not being able to use one’s voice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the issue of substandard care and its effects on healthcare practice. It explores some recent concerns about the problem in nursing, its potential effects on students, how it can be conceptualised and what action needs to be, by both nurses and educators to prevent it. Recent healthcare scandals have tarnished the public image of nursing, and are also likely to influence nursing students' images, expectations and experiences of nursing. While much attention has been paid to the examination of such lapses in care, and potential corrective actions, little attention has been paid to the potential or actual effect on nursing students in practice. While good resources and staffing levels are crucial to ensuring optimal nursing care, developing and encouraging nursing students' awareness of and openness about personal behaviours, reflecting critically on practice reflection and strengthening nurse educators' collaborative links with healthcare practice can all serve to positively influence care deficits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During their clinical practice, nursing students learn to manage patient safety through their experiences, emotions, and interpersonal relationships. To explore contextual and mechanistic factors that facilitate a sense of emotional safety for learning in nursing students, particularly regarding patient safety events experienced during their placements. A descriptive qualitative study using narratives and thematic analysis. A university in Northern Italy. Undergraduate nursing students recruited through purposive sampling. Twenty cases relevant to the present study were selected from the "Sharing LearnIng from Practice for Patient Safety" (SLIPPS) project database containing 100 narratives collected using the patient safety learning Event Recording Tool. The data were analysed using thematic analysis according to Braun & Clarke's methodology. The themes that emerged from the thematic analysis were rearranged in Context-Mechanism-Outcomes. Students identified clinical practice experiences as important occasions for their personal and professional development. Emotional safety and tutoring were the elements that effectively "govern" the students' learning and development process. Emotional safety is key for nursing students because it enables them to constructively overcome any relational and emotional tensions that may develop during their clinical placements. • Patient safety is often part of nursing students' hidden curriculum. • Nursing students learn about patient safety during their clinical practice. • Emotions impact on learning patient safety outcomes in nursing students • Emotional competencies improve nurses' interactions with patients and colleagues [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quality-of-life assessment is a central concept in palliative care. Clinical interventions focused on assessing quality of life are complex interventions. Current research is insufficient to determine how to implement interventions focused on quality-of-life assessment in palliative care. To explore the different components of interventions focused on quality-of-life assessment in palliative care, a systematic review and 5 databases were searched. Publications included were analyzed according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) Framework Programme 7 practical guidance on using patient-reported outcome measurements in palliative care and the Quality of Life Assessment Principles in Palliative Care. Interventions and their components were identified and discussed. Identifying problems and monitoring change or response to treatment, screening for hidden problems, and facilitating communication were the 3 different types of intervention identified. None of the interventions fulfilled all the 11 Quality of Life Assessment Principles in Palliative Care. Overall, 6 characteristics of the components were identified: the quality-of-life measure, educational training, completing the measure (patients or proxy), collecting quality-of-life data (baseline and further assessment), identifying a coordinator, and presenting quality-of-life data. Because of heterogeneity of interventions, it is not possible to recommend 1 preferred intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To study the psychometric properties of an Italian version of the Edinburgh Feeding Evaluation in Dementia (EdFED-I) Scale. Background: The EdFED Scale is the only validated instrument that measures difficulty with feeding in older people with dementia. The original English version of the EdFED had three factors measuring: behavioral aspects of feeding difficulty (obstinacy/passivity); indicators of feeding difficulty; and nursing interventions. Methods: Participants affected by dementia and living in nursing homes (n = 210) were selected. Data collectors were trained to observe the residents' eating problems and their food intake. The data were analyzed using Mokken scaling and Pearson's correlation. Results: The Italian version of the EdFED Scale formed a Mokken scale which correlated in the expected direction with measures of residents' weight. Body Mass Index, time taken to eat, Mini Mental State Examination score and Barthel Index according to the unmet needs model of Cohen-Mansfield. Conclusions: The EdFED-I shows reasonable psychometric properties and can be used for the assessment of feeding difficulty in Italian samples of older people with dementia. However, further work with larger samples is required to test the utility of the whole range of items and the necessity of their inclusion in the EdFED-I. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To identify the core competencies of family and community nurses. The European Union is facing common health challenges in the field of primary care, according to European health policies and the World Health Organization, which need to be addressed through better and innovative ways of working that require joint actions. There is evidence that 'Family and Community Nurses' play a key role in the field of primary care, but there is no agreement on which core competencies they are required to have. An e-Delphi study A 4-round e-Delphi study was conducted from March to July 2018 as part of the Erasmus+ Project "EuropeaN curriculum for fAmily aNd Community nursE" (ENhANCE). A panel of 23 experts from 10 European countries were asked to approve, modify, or add items and then prioritize each skill. This e-Delphi, as part of the ENhANCE project, produced core 28 competencies, which were used by the "ENhANCE" partners to develop the European Core Curriculum for Family and Community Nurses. The ENhANCE partners ensured that the core competencies were consistent with World Health Organization recommendations, the European Skills/Competencies, Qualifications and Occupations (ESCO) and with the European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET). The results of this study will provide the basis for universities across Europe to develop their own post-graduate teaching programs with common educational goals for Family and Community Nurses and a cadre of nurse practitioners with transferrable skills across the continent. This e-Delphi, as part of the ENhANCE project, produced 28 competencies for the European Core Curriculum for Family and Community Nurses. • First European study on core competencies for Family and Community Nurses. • Family and Community Nurses core competencies used to develop European curricula. • European common curricula will facilitate recognition and mobility of these nurses. • Family and Community Nurses will improve the primary care of the European Union. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unmet needs for advanced-disease cancer patients are fatigue, pain, and emotional support. Little information is available about the feasibility of interventions focused on patient-reported outcome measurement developed according to the Medical Research Council (MRC) Framework in advanced-disease cancer patients. We aimed to pilot a nurse-led complex intervention focused on QoL assessment in advanced-disease cancer patients. The INFO-QoL study was based on an exploratory, nonequivalent comparison group, pre-test-post-test design. Study sites received either the INFO-QoL intervention or usual care. Adult advanced-disease cancer patients admitted to hospice inpatient units that gave their informed consent were included in the study. Subjects were 187 patients and their families and 19 healthcare professionals. We evaluated feasibility, acceptability, and patients' outcomes using the Integrated Palliative Care Outcome Scale. Nineteen healthcare professionals were included. The mean competence score increased significantly over time (p < 0.001) and the mean usefulness score was high 8.63 (± 1.36). In the post-test phase, 54 patients were allocated to the experimental unit and 36 in the comparison unit. Compared to the comparison unit, in the experimental unit anxiety (R2 = 0.07; 95% CI = −0.06; 0.19), family anxiety (R2 = 0.22; 95% CI = −0.03; 0.41), depression (R2 = 0.31; 95% CI = −0.05; 0.56) and sharing feelings (R2 = 0.09; 95% CI = −0.05; 0.23), were improved between pre-test and post-test phase. The INFO-QoL was feasible and potentially improved psychological outcomes. Despite the high attrition rate, the INFO-QoL improved the quality and safety culture for patients in palliative care settings. • The INFO-QoL intervention was feasible, acceptable, and improved family anxiety, depression, and sharing feelings. • The INFO-QoL intervention is innovative because it is based on addressing patients' outcomes by a nurse-led intervention. • The improved psychosocial needs were significantly associated with an increased number of actions delivered by the team. • QoL assessment interventions are complex and under this perspective they may ensure better evidence-based practice. • Nurse-led interventions have a holistic view of patients' outcomes, and a patient/family-centered care-oriented culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International mobility for nursing students is still a relatively new phenomenon. While educators and students are both excited by the opportunity that mobility presents, there are often many challenges inherent within third level organisations and practice organisations. These obstacles not only serve to make international mobility arrangements complex to manage but also mean that these opportunities are only available to very small numbers of students. Furthermore the benefits of undergraduate international exchanges remain largely anecdotal and the elements that facilitate success are not entirely clear. To address these issues, a qualitative study was conducted to identify the elements that characterize a nursing student's successful learning during international clinical placement. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with six students who had completed their international clinical placements experiences in Portugal, Spain, and Italy. Three common themes emerged from the data analysis: relationship with institutions and countries, student's thoughts and feelings and learning outcomes and the role of the nursing student's clinical supervisor. These themes contain seven sub-categories, representing the characterizing elements of the student's experience of mobility in the foreign country. These results are useful to nurse educators internationally to inform clinical learning experiences within exchange programmes. • International clinical placement enables the development of transcultural skills. • Nurses' transcultural skills have an impact on patient safety. • Undergraduate clinical supervisor's crucial role favours learning outcomes. • Our results are important for nursing educators to improve clinical environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The Nurse Forecasting Project in Europe (RN4CAST) [1] has already been conducted in 12 European countries, and it has shown that each additional surgical patient per nurse results in a 7% increase in the likelihood of dying within 30 days of admission, a 23% increase in burnout, and a 15% increase of job dissatisfaction [2]. Since Italy has 6.6 nurses per 1000 inhabitants in Italy, which is lower than the European average (11 nurses per 1000 inhabitants), we conducted the RN4CAST project also in Italy [3]. The main purpose of this study was to measure the impact of nurse staffing on patient outcomes, healthcare outcomes, and job satisfaction. Materials and methods RN4CAST survey including nurses, patients, and hospitals across Italy. Results The results will be officially presented at the RN4CAST@IT Dissemination Conference, which will be held on the 10th June 2016 at the University of Genoa in Italy. Conclusions The RN4CAST project will bring about a significant change in Italy in terms of producing data that measure the impact of nurse staffing on patient outcomes, healthcare outcomes, and job satisfaction. In this way, health policy decision makers will have the information necessary to make informed decisions on nurse staffing levels, by considering nurses not just in terms of numbers, but also in relation to what type of patient outcomes nurse staffing levels are able to ensure in terms of reduced adverse events, complications, readmissions, and mortality, achieving the best cost-benefit ratio. The RN4CAST project will enable to produce a database that can be used to measure the impact of nurse staffing and on patient outcomes, healthcare outcomes, and nurses' job satisfaction. These results can be used to improve the accuracy of health workforce forecasting models and generate new approaches to ensure a more effective management of the nursing workforce across Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]