Nursing education and management

Qualitative content analysis in nursing research: concepts, procedures and measures to achieve trustworthiness

Qualitative Research in Nursing: Advancing the Humanistic Imperative

This text covers qualitative research methodologies and published literature in nursing education, administration and practice for each method. Other topics include publishing, conference presentation, grant writing and ethical concerns.

American Association of Colleges of Nursing

Edward L. Beard, Jr, MSN, RN, CNAA, is vice president of Patient Care Services at Catawba Memorial Hospital in Hickory, NC. He is a member of the editorial advisory board of JONA’s Healthcare Law, Ethics, and Regulation.

Fundamental Patterns of Knowing in Nursing

Jen Pan, former host of the Jacobin Show, joins me to discuss YouTube political messaging, elite activist language and what social democracy can do for art. Stay tuned for her forthcoming book from Verso.\n

High-fidelity simulation and nursing students’ anxiety and self-confidence: A systematic review

BACKGROUND: As a complementary teaching pedagogy, high-fidelity simulation remains as an effective form of simulation modality. Empirical evidence has additionally shown high-fidelity simulation (HFS) to be an effective contributor to students' learning outcomes. PURPOSE: This paper critically appraised existing scientific articles that covered the influence of utilizing HFS on the effects of nursing students' anxiety and self-confidence during undergraduate nursing education. METHODS: This was a systematic review of scientific articles conducted from 2007 to 2017 on the topic of the influence of using HFS on students' self-confidence and anxiety. The literature of six electronic databases (Proquest, SCOPUS, MEDLINE, PubMed Central, CINAHL, and PsychINFO) was reviewed. RESULTS: Following the literature search, 35 articles were selected. This review provides updated evidence on the efficacy of HFS in reducing anxiety and enhancing self-confidence among nursing students when performing nursing duties or managing patients. Moreover, this review highlights the need for more research that examines the impact of HFS on students' anxiety. CONCLUSION: As this form of simulation is found to be effective in the enhancement of nursing student self-confidence and the reduction of their anxiety when caring for patients and/or employing nursing skills, the inclusion of simulation-based activities in all clinical nursing courses is vital.

Stress and coping strategies among nursing students: an international study

BACKGROUND: Mounting literature on stress and coping in nursing students are available; however, most of the findings are confined to a single cultural group. AIMS: This study was conducted to determine the level of stress, its sources and coping strategies among nursing students from three countries: Greece, the Philippines and Nigeria. METHODS: Using a descriptive, comparative research design, 547 nursing students (161 Greek nursing students, 153 Filipino nursing students, 233 Nigerian nursing students) participated in the study from August 2015 to April 2016. Two standardized instruments were used, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Coping Behavior Inventory (CBI). RESULTS: Findings revealed that the degree of stress and the type of stressors and coping styles utilized by nursing students differ according to the country of origin. The year of study predicted overall stress (β = -0.149, p < 0.001) while advanced age predicted overall coping (β = 0.008, p = 0.037) in the nursing students. CONCLUSIONS: Strengthening nursing students' positive coping skills may be helpful for them to effectively deal with various stressors during their educational experiences while maximizing learning. Implementing empirically tested approaches maybe useful to prevent the recurrence of stress and lessen its impact such as stress management counseling, counseling programs, establishing peer and family support systems, and formulating hospital policies that will support nursing students.

Examining stress perceptions and coping strategies among Saudi nursing students: A systematic review

Nursing Students' Perceptions of Their Own Caring Behaviors: A Multicountry Study

Purpose The aim of this study was to identify perceptions of caring behaviors in student nurses from four countries. Methods This study employed a descriptive, comparative survey design. Four hundred sixty-seven students were recruited from four countries (Nigeria, India, Greece, and the Philippines) to participate in the study during the months of September 2013 to January 2014. Data were collected using the Caring Behavior Inventory. Findings The highest ranked subscale was “assurance of human presence” (4.827 ± 0.927), while “positive connectedness” (4.610 ± 0.949) was the lowest ranked subscale. There were no statistically significant correlations between the Caring Behavior Inventory scale and gender ( F = 0.215, p = .643), educational level ( F = 0.396, p = .529), and family structure of students ( F = 0.680, p = .410), except for age ( F = 9.380, p = .002, η 2 = 0.141) and the country of origin ( F = 5.772, p = .001, η 2 = 0.036). Conclusion Students from four countries possess positive caring behaviors, specifically on physically based caring interventions, while there is a need to emphasize expressive caring behaviors during nursing education and training. Implication for Nursing Practice Caring interventions should be carried out in order to help students build or enhance their caring behaviors that can be adapted to clinical situations.

A cross-country comparative study on stress and quality of life in nursing students

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to compare perceptions of stress and quality of life (QoL) among nursing students from three countries (the Philippines, Greece, and Nigeria) and to examine the impact of stress on their QoL. DESIGN AND METHODS: A comparative, cross-sectional research design was used in this study. Data were collected from 547 nursing students from three countries using the perceived stress scale (PSS) and the quality of life evaluation skill (QOLES). FINDINGS: Students' perceptions of stress and QoL were different across the three countries. Furthermore, higher stress perceptions were identified from taking care of patients, the clinical environment, and faculty, peer, and staff encounters, which predicted a negative QoL. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The findings emphasized the need for empirically tested and culturally tailored interventions to effectively reduce stress and enhance the QoL in nursing students.

Entry to nursing practice preceptor education and support: could we do it better?

High quality preceptorship during their first year of practice is seen as critical for new graduate nurses' development of competence and confidence. Quality preceptorship is dependent upon skilled and knowledgeable preceptors who are committed to this role. A recent longitudinal evaluation of 21 Nursing Entry to Practice (NETP) programmes in New Zealand identified that preceptorship selection, education and support do not always receive the attention they warrant. Failure to plan preceptor selection leads to ad hoc selection and consequent allocations of many preceptors who may not have attended appropriate education, or have a desire to undertake this role. Such a situation is detrimental to the job satisfaction of both preceptors and new graduate nurses. High workloads, rostering difficulties and increased acuity in many clinical areas often prevent preceptors from attending appropriate education and that, in turn, impacts negatively on the preceptor's expectations and clarity with respect to the role. To offset this effect the authors recommend development of a clearly defined preceptor selection process, along with flexible preceptor education programmes that provide a good foundation for support of new graduates in their first year of practice; but do not increase preceptor workloads.

An exploration of the influences on under-representation of male pre-registration nursing students

Cognitive-behavioural reflective training for improving critical thinking disposition of nursing students

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The importance of critical thinking in improving treatment practices in, for instance, the nursing profession, cannot be overemphasized. Despite this importance, empirical studies have shown that helping strategies to train learners on critical thinking disposition are needed. Given this knowledge gap, this study investigated the impacts of cognitive-behavioral reflective training for improving the critical thinking disposition of nursing students. METHOD: Of all the students screened, a total of 167 participants were assigned to the treatment group and waitlisted control group. A researchers-developed training program aimed at improving critical thinking disposition was delivered in English language by therapists. RESULTS: Repeated-measures ANOVA showed that there was no significant difference between the critical thinking disposition of nursing students in the treatment and control groups as measured by CTDI-M at the posttest. At the posttreatment and follow-up measures, there were consistently improved impacts of CBRT on the critical thinking disposition of nursing students in Nigeria as measured by CTDI-M. CONCLUSION: Following the results, we concluded that cognitive-behavioral reflective training was beneficial and had sustained improvement in enhancing the critical thinking disposition of nursing students.

Causes and effects of theory-practice gap during clinical practice: the lived experiences of baccalaureate nursing students

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the baccalaureate nursing students' lived experiences of the causes and effects of TPG during clinical practice in a tertiary health institution in Enugu, Nigeria. METHOD: A qualitative design using existential descriptive phenomenological approach was adopted to explore 20 baccalaureate nursing students at 500 level of study. The class level of the students was purposively sampled and the exact number of students sampled using snowball technique. Semi-structured interview guide was the instrument for data collection. Data were collected using audio-tape recorder, face to face in depth discussions, and analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis. RESULT: Five broad themes and 12 subthemes emerged from this study namely: Resource constraints (limited resources, resource improvise); Unhealthy human attitudinal and behavioural factors (nurse clinicians, nurse educators, student nurses factors); Environmental system challenges (paradoxical academic design and structure, paradoxical clinical setting); Integration Inadequacy (team cooperation paucity, scarce surveillance, insufficient timing of clinical placement); Observing effects of TPG (observing adverse impacts, observing positive implications). CONCLUSION: The causes of TPG during clinical practice emerge from nursing education and practice. TPG have adverse impacts on patients, nursing students, nursing education and practice, other health practitioners, while linkage to response is its positive implication.

Development and evaluation of an electronic nursing documentation system

BACKGROUND: Nursing documentation is a critical aspect of the nursing care workflow. There is a varying degree in how detailed nursing reports are described in scientific literature and care practice, and no uniform structured documentation is provided. This study aimed to describe the process of designing and evaluating the content of an electronic clinical nursing documentation system (ECNDS) to provide consistent and unified reporting in this context. METHODS: A four-step sequential methodological approach was utilized. The Minimum Data Set (MDS) development process consisted of two phases, as follows: First, a literature review was performed to attain an exhaustive overview of the relevant elements of nursing and map the available evidence underpinning the development of the MDS. Then, the data included from the literature review were analyzed using a two-round Delphi study with content validation by an expert panel. Afterward, the ECNDS was developed according to the finalized MDS, and eventually, its performance was evaluated by involving the end-users. RESULTS: The proposed MDS was divided into administrative and clinical sections; including nursing assessment and the nursing diagnosis process. Then, a web-based system with modular and layered architecture was developed based on the derived MDS. Finally, to evaluate the developed system, a survey of 150 registered nurses (RNs) was conducted to identify the positive and negative impacts of the system. CONCLUSIONS: The developed system is suitable for the documentation of patient care in nursing care plans within a legal, ethical, and professional framework. However, nurses need further training in documenting patient care according to the nursing process, and in using the standard reporting templates to increase patient safety and improve documentation.

Professional image of nursing and midwifery in East Africa: an exploratory analysis

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that there is a negative image of nursing and midwifery that does not promote these professions as attractive career options. Furthermore, there is a paucity of studies documenting how nursing and midwifery is perceived in East Africa and where such studies exist they are country-specific. The aim of this study was to explore views regarding the image of nursing and midwifery among nurses and midwives in three East African countries, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. METHODS: An exploratory descriptive cross-sectional study administered online using Survey Monkey Questionnaires assessed the views and perceptions of nurses and midwives regarding the image of nursing and midwifery professions. Descriptive statistics and Pearson's Chi square tests were used to analyse the data. The semi-structured questions were analysed using content analysis. RESULTS: A total of 551 participants took part in the study. The majority were females (61.8%), registered nurses/midwives (45.8%), and aged 30-39 years (34.2%). Most of the respondents were from Kenya (39.7%) and Uganda (32.9%). About two-thirds of the nurses and midwives in this study perceived nursing/midwifery as both trusted and respected professions and expressed having a level of control over how their image was portrayed. Conversely, the nurses and midwives were conscious that the public had mixed responses about the nursing/midwifery professions specifically, some members of the public described nurses/midwives as professionals, knowledgeable and caring, others perceived nurses/midwives to be rude, cruel, unkind, lazy, unkempt, and maids. CONCLUSION: This study offers an interesting insight about the image of nursing/midwifery in East Africa. Findings from this study will inform policy makers and educators about key concepts that affect the image of nursing and midwifery in East Africa. The findings will be used to design marketing materials to help improve the image of nursing and midwifery in the region and other African countries.

Nursing students' perceptions of their instructors' caring behaviors: A four-country study

Determinants of depression among nursing students in Cameroon: a cross-sectional analysis

Abstract Background Nursing students are highly susceptible to depression given the heavy workload and clinical demands of the curriculum. Depression has negative impacts on their health and academic performance. This study aimed to determine the determinants of depression amongst nursing students in the English-speaking regions of Cameroon. Methods A cross-sectional analysis of 447 nursing students recruited from a combination of state-owned and private nursing institutions in the English-speaking regions of Cameroon from January – April 2018 was carried out. Independent correlates of depression were determined using multivariable regression analysis, with the level of significance set at 95%. Results The overall prevalence of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 &gt; 4) and major depressive disorder (Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 &gt; 9) in these students was 69.57 and 26.40% respectively. Independent correlates of depression were found to be: total Oldenburg Burnout Inventory score (aOR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.25; p value &lt; 0.01); level of studies (aOR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.55, 0.94; p value = 0.02) and occurrence of a life-changing crises (aOR: 2.13; 95% CI: 1.28, 3.55, p value &lt; 0.01). Conclusion The prevalence of depression amongst nursing students in Cameroon is high. Determinants proposed in this study require further assessment to facilitate early identification and management of depression in this high-risk group, in order to limit the negative effects linked with the condition.

Impact of an Educational Program on the Use of Standardized Nursing Languages for Nursing Documentation Among Public Health Nurses in Nigeria

PURPOSE: To measure the effect of an educational package on documentation of care among public health nurses (PHNs). METHOD: A quasi-experimental design was adopted. Forty PHNs working in primary healthcare settings were selected. Education was given through a 5-day workshop. Documentation of care was assessed using a modified "Muller-Staub Q-DIO instrument." Data were analyzed using t test third and twelfth months postintervention. FINDINGS: There was a significant improvement on documentation of care at p = .0001. CONCLUSION: Educating PHNs and providing them with standardized nursing care plans enhance documentation of care. IMPLICATION TO PRACTICE: A combination of education on the use of standardized nursing languages and standardized nursing care plans can enhance documentation of care. There is a need for more research on the use of standardized nursing languages in developing nations.