Nursing Practice Today

Characteristics and outcome measures of guided imagery interventions in breast cancer care: A scoping review

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 13:14:16 +0430

Background & Aim: Guided imagery is a mind–body intervention increasingly explored in oncology supportive care, particularly among breast cancer patients. Published studies vary in terms of intervention characteristics, delivery methods, and outcome measures. This scoping review aimed to map the existing literature on guided imagery interventions in breast cancer populations, describe intervention characteristics and reported outcomes, and identify gaps to inform future research directions.
Methods & Materials: A scoping review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Five electronic databases were systematically searched for studies published between 2016 and 2025 that evaluated guided imagery interventions in breast cancer or broader oncology populations. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies, and mixed-methods research. Data were synthesized narratively with a focus on intervention characteristics, delivery modalities, reported outcomes, and standardization-related issues.
Results: Twenty-three studies were included. The review identified substantial heterogeneity in intervention characteristics, including session duration, frequency, delivery modality, and combination with other techniques. Frequently assessed outcomes included anxiety, depression, pain, fatigue, and quality of life. Variability in intervention protocols and outcome measures limited cross-study comparability.
Conclusion: The literature reveals considerable heterogeneity in guided imagery interventions and outcome measurement in breast cancer care. This variability highlights the need for clearer intervention reporting and greater consistency in outcome measurement to support future rigorous effectiveness research.

Psychometric evaluation of the workplace gaslighting scale among Pakistani nurses

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 18:09:08 +0430

Background & Aim: Gaslighting is a subtle yet harmful form of psychological manipulation, and healthcare environments are particularly vulnerable to such behaviors. Nurses are at increased risk, as gaslighting can undermine confidence, impair performance, and threaten patient safety. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Workplace Gaslighting Scale among Pakistani nurses.
Methods & Materials: A cross-sectional psychometric study was conducted with 217 nurses from public and private hospitals in Pakistan. Face, content, construct, convergent, and discriminant validity were assessed, and internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test model structures, and known-groups validity was examined across demographic and professional subgroups. Analyses were performed using AMOS 26 and Jamovi 2.4.14.
Results: Internal consistency was high for the dimensions of Trivialization (α= 0.906; ω=0.908) and Affliction (α=0.925; ω=0.929). Convergent validity was established (AVE=0.581 and 0.713; CR = 0.905 and 0.926). Due to a very high inter-factor correlation (r=0.92), indicating a lack of discriminant validity, the dimensions were not supported as independent constructs. Instead, a second-order model demonstrated acceptable fit (CFI=0.947, IFI=0.947, CMIN/DF= 3.292), confirming they merge into a single, unified workplace gaslighting construct. Known-groups validity was indicated by higher overall scores among nurses in private hospitals compared to public hospitals (p=0.004) and a positive association with years of experience (p=0.004).
Conclusion: The Workplace Gaslighting Scale demonstrated acceptable reliability and a coherent second‑order factor structure, although certain limitations, including a high RMSEA value and lack of discriminant validity in the first‑order model, indicate that further validation with larger and more diverse samples is needed.

Intensive care units nurses’ perceptions of family quality time: A qualitative study

Nasra Muslem Al Maamari — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 13:00:33 +0430

Background & Aim: Long working hours and job demands in intensive care units can compromise family quality time for nurses, leading to burnout, higher turnover, and safety risks. Conversely, nurses who maintain meaningful family time are more likely to achieve work-life balance and job satisfaction, which enhances the quality of patient care. This study aimed to describe the meaning of family quality time for ICU nurses, identify how ICU work influences this time, and explore its impact on the care they provide. This is an important issue in the nursing field.
Methods & Materials: An interpretive description methodology was used. Using purposive sampling, 10 intensive care unit nurses from regional hospitals participated in semi-structured Zoom® interviews. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, and strategies to support rigor included memorizing notes, an audit trail, and end-of-interview debriefing.
Results: Four themes emerged from the data of this study: Family Quality-Time: The Essential Anchor for Emotional Well-Being, Support, and Connection; Work-Related Stress: The Destructive Twister Compromising Family Time; Inadequate Family Time: The Repercussions of Exhaustion, Fatigue, and Sleep Deprivation; and The Transformative Power of Family Time on Nurses' Performance.
Conclusion: The study underscores the significance of family quality time for intensive care nurses, emphasizing its impact on their well-being and job performance. Its findings can aid nursing educators and practitioners in recognizing the necessity of fostering family connections.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the advanced practice nursing assessment instrument for the Portuguese context: A methodological study

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 13:18:57 +0430

Background & Aim: Advanced Practice Nursing plays a crucial role in improving healthcare access, quality, and efficiency, being increasingly recognized in Portugal as a growing professional field. However, no validated instrument exists in Portugal to rigorously assess advanced practice nursing competencies. The Advanced Practice Nursing Competency Assessment Instrument, originally developed and validated in Spain, represents a robust tool for this purpose. This study aimed to cross-culturally adapt and validate the Advanced Practice Nursing Competency Assessment Instrument for the Portuguese context.
Methods & Materials: This methodological study was conducted in two phases. Cross-cultural adaptation followed established stages: two independent forward translations, synthesis, two back-translations, expert committee review, pre-test, and feedback to the original author. Psychometric evaluation used a cross-sectional sample of nurses from a local health unit in Northern Portugal. Analyses included descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis through principal component analysis, and internal consistency calculated by Cronbach’s alpha, item–total, and inter-item correlations.
Results: Expert consensus was achieved during the review process. The pre-test with a sample size of thirty-five nurses confirmed instrument clarity and usability. The validation sample included two hundred and sixty-four nurses and specialist nurses. Seven factors explained sixty-six percent of the total variance, representing a reduction from the original eight-factor structure. Two dimensions, Quality Management and Care Management, converged into a single factor in the Portuguese version. The scale demonstrated excellent reliability, with a total Cronbach’s alpha of 0.960, factor alphas ranging from 0.821 to 0.916, and adequate corrected item–total correlations.
Conclusion: The Portuguese version demonstrates adequate content validity, a coherent factor structure, and excellent reliability, supporting its use to assess advanced practice nursing competencies in the Portuguese health system.

Effectiveness of nurse-implemented nonpharmacologic interventions on delirium incidence in cardiac surgical ICU patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Dikki Saputra, Muhammad Luthfi, Hafizul Makruf — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:08:20 +0430

Background & Aim: Delirium is a common, serious postoperative complication in cardiac surgery. This study evaluated the impact of nurse-implemented multimodal nonpharmacologic bundles on delirium incidence and severity in adult cardiac surgery ICU patients.
Methods & Materials: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. A systematic literature search was performed across PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Library from inception to September 15, 2025. Data from eligible studies were extracted for narrative synthesis and meta-analysis. Pooled Odds_Ratios and 95% Confidence Intervals were calculated to evaluate delirium incidence, and statistical heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic.
Results: Thirteen studies were included, with eight studies (N=3,831) suitable for meta-analysis. Nurse-implemented bundles were associated with a reduced incidence of delirium (OR 0.56; 95% CI: 0.41–0.75; I2=14%). Narrative synthesis of five additional studies indicated that interventions such as early mobilization and sensory-based bundles (eye masks/earplugs) may mitigate delirium severity. Furthermore, physical frailty was identified as a significant risk factor (Adj. OR 1.61), and Scenario-Based Learning was found to be a viable approach for enhancing nurse competency.
Conclusion: Nurse-implemented multimodal non-pharmacological bundles contribute to reducing delirium incidence in cardiac surgery ICUs. These findings suggest that such protocols serve as a relevant secondary prevention strategy. However, given the diversity of intervention components and geographical settings, these results should be interpreted with caution. Clinical protocols should consider integrating frailty screening and environmental modifications, while future research should prioritize standardized continuous outcomes like Delirium-Free Days.