Nursing Practice Today

Preserving Patient Dignity in Critical Care Units: A Qualitative Content Analysis

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 12:00:37 +0430

Background and aim: Patient dignity is a fundamental aspect of human rights, particularly when individuals are most vulnerable. Although maintaining patient dignity seemed to be challenging in Critical Care Units (CCUs) due to the complexity of medical procedures and critical condition of patients, a paucity of evidence exists exploring dignity preservation in CCUs as well as its requirements from the patients' perspective. Thus, we aimed to explore patients’ dignity in CCUs and the requirements for its preservation.

Methods and Materials: This qualitative study conducted on 20 patients selected from CCUs of Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran through purposeful sampling. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and were analyzed using Graneheim and Lundman’s conventional content analysis method. Interviews explored patients' experiences and expectations regarding dignity preservation.

Results: The analysis revealed three main categories and nine subcategories essential for preserving patient dignity in CCUs: (1) Care Ethics: Informed Decision-Making, Respecting Patient Concerns, and realistic interaction; (2) Humanity Preservation: Empathetic Acceptance, Avoiding Objectification, and Maintaining Patient Privacy; and (3) Personalized Care: Identifying Needs Proactively, Adapting Care to Individual Conditions, and Ensuring Comfort and Well-being. Participants emphasized the importance of empathetic communication, respect for their personal values and preferences, and maintaining a clean, comfortable environment.

Conclusion: The findings highlight the necessity for healthcare professionals to engage in ethical care, foster empathetic patient interactions, and proactively address the unique needs of each patient to enhance dignity preservation in critical care settings.

Barriers Experienced by Nurses Working in Psychiatric Wards in Caring for Patients with Mental Disorders: A Qualitative Study

Parvaneh Vasli, Roghaieh Keykha, Naima Seyedfatemi, Seyedeh Narjes Mousavizadeh — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 11:19:53 +0430

Objective: Delivering high-quality care to hospitalized patients with mental disorders is crucial; however, numerous barriers hinder the achievement of this goal. This study aimed to identify the obstacles faced by nurses working in psychiatric wards in providing care for inpatients with mental disorders.

Methods: A qualitative research design was employed using the conventional content analysis approach. The participants consisted of 20 psychiatric nurses, selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through 20 individual semi-structured interviews, each lasting an average of 45 minutes. The collected data were analyzed through conventional content analysis using MAXQDA software (Version 10).

Results: The results revealed two major categories of barriers encountered by psychiatric nurses. Individual, Social, and Professional Factors, which encompassed four subcategories: inappropriate perceptions and actions of nurses, misconceptions within families and society regarding psychiatric care, unnecessary workload, and mental fatigue.

Organizational and Managerial Factors, comprising six subcategories: insufficient quantity and quality of nursing staff, misunderstanding of psychiatric care by managers, lack of organizational support, absence of effective guidelines, an unfavorable physical environment, and inadequate healthcare and recreational facilities.

Discussion: The findings provide valuable insights for healthcare policymakers and nursing professionals, enabling them to address these obstacles and enhance the quality of psychiatric nursing care.

Nurses’ perception of reasons for turnover: Thematic synthesis of qualitative research studies

Martina Tomagová, Dominika Kohanová, Katarína Žiaková — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 11:19:18 +0430

Background & aim: Nurse turnover has long been considered a serious and global issue, significantly contributing to the nursing shortage in healthcare institutions worldwide. This literature review aimed to synthesise evidence from qualitative studies concerning nurses perceive the reasons for their turnover in their clinical practice.

Methods & materials: A literature review of qualitative studies was performed according to the PRISMA statement. A systematic search of the literature was performed across five academic databases, specifically Scopus, ProQuest, PubMed, Web of Science, and OVID Nursing. The search identified 10 relevant qualitative studies published between 2013–2024. Primary studies were critically evaluated using the CASP checklist, and thematic synthesis was applied based on the method described by Thomas and Harden.

Results: Five analytical themes synthetized from twelve descriptive themes expressing nurses' experiences with their reasons for turnover were synthesized from the primary studies included in this literature review. These reasons were reflected in the following themes: Achieving and maintaining professional role; Threatened well-being of nurses; Everyday practice; Teamwork and collaboration; Ineffective leadership.

Conclusion: The identified themes suggest that nurses experience a wide range of interconnected reasons influencing their decision to leave their positions. Addressing these reasons requires a detailed analysis of them, setting long-term strategies at multiple levels with systemic solutions with a clear vision of how to reduce nurse turnover. The findings of our thematic synthesis suggest topics for further research in a deeper understanding of nurse turnover.

Impact of resilience, social support and perceived health status on happiness among nursing students

Nguyen Ngoc Quynh Nga, Diep Thi Tieu Mai, Pham Thi Thuy, Tran Thi Tuyet Linh — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 10:50:37 +0430

Background & Aim: While happiness is essential for success of nursing students, it's often challenged by academic, clinical, and personal stressors. This study aims to examine factors influencing nursing student happiness in the post-pandemic era to inform interventions for improved well-being and future success.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 250 full-time nursing students at a university in Vietnam. A stratified random sampling was applied. The ANOVA test, Pearson's correlation coefficient was employed to assess the difference and correlation between independent and dependent variables. Multiple linear regression was used to explore predictors of happiness among nursing students with a p-value less than 0.05.
Results: The mean score of happiness of nursing students was 3.99 (SD=0.51) out of 6. Reason for enrolling in nursing (p=0.021), satisfaction with the nursing field (p<0.001), perceived health status (p<0.001), resilience (r=0.493, p<0.001), social support (r=0.628, p<0.001) was related to happiness. Perceived health status (β=-0.214, t=-0.214, p<0.001), resilience (β=0.322, t=7.373, p<0.001), and support from family (β=0.361, t=5.316, p<0.001) were predictors of happiness.
Conclusion: The study highlights the need for interventions to improve happiness among nursing students, focusing on enhancing resilience, family support, and overall health. By fostering happiness among nursing students, institutions can cultivate a more positive learning environment, produce more competent and compassionate nurses, and ultimately improve patient care.

Critical Care Nurses’ Knowledge and Experience of Sepsis Assessment and Management

Omar Mahmoud, Mohammad Rababa, Audai Hayajneh — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 10:49:45 +0430

Introduction: Sepsis is a major global health issue, often leading to delayed recognition due to its varied symptoms. ICU nurses play a crucial role in early detection, but there are knowledge gaps in their understanding of sepsis assessment and management.

Aim: to examine critical care nurses’ knowledge and experience of caring for patients with sepsis.

Methods: A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted on a convenience sample of 320

nurses working in ICUs at various hospitals in Jordan. Valid and reliable tools assessed nurses’

knowledge, confidence, and clinical reasoning regarding sepsis management.

Results: The study found that many nurses had deficiencies in identifying various SIRS criteria associated with sepsis, such as hypotension, low temperature, high respiratory rate, and high-risk groups. The overall sepsis knowledge score among the nurses reflected a moderate level of knowledge, with hypotension being identified as the most challenging aspect of care.

Conclusion: This study highlights critical gaps in the knowledge and experience of critical care nurses in assessing and managing sepsis. The findings emphasize the need for ongoing education and targeted training programs to improve patient outcomes.