Nursing Research and Practice
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CiteScore1.500
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Impact of Childhood Cancer on Family Functioning and Family Quality of Life in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia

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Nursing Research and Practice focuses on all areas of nursing and midwifery. The journal focuses on sharing data and information to support evidence-based practice.

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Nursing Research and Practice maintains an Editorial Board of practicing researchers from around the world, to ensure manuscripts are handled by editors who are experts in the field of study.

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Research Article

The Relationship between Moral Sensitivity and Professional Behaviour and Its Comparison in First- and Last-Year Undergraduate Nursing Students

Background. Nursing students should be equipped with ethical sensitivity and professional behaviour because they will face challenging ethical issues in their future work environment. This study aimed to determine the relationship between moral sensitivity and professional behaviour and compare it in first- and last-year undergraduate nursing students. Methods. This study was a cross-sectional, correlational study that was conducted at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2019. The sample size of this study was 238 nursing students. The tools used in this study were the Persian versions of the moral sensitivity questionnaire and the professional behaviour questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS 18 software. Results. Linear regression showed that the total score of moral sensitivity of nursing students had a significant relationship with their professional behaviour . The result of the univariate analysis showed that the mean total score of moral sensitivity and professional behaviour was significantly higher in the last year than in first-year students . Conclusion. Considering the relationship between moral sensitivity and the professional behaviour of nursing students, the promotion of moral sensitivity can become the basis for the development of the professional behaviour of nursing students. Therefore, it is suggested to focus on teaching the principles of nursing ethics to develop the moral sensitivity of undergraduate nursing students.

Research Article

Work Engagement among Acute Care Nurses: A Qualitative Study

Aims. To understand how Omani nurses conceptualize work engagement, explore factors influencing engagement, and identify strategies to improve work engagement. Design. A qualitative study design. Methods. Semistructured interviews were conducted with twenty-one Omani nurses from four acute-care hospitals. Interview transcripts were examined using directed content analysis. Results. Participants defined work engagement as a positive state where nurses are engaged physically, emotionally, and mentally with work. Mentally engaged nurses’ minds are occupied with patients even when they are off duty. Organizational factors affecting work engagement were leadership, teamwork, autonomy, pay, and job demand. Individual factors affecting engagement included considering nursing a rewarding profession. A social factor was family commitments. Strategies suggested to improve engagement included improved pay and monetary incentives, working system flexibility, open-door policy, performance feedback, recognition, and resources. Conclusion. Mentally engaged nurses are attached to work even when they are off duty. Nurses’ gait and facial expressions can indicate high or low work engagement. Nurses with family obligations felt drained of energy, affecting their vigor and enthusiasm at work. Implications. Management skills and practices impact work engagement. Nurse’s feedback can be used to improve practice and design interventions that promote nurses’ engagement.

Review Article

Purulent Skin and Soft Tissue Infections, Challenging the Practice of Incision and Drainage: A Scoping Review

Aim. To generate a landscape of the current knowledge in the interventional management and outcomes of purulent skin and soft tissue infections. Design. This study is a scoping review. Methods. Electronic searches were undertaken using CINAHL, Medline, Cochrane Library, British Nursing Index, Science Direct, the National Health Service knowledge and library hub, ClinicalTrials.gov, and MedNar. The population, concept, context framework, and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews were utilised, supporting a rigorous appraisal and synthesis of literature. Data Sources. The initial search and synthesis of literature were completed in January 2022 with repeat searches completed in March 2022 and July 2023. There were no imposed chronological parameters placed on the returned literature. Results. Nineteen papers were reviewed. Incision and drainage with primary closure, needle aspiration, loop drainage, catheter drainage, and suction drainage are viable adjuncts or alternatives to the traditional surgical management of skin and soft tissue abscesses. Conclusion. Despite the empirically favourable alternatives to the incision and drainage technique demonstrated, this does not appear to be driving a change in clinical practice. Future research must now look to mixed and qualitative evidence to understand the causative mechanisms of incision and drainage and its ritualistic practice. Implications. Ritual surgical practices must be challenged if nurses are to improve the treatment and management of this patient group. This will lead to further practice innovation. Impact: This study explored the challenges posed to patients, clinicians, nurses, and stakeholders, resulting from the ritualistic practice of the incision and drainage technique in purulent skin or soft tissue abscesses. Empirically and holistically viable alternatives were identified, impacting all identified entities and recommending a wider holistic study. Reporting Method. Adherence to EQUATOR guidance was achieved through the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews.

Research Article

Clinical Competence of Nurses and the Associated Factors in Public Hospitals of Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction. Nursing competency is an essential component for improving the quality of care in the healthcare system. However, assessing competency solely on the dimensions of skills and knowledge does not provide complete picture of a nurse ability to provide quality patient care. This is because it lacks focus on the nurse’s attitudes and values, which are also important determinants of clinical competence. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the comprehensive clinical competence of nurses and its associated factors in public hospitals of Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Materials and Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a census method to collect information from nurses through self-administered questionnaires. The data were entered into EpiData version 3.1 and exported to Stata version 15 for analysis. A linear regression model was used to identify factors associated with clinical competence. Results. In this study, the average clinical competence of nurses was 177.32, with a standard deviation of 19.19, and 31.2% of the respondents had a high level of clinical competence. Associated factors identified with clinical competence include gender, age, marital status, qualification, position, work experience, unit, interest in their profession, critical thinking disposition, clinical self-efficacy, and emotional intelligence. Conclusions. The overall level of clinical competence among nurses in this study was moderate. As such, nurses improve their clinical competence by receiving training and development opportunities that focus on critical thinking, clinical self-efficacy, and emotional intelligence; working in a supportive work environment that encourages them to take risks and learn from their mistakes; and being monitored and coached on a regular basis.

Review Article

Effectiveness of Psychoeducation on Burden among Family Caregivers of Adults with Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Caring for relatives living with schizophrenia could lead to caregivers’ burden. It is believed that lack of information and understanding about schizophrenia and lack of skills to cope effectively while caring for their adult relatives largely contribute to the burden they experience. The burden is assessed using assessment scales. This review aims to assess the effectiveness of psychoeducation in alleviating the burden experienced by family caregivers of adults living with schizophrenia and to identify essential factors that facilitate positive outcomes. Five databases (ASSIA, CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE EBSCO, and PsycINFO) were systematically searched using combinations of the following key terms: “family caregivers,” “schizophrenia,” “burden,” “psychoeducation,” and “adults.” Meta-analysis of included studies was conducted using RevMan 5.4. Five RCTs with 320 family caregivers were included in the review. Overall, none of the studies showed a low risk of bias. The evidence suggests that face-to-face group psychoeducation reduced family caregivers’ burden when measured across different time points: one-week postintervention (mean difference −3.87 and Cl −6.06 to −1.70), six months (MD −8.76 and Cl −12.38 to −5.13), and twelve months (MD −7.38 and Cl −9.85 to −4.91). Measurements immediately after the intervention, one month, and three months postintervention when reported narratively also showed a reduction in family caregivers’ burden. Face-to-face group psychoeducation provided for family caregivers effectively alleviates the burden they experience. Factors such as program content and teaching methods facilitated positive outcomes. It is recommended that psychoeducation should be integrated as a routine intervention for family caregivers.

Research Article

Healthcare Workers’ SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Four Hospital Outbreaks during Delta Variant Prevalence in Sydney, Australia

Background. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at risk of SARS-CoV-2 infections due to occupational exposure. The use of airborne personal protective equipment (PPE) significantly reduces this risk. In June 2021, an epidemic of the Delta variant began in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Concurrent PPE guidelines, set by the Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC), restricted the use of respirators. Objective. To understand the relationship of PPE guidelines with workplace-acquired HCW SARS-CoV-2 infections in different clinical settings and to examine the relationship between rates of community transmission and workplace-acquired HCW infections during the Delta outbreak in NSW. Methods. Total SARS-CoV-2 HCW infections between 13 June and 30 October 2021 (first four months of the Delta wave) were estimated from the government COVID-19 surveillance reports and compared with the surveillance reports of community transmission. In the absence of a detailed reporting of HCW infections, open-source data including news articles, media releases, and epidemiological surveillance reports were also collected. Data were extracted on HCW cases of SARS-CoV-2 from four hospitals, including the number of HCW cases (per NSW Health definition), clinical setting, PPE guidelines, and evidence of increasing local transmission. Results. SARS-CoV-2 infections in HCW identified as workplace-acquired infections (n = 177) and those without a known transmission source (n = 532) increased during the period of increasing community transmission (n = 75,014) in NSW. Four hospital COVID-19 clusters affecting 20 HCWs were identified between June and October 2021. HCW clusters occurred in general wards where staff were recommended to wear surgical masks. No workplace-acquired HCW infections were reported in these hospitals from critical care wards, where respirators were recommended during the same outbreak weeks. Conclusions. Differences in PPE policy across different wards may leave healthcare staff at risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. During periods of high community transmission, respirators should be provided to protect hospital staff. Formal reporting of HCW infections should occur.

Nursing Research and Practice
 Journal metrics
See full report
Acceptance rate-
Submission to final decision-
Acceptance to publication-
CiteScore1.500
Journal Citation Indicator1.130
Impact Factor1.9
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