Articles related to NURSING

As nurses, we often experience unexpected detours in our career journeys, providing us with opportunities to diversify our experiences. Yet, there are times when we may feel stagnant and crave change. For such moments, here are some pivotal steps to advance your nursing career. Firstly, seize the power of networking. Attend local or international conferences—be they virtual or in-person. Connect with fellow attendees and presenters, ask insightful questions, and exchange contact information. Social media platforms, particularly LinkedIn, also provide an excellent avenue for fostering professional connections, while practicing caution against potential misinformation. Furthermore, consider finding a mentor—a trusted colleague who can guide and support your professional growth. Secondly, consider joining a committee or board. Back in 2014, the Nurses on Boards Coalition (NOBC) set a goal to fill 10,000 board seats with nurses by 2020. We reached this milestone! Our unique perspective is invaluable in decision-making processes, given our roles as the largest segment of healthcare providers. So, join working groups, committees, boards, councils, or governments to ensure our voice is heard. Thirdly, achieve specialty certification. Doing so communicates commitment to your education and, consequently, to patient care and outcomes. Certification also boosts your confidence, career advancement, and potentially, your […]

In our pursuit of health equity, cultural competence has become a crucial element in nursing. Unraveling its significance and practices, this guide illuminates the importance of cultural awareness in bridging health disparities and improving patient outcomes. Health disparities often stem from social, environmental, and economic disadvantages. Groups burdened by these disparities face larger obstacles to health, underlining the importance of health equity. In an effort to combat health disparities, the nursing profession emphasizes cultural awareness, diversity, and inclusivity. The stark differences in health outcomes for different racial and ethnic groups are impossible to ignore. Dr. Jamil Norman, a nursing instructor, found that Black mothers in the U.S. are 3-4 times more likely to die in childbirth than white mothers. Such disparities highlight the urgent need for culturally competent care. Culturally competent care includes four essential components: awareness, attitude, knowledge, and skills. Through self-awareness, nurses can identify their own cultural biases. They can then address these biases, understand different cultural practices, and develop effective cross-cultural skills. Research shows that culturally competent nursing care yields significant benefits. It promotes mutual respect, fosters inclusion, and improves patient compliance and outcomes. Examples of culturally competent practices include using understandable language, respecting conflicting cultural beliefs, […]

COVID-19, as we know, is a global health crisis that has had a significant impact on the mental health of nurses. Until now, no studies were available on factors affecting the psychological well-being of nurses in Turkey during the pandemic. These insights are crucial because any impairments to nurses’ psychological well-being can negatively affect both the quality of care they provide and their overall performance. In an effort to fill this knowledge gap, the study used a descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional design. By adhering to the STROBE reporting guideline checklist, the researchers meticulously compiled their findings. A sample of 295 nurses from a Health Application and Research Center in Turkey, who voluntarily participated through social media tools, formed the study group. Data collection occurred between June and August 2020 using Google forms. Instruments employed included a Sociodemographic Characteristics Form, the COVID-19 Phobia Scale (C19P-S), the Work-Life Balance (WLB) Scale, and the Psychological Well-Being (PWB) Scale. The team employed stepwise multiple linear regression analysis to pinpoint factors affecting psychological well-being. Unsurprisingly, the study found that both the work-life balance and psychological well-being of nurses were negatively affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most nurses exhibited mild-to-moderate levels of COVID-19 phobia. Among the […]

The article explores social interactions and institutional structures impacting the consistent practice of 24-hour rooming-in for new mothers and newborns in hospitals. Researchers employed an institutional ethnographic design, gathering data through semistructured interviews and unit observations from February 2020 to June 2021. Seven mother-baby nurses participated in interviews. Additionally, three on-unit observations lasting 2 hours each took place. From the collected data, the researchers unearthed a shared sentiment: “Baby-Friendly” practices don’t always equate to being “mother-friendly.” Three primary social interaction themes surfaced from the data analysis: viewing the mother as a patient, managing expectations, and inconsistent practices. The nurses’ perspectives revealed the complexity of managing maternal care while juggling newborn demands. Discrepancies in methods highlighted the need for standardized practices to maintain consistency across care provision. The analysis also identified three significant institutional factors that affect 24-hour rooming-in: rates of labor induction and cesarean births, nurse staffing, and nursery use monitoring. Labor induction and cesarean births often disrupt the smooth transition to rooming-in. Limited nurse staffing presents challenges in managing both mother and baby needs, while nursery use monitoring practices influence rooming-in implementation. The article’s findings provide critical insights into the daily organization and experience of 24-hour rooming-in from a […]

Nurses, let’s dive right into this fascinating development in the field. Picture this: as the demand for inpatient care skyrockets, and nursing resources become stretched, finding an experienced nurse for mentorship has become a real challenge. But what if you could get that mentorship right when you need it, from a virtual source? Introducing the groundbreaking concept of the Virtual RN, or ViRN. Created to bolster support for both you, our invaluable bedside RNs, and the patients in designated general care inpatient units, the ViRN is changing how we operate. This role provides real-time virtual clinical guidance to you at the bedside, while also actively monitoring patients. Imagine the possibilities! Now, you might be wondering, how do nurses feel about this integration of ViRNs into our nursing care team? Well, a recent survey sent out via email to bedside RNs gives us some insightful answers. It turns out that RNs are valuing the consistent availability of the ViRN’s expert nursing knowledge and virtual assistance with nursing tasks.

Dive into the essence of AANA’s updated guidelines for obstetric anesthesia and analgesia as we spotlight its focus on health equity and safety in maternal care. Commencing with the unveiling of the revised practice guidelines for obstetric anesthesia and analgesia, the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) has emphasized enhancing patient care and safety. Interestingly, these updates also strive to tackle the critical issue of enduring health disparities in the United States. The AANA firmly believes in the power of certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) to help curb maternal mortality rates. The primary strategy focuses on mitigating racial and ethnic imbalances in pregnancy-related deaths. Beth Ann Clayton, DNP, CRNA, FAANA, FAAN, the key subject matter expert behind the revisions, underscores these inequalities as significant barriers to optimal maternal care. Using an evidence-based process, the AANA revised the guidelines, paying careful attention to current research. They’ve prioritized enhancing the readability of the content, updating the quality of references, and broadening their scope to encompass the most recent recommendations on obstetric analgesia and anesthesia care. The notable alterations include the broadening of analgesia and anesthesia considerations for labor and delivery. This expansion encompasses inhalation analgesia, neuraxial analgesia, general anesthesia, and an updated […]