Raising the voice of specialist stoma care nurses: a call for a national strategy in stoma care.

Specialist stoma care nurses (SSCNs) are highly educated professionals who play a critical role in the care of people living with a stoma. However, they experience some unique challenges. Currently in the UK, stoma care has no national standards, targets or best practice pathway, resulting in significant variation and an undervalued service. As members of an evidence-based profession, SSCNs need to demonstrate their value. Specialist nurses in cancer care and inflammatory bowel disease are supported by nationally, with pathways, targets and standards of care, as well as career and education frameworks. This system could be used for SSCNs. A national approach is needed to develop an evidence-based best-practice pathway, commissioned and implemented across the UK for all stoma patients and with SSCNs at its heart. SSCNs need to demonstrate their value through data and evidence. Working with Getting it Right First Time, a taskforce aims to review the evidence and establish minimum standards of care for all stoma patients. SSCNs should be co-ordinators and drivers of change at the highest level of national innovation, policy and decision-making. The work of SSCNs should be is recognised and valued because what they do matters.

The influence of individual factors on the career preferences and specialty choices of final-year nursing students.

BACKGROUND: Statistical evidence shows that nursing students prefer a professional career in hospital settings, leading to a lack of career interest in non-hospital settings such as community and residential aged care facilities. The lack of preference for non-hospital settings has persisted over several decades and presents a need for different approaches that may reveal new information to better understand the individual factors that influence specialty choices and preferences from the students' viewpoints. PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to (1) explore individual factors that impact the nursing specialty choices of final-year nursing students and (2) explore how these factors influence the final-year nursing students' career decision-making process. METHOD: A narrative inquiry approach using semi-structured interviews was carried out with purposively sampled nursing students (n = 12) who had undertaken a final-year clinical placement(s). Data was analysed using two main steps. First, the interviews were restoried and then analysed using the three-dimensional framework. Subsequently, thematic analysis was applied to generate themes. RESULTS: Data analysis generated three main themes: demographic factors, social factors, and career goals. Participants' characteristics and interactions with other individuals and systems influenced their nursing specialty preferences and professional career plans. CONCLUSION: Nursing students' career interests are influenced by individual factors external to their nursing education, such as their age, gender, and life experiences. These student characteristics and experiences facilitated or inhibited a career in some nursing specialties, with the students gauging their ability to practice in a specialty during their CPs. Nursing education should expose and inform students about the core skills, career opportunities, and how to advance their careers in the different nursing specialties. Most importantly, final-year students may need formal career guidance to encourage nursing students' positive attitudes and career interests in different nursing specialties and make realistic career decisions.

Radiology Nursing.

These nurses provide care throughout various imaging exams.

Enhancing Specialized Nursing Practice Through Collaborative Academic Advancement: A Joint Initiative by Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Canada and Curtin University, Perth, Australia.

In response to the escalating demand for highly skilled nursing practitioners in wound, ostomy, and continence (WOC) care, a collaboration between the Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Canada (NSWOCC) and Curtin University, Perth, Australia, has emerged. This unique pathway aims to bridge the gap between practical expertise and academic excellence, offering a transformative opportunity for nursing professionals to elevate their skills and credentials. This comprehensive program integrates real-world experience with advanced academic concepts, enabling participants can to pursue a Master of Advanced Practice (MC-ADVPRC) in Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing, positioning themselves as leaders in specialized health care. NSWOCC Feature highlights the programs' unique features and potential impact on the future of nursing practice.

Gastroenterology/Endoscopy Nursing.

These nurses focus on the care of patients with gastrointestinal issues.

Mobile applications in nursing science education: A scoping review with snowballing method.

OBJECTIVES: To review the available evidence on the use and effectiveness of mobile applications to assist nursing students in comprehending, utilising, and applying specialised language and knowledge terminologies when learning the language of biosciences. DESIGN: A scoping review. DATA SOURCES: The databases CINAHL Complete, ERIC, EMCare, MEDLINE, PubMed, the OVID scholarly interface and the web search engine Google Scholar were searched. REVIEW METHODS: Peer-reviewed literature published in English during the period 2010-2023 was reviewed. Snowballing methods saw the reference lists of all included articles searched, and a secondary search of the Scopus ranked top ten nursing journals. Articles were included if they reported on any app or digital resource used when teaching undergraduate nursing students biosciences/science language skills, concepts, or terminology. Studies were excluded if the participants were non-nursing student cohorts or content did not meet the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: Mobile applications generally contribute positively to nursing students' education. These applications are deemed valuable tools, offering structured content in easily digestible formats. Some applications also foster teamwork and collaboration during clinical placements, promoting peer learning, and a sense of community. User internet access and preparation for learning were the only noted barriers. A range of science-based concepts were taught using applications, including diabetes mellitus, medical terminology, asthma, and cardiac conditions. Despite the promise shown by using mobile applications to teach nurse sciences, few are dedicated to bioscience language and scientific terminology. Recognising the challenging nature of teaching these concepts, developing specialised applications could substantially improve the educational experience for nursing students. CONCLUSION: Nurse educators are encouraged to teach with applications given their reported effectiveness in knowledge gains for students learning science concepts. Rigorous interventional study designs are warranted to extend suggestions that using applications enhances student understanding of challenging scientific concepts and support quality in clinical learning.

Prevalence, associated factors, and nursing practice-related outcomes of workplace violence towards nursing students in clinical practice: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of Workplace violence (WPV) among nursing students in clinical practice, and examine the associated factors and nursing practice-related outcomes. DESIGN: A systematic review and meta-analysis. REVIEW METHODS AND DATA SOURCES: A comprehensive literature search was performed in nine databases from inception to Mar 2023. Two researchers independently screened studies, extracted data and assessed the quality of included studies. The random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of WPV. Separate analyses were conducted by WPV type and source. RESULTS: 57 studies involving 23,451 nursing students were identified. The overall prevalence of WPV experienced and witnessed by nursing students was 45.37 % and 53.76 %, respectively, and 13.73 % were unsure if they had WPV. Psychological violence was the most prevalent form of WPV, but the prevalence of WPV also varied by setting and source, with obstetrics and gynaecology (41.25 %) being the most common settings and patients and their relatives (50.80 %) being the most common sources. When exposed to WPV, 65 % of nursing students did nothing except keep quiet, and 74 % did not report it. Concerning the associated factors of WPV, there were few reports on patient-related factors, and the selected studies focused primarily on nursing student- and occupational-related factors. Regarding nursing practice-related outcomes, WPV had a predominantly negative impact on nursing students' professional practice, but it also had a certain motivating effect. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis estimates the global prevalence, associated factors, and nursing practice-related outcomes of WPV among nursing students. The findings confirm the high prevalence of WPV; therefore, schools and institutions should prioritize WPV education and training. The hospital should then formulate WPV laws and regulations, enhance the WPV reporting procedure, and protect the rights and interests of nursing students. Finally, hospital administrators should employ individualized intervention strategies for nursing students based on the variables that affect them.

Men in Female-Dominated Nursing Specialties.

While numbers of men in the nursing profession have slowly increased, men in female-dominated specialty areas have not changed. Male nurses and nursing students encounter gender bias and discrimination in certain specialty nursing environments. This has implications for the quality of care provided, parental engagement, and job satisfaction. By diversifying the nursing workforce, there is a potential to enhance patient comfort, improve satisfaction, and promote a more inclusive, creative, and patient-focused health care environment.

Strategies to Increase Nursing Certification: A Progressive Care Certification for Nurses-Pathway for Success.

Nursing specialty certification is essential for delivering competent patient care based on evidence and improving outcomes. Certification enhances nurses' professional growth, promotes satisfaction, and creates stability in an organization. Nurses value certification, but certain barriers hinder them from taking the certification examination. This article describes strategies incorporated by a nursing professional development specialist to increase nurses' participation in the Progressive Care Certification for Nurses review course, certification success, and retention in the organization.

Empowering Nurses Through Peer-Led Instruction to Increase Specialty Certification Rates.

Nursing specialty certification is an organizational, nursing, and professional goal for many stakeholders. Several types of review courses are available to support nurses. A peer-led certification review course was designed and implemented for medical/surgical and telemetry nurses. The peer-led instruction was the crux of empowering nurses to achieve certification. Assessment of the intervention was measured by quantitative data on pass rates. Evaluative information was gathered from the participants. Certification rates increased for applicable units.

The 2022 Certified Flight Registered Nurse Pulse Survey.

OBJECTIVE: The Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN) credential independently validates a registered nurse's advanced knowledge, skills, and abilities in the unique specialty of flight nursing. Introduced in 1993 and celebrating its 30th anniversary in July 2023, the CFRN is held by over 5,500 registered nurses. The purpose of the 2022 CFRN pulse survey was to better understand the ways CFRN-certified registered nurses value this national flight nursing specialty credential. The CFRN survey is a companion to the 2022 Certified Transport Registered Nurse pulse survey, which focused on the Certified Transport Registered Nurse critical care ground transport nursing credential. METHODS: The Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing e-mailed individuals in its database of CFRN credential holders and asked them to respond to a 14-question online survey between October 17, 2022, and November 8, 2022. Participation in the survey was voluntary. Of the 5,275 verified CFRN holders who received the survey, 992 responded, for a response rate of 18.8%. The survey instrument included discrete field and open-ended questions. Data were deidentified for analysis, and institutional review board exemption was received. Counts and percentages were reported, and descriptive statistics were used. RESULTS: The highest percentage of flight nurses who responded have more than 10 years of experience in flight nursing (35.3%) and are employed by a stand-alone transport program (42.7%). Flight nurses reported they spent a mean of 70% of their work hours transporting via rotor wing aircraft, with a predominantly adult patient population. The top perceived benefits of being a CFRN-certified nurse were a sense of accomplishment and pride (90.7%) followed by flight physiology knowledge (85.4%), flight nursing clinical knowledge (83.4%), and confidence as a flight nurse (80.6%). CONCLUSION: The 2022 CFRN pulse survey identified current CFRN demographics, practice environments including transport percentage by mode and patient population types, and perceived benefits of the CFRN credential. The findings suggest CFRNs are very experienced, provide care for patients across the age continuum, and perceive multiple intrinsic and extrinsic benefits of CFRN certification, all of which are essential to safe, evidence-based advanced nursing practice in the unique, complex, autonomous, and dynamic flight environment.