EBUS-TBNA for mediastinal staging of centrally located T1N0M0 non-small cell lung cancer clinically staged with PET/CT.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and clinical usefulness of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) for mediastinal staging of centrally located T1N0M0 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) clinically staged with positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). METHODS: We conducted a study that included patients with centrally located T1N0M0 NSCLC, clinically staged with PET/CT who underwent EBUS-TBNA for mediastinal staging. Patients with negative EBUS-TBNA underwent mediastinoscopy, video-assisted mediastinoscopic lymphadenectomy (VAMLA) and/or lung resection with systematic nodal dissection, that were considered the gold standard. The sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), positive predictive value (PPV), overall accuracy of EBUS-TBNA for diagnosing mediastinal metastases (N2 disease) and the number needed to treat (NNT: number of patients needed to undergo EBUS-TBNA to avoid a case of pathologic N2 disease after resection) were calculated. RESULTS: One-hundred eighteen patients were included. EBUS-TBNA proved N2 disease in four patients. In the remaining 114 patients who underwent mediastinoscopy, VAMLA and/or resection there were two cases of N2 (N2 prevalence 5.1%). The sensitivity, specificity, NPV, PPV and overall accuracy for diagnosing mediastinal metastases (N2 disease) were of 66%, 100%, 98%, 100% and 98%, respectively. The NNT was 31 (95% CI: 15-119). CONCLUSION: EBUS-TBNA in patients with central clinically staged T1N0M0 NSCLC presents a good diagnostic accuracy for mediastinal staging, even in a population with low prevalence of N2 disease. Therefore, its indication should be considered in the management of even these early lung cancers.

Effectiveness and safety of a simple catheter securement device aimed at preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infection in intensive care unit patients: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Clinical practice guidelines for the prevention of catheter associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) recommend urinary catheter securement in critical patients although there is scant research on its effectiveness. AIM: To analyse whether securement of an indwelling urinary catheter (IUC) reduces the risk of CAUTI and meatal pressure injury among intensive care unit (ICU) patients and assess medical adhesive-related skin injury (MARSI) associated with the securement device. STUDY DESIGN: Open randomized controlled trial involving patients admitted to two ICUs in Spain. In the intervention group (n = 169 patients), the IUC was secured to the thigh using an in-house device piloted as part of this trial. Controls (n = 181) received standard care, including non-securement of the IUC. Barrier film spray was applied to the securement site with the aim of preventing MARSI. The definitions of the main outcomes were: CAUTI was diagnosed according to the criteria of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, meatal pressure injury was categorized into four grades and MARSI was classified as either erythema or skin tears. Bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were performed. Log-rank and Cox regressions were used to compare risk over time to CAUTI and meatal pressure injury in the two groups. RESULTS: Data from 350 patients were analysed, 169 (48.29%) from IG and 181 (51.71%) from CG. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, IUC securement was an independent protective factor against both CAUTI (RR = 0.2, 95% CI [0.05, 0.67]) and meatal pressure injury (RR = 0.31, 95% CI [0.15, 0.58]). The incidence of MARSI was 7.1%. CONCLUSION: Effective IUC securement significantly reduces the risk of CAUTI and meatal pressure injury among ICU patients. The in-house device piloted in the present trial is simple for nurses to use, and the incidence of MARSI was low. These results underline the benefits of IUC securement. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Indwelling urinary catheter (IUC) securement reduces the risk of urinary tract infection. IUC securement helps prevent meatal pressure injury. IUC securement with in-house devices is safe and effective.

Where do nursing students make mistakes when calculating drug doses? A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Research internationally shows that nursing students find dosage calculation difficult. Identifying the specific aspects of dose calculation procedures that are most commonly associated with errors would enable teaching to be targeted where it is most needed, thus improving students' calculation skills. The aim of this study was to analyze where specifically nursing students make mistakes when calculating drug doses. METHOD: Retrospective analysis of written examination papers including dosage calculation exercises from years 1, 2, and 3 of a nursing degree program. Exercises were analyzed for errors in relation to 23 agreed categories reflecting different kinds of calculation or steps in the calculation process. We conducted a descriptive and bivariate analysis of results, examining the relationship between the presence of errors and the proportion of correct and incorrect final answers. RESULTS: A total of 285 exam papers including 1034 calculation exercises were reviewed. After excluding those that had been left blank, a total of 863 exercises were analyzed in detail. A correct answer was given in 455 exercises (52.7%), although this varied enormously depending on the type of exercise: 89.2% of basic dose calculations were correct, compared with just 2.9% of those involving consideration of maximum concentration. The most common errors were related to unit conversion, more complex concepts such as maximum concentration and minimum dilution, or failure to contextualize the answer to the clinical case. Other frequent errors involved not extracting the key information from the question, not including the units when giving their answer, and not understanding the question. In general, fewer errors in basic dose calculations were made by students at later stages of the degree program. CONCLUSIONS: Students struggle with more complex dose calculations. The main errors detected were related to understanding the task and the key concepts involved, as well as not following the correct steps when solving the problem.

The Effect of Renal Replacement Therapy and Antibiotic Dose on Antibiotic Concentrations in Critically Ill Patients: Data From the Multinational Sampling Antibiotics in Renal Replacement Therapy Study.

BACKGROUND: The optimal dosing of antibiotics in critically ill patients receiving renal replacement therapy (RRT) remains unclear. In this study, we describe the variability in RRT techniques and antibiotic dosing in critically ill patients receiving RRT and relate observed trough antibiotic concentrations to optimal targets. METHODS: We performed a prospective, observational, multinational, pharmacokinetic study in 29 intensive care units from 14 countries. We collected demographic, clinical, and RRT data. We measured trough antibiotic concentrations of meropenem, piperacillin-tazobactam, and vancomycin and related them to high- and low-target trough concentrations. RESULTS: We studied 381 patients and obtained 508 trough antibiotic concentrations. There was wide variability (4-8-fold) in antibiotic dosing regimens, RRT prescription, and estimated endogenous renal function. The overall median estimated total renal clearance (eTRCL) was 50 mL/minute (interquartile range [IQR], 35-65) and higher eTRCL was associated with lower trough concentrations for all antibiotics (P < .05). The median (IQR) trough concentration for meropenem was 12.1 mg/L (7.9-18.8), piperacillin was 78.6 mg/L (49.5-127.3), tazobactam was 9.5 mg/L (6.3-14.2), and vancomycin was 14.3 mg/L (11.6-21.8). Trough concentrations failed to meet optimal higher limits in 26%, 36%, and 72% and optimal lower limits in 4%, 4%, and 55% of patients for meropenem, piperacillin, and vancomycin, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In critically ill patients treated with RRT, antibiotic dosing regimens, RRT prescription, and eTRCL varied markedly and resulted in highly variable antibiotic concentrations that failed to meet therapeutic targets in many patients.

Once-daily 1 g ceftriaxone optimizes exposure in patients with septic shock and hypoalbuminemia receiving continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration.

PURPOSE: Ceftriaxone total and unbound pharmacokinetics (PK) can be altered in critically ill patients with septic shock and hypoalbuminemia receiving continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF). The objective of this study was to determine the dosing strategy of ceftriaxone that maximizes the probability of maintaining the concentration above the MIC of the susceptible bacteria (≤2 mg/L by the EUCAST) for a 100% of the dosing interval (100% ƒuT>MIC). METHODS: In a prospective PK study in the intensive care units of two tertiary Spanish hospitals, six timed blood samples were collected per patient; for each sample, ceftriaxone total and unbound concentrations were measured using a liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry method. Population PK analysis and Monte-Carlo simulations were performed using NONMEMv.7.3®. RESULTS: We enrolled 8 critically ill patients that met the inclusion criteria (47 blood samples). Median age (range) was 70 years (47-85), weight 72.5 kg (40-95), albumin concentration 24.2 g/L (22-34), APACHE II score at admission 26 (17-36), and SOFA score on the day of study 12 (9-15). The unbound fraction (ƒu) of ceftriaxone was 44%, and total CL was 1.27 L/h, 25-30% higher than the CL reported in septic critically ill patients not receiving renal replacement therapies, and dependent on albumin concentration and weight. Despite this increment in ƒu and CL, Monte-Carlo simulations showed that a dose of 1 g once-daily ceftriaxone is sufficient to achieve a 100% ƒuT>MIC for MICs ≤2 mg/L for any range of weight and albumin concentration. CONCLUSION: Once-daily 1 g ceftriaxone provides optimal exposure in critically ill patients with septic shock and hypoalbuminemia receiving CVVHDF.

Feeling Informed Versus Being Informed: Mixed-Methods Analysis of Family Perceptions and Behavior Following a Pediatric Emergency Department Visit.

PURPOSE: To examine perceptions of family-centered care, satisfaction, and quality of communication with health professionals during a pediatric emergency department visit, and to evaluate the perceived usefulness of the information received and whether provider treatment recommendations were followed after discharge. DESIGN: Embedded mixed methods design with two concurrent phases. Participants in phase 1 were 385 adult relatives of children (age 6 days-17 years, mean 5.0 years, SD 4.5) seen in a pediatric emergency department. On the day of the visit, relatives completed questionnaires exploring perceptions of family-centered care, satisfaction (CSQ-8), and quality of communication with professionals (ad hoc instrument). For phase 2, we conducted daily structured telephone interviews with 37 of these parents over the six consecutive days following the emergency visit. RESULTS: Satisfaction with the visit was significantly related to the perception of family-centered care (B = 0.25; 95% CI [0.20, 0.29]; p < .001). Follow-up interviews revealed that 45.9% (n = 17) of families did not follow the prescribed treatment and 32.4% (n = 12) made a further appointment with their primary care pediatrician. Qualitative analysis suggested that families lacked certain information from care providers. CONCLUSIONS: Elements of a family-centered approach were rated positively and families believed that the information they received was useful. Importantly, more than half of the families who were followed up by telephone had doubts about provider treatment recommendations. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Family-centered care in the pediatric emergency department could enhance communication and help to ensure that treatment recommendations are followed at home.

Challenges for hospital management in supporting nurses to deliver humanized care.

Hospitals are paying increasing attention to the delivery of humanized care. The purpose of this study was to explore from the nursing perspective what hospital managers might do to facilitate this. A secondary analysis from a primary ethnographic study regarding dignity in nursing practice was conducted. Twenty interviews of internal medicine nurses from four hospitals were analyzed, and three main themes were identified: Management of nursing teams, Management of ethical values, and Management of the context. It is important for institutional values to be closely aligned with those of the nursing profession, and nurse managers play a key role in ensuring that the latter are applied in practice. The proposed actions offer a cost-effective framework through which nurses and managers may promote the delivery of humanized care.

Online education about end-of-life care and the donation process after brain death and circulatory death. Can we influence perception and attitudes in critical care doctors? A prospective study.

Impact of training on end-of-life care (EOLC) and the deceased donation process in critical care physicians' perceptions and attitudes was analysed. A survey on attitudes and perceptions of deceased donation as part of the EOLC process was delivered to 535 physicians working in critical care before and after completion of a online training programme (2015-17). After training, more participants agreed that nursing staff should be involved in the end-of-life decision process (P < 0.001) and that relatives should not be responsible for medical decisions (P < 0.001). Postcourse, more participants considered 'withdrawal/withholding' as similar actions (P < 0.001); deemed appropriate the use of pre-emptive sedation in all patients undergoing life support treatment adequacy (LSTA; P < 0.001); and were favourable to approaching family about donation upon LSTA agreement, as well as admitting them in the intensive care unit (P < 0.001) to allow the possibility of donation. Education increased the number of participants prone to initiate measures to preserve the organs for donation before the declaration of death in patients undergoing LSTA (P < 0.001). Training increased number of positive terms selected by participants to describe donation after brain and circulatory death. Training programmes may be useful to improve physicians' perception and attitude about including donation as part of the patient's EOLC.

Emotions and feelings in critical and emergency caring situations: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Moral emotions are a key element of our human morals. Emotions play an important role in the caring process. Decision-making and assessment in emergency situations are complex and they frequently result in different emotions and feelings among health-care professionals. METHODS: The study had qualitative deductive design based on content analysis. Individual interviews and focus groups were conducted with sixteen participants. RESULTS: The emerging category "emotions and feelings in caring" has been analysed according to Haidt, considering that moral emotions include the subcategories of "Condemning emotions", "Self-conscious emotions", "Suffering emotions" and "Praising emotions". Within these subcategories, we found that the feelings that nurses experienced when ethical conflicts arose in emergency situations were related to caring and decisions associated with it, even when they had experienced situations in which they believed they could have helped the patient differently, but the conditions at the time did not permit it and they felt that the ethical conflicts in clinical practice created a large degree of anxiety and moral stress. The nurses felt that caring, as seen from a nursing perspective, has a sensitive dimension that goes beyond the patient's own healing and, when this dimension is in conflict with the environment, it has a dehumanising effect. Positive feelings and satisfaction are created when nurses feel that care has met its objectives and that there has been an appropriate response to the needs. CONCLUSIONS: Moral emotions can help nurses to recognise situations that allow them to promote changes in the care of patients in extreme situations. They can also be the starting point for personal and professional growth and an evolution towards person-centred care.

Impact of training on intensive care providers' attitudes and knowledge regarding limitation of life-support treatment and organ donation after circulatory death.

The limitation of life-sustaining treatment is common practice in critical care units, and organ donation after circulatory death has come to be included as an option within this care plan. Lack of knowledge and misunderstandings can raise barriers between health-care providers (e.g., confusion about professional roles, lack of collaboration, doubts about the legality of the process, and not respecting patients' wishes in the decision-making process). The aim of the present study was to determine the knowledge and attitudes of intensive care physicians and nurses before and after a multidisciplinary online training program. A cross-sectional study was performed, and comparisons between the two groups were made using a χ2 -test for categorical data and unpaired t-test or Mann-Whitney rank sum test for continuous data according to its distribution. Training benefited both professional categories, helping nurses to be more open-minded and willing to collaborate, while physicians became more aware of nurses' presence and the need to collaborate with them.

Emergency Nurse Competence in Electrocardiographic Interpretation in Spain: A Cross-Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Electrocardiographic interpretation skills are key to provide a fast attention to patients with thoracic pain. The aim of the study was to determine the current level of competence in electrocardiographic interpretation of nurses in emergency departments. METHODS: Cross-sectional, multicenter study via an ad hoc questionnaire. Subjects were nurses from three Spanish emergency departments with at least a year experience in this area. A two-part questionnaire was created consisting of a professional profile, and 12 questions (2 theoretical questions and 10 questions on practical cases with electrocardiographic register [readout]). A pilot test was carried out to evaluate the validity of the questionnaire, the content validity index. The reliability of the questionnaire was also tested on a subsample through intraclass correlation coefficient with a value of 0.869 (CI 95% 0.712-0.941). Descriptive and bivariate analyses were conducted using an independent t-test or one-way ANOVA as appropriate. A statistical significance of P < .05 was assumed. RESULTS: Fifty-seven usable questionnaires were obtained (47.2% response rate). Women comprised 84.2% of the sample and the mean age of the sample was 40.5 (SD = 9.3) years. Slightly more than 91% had taken electrocardiographic interpretation training courses, the main modality for which was face-to-face (84.2%). The average score on our questionnaire was 8.6 (SD=1.1) points. No significant differences between nursing experience and hospitals were observed. Nurses who had received training within the previous five years scored significantly higher than those who had not (P = .031). DISCUSSION: The electrocardiographic knowledge of emergency nurses is high. Level of knowledge was not influenced by experience or hospital but was influenced by training when provided in the previous 5 years. Therefore, refreshing courses should be taken at least every 5 years. Contribution to Emergency Nursing Practice.

Piperacillin population pharmacokinetics in critically ill patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome receiving continuous venovenous haemodiafiltration: effect of type of dialysis membrane on dosing requirements.

OBJECTIVES: This multicentre study aimed to describe the pharmacokinetics (PK) of piperacillin in critically ill patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) receiving continuous venovenous haemodiafiltration (CVVHDF), to identify the sources of PK variability and evaluate different dosing regimens to develop recommendations based on clinical parameters. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nineteen patients with MODS and CVVHDF receiving piperacillin/tazobactam were enrolled from three tertiary hospitals (95 plasma samples). Population PK modelling and Monte Carlo simulations were performed using NONMEM v7.3(®). RESULTS: Patients' median age was 70 years (range 39-82), median weight was 80 kg (45-129), median APACHE II score at admission was 21 (13-33) and median SOFA score on the day of study was 11 (8-21). The final population PK model was characterized by CL (L/h) = 6.11 * [weight (kg)/80](1.39) * CLMEMB. If membrane = 1.5 m(2) AN69ST, CLMEMB = 1; if membrane = 0.9 m(2) AN69, CLMEMB = 0.51. Monte Carlo simulations showed that: (i) to maintain unbound piperacillin concentrations above the MIC for the bacteria for 100% of dosing interval T (100%fuT>MIC), patients receiving CVVHDF with 1.5 m(2) AN69ST membranes required doses of 4000 mg q8h for the treatment of bacteria with a susceptibility to piperacillin close to the clinical breakpoint (MIC = 8-16 mg/L) (2000 mg q8h was sufficient for patients with CVVHDF using 0.9 m(2) AN69 membranes); and (ii) for the treatment of bacteria with high susceptibility to piperacillin (MIC <4 mg/L) or for the attainment of a more traditional pharmacodynamic target (50%fuT>MIC), 2000 mg q8h sufficed regardless of type of membrane and body weight. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that type of membrane and body weight should be considered for piperacillin dose titration in critically ill patients with MODS and CVVHDF requirement.

Meropenem population pharmacokinetics in critically ill patients with septic shock and continuous renal replacement therapy: influence of residual diuresis on dose requirements.

Meropenem dosing in critically ill patients with septic shock and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is complex, with the recommended maintenance doses being 500 mg to 1,000 mg every 8 h (q8h) to every 12 h. This multicenter study aimed to describe the pharmacokinetics (PKs) of meropenem in this population to identify the sources of PK variability and to evaluate different dosing regimens to develop recommendations based on clinical parameters. Thirty patients with septic shock and CRRT receiving meropenem were enrolled (153 plasma samples were tested). A population PK model was developed with data from 24 patients and subsequently validated with data from 6 patients using NONMEM software (v.7.3). The final model was characterized by CL = 3.68 + 0.22 · (residual diuresis/100) and V = 33.00 · (weight/73)(2.07), where CL is total body clearance (in liters per hour), residual diuresis is the volume of residual diuresis (in milliliters per 24 h), and V is the apparent volume of distribution (in liters). CRRT intensity was not identified to be a CL modifier. Monte Carlo simulations showed that to maintain concentrations of the unbound fraction (fu ) of drug above the MIC of the bacteria for 40% of dosing interval T (referred to as 40% of the ƒ uT >MIC), a meropenem dose of 500 mg q8h as a bolus over 30 min would be sufficient regardless of the residual diuresis. If 100% of the ƒ uT >MIC was chosen as the target, oligoanuric patients would require 500 mg q8h as a bolus over 30 min for the treatment of susceptible bacteria (MIC < 2 mg/liter), while patients with preserved diuresis would require the same dose given as an infusion over 3 h. If bacteria with MICs close to the resistance breakpoint (2 to 4 mg/liter) were to be treated with meropenem, a dose of 500 mg every 6 h would be necessary: a bolus over 30 min for oligoanuric patients and an infusion over 3 h for patients with preserved diuresis. Our results suggest that residual diuresis may be an easy and inexpensive tool to help with titration of the meropenem dose and infusion time in this challenging population.

Beta-lactam dosing in critically ill patients with septic shock and continuous renal replacement therapy.

Although early and appropriate antibiotic therapy remains the most important intervention for successful treatment of septic shock, data guiding optimization of beta-lactam prescription in critically ill patients prescribed with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) are still limited. Being small hydrophilic molecules, beta-lactams are likely to be cleared by CRRT to a significant extent. As a result, additional variability may be introduced to the per se variable antibiotic concentrations in critically ill patients. This article aims to describe the current clinical scenario for beta-lactam dosing in critically ill patients with septic shock and CRRT, to highlight the sources of variability among the different studies that reduce extrapolation to clinical practice, and to identify the opportunities for future research and improvement in this field. Three frequently prescribed beta-lactams (meropenem, piperacillin and ceftriaxone) were chosen for review. Our findings showed that present dosing recommendations are based on studies with drawbacks limiting their applicability in the clinical setting. In general, current antibiotic dosing regimens for CRRT follow a one-size-fits-all fashion despite emerging clinical data suggesting that drug clearance is partially dependent on CRRT modality and intensity. Moreover, some studies pool data from heterogeneous populations with CRRT that may exhibit different pharmacokinetics (for example, admission diagnoses different to septic shock, such as trauma), which also limit their extrapolation to critically ill patients with septic shock. Finally, there is still no consensus regarding the %T>MIC (percentage of dosing interval when concentration of the antibiotic is above the minimum inhibitory concentration of the pathogen) value that should be chosen as the pharmacodynamic target for antibiotic therapy in patients with septic shock and CRRT. For empirically optimized dosing, during the first day a loading dose is required to compensate the increased volume of distribution, regardless of impaired organ function. An additional loading dose may be required when CRRT is initiated due to steady-state equilibrium breakage driven by clearance variation. From day 2, dosing must be adjusted to CRRT settings and residual renal function. Therapeutic drug monitoring of beta-lactams may be regarded as a useful tool to daily individualize dosing and to ensure optimal antibiotic exposure.

Knowledge and beliefs of intensive care nurses about urinary catheter securement: Results of a national survey.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the knowledge and beliefs of intensive care nurses about urinary catheter securement. METHOD AND SETTING: A self-report survey tool comprising 19 questions (15 closed, 4 open-ended) was developed through consultation with a panel of experts and then disseminated electronically to nurse members of two societies for critical care medicine and nursing in Spain. Responses were analysed by calculating descriptive statistics and through qualitative analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Nurses' self-reported knowledge and beliefs about urinary catheter securement in the intensive care patient. RESULTS: Responses of 333 nurses were analysed. Most respondents considered that urinary catheter securement was beneficial for patients (n = 261, 78.4 %) and that it reduced the risk of both meatal pressure injury (n = 266, 79.9 %) and accidental tugging (n = 304, 91.3 %). Regarding the securement procedure, less than a quarter of nurses mentioned the use of barrier film to protect the skin at the securement site (n = 62, 18.6 %) or the need to leave slack in the tube to avoid tugging (n = 45, 13.5 %). Qualitative analysis of responses to open-ended questions revealed that some nurses believed that catheter securement was contraindicated due to the risk of skin injury, or that it interfered with some aspects of basic care, thus increasing their workload. CONCLUSIONS: There appears to be a lack of knowledge among Spanish intensive care nurses about recommended procedures for securing a urinary catheter. Clear and concise guidelines for the intensive care setting are required to ensure safe and standardised practice without creating additional burden for nurses. IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: Lack of knowledge among intensive care nurses about how to secure urinary catheters may pose certain risks to patients, therefore specific training in how to secure a urinary catheter is needed.

Critical Care Nurses' Perceptions of Abuse and Its Impact on Healthy Work Environments in Five European Countries: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: Workplace violence is a prevalent phenomenon in hospital settings which critical care nurses are particularly exposed to. The aim of this study was to research abuse against Critical Care Nurses in five European countries, and its association with and impact on Healthy Work Environments. Methods: This was a multinational cross-sectional study. The 1,183 participants were nurses working in intensive care units from five European countries: Croatia, Cyprus, Poland, Spain, and Romania. The participants were selected by the convenience sampling method from 1 January 2021 to April 2022. Results: Of 1,033 critical care nurses who answered questions about abuse, 646 reported at least one incident in the previous year. The highest number of incidents came from patients (2,050), followed by another nurse (1,453) and physicians (1,039). Conclusion: Although nurses in ICUs are aware that a healthy working environment benefits them in their daily work, most of them still face some form of abuse. Organizations must take a realistic approach to prevent abuse and to educate nurses and nurse managers by implementing standards for healthy work environments.

Evaluation of a blended training solution for critical care nurses' work environment: Lessons learned from focus groups in four European countries.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate a blended pilot training course on Healthy Work Environments (HWEs) for critical care nurses as follows: 1) to explore the experience of trainees and trainers who took part in the training; and 2) to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the training program in its potential transferability to nursing practice in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). BACKGROUND: Despite the evidence supporting the association between HWEs and job satisfaction, nursing retention, and patient outcomes, nurses still have high rates of burnout, mental health problems and intent to leave. To address this challenge, a blended training was created and piloted with the aim to highlight the relevance and impact of HWEs, enhancing its transferability to daily practice. The training was based on the six standards of HWEs as proposed by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses and created within an Erasmus + project. The pilot was delivered by trainers (critical care nursing educators) to critical care nurses and included six workshops of eight hours each (48 h in total) in each country. DESIGN: After the pilot testing, a qualitative approach, with focus group discussions was used. METHODS: All the trainees (n=82), who had attended at least one workshop were invited to participate in the focus groups. Overall, eight focus groups were held with critical care nurses who participated as trainees (n=39) from four testing countries: Cyprus, Croatia, Spain and Poland. One international focus group was held with trainers who conducted the training (n=4). Four more trainers completed the questionnaire online. All focus group were video recorded, and transcribed verbatim. Then, the national transcripts were translated into English. An inductive thematic analysis was carried out. FINDINGS: Three themes were identified: 1) Valuing the relevance of the training program and a positive learning experience; 2) A powerful insight leading to increased awareness and empowerment in personal and professional life; 3) Challenges identified in terms of training, follow up and management of change. Both trainees and trainers expressed a positive opinion with regard to the content of the training and the didactic methods used. They emphasized the strong influence of the training on their understanding of a HWEs, its impact in an ICU context and the need for action, mainly related to communication issues. CONCLUSION: The proposed blended training program may be used by trainers, who can enable nurses develop the competencies required to influence their work environment, in a context of shared responsibility.

Assessing Nursing Students' Self-Perceptions about Safe Medication Management: Design and Validation of a Tool, the NURSPeM.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to design and validate a tool for assessing nursing students' self-perceptions about safe medication management. METHODS: A descriptive instrumental study was conducted involving construct definition, development of the tool, analysis of the content validity, and psychometric evaluation. Consensus regarding the content was obtained through a two-round Delphi process, and the resulting tool (the NURSPeM) was administered to nursing students to examine its internal consistency, temporal stability, and construct validity, the latter through exploratory factor analysis. RESULTS: Thirteen experts participated in the Delphi process, which yielded a tool comprising two questionnaires: (1) Self-perceptions about safe medication management (27 items) and (2) the frequency and learning of drug-dose calculation (13 items). The tool's psychometric properties were then examined based on responses from 559 nursing students. This analysis led to the elimination of three items from questionnaire 1, leaving a total of 24 items distributed across seven dimensions. All 13 items in questionnaire 2 were retained. Both questionnaires showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.894 and 0.893, respectively) and temporal stability (ICC = 0.894 and 0.846, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The NURSPeM is a valid and reliable tool for assessing nursing students' self-perceptions about safe medication management. It may be used to identify areas in which their training needs to be enhanced, and to evaluate the subsequent impact of new teaching initiatives.