[Hospital nurses' perspective on academic nursing education: a cross-sectional study in hospitals in the northwestern part of Germany]. / Die Akademisierung der Pflege aus Sicht der Pflegekräfte: eine Querschnittstudie in Krankenhäusern im Nordwesten Deutschlands.

Hospital nurses' perspective on academic nursing education: a cross-sectional study in hospitals in the northwestern part of Germany Abstract. BACKGROUND: Currently, there is an increasing need for highly qualified nurses in Germany. Against this background, an academic nursing education is frequently demanded in order to meet the high level of competences nurses must fulfil. AIM: This cross-sectional study aimed to explore nurses' attitudes towards academic nursing education as well as their self-reported scientific competences. METHODS: Based on a standardized questionnaire, we surveyed 547 hospital nurses from six different hospitals in the northwestern part of Germany. By means of a bivariate analysis and two multivariate regression models, we examined the influence of the independent variables "professional position", "degree of academic education", "age" and "gender" on the dependent variables "attitude towards academic nursing education" and "scientific competences". The multivariate analysis included three co-variates analysing different ways of support of academic nursing education within the hospitals. RESULTS: Especially nursing staff who has completed a study programme, is currently studying or hold executive positions has a more positive attitude towards academic education than its colleagues have. Moreover, opportunities for advancement within the hospitals influence the staff's attitude positively. With regard to the assessment of scientific competences, the analysis shows that a completed or currently conducted study programme as well as an executive position have a positive influence. In addition, male nursing staff, young nursing staff and staff with access to scientific articles assess their scientific skills more positively than their colleagues do. CONCLUSIONS: The attitudes towards academic education are still heterogeneous and influenced by different factors. Accordingly, the worth of academic education needs to be demonstrated.

The influence of personal values and patient intoxication on nurses concerns about opioids: results of a prospective cross-sectional multi-centre study.

BACKGROUND: Nurses are the main administrators of opioids in hospitals and enjoy some autonomy when using them to manage pain. Nevertheless evidence suggests they exercise this freedom restrictively with the reasons for this self-limitation remaining unclear. Nurses are influenced by personal and professional values and by patients' attributes. Intoxicated patients pose a particular challenge. This study therefore investigated whether cautious attitudes towards opioids were aggravated in intoxicated patients and influenced by personal values. METHODS: A two-version questionnaire was developed. Each presented a case vignette describing a patient in acute pain who was either intoxicated or not intoxicated. Questionnaires contained identical case statements inquiring about concerns regarding opioids, preferred analgesics and statements about opioids and personal values. They were distributed prospectively in a cross-sectional, multi-centre design. Equal distribution of both questionnaires was achieved through randomization of wards. Regression analysis was employed to determine predictors for responses to the case statements. RESULTS: In total, n = 374 (26%) nurses returned questionnaires, 85% were female, 39% worked in surgery and 64% had >10 years experience. A total of 78% were concerned using opioids in the intoxicated patient and 70% preferred non-opioids instead. Most nurses agreed familiarity with an opioid gives them more confidence and they were more concerned in patients with a history of drug abuse. They neither associated opioids with helping patients to die nor with drug abuse. The majority endorsed value statements representing 'universalism', 'hedonism' and 'benevolence' while disagreeing with 'power' and 'stimulation'. Nurses concerns were predicted by values indicating 'conformity' and 'achievement'. CONCLUSION: Nurses were concerned giving opioids to intoxicated patients and preferred non-opioids instead. These concerns were predicted by personal values representing 'Conservation' ('conformity') and 'Self-Enhancement' ('achievement'). Therefore, stigmatizing mental models likely contribute to nurses' reluctance to use opioids. Interestingly, personal ambition might protect nurses from discriminatory thoughts and practice.