The image of nursing in the eyes of Generation Alpha and their parents in Türkiye: A multicenter cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Parents' views of nursing may play a key role in what kind of image their children hold of it. This study had three objectives. First, it investigated the image of nursing in the eyes of Generation Alpha and their parents. Second, it addressed whether their views affected each other. Third, it investigated factors that might affect their views. METHODS: This multicenter study adopted a descriptive correlational and cross-sectional design. The sample consisted of 1742 children and their parents (n = 3484). Data were collected using a demographic characteristics questionnaire and the Nursing Image Scale (NIS). The data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and stepwise regression analysis. RESULTS: Children, mothers, and fathers had a total NIS score of 48.76 (7.57), 42.37 (8.04), and 43.22 (8.99), respectively. Mothers' and fathers' NIS scores were positively associated with children's NIS scores (R2 = 0.286; 0.365, p < .01). Children's and their parents' negative experiences with nurses were negatively associated with their NIS scores (R2 = 0.358; 0.191; 0.155, p < .01). Children described nurses as "coolies," "maids," "machines," "devils," or "white ghosts." Their metaphors were negatively associated with their NIS scores. Almost half the participants stated that nursing was portrayed negatively in the media. CONCLUSION: Children have a more positive view of nursing, but their views are also affected by their parents' thoughts. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Nurses should be professionally autonomous, promote their professional identity through the media, and interact with their colleagues to have a professional image in the eyes of children and their parents.

The effect of using maternal voice, white noise, and holding combination interventions on the heel stick sampling.

BACKGROUND: Heel stick sampling, a common procedure in newborns, causes acute pain. AIMS: This study aims to measure the outcome of five various non-pharmacologic pain relief groups; maternal voice, white noise, holding, maternal voice+holding, and white noise+holding. METHODS: The study is an open label, randomized controlled trial. A total of 178 newborns were included in this study. Newborns were randomly allocated to each group; white noise (n = 31), maternal voice (n = 31), holding (n = 30), white noise+holding (n = 29), maternal voice+holding (n = 28), and control (n = 29) interventions. Newborns' pain responses were evaluated using the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS), and the Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP). The primary measured outcomes were the newborns' pain levels, while the secondary outcomes were the heart rate and changes in oxygen saturation. The mean values of pain in neonates between groups were evaluated one minute before (Phase1), during (Phase2), and one minute after (Phase3) the procedure. RESULTS: The research results are given with comparisons in three time periods (Phase1, Phase2 and Phase3). White noise and white noise+holding were found to have the lowest mean NIPS and PIPP score (p < 0.001). The mean heart rate was found to be the lowest in the white noise+holding group (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of oxygen saturation score (p = 0.453). CONCLUSION: The white noise+holding applied to newborns during heel stick sampling were effective in pain reduction. Nurses and midwives can use white noise+holding method. IMPLICATIONS TO PRACTICE: These results contribute to the pain management of newborns.

Assessment of factors and father-infant attachment levels among Turkish's fathers of preterm infants.

PURPOSE: Identify the factors affecting father-infant attachment among Turkishs fathers of preterm infants. DESIGN AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 63 fathers of preterm infants between the ages of 6-12 months. Data were collected using the Father-Infant Descriptive Information Form and the Paternal-Infant Attachment Scale (PIAS). Descriptive statistics, independent sample t-tests, mann-whitney test, the kruskal wallis test, the tamhane test, spearman correlation analysis, and linear stepwise regression were used to evaluate the data. RESULTS: The average PIAS scores of the fathers in the study was 62.97 ± 8.94. A statistically significant difference was found between the birth weight, clinical picture, and length of stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and PIAS total score of preterm infants (p < 0.01). There was a significant difference between the unplanned hospitalization of the baby after discharge and the father's changing the baby's clothes and the PIAS score (p < 0.05). Birth weight and unplanned hospitalization explained 31% of PIAS total score. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results, father-infant attachment levels of fathers of preterm infants were low. Father's involvement in changing the baby's clothes, preterm birth weight, clinical picture, and length of stay in the NICU were found to be associated with PIAS. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: It should be remembered that babies can be attached to their fathers as much as they are to their mothers. NICU nurses should initiate father-infant interaction early and ensure fathers' involvement in infant care in the NICU.

A year and a half later: Clinical experiences of intern nursing students in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A constructivist grounded theory.

AIMS: The aim of this study is to develop a theory to explore the clinical experiences of interns in clinical practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic is a serious public health problem influencing the healthcare systems worldwide. Nursing students were excluded from clinical practice for a long time due to the pandemic. However, the prolonged and uncertain pandemic conditions required the inclusion of fourth-year nursing students in clinical practice. DESIGN: A qualitative research design based on the Constructivist Grounded Theory approach was used in this study. METHODS: The research data were collected from fourth-year nursing students doing an internship at a university hospital in Turkey. Fourteen nursing students (12 females and 2 males) in the clinical practice during the COVID-19 pandemic with a mean age of 22.64 ± 0.225 were included in the study. In the collection of data, firstly, the purposeful sample selection method, then the theoretical sample selection method was used. On the online interview platform, the data were collected through individual interviews with those agreeing to participate in the study between July 2021 and August 2021 using a semi-structured interview form. The results were analyzed with initial, focused and theoretical coding. The research was reported based on the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research guide. RESULTS: A core category and five main categories emerged in the study. The core category is a lonely bird and the main categories are emotions, challenges, coping methods, nursing experiences and solution suggestions. CONCLUSIONS: This research can help create a conceptual framework of clinical practice experiences of intern nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is thought that intern nursing students need to be supported by reliable authorities before and during the internship. Intern students stated that they experienced many emotions together and felt alone. Our study results revealed that intern nurses need more psychological support, especially during the pandemic period. A remarkable finding of the research is that interns now think of themselves as professional nurses. For interns to develop effective coping methods, intensive and regular training should be organized in cooperation with the hospital and school administration.

The image of nursing among nursing and other healthcare professional university students: A mixed-method study.

AIM: This study had three objectives: (1) determining the image of nursing in the eyes of undergraduate health sciences students; (2) identifying factors affecting that image; and (3) evaluating students' views and experiences regarding that image. BACKGROUND: If healthcare students perceive nursing positively, it may result in directing future generations to nursing, and improving nursing, and reducing the need for nurses. DESIGN: This study adopted an explanatory sequential design with participant selection variant. The design involved data collection in two consecutive phases. METHODS: A mixed-method design using quantitative data and qualitative interviews was used. In the quantitative phase, a descriptive and cross-sectional research method was used. The qualitative phase was based on phenomenological research. The quantitative portion was performed with 1556 participants in their second, third or fourth year during the 2019-2020 academic year. Students were from the nursing, emergency and disaster management, nutrition and dietetics, occupational health and safety, health management, and social work departments. The qualitative portion was performed with 29 participant volunteers. Participants were interviewed on the phone. The data were collected using an introductory information form, a nursing image scale, and semi-structured interviews. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the independent-samples t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, one-way ANOVA, and stepwise linear regression. The quantitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: There were significant relationships between participants' nursing image scale total scores and their department (p < 0.001), education year (p = 0.014), age (p = 0.032) and desire to recommend the nursing profession (p < 0.001). Nursing image scale total score was significantly higher in nursing departments than in other departments. Second-year participants and 18-20-year-olds had higher total scores than fourth-year participants and 21-23-year-olds, respectively, and those who would recommend the nursing profession had higher total scores than those who would not recommend it (p < 0.05). Analysis of the qualitative data produced six main themes: perceptions of the nursing profession, perceived nursing figure, nurse knowledge, relationship with healthcare professionals, reason for preference and job gender. CONCLUSION: This study employed a mixed-method design involving both quantitative and qualitative stages. The results highlighted the image of nursing and its significance in the eyes of prospective healthcare professionals. Detecting nursing image early can increase professional training and improve the professional image of nursing. We should take into account the factors that negatively affect the image of nursing to plan nursing education better in the future.