Investigation of burnout and quality of work life of cardiac surgery nurses: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The care processes of cardiac surgery patients are difficult, complex and stressful. Nurses, who have an important role in the care of these patients, may experience burnout or poor quality of work life may be affected because of difficult care processes, and professional difficulties. AIM: This study analysed burnout and quality of work life in cardiac surgery nurses. STUDY DESIGN: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 68 nurses in the clinic and intensive care unit of a university hospital's cardiovascular surgery department. Clinical nurses care for inpatients in this department, while intensive care nurses care for patients in the intensive care unit. The 'Sociodemographic and Descriptive Characteristics of Nurses Form', 'Maslach Burnout Inventory' and 'Nursing Work Quality of Life Scale' were used to collect the data. RESULTS: The mean score of emotional exhaustion sub-dimension of Maslach Burnout Inventory was 15.25 ± 5.08 (min: 7, max: 27), the mean score of the personal accomplishment sub-dimension was 17.48 ± 4.90 (min: 8, max: 27), and the mean score of depersonalization sub-dimension was 5.60 ± 2.70 (min: 0, max: 13). The mean scores of the emotional exhaustion sub-dimension (t: -2.380, p: .020, risk ratio [RR]: 1.67, confidence interval [CI]: [14.21, 18.82]) and the personal accomplishment sub-dimension (t: -2.604, p: .011, RR: 1.00, CI: [16.08, 19.92]) were higher in intensive care nurses. The mean total score of the nursing quality of work life scale was 107.20 ± 14.60 (min: 72, max: 149). A negative statistically significant relationship was found between the mean scores of emotional exhaustion (r: -0.243, p: .045) and depersonalization sub-dimension (r: -0.325, p: .007) of the Maslach Burnout Scale and the mean total score of the nursing quality of work life scale. CONCLUSION: In this study, it can be said that cardiac surgery nurses had moderate levels of emotional burnout, personal accomplishment and quality of work life, and low levels of depersonalization. At the same time, it can be seen that intensive care nurses have higher levels of emotional burnout. The increased emotional burnout and depersonalization in nurses decreased the quality of work life. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This study provided an understanding of burnout and quality of work life of cardiac surgery nurses. Strategies can be developed to reduce burnout and improve the quality of the work life of cardiac surgery nurses. Particular attention should be paid to intensive care nurses who experience more burnout on several sub-dimensions. This may be a good approach to improving the quality of patient care.

Factors Affecting Knowledge Levels and Protective Behaviors to Prevent the Development of Skin Cancer in Organ Transplant Recipients as a High-Risk Group.

OBJECTIVES: Organ transplantrecipients are at high risk of skin cancer due to immunosuppressant therapy. This study investigated the factors affecting organ transplant recipients' knowledge and protective behaviors to prevent the development of skin cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study of kidney (n = 82) and liver (n = 31) transplant recipients seen at our hospitals in Turkey from June 2019 to February 2020. A sociodemographic and clinical characteristics form, the Skin Cancer and Sun Knowledge scale, the Sun Protection Behavior questionnaire, and the General Self-Efficacy scale were used to collect data. RESULTS: The mean age of organ transplant recipients was 46.63 ± 13.24 years. Self-efficacy and awareness that transplant increases the risk of skin cancer are 2 characteristics that affected the participants' knowledge level. The type of graft (kidney) affected participants' behavior in avoiding outdoor exposure between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm. Green/blue eye color and self-efficacy affected the participants' hatwearing behavior. These details showed that, as the patients' sensitivity and self-efficacy increased, their levels of knowledge and sun protection behaviors were positively affected. CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge level of patients was affected by (1) awareness that transplant is associated with an increased risk of skin cancer and (2) high levels of self-efficacy. We observed that (1) organ transplant recipients with high self-efficacy and kidney transplant recipients were more likely to avoid outdoor exposure between 10 am and 4 pm and that (2) organ transplant recipients with green/blue eyes and high levels of selfefficacy were more likely to wear a hat when outdoors. Organ transplant teams should provide education and counseling about skin cancer and sun protection in the follow-up care of transplant recipients.

The effects of showering in 48-72 h after coronary artery bypass graft surgery through median sternotomy on wound infection, pain, comfort, and satisfaction: randomized controlled trial.

AIMS: Time of showering after surgery is still a controversial issue for surgical patients and health professionals. We evaluated the effects of showering in 48-72 h after median sternotomy on sternal wound infections, pain due to sternotomy, patient comfort, and satisfaction levels. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study was a randomized controlled clinical trial. Fifty-one patients were randomly allocated (1:1) to the shower (n = 26) or non-shower group (n = 25). The patients in the shower group (intervention group) showered in the first 48-72 h after surgery and the patients in the non-shower group (control group) were not allowed to shower until their chest tube sutures were removed. They were instructed to shower on the next day after removal of the chest tube sutures. The rate of sternal wound infections was significantly lower in the shower group (n = 2, 7.7%) than in the non-shower group patients (n = 8, 32.0%; P = 0.038). A logistic regression analysis showed that early post-operative showering was protective and significantly reduced the risk of sternal wound infections independently of other variables [odds ratio (OR): 0.177; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.033-0.940; P = 0.042]. The pain severity score was significantly lower in the shower group patients. Also, comfort and satisfaction scores were significantly higher in this group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Early showering after sternotomy was found to be protective against sternal wound infections and had a positive effect on pain, comfort, and satisfaction. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials.gov registration number NCT04250961 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04250961).

Sexual Counseling Provided by Cardiovascular Nurses: Attitudes, Beliefs, Perceived Barriers, and Proposed Solutions.

BACKGROUND: Although sex lives of patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) are affected in various ways and degrees, nurses working with these patients refrain from talking about sexual matters with their patients or encounter barriers trying to do so. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this descriptive study was to identify attitudes and beliefs of cardiovascular nurses regarding talking to their patients about sexual problems, perceived barriers, and proposed solutions. METHODS: The sample included 170 nurses working for the cardiology and cardiac surgery departments of 1 university hospital, 2 ministry of health hospitals, and 2 private hospitals in Turkey. Data were collected between April and August 2015 through a 4-section questionnaire including the Sexual Attitude and Beliefs Scale. Descriptive, parametric, and nonparametric statistics were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Most (73.5%) reported not talking to their patients about sexual issues, and only 35.9% stated that they had been educated on how to do so. The major reason for nurses avoiding discussions about sex with their patients was not considering sexuality as a patient care priority (86.4%). Establishing privacy for the patient (91.2%) was the solution proposed by most nurses. The average score of the nurses on the Sexual Attitude and Beliefs Scale was only medium. CONCLUSION: Most of the nurses were untrained about how to talk about sexual problems with their patients and therefore were unable to talk about it freely.

Cardiovascular surgery nurses' level of knowledge regarding delirium.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that nurses have a crucial role in the recognition of delirium; however, they have insufficient knowledge regarding the issue. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to determine the knowledge level of cardiovascular surgery nurses regarding delirium. METHODS: A survey design was used. The population of the study consisted of 124 nurses employed at the cardiovascular surgery wards and intensive care units of universities as well as state and private hospitals located in two different cities in Turkey between May and June 2014. The sample consisted of 97 nurses employed at the aforementioned institutions and time. Data were collected using the questionnaire form depicting the demographic characteristics of the nurses and the knowledge form including the level of nurses' knowledge regarding delirium. For the evaluation of data, number, percentage, Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U- and independent-samples t-test were used. RESULTS: Nurses were between 18 and 47 years of age with a mean 29·8 (SD = 6·80, the youngest = 18 and the oldest = 47) years. They spent a minimum of 1, a maximum of 25 and a median value of 3 (interquartile range, IQR: 5) years working in cardiovascular surgery. As for the scores received from the knowledge form regarding delirium, the lowest was zero, the highest was 60, and the average score was 41·18 ± 12·50 (a moderate level of knowledge). It was found that the nurses working in intensive care units, those who were chief nurses and those who received in-service training scored higher than the others. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiovascular surgery nurses had a moderate level of knowledge regarding delirium. This may result in the neglect of delirium or a misdiagnosis. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: It is recommended that training is provided that includes recognition, assessment and application of appropriate interventions to minimise the incidence of delirium.