The Occupational Health Nurse and his/here role in the prevention of work-related diseases: results of an observational study.

BACKGROUND: In Italy, health in the workplace is still considered a field for physicians only. In contrast to Europe, the figure of the occupational health nurse is not yet present, due to the absences of contractual and university fields. The present study aimed to carry out a survey for understanding the usefulness of the introduction of the occupational health nurse in the field of prevention and protection of health at work. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The questionnaire was administered via an online survey to health professionals including Students (undergraduate and post-graduate levels) of Nursing Sciences and Midwives, Nurses, Physicians specialized in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, in Occupational Medicine and Legal Medicine. The questionnaire included 26 questions. The statistical analysis, conducted with SPSS software (release 25.0), has been articulated through the use of frequency tables and contingency tables. Differences in participants' responses were analyzed with the chi-square and Fisher's exact tests, where applicable, considering gender, marital status, presence of sons in families, age, macro-region, and professional activities as potential explanatory variables. RESULTS: After two general reminders, 232 individuals entered the survey, with an overall response rate of 65%. 42.2% of the participants were nurses, aged between 20 and 64 years. Around 70% were females. A low percentage (9.9%) is associated with respondents from northern Italy 53.0% from Center and 37.1% from southern Italy. The questionnaire included four major fields of occupational health nursing. The nursing role for companies (items 8, 12, 13, 14, and 17): the responders approve the introduction of the occupational health nurse in the companies for his/her competences on health promotion and work-related diseases prevention. Utility for companies (items 18, 19, 20 and 21): the usefulness brought by the occupational health nurse to companies is fully shared by the responders. Occupational Health Nurse's action field (items 16, 22, 23 and 24): the answer "yes" has the highest prevalence among the responders, followed by "I don't know". Education (items 25 and 26): Nurses, Physicians and Nursing Students think that the occupational health nurse must have an appropriate university training program, in particular, a master's first degree. Concerning the main focus of the study (opinion on which was the most suitable course of study for the occupational health nurse), 85 (36,6 %) participants answered, "First level Master degree", and 60 (25,9 %) "Advanced training course". CONCLUSIONS: This study wanted to highlight the opinion of professionals on the usefulness of this new nursing figure, projected into the world of occupational medicine. The OHN supports the Physician with his/her professionalism and autonomy in prevention and treatment of work-related diseases, as demonstrated and valued in the rest of Europe. The implementation of advanced courses on occupational nursing, and in particular specific post-graduate degrees, is needed.

Role and skills of the oncology nurse: an observational study.

PURPOSE: The importance of nursing competence arises from its central role in influencing and determining care outcomes. The employment of adequately educated staff, able to base clinical decisions on the best scientific evidence, is one of the components required for delivering high quality nursing care in the oncological field. The aim of this study is to analyze - through the Nurse Competence Scale - the level of competence of nurses working in oncological settings. METHOD: A descriptive study was performed between March and September 2017. The participants were recruited among the nursing staff working in the Day Hospital and the Units of the IRCCS -Regina Elena National Cancer Institute in Rome. The confidentiality and the anonymity of the subjects involved in the study were guaranteed by submitting a socio-cultural data sheet -specifically designed to collect demographic and education data - and the Nurse Competence Scale. RESULTS: The sample included 65 nurses (93%) and 5 head nurses (7%), with a mean age of 41.8 years, predominantly female (80%), who had been working in oncology units for a mean of 17.2 years. The Nurse Competence Scale showed a high level of competence in all dimensions. Moreover, the Chi-Square test allowed to identify the presence of significant associations between the different dimensions of the Nurse Competence Scale and the work experience >15 years and the age > 40 years. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study show that, even if lacking specific oncology competence, nurses working in oncology care settings have developed a good level of clinical competences. Highlighting the importance of nursing care in the oncology area will increase the demand of both patients and organizations of high quality nursing care, consequently enhancing the nursing profession.

Percepções de profissionais de enfermagem acerca da integração do técnico de enfermagem na sistematização da assistência / Perceptions of nursing professionals regarding the integration of nursing technicians in the systematization of care

Objetivo: Descrever as percepções de docentes e de profissionais da assistência acerca da integração do técnico de enfermagem na Sistematização da Assistência de Enfermagem (SAE). Métodos: Trata-se de estudo descritivo, de abordagem qualitativa. Participaram sete docentes e 13 técnicos de enfermagem vinculados a um hospital universitário do Nordeste brasileiro. A coleta de dados ocorreu a partir da técnica do grupo focal e o conteúdo textual foi submetido à análise lexicográfica. Resultados: As percepções dos docentes resultaram na análise de quatro classes: potencialidades da integração do técnico na SAE; entraves e fragilidades; formação dos técnicos; e ensino em serviço como primordial. Quanto às opiniões dos técnicos, três classes foram analisadas: representações subjetivas; potencialidades da SAE; e possibilidades de contribuição do técnico de enfermagem. Conclusão: Docentes e profissionais da assistência descrevem as potencialidades da integração do técnico de enfermagem na SAE e a reconhecem como condicionante para efetivação deste método de trabalho.

Características de los protocolos de investigación presentados por los cursantes de la asignatura "Metodología de la Investigación en Enfermería", Facultad de Medicina, UNNE. Período 2005-2015 / Characteristics of the research protocols presented by the students of the subject "Research Methodology in Nursing ", Faculty of Medicine, UNNE. Period 2005-2015

La calidad de atención y del cuidado enfermero, depende en gran medida de hacer a la investigación uno de los pilares más importantes de la enfermería como ciencia. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar las características de los protocolos de investigación presentados por los cursantes de la asignatura de Metodología de la Investigación en Enfermería de la carrera de Licenciatura en Enfermería de la Universidad Nacional del Nordeste durante los años 2005 al 2015. Se realizó un estudio de tipo cuantitativo, descriptivo, retrospectivo y transversal, y se consultaron los protocolos archivados en la biblioteca de dicha Facultad. Se trabajó con 230 protocolos. El 100% de los trabajos eran de tipo cuantitativos y de estos el 65% descriptivos y 35% analíticos. El 94% de los trabajos fueron de tipo transversales superando ampliamente a los longitudinales. En cuanto al área temática las principales fueron la clínica y la salud pública. El 67% de los protocolos fueron retrospectivos y el 33% prospectivo. Según el contexto de realización de los estudios se observó que la mayoría de los trabajos fueron realizados en instituciones del segundo y tercer nivel. Las investigaciones que se publicaron en revistas con referato ascendieron a 12 lo que representó solo el 5% del total. El promedio de protocolos por año fue de 20, con un valor mínimo de 5 en el 2005 y un valor máximo de 51 en el 2015. Los resultados mostraron buena productividad en los futuros licenciados en enfermería, con un predominio de estudios de tipo cuantitativo, principalmente abocados a la clínica, aunque se evidencio escasa publicación de los protocolos de investigación.

The quality of care and nursing care depends of a large extent on making research one of the most important pillars of nursing as a science. The objective of this work was to determine the characteristics of the research protocols presented by the students of the Nursing Research Methodology course of the Bachelor's degree in Nursing of the National University of the Northeast during the years 2005 to 2015. It was carried out a quantitative, descriptive, retrospective and transversal study, and the protocols filed in the library of said Faculty were consulted. We worked with 230 protocols. 100% of the works were of quantitative type and of these 65% descriptive and 35% analytical. 94% of the works were of transversal type surpassing extensively to the longitudinal ones. As for the thematic area the main ones were the clinic and the public health. 67% of the protocols were retrospective and 33% prospective. According to the context of the studies, it was observed most of the work was done in institutions of the second and third level. Research published in peer-reviewed journals amounted to 12 which represented only 5% of the total. The average number of protocols per year was 20, with a minimum value of 5 in 2005 and a maximum value of 51 in 2015. The results showed good productivity in future nursing graduates, with a predominance of quantitative studies, mainly in the clinical setting, although there was little publication of the research protocols. Key words: research, research methodology, nursing, students

Impacto econômico do absenteísmo de enfermagem por doença em um hospital universitário do Rio de Janeiro-RJ / Economic impact of nursing absenteeism due to ilness in a university hospital in Rio de Janeiro-RJ

Trata-se de uma pesquisa documental, retrospectiva de fonte secundária,que adota uma abordagem quantitativa descritiva-exploratória. A partir da constatação de altos índices de absenteísmo nas unidades hospitalares, despertou-se o interesse em estudar os custos diretos das doenças ocupacionais que levam aos afastamentos e seu impacto econômico para o orçamento de recursos humanos de um hospital universitário do Rio de Janeiro. Neste contexto, definiu-se como objeto de estudo, o impacto econômico do absenteísmo por doença na equipe de enfermagem e, como objetivos: identificar as causas prevalentes de afastamentos no hospital universitário, de acordo com Classificação Internacional de Doenças e Problemas Relacionados a Saúde (CID-10); estimar os custos diretos mínimos das doenças que afastaram o trabalhador de enfermagem; estimar o custo real aproximado do absenteísmo relacionado a 1 (um) dia de trabalho prestado pelos trabalhadores de enfermagem, com projeção de 1 (um) mês e 1(um) ano numa visão operacional do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Foi utilizada uma amostra estratificada de prontuários dos profissionais de saúde da equipe de enfermagem (enfermeiros e técnicos de enfermagem), a partir do seguinte critério de inclusão: profissionais de enfermagem concursados com afastamento no ano de 2010 e com diagnóstico médico determinante do afastamento, definido claramente. Para a coleta das informações foi feita a apreciação dos documentos arquivados no Serviço de Saúde do Trabalhador do hospital estudado e contou com a apreciação de especialistas médicos relativos aos grupos de diagnósticos estudados, orientados por roteiros criados pela pesquisadora. Os dados foram analisados e armazenados no programa Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) versão 15 e no editor Microsoft excel 2003...

It is a documentary research, retrospective from secondary source , which adopts a quantitative descriptive- exploratory aprouch. From the observation of high rates of absenteeism in hospital the interest in studying the direct costs of occupational diseases that lead cleareances and their economic impact to the human resources budget of a university hospital in Rio de Janeiro. In this context, it was defined as an object of study the economic impact of sickness absenteeism among nursing and the following objectives: to identify the prevalent causes of absenteeism at the university hospital studied, according to the Internacional Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10), to estimate the minimum directs costs of the diseases conditions that lead absenteeism to the nursing worker, to estimate the real cost of absenteeism related to one day of work provided by the nursing staff, with projection for one month and one year in operational vision of the Unified Health System (SUS). We used a stratified sample of health professionals records representing nursing staff (nurses and nursing technicians) according to the following inclusion criteria: gazetted professional nursing, with absences in 2010 with medical diagnosis, clearly defined. For data go thing, we used the files the university hospital worker health service and had the appraisal of medical experts for the diagnostic groups studied, according to scripts created by the researcher. Data were analyzed and stored in the program Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 15 and Microsoft excel 2003 in the editor...

Automedicação em profissionais das áreas de enfermagem e farmácia em ambiente hospitalar na cidade de São José do Rio Preto-SP / Self Medication in nursing and pharmacist personnel at in-hospital

Introdução: no Brasil a prática da automedicação é bastante difundida. Atualmente existem vários trabalhosabordando este assunto, porém sem ênfase aos profissionais de saúde que estão em contato direto commedicamentos, bem como poucas campanhas de prevenção a esta prática. Objetivos: verificar a prevalênciada automedicação em profissionais das áreas de enfermagem e farmácia em ambiente hospitalar, utilizandouma pesquisa não experimental descritiva. Materiais e métodos: foram avaliados todos os profissionais daárea farmacêutica do hospital e de enfermagem nos setores de ginecologia e obstetrícia, pediatria, UTIspediátrica, neonatal, semineonatal, semipediátrica e cardiopediátrica, por meio de um instrumento de coletade dados na forma de questionário elaborado pelos próprios pesquisadores tomando como base umquestionário publicado na literatura. O questionário respondido foi colocado em um envelope lacrado e depositado em uma urna disponibilizada pelos pesquisadores. Resultados: Foram avaliados 237 profissionais.A prevalência da automedicação foi de 56%, sendo que 58% eram mulheres de até 41 anos e 37% relataram seautomedicar por achar o problema pouco importante. A maior prevalência foi observada para as enfermeiras(75%). A classe medicamentosa mais utilizada foi o analgésico com 91% de relatos, 27% dos pesquisadosresponderam ter notado algumas reações adversas aos medicamentos. Discussão e conclusão: Os resultadosindicam que a automedicação é uma prática frequente também em profissionais da área da saúde. Aautoconfiança e o descuido com a própria saúde são fatores fundamentais na automedicação desse grupo.

Introdution: In Brazil, the practice of self-medication is widespread. Today, there are several studies to address this issue. Although, they have not focused on the health professionals directly involved with medication, and there have been only a few campaigns to address the prevention of self-medication. Aim: For this reason, this study aimed at the verification of self-medication prevalence among nursing and pharmaceutical professionals at hospitals, employing non-experimental descriptive research. Materials andmethods: We evaluated all the professionals working in the hospital pharmaceutical area, as well as thenursing personnel in the following areas: obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, pediatric ICU, neonatal ICU,semi-neonatal ICU, cardio-pediatric ICU, and semi-cardio-pediatric ICU. A questionnaire was used as aninstrument to collect data. It was elaborated by researchers themselves with the aid of a questionnairepublished in the literature. When the questionnaire was completely answered, it was placed in a sealedenvelope and deposited in a ballot-box provided by researchers. Results: It has been evaluated 237 professionals. The prevalence of self-medication was 56%, of which 58% were women up to the age of 41 years. In this study, 37% of the people studied reported self-medicating themselves because they believed their problem was of minor importance. The highest percentage was observed in nurses (75%). Analgesicwas the most commonly used drug, accounting for 91% of the cases, and 27% of the participants noticedadverse reactions to medications. Discussion and conclusion: The results indicate that self-medication among health professionals is a common practice. Over-confidence in medical matters and neglect of their own health are fundamental factors, which lead to self-medication in this group.

Cancer incidence among male Danish nurses, 1980-2003.

BACKGROUND: The cancer risk of female nurses has been examined in several studies, but none has addressed the risk of male nurses, although they may be exposed to the same carcinogens as female nurses. In this register-based cohort study, we explored cancer incidence among male Danish nurses. METHODS: We identified 3369 male nurses from the files of the Danish Nurses Association and followed them up from 1980 to 2003 in the Danish Cancer Registry. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated on the basis of standardized national rates. We compared the nurses with 3369 other male employees matched to the nurses by year of birth on social variables (vital and marital status). FINDINGS: We observed 90 cancers in the cohort, with significantly increased SIRs for sarcomas and decreased SIRs for cancers of the respiratory system. When the cohort was stratified by educational generation and birth cohort, we observed significantly elevated relative risks for cancers of the brain and nervous system among the youngest nurses and for sarcomas among nurses in all educational generations and those born between 1945 and 1954. CONCLUSION: The overall risk for cancer among male Danish registered nurses is similar to that of the general male Danish population. The high SIRs observed for cancers of the brain and nervous system merit further attention. The high relative risks for sarcomas and connective tissue tumours reflect a large proportion of cases of Kaposi sarcoma, which is probably not occupationally related.

Perfil dos enfermeiros do Programa Saúde da Família: uma necessidade para discutir a prática profissional / Profile of the nurses working on the Family Health Program: a need to discuss the professional practice

O estudo teve como objetivo analisar as características dos enfermeiros que atuavam no Programa Saúde da Família (PSF), em Floriano (PI), em 2006, e discutir as implicações para a prática profissional. O estudo foi descritivo e dele participaram 24 enfermeiros das Unidades de Referência do PSF do município. Eles responderam um questionário auto-aplicado. Os resultados mostraram que a maioria tem idade acima de 30 anos, contrato de trabalho temporário com a prefeitura, duplicidade de vínculo empregatício, atuando paralelamente na docência e/ou na assistência hospitalar; 33,3% dos profissionais têm especialização em Saúde Pública e a maioria atua no PSF há mais de três anos. O estudo identificou necessidade de aprimoramento técnico-científico para atuação no PSF e descentralização dos cursos de pós-graduação, em especial na área de Saúde da Família. É sugerido rever a forma de contratação do profissional.

Empregabilidade dos enfermeiros no Brasil / Job of the nurse in Brazil / Empleo de las enfermeras en el Brasil

O trabalho mostra ao longo das décadas de 70, 80 e 90, a absorção dos enfermeiros no país através da oferta e demanda destes profissionais no mercado de trabalho do setor saúde, em outros setores da economia, e aponta sinais de absorção em novos mercados. Analisa que os enfermeiros são profissionais requeridos no mercado de trabalho, cuja empregabilidade vem aumentando ao longo das décadas. Utiliza como fontes da oferta de enfermeiros, os profissionais cadastrados no Conselho Federal de Enfermagem, os concluintes e os cursos de graduação através do Ministério da Educação; e como fontes de demanda, a pesquisa Assistência Médica Sanitária do IBGE, e a RelaçãoAnual de Informações Sociais do Ministério do Trabalho.

Knowledge and attitudes of nurses in veterans hospitals about pain management in patients with cancer.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To assess nurses' knowledge and attitudes about pain management and patients in pain. DESIGN: Exploratory, descriptive. SETTING: Seven medical-surgical inpatient units in two large veterans hospitals in Southwest Florida. SAMPLE: A convenience self-select sample of 85 nurses (RNs and LPNs working on the target units on all shifts). METHODS: Staff nurses were approached at work and asked to complete the data collection forms. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Knowledge about pain management principles and attitudes toward pain management and patients in pain. FINDINGS: Areas of major knowledge deficits included physiology of pain and pharmacology of analgesics. Nurses were most knowledgeable about the importance of asking patients about their pain, around-the-clock scheduling, tolerance, and use of distraction. Patient behavior, age, and gender seemed to unduly influence nurses in their pain management decisions. Regarding attitudes about pain management, the majority of nurses did not agree that patients and their families should have the most control over analgesic scheduling and that a constant level of analgesic should be maintained in the blood. In fact, 82% indicated that around-the-clock analgesics increase the risk for sedation and respiratory depression. CONCLUSIONS: Years after the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research published pain guidelines, nurses in veterans hospitals continue to lack knowledge and have negative attitudes that may negatively affect pain management in patients with cancer. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Basic and continuing education for nurses needs to include intensive content about pain management. Continued research is needed to document improvements in pain management by nurses.

Evaluating the effectiveness of a smoking cessation intervention designed for nurses.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of offering an individualised approach to smoking cessation to qualified nurses and student nurses in Northern Ireland. Twenty-two qualified nurses and 32 student nurses enrolled in the intervention. A further 23 qualified nurses and 33 student nurses expressed interest in giving up smoking, but did not wish to be included in the intervention. They were assigned to the comparison group. Objective verification utilising salivary cotinine measurements of continuous abstinence at 6 months and 1 year demonstrated that 24% of student and qualified nurses in the intervention groups stopped smoking compared with 7% of those in the comparison groups. Both of these differences are statistically significant (Fisher's Exact Probability Test p = < 0.05). This suggests that the individualised approach as used in this study is an appropriate method of helping motivated nurses to quit.