The effect of theoretical and simulation training on medical errors of nurse students in Karadeniz Technical University, Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of theoretical training related to medical errors and patient safety and practical simulation training on students' knowledge and skill levels.. METHODS: This experimental study was conducted from March 28 to May 18, 2016, at nursing department of a university and comprised of students attending the third grade of the nursing school. The subjects were divided into two equal experimental and control groups. The experimental group, among other things, received simulation training that involved a demonstration and subsequent one-to-one practice. Data was collected on a proforma that included demographic information, pretest and post-test scores, checklists for pre-assessments and final assessments related to nursing practices. RESULTS: There were 62 nurses divided into two groups of 31(50%) each. The difference between post-test scores of the concerning theoretical training about medical errors and patient safety was statistically significant (p<0.05). Pre-assessment of the groups concerning practical training on nursing skills and medical errors revealed no statistically significant difference (p>0.05), while there was a significant difference between their final assessments (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Theoretical education increased students' levels of knowledge regarding medical errors and patient safety, and the the practical simulation training reduced malpractices by improving skills.

The malpractices of student nurses in clinical practice in Turkey and their causes.

OBJECTIVE: The study was conducted to identify whether or not student nurses made the medical errors as well as the reasons for the errors. METHODS: A study was conducted with 1067 student nurses studying at 12 universities in Turkey. The data were collected by using medical error scale and a questionnaire on demographic characteristics and malpractices. RESULTS: Overall 28% of the student nurses performed malpractice during clinical practice. Medical errors included failure of complying with sterility and asepsis rules (32%), wrong identification of patient identity (19%), and administrating wrong dosage of medications (12%). They obtained a mean score of 4.19±0.62 from the overall scale and the lowest score was 3.9±0.78 for drug administrations. CONCLUSIONS: Nursing students perform considerable amount of malpractice and they should especially improve concerning administration of drugs.

Investigation of the working conditions of nurses in public hospitals on the basis of nurse-friendly hospital criteria.

OBJECTIVE: This descriptive study reveals how nurses working in public hospitals rated their practice environments with respect to nurse-friendly hospital criteria. METHODS: This study was conducted on 460 nurses volunteering to participate this study among 735 nurses working in inpatient wards of three public hospitals. Data were collected using a personal information form and the Adapted Nursing Work Index-Revised. Numbers, percentages, means and standard deviations, t-test and one-way variance analysis were used to evaluate the data. RESULTS: Among the nurse-friendly hospital criteria, 'control of nursing practice', 'middle management accountability' and 'quality initiatives' had the highest mean scores, and 'competitive wages' had the lowest mean score. The assessments of the nurses presented statistically significant differences with respect to personal and occupational variables. CONCLUSION: The nurses found most of the nurse-friendly hospital criteria adequate, but they believed that several areas needed improvement.

Determining student satisfaction in a nursing college.

This study was carried out to determine the satisfaction and expectations of students in a nursing college in Turkey and is descriptive and prospective in nature. A student satisfaction scale developed by the researchers was used in this study. With no method of sampling employed, a total of 694 students attending the nursing college during the years of 1999, 2000 and 2001 were included in the study. The results showed that student satisfaction increased in 2001. Mean satisfaction score was high in the first year (x = 126) but decreased in the second year (x = 98). The third year was when the score reached its highest level (x = 128), and the fourth year was when it decreased to its lowest level (x = 95). The students included in this study strongly believed that there was room for improvement in the present education system, recreational activities and other services rendered by their college. Most of the students felt that the nursing college they were attending fell short of their expectations. Of note, many of them declared to have started nursing education as a last resort, that it was not their first choice, and that they did not score high enough in the university entrance exam to enable them to study a different subject.

A description of oncology nurses' working conditions in Turkey.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine the problems about working conditions, employee rights and working life of oncology nurses in Turkey who administer cytotoxic drugs and to determine whether or not the existing practices are appropriate with national laws, comparing the current practices in private, university and government hospitals. METHOD: The study was designed as an analytic descriptive survey. The research settings took place in nine hospitals of Istanbul, Turkey. The participants were 171 nurses who worked in oncology units and administered cytotoxic drugs. Data were collected using a questionnaire, which was developed by the investigators to determine working conditions of oncology nurses. FINDINGS: The oncology nurses overworked, had insufficient time off work, did not receive compensation for overtime work, would not be protected if they were pregnant or breastfeeding, and faced deficiencies in occupational health and safety. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Oncology nurses were exposed to working conditions that were only partly appropriate with national laws and International Labor Organization standards for health care workers were disregarded. Nurses need to be educated during the preparation and administration of chemotherapy drugs and protection against exposure as soon as possible. Chemotherapic drugs need to be prepared in a hood (biological safety cabin), but when unavailable minimal protection measures, including aprons, goggles, masks and latex gloves, need to be worn.

Measuring mobbing experiences of academic nurses: development of a mobbing scale.

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to develop a mobbing scale for academic nurses and to determine their mobbing experiences. DATA SOURCES: Data were collected between January and June 2006 with a 60-item mobbing scale and a questionnaire composed of 6 questions concerning demographics and 10 questions regarding nurses' opinions about mobbing. CONCLUSIONS: For the Mobbing Scale for Academic Nurses, the content validity index was 88%, item-to-total correlations ranged from .41 to .73, Cronbach alpha was .97, and Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy was .72. Barlett's test yielded quite significant results (chi2= 7905.47, p = .000). The scale was composed of eight subscales. One fifth of the academic nurses experienced mobbing, and there was evidence of mobbing at university nursing schools. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The mobbing scale for academic nurses can be used to collect reliable and accurate data about mobbing experienced by academic nurses. If there is mobbing in nursing faculties and schools, appropriate precautions should be taken to protect people against mobbing, and a safe and comfortable atmosphere must be created in nursing faculties and schools.