Sensory processing sensitivity and compassion fatigue in intensive care unit nurses: A chain mediation model.

BACKGROUND: Compassion among intensive care unit (ICU) nurses is an essential component of humanistic care in the ICU However, the enormous pressures of the job and the lack of social support have led to persistently severe compassion fatigue. Sensory processing sensitivity, as a personality trait for individuals to perceive external factors, has underlying significance for compassion fatigue. AIMS: This study aims to investigate the internal and external environmental factors and the underlying mechanisms that influence the impact of sensory processing sensitivity among ICU nurses on the development of compassion fatigue. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 290 nurses from various hospitals in five cities in China. METHOD: A self-designed demographic questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Professional Quality of Life Scale, the Chinese version of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale, the Chinese version of the Perceived Social Support Scale, and the Chinese version of the Perceived Stress Scale were used to survey 290 ICU nurses. The mediating roles of perceived social support and perceived stress between sensory processing sensitivity and compassion fatigue were tested. RESULTS: The research results indicate that the total effect of sensory processing sensitivity on compassion fatigue is significant (0.245 [0.093, 1.160]), whereas the direct effect of sensory processing sensitivity on compassion fatigue is not significant (-0.43 [-0.402, 0.247]). Perceived social support and perceived stress exhibit serial mediating effects between sensory processing sensitivity and compassion fatigue (-0.065 [-0.142, -0.013]). CONCLUSION: Our results revealed, for the first time, the underlying mechanism between sensory processing sensitivity and compassion fatigue among ICU nurses. Providing necessary stress-relief condition and abundant social support are important measures for nursing managers to reduce compassion fatigue and improve the quality of critical care humanistic nursing services.

Cognitive Control/Flexibility, Social Isolation, and Intrinsic Job Satisfaction of Intensive Care Unit Nurses.

Although cognitive control and flexibility have been examined in the past, this study examines their relationship in a stressful working environment, focusing on intrinsic job satisfaction using cognitive behavioral theory as a framework. This study examined cognitive factors (cognitive control and cognitive flexibility) and emotional state (intrinsic job satisfaction) while assessing the mediating role of social isolation, an external work environment variable. The study focused on intrinsic job satisfaction with extrinsic job satisfaction as a covariate. A cross-sectional questionnaire method was used. Two hundred and ten nurses from twelve intensive care units participated. Model one examined cognitive control while model two examined cognitive flexibility, accounting for 32% and 38% of the variance in intrinsic job satisfaction, respectively. Model one accounted for 13% of the variance in social isolation through cognitive control and extrinsic job satisfaction while model two accounted for approximately 14.91% of the variance in social isolation through cognitive flexibility and extrinsic job satisfaction. Combining the two models accounted for 17% of the variance in social isolation and 37.4% of the variation in intrinsic job satisfaction. The results emphasize the importance of training nurses in cognitive control and flexibility to increase intrinsic job satisfaction.

Intensive care unit nurses' knowledge and attitudes towards older adults with COVID-19: A cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Older adults constitute the majority of patients admitted to COVID-19 intensive care units (ICUs). The knowledge and attitudes of ICU nurses towards older adults diagnosed with COVID-19 significantly impact the quality of treatment and nursing care they deliver. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the ICU nurses' knowledge and attitudes towards older adults with COVID-19. METHOD: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted between February and October 2021. The sample consisted of 112 ICU nurses from a public hospital and three university hospitals. Demographic data were collected together with the Nurse COVID-19 Knowledge Level Assessment Form (NKLAF) and the Kogan's Attitudes Toward Old People Scale (KAOPS). The data were analysed using the independent-groups t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Mann-Whitney U Test (Z score), Kruskale-Wallis Variance Test, post hoc test, and Spearman's correlation analysis. RESULTS: Intensive care nurses had a mean NKLAF score of 21.29 ± 2.63 (mean difference: 21.24). They had a mean KAOPS score of 129.37 ± 15.20 (mean difference: 129.32). There was no correlation between NKLAF and KAOPS scores (r = 0.163, p > 0.05). Female nurses had a significantly higher mean NKLAF score than their male counterparts (Z: -2.733, p = 0.006). The intensive care nurses with bachelor's degrees had a significantly higher mean KAOPS score than those with associate degrees (KW: 6.888, p = 0.032). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that ICU nurses know enough about COVID-19 and have positive attitudes towards older adults diagnosed with it. Moreover, some descriptive characteristics affect the knowledge and attitudes of ICU nurses towards older adults. Therefore, nurses should consider these factors when planning interventions to enhance their care for older adults.

Investigation on the current practice status of central venous access device maintenance among intensive care unit nurses in Shandong province / 中国中西医结合急救杂志

Objective To understand the current practice status of central venous access device(CVAD)maintenance among intensive care unit(ICU)nurses in secondary and above medical institutions in Shandong province,and to provide a basis for further implementation of effective measures to reduce the incidence of central catheter-related bloodstream infections.Methods The CVAD maintenance practice questionnaire was compiled based on domestic and international evidence related to CVAD maintenance,and a survey was conducted in October 2022 to investigate the status of ICU nurses' CVAD maintenance practice in secondary and above medical institutions in Shandong Province.Results There were 1 492 nurses participated in the survey and 1 461 valid questionnaires were recovered,with a valid recovery rate of 97.92％.The type of CVAD used by the nurses was mainly central venous catheters[92.3％(1349/1461)],and the item with the best assessment at each operation was patency of the catheter[81.1％(1185/1461)],and the worst was the patient's feeling[40.7％(594/1 461)].When assessing catheter patency,[59.8％(873/1 461)]of nurses drew back blood into the catheter.In the use of infusion connectors,three-way connectors[76.0％(1 110/1 461)]and heparin caps[62.3％(910/1 461)]were most frequently used.When sterilizing needleless connectors,most nurses could follow the correct range of disinfection,but the time of disinfection needed to be extended,and the most used items for disinfection were povidone-iodine cotton balls/swabs[44.3％(647/1 461)].The timing of changing infusion connectors needs to be standardized.Most nurses would choose saline for catheter flushing,and the number of nurses choosing saline versus heparinized saline when locking the catheter was about 50％.Most nurses can use correct size syringes and follow standardized techniques for flushing and locking.When performing CVAD maintenance,84.7％(1 237/1 461)of nurses chose a specialized care package kit.The most used skin antiseptic was povidone-iodine[63.7％(931/1 461)].Most nurses could follow the standardized range of skin disinfection,but awareness of drying needs to be improved.Dressings covering puncture points were most frequently transparent[99.7％(1 457/1 461)]and gauze[94.7％(1 383/1 461)],and the frequency of gauze dressing changes needs to be standardized.Hand hygiene and aseptic awareness of nurses during CVAD maintenance was good,but hand hygiene and the timing of wearing sterile gloves need to be standardized.Conclusions ICU nurses' CVAD maintenance practices were generally in line with the latest evidence-based recommendations,but assessment,use of maintenance-related items,and hand hygiene and aseptic technique need to be further standardized.It is recommended that nursing administrators enhance ICU nursing human resource allocation as much as possible and form a central line associated bloodstream infection(CLABSI)prevention and control management system to gradually reduce the morbidity of CLABSI within the ICU.

Strategies to enhance resilience to cope with workplace adversities post-COVID-19 among ICU nurses

Background: It is critical for intensive care unit (ICU) nurses to develop resilient coping strategies to cope with workplace adversities. The coping strategies will mitigate the development of maladaptive psychological disorders prone to working in a stressful environment. Objectives: The aim of this study is to analyse previous literature conducted on strategies that enhance resilience in ICU nurses to cope with workplace adversities beyond the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The study was conducted by examining all available global literature in the context of the aim of the study. Method: An integrative literature review was chosen for the study. Purposive sampling method was used to select the relevant databases to answer the review question, namely Google Scholar, EBSCOhost, Medline and Nursing/Academic Edition. The search terms used were 'strategies', 'resilience', 'intensive care unit nurses', 'coping', 'workplace adversities', 'beyond COVID-19' and post 'COVID-19'. Results: Three themes emerged from the study, namely promoting personal attributes, effective relational support and active psychological support. Conclusion: Enhancing resilience among ICU nurses requires both intentional individualised care from the ICU nurses and a systematic approach by nursing management that will meet the psychological needs of ICU nurses when working in a stressful ICU environment.Contribution: The findings of the review have highlighted specific strategies of improving resilience in ICU nurses, which can ultimately create a safe working environment in the ICU.