Barriers to Providing Smoking Cessation Intervention by Nursing Students: What is the Solution in Nursing Education?

AIM: This study aimed to explore the barriers that hinder nursing students from providing comprehensive smoking cessation interventions for their clients. METHOD: A mixed method study combining a self-administered questionnaire and one open-ended question were used to collect data from 152 nursing students at the university in Canada. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. The Health Belief Model was the theoretical underpinning for this study. RESULTS: Participants showed positive attitudes toward smoking cessation interventions as being a part of their future work. However, students faced many barriers that hindered them from providing smoking cessation interventions to their clients. The participants identified the following seven themes/barriers: the lack of knowledge, training, resources, and time; the willingness of patients to quit; lack of students' self-confidence; students' level of comfort; smoking cessation being covered by other members of the health care team; patients already being knowledgeable about smoking cessation; and protecting therapeutic relationships with patients. CONCLUSION: There is a need for empowering nursing students and enhancing their self-confidence in smoking cessation interventions by incorporating theory-based educational materials and strategies regarding smoking cessation interventions in their curricula.

Differences in critical thinking skills between nursing students on a fast-track versus traditional 4-year programme.

BACKGROUND: The authors were unable to find studies comparing the critical thinking skills of nursing students on advanced standing programmes (ASP) and on traditional 4-year BN programmes in Canada. The ASP is a condensed Bachelor of Nursing (BN) programme, designed for students who already have a university degree or similar qualification. AIM: To measure and compare the critical thinking skills of ASP students and traditional 4-year BN students. METHOD: A cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire used to collect data from 100 nursing students at a university in Canada. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. All research ethics were taken into consideration. FINDINGS: All participants scored highly in their critical thinking skills. However, ASP students scored significantly higher than their counterparts on the 4-year programme (M=21.6 vs M=18.9, F=4.75, P=0.035). CONCLUSION: Higher critical thinking skills among ASP nursing students is a promising sign to expand and support this type of programme as a fast and effective method to cover the shortage in nurses.