Intentional mass-casualty incident simulation-based training: A qualitative study into nursing students' perceptions and experiences.

BACKGROUND: The number of intentional mass casualty incidents (IMCI) has increased in recent years, and hemorrhage control is one of the important life-saving techniques used in these events. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to understand the perceptions and experiences of nursing students subjected to a simulated intentional mass-casualty incident after receiving a training action within their curriculum, focused on how to respond to active threats and bleeding control. DESIGN: A qualitative phenomenological study on nursing students (n = 74) enrolled in the Nursing Care for Critical Patients course, facing a simulated IMCI in November 2019. DATA SOURCES: A total of 7 focus groups were performed, containing 8 to 12 participants each. FINDINGS: Participants reported a feeling of vulnerability and fear of an IMCI occurrence. Based on this context, the participants reported not knowing how to react to this type of situation, which is why training activities such as this one is seen as a way of improving participants' self-protection and safety. Likewise, a simulated IMCI is considered useful for any citizen and as a training exercise for life-saving techniques, such as hemorrhage control. CONCLUSIONS: Training on the subject of hemorrhage control using a simulated IMCI setting could increase self-efficacy and self-control, as well as reducing feelings of fear and vulnerability. Such training intervention could be primary prevention measures of an IMCI as well as a sustainable way to train knowledge-transmitting instructors.

Novice nurse's transitioning to emergency nurse during COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study.

AIM: To explore the experiences and perceptions of recent nursing graduates working in emergency departments during the COVID-19 outbreak. BACKGROUND: Overcrowding in emergency departments has been one of the most prominent issues arising in these units for more than 20 years. However, it has become even more problematic due to the novelty of the coronavirus pandemic, which has forced hospitals to recruit larger numbers of beginner nursing staff as the number of quarantined health professionals increases. METHODS: Sixteen semi-structured interviews were conducted in Spanish emergency departments, which were analysed and synthesized using content analysis. RESULTS: Three major themes emerged from the data analysis: (a) Fears and concerns, (b) Organisational issues and (c) Support for novice nurses. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings may help to understand how shadowing periods as a learning programme for nurses, continuing professional development, evidence-based apps and better planning are needed to ensure both novice nurses' confidence in emergency departments and expert emergency room nurses' ability to cope with complications in critical situations. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Training periods that include shadowing expert emergency room nurses, along with evidence-based technology, provide an opportunity to support novice nurses' transition into the workplace. These measures would provide a safety net and would increase novice nurses' confidence as well as high-quality care.

Characterization, conservation and loss of dignity at the end-of- life in the emergency department. A qualitative protocol.

AIMS: To explore and understand the experiences of terminally ill patients and their relatives regarding dignity during end-of-life care in the emergency department. BACKGROUND: The respect given to the concept of dignity is significantly modifying the clinical relationship and the care framework involving the end-of-life patient in palliative care units, critical care units, hospices and their own homes. This situation is applicable to in-hospital emergency departments, where there is a lack of research which takes the experiences of end-of-life patients and their relatives into account. DESIGN: A phenomenological qualitative study. METHODS: The protocol was approved in December 2016 and will be carried out from December 2016-December 2020. The Gadamer's philosophical underpinnings will be used in the design and development of the study. The data collection will include participant observation techniques in the emergency department, in-depth interviews with terminally ill patients and focus groups with their relatives. For the data analysis, the field notes and verbatim transcriptions will be read and codified using ATLAS.ti software to search for emerging themes. DISCUSSION: Emerging themes that contribute to comprehending the phenomenon of dignity in end-of-life care in the emergency department are expected to be found. This study's results could have important implications in the implementation of new interventions in emergency departments. These interventions would be focused on improving: the social acceptance of death, environmental conditions, promotion of autonomy and accompaniment and assumption (takeover) of dignified actions and attitudes (respect for human rights).

Promoting dignified end-of-life care in the emergency department: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Preservation of a dying person's dignity in the emergency department (ED) is fundamental for the patient, his/her relatives and healthcare professionals. The aim of this study was to explore and interpret physicians' and nurses' experiences regarding conservation of dignity in end-of-life care in dying patients in the ED. METHODS: A qualitative study based on the hermeneutic phenomenological approach, was carried out in the emergency department of two general hospitals. A total of 16 nurses and 10 physicians participated in the study. Data collection included 12 individual in-depth interviews and 2 focus groups. RESULTS: The findings revealed that two themes represent the practices and proposals for the conservation of dignity in the emergency department: dignified care in hostile surroundings and the design of a system focused on the person's dignity. CONCLUSION: Dignifying treatment, redesigning environmental conditions, and reorienting the healthcare system can contribute to maintaining dignity in end-of-life care in the ED.

Loss of Dignity in End-of-Life Care in the Emergency Department: A Phenomenological Study with Health Professionals.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of physicians and nurses with regard to loss of dignity in relation to end-of-life care in the emergency department. METHOD: A phenomenological qualitative study was performed. Two focus groups and 12 individual interviews were conducted with a total of 26 participants, who had attended to patients in the emergency department an average of 14.3 years. An inductive analysis was carried out with the use of ATLAS.ti software to seek emerging themes. RESULTS: Three themes that helped us understand the phenomenon of the loss of dignity in end-of-life care in the emergency department emerged: (1) "Being exposed in a cold world," with the subthemes "improvising dying person care" and "a lack of space to care for the dying person"; (2) "Being self-critical with professional attitudes," with the subthemes "being aware of undignified actions" and "lack of a palliative culture"; and (3) "Family obstinacy and hospital rescue," with the subthemes "making ill-advised choices" and "avoiding burden." DISCUSSION: The dignity of people who are taken to the emergency department at the end of their life could be undermined by architectural and organizational characteristics, professionals' attitudes, and decisions made by family members.