The nurses' touch: An irreplaceable component of caring.

BACKGROUND: Touch is an integral part of human interaction. Health care makes significant use of touch, and for most healthcare professionals, it is indispensable to their practice. An essential and inevitable facet of the nursing profession is the touching of patients during the provision of care. Unfortunately, touch is seldom considered in the nursing framework today. AIMS: To emphasize the importance of touch in contemporary nursing practice in a highly technological environment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A search was conducted on February-May 2022. The initial search identified 84 articles and the final analysis included 38 articles that met the inclusion criteria (touch; touch in health care; touch and nursing; touch and technology; nursing and technology; nursing and caring; touch and caring). RESULTS: The nurses' touch will always be an irreplaceable component of caring in nursing. DISCUSSION: There can be no substitute to the expressive touch of a nurse. As the technological revolution in nursing is inevitable, it is imperative that nurses consider how much these technologies impact the nurse-patient relationships. CONCLUSION: The study emphasized the importance of touch in contemporary nursing practice. The study found that the nurses' touch will always be an irreplaceable component of caring in nursing. The finding will have an impact on nurses and patients situated in highly technological healthcare environments.

Palatine Tonsil Measurements and Echogenicity during Tonsillitis Using Ultrasonography: A Case-Control Study.

This case-control study aimed to assess the size and echogenicity of inflamed tonsils using ultrasonography. It was carried out at different hospitals, nurseries, and primary schools in Khartoum state. About 131 Sudanese volunteers between 1 and 24 years old were recruited. The sample included 79 volunteers with normal tonsils and 52 with tonsillitis according to hematological investigations. The sample was divided into groups according to age-1-5 years old, 6-10 years old, and more than ten years. Measurements in centimeters of height (AP) and width (transverse) of both tonsils (right and left) were taken. Echogenicity was assessed according to normal and abnormal appearances. A data collection sheet containing all the study variables was used. The independent samples test (t-test) showed an insignificant height difference between normal controls and cases with tonsillitis. The transverse diameter increased significantly with inflammation (p-value < 0.05) for both tonsils in all groups. Echogenicity can differentiate between normal and abnormal tonsils (p-value < 0.05 using the chi-square test) for samples from 1-5 years and 6-10 years. The study concluded that measurements and appearance are reliable indicators of tonsillitis, which can be confirmed with the use of ultrasonography, helping physicians to make the correct diagnosis and decisions.

Congruence of Effective Leadership Values between Nurse Leaders and Staff Nurses in a Multicultural Medical City in Saudi Arabia: A Sequential Mixed-Methods Study.

This study explores the perceived congruence of effective values of nursing leadership between the nurse leaders and the staff nurses in a multicultural tertiary hospital. METHODS: This is a descriptive sequential mixed-methods study conducted in a multicultural medical city in Saudi Arabia. Purposive sampling was used in the qualitative phase, while stratified sampling was used for the quantitative part. There were 70 participants in the qualitative phase, including 33 nurse leaders and 37 staff nurses. The quantitative phase had 571 participants, including 105 nurse leaders and 466 staff nurses. RESULTS: Congruent values were categorised into six emerging themes: (1) cascading deference; (2) paragon of probity; (3) professional competence; (4) compassionate presence; (5) team diversity and inclusion; (6) calibrated communication. The quantitative survey confirmed that the values identified from the interviews were considered to be vital by both nurse leaders and staff nurses, and there were no statistically significant differences between staff nurses' and nurse leaders' perceptions, regardless of their nationality, as demonstrated by one-way ANOVA, with p-values less than 0.05 deemed to be statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Both nurse leaders and staff nurses in the multicultural institution have congruent leadership values that are perceived as essential to achieve institutional goals and, ultimately, safe and high-quality patient care.

Lived Experiences of Female Nurses with COVID-19 Deaths on Their Watch.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a tremendous effect on health systems, leading to a spike in stress, anxiety, and depression conditions among healthcare workers worldwide. Considering the mental health status of nurses, a pillar of the health system, is crucial for assuring the quality of the healthcare provided during and after pandemics. This study aimed to explore the experiences of female nurses who witnessed their patients dying of COVID-19. Seven female COVID-19 nurses were interviewed in person. Thematic analysis of the respondents' verbatim answers was implemented. Six main themes were identified. Theme 1 illustrates nurses' experience of emotional and psychological trauma as they witnessed their patients with COVID-19 die under their care. Theme 2 reveals aftershock reactions, including somatization, isolation, and emotional disengagement. Theme 3 highlights the hindrances and difficult situations related to the in-hospital care of COVID-19 patients. Theme 4 demonstrates victorious feelings and celebration of the patient's survival. Theme 5 emphasizes the nurse's ability to be calm and recognize the takeaways or lessons they have learned from this phase for their careers and lives. Theme 6 sheds light on nurses' emerging abilities and competencies. This study will hopefully provide a basis for a debriefing program that might be beneficial to the nurses and the health system. This might affect nurses' ability to work closely with patients, cope emotionally with challenges, and fulfil their professional tasks.

The Mediating Role of Spiritual Intelligence on Well-Being and Life Satisfaction among Nurses in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Path Analysis.

Introduction: As they are satisfied with life, nurses who demonstrate spiritual intelligence and well-being at work are tremendous assets to an organisation. This study aimed to determine the mediating effect of spiritual intelligence on the well-being and life satisfaction of nurses in the context of COVID-19. Methods: This research employed a cross-sectional study design. It was conducted in the Hail region of Saudi Arabia. The participants were government hospital nurses who were chosen using a multi-stage sampling method. A total of 1121 (75% response rate) nurses participated in the study. Data gathering was conducted from July to September 2022. Results: The life satisfaction level of the participants was deemed positive. Their well-being was better (10/15), and they rated high in spiritual intelligence (90/120). Life satisfaction had a strong association with well-being (r = 0.640, p < 0.001), but a weak association with spiritual intelligence (r = 0.391, p < 0.001). In comparison, well-being had a moderate association with spiritual intelligence (r = 0.551, p < 0.001). The direct effect of well-being on spiritual intelligence was positive and significant (ß = 0.7817, p < 0.0001), and that of spiritual intelligence on life satisfaction was positive and significant (ß = 0.1082, p = 0.0257). The direct effect of well-being on life satisfaction was also positive and significant (ß = 1.5985, p < 0.0001). Conversely, well-being had an indirect impact on life satisfaction (ß = 0.0846), and this effect was significant. Overall, the impact of well-being on life satisfaction was positive and significant (ß = 1.6831, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: The nurses in this study were deemed satisfied, to have better well-being, and better spiritual intelligence. Life satisfaction has a strong association with well-being but a weak one with spiritual intelligence, while well-being has a moderate association with spiritual intelligence. Overall, spiritual intelligence was found to have a mediating effect on the relationship between well-being and life satisfaction. These findings suggest that an increase in spiritual growth can serve as the foundation for people to live better and more integrated lives.

Resilience and Emotional Intelligence of Staff Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Although numerous scholars have studied resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, research exploring its relationship with emotional intelligence is scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the resilience and emotional intelligence (EI) of staff nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data for this quantitative correlational study were gathered from the staff nurses of hospitals in the city of Hail, Saudi Arabia. The researchers employed simple random sampling, which yielded 261 staff nurses. Nationality (t = 6.422; p < 0.001) was found to have a significant relationship with resilience. Sex (t = 5.22; p < 0.001), ward assignment (t = 5.22; p < 0.001), age (F = 6.67; p < 0.001), and years of experience (F = 6.67; p < 0.001) revealed significant relationships with emotional intelligence. Resilience had a moderate positive relationship with EI (r = 0.55; p < 0.023), a weak positive relationship with self-emotion (r = 0.21; p < 0.003), and a very strong relationship with emotional appraisal (r = 0.85; p < 0.001). Improving emotional-intelligence skills is critical for assisting nurses during pandemic outbreaks. This can increase their individual and social resilience, while also improving their professional and life outcomes. These research findings suggest that emotional intelligence should be integrated into clinical practice and that EI data should be integrated into decision-making.

Measuring Nurses' and Physicians' Attitudes and Perceptions of the Appropriate Interventions towards Intimate Partner Violence in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is considered the most common form of violence against women worldwide, concerning public health, safety, and human rights. However, little to no studies in Saudi Arabia have explored the attitude and perception of health care providers working in emergency departments toward IPV. This study aimed to measure the attitude and perception of Emergency Room (ER) health care providers towards the appropriate intervention for IPV. Methods: This is a cross-sectional quantitative study. Data was collected from a convenient sample of nurses (n = 88) and physicians (n = 18) working in ER, using Readiness to Manage Intimate Partner Violence Survey (PREMIS). Data was collected from two hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and descriptive analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: The majority of the respondents were aged 18−40 (n = 106, 78%), while 22% were 41−60 years old, 69% were female, and 31% were male. Eighty-five percent were nurses and 15% were physicians. The majority of the respondents did not have any training on IPV and had gained knowledge or skills mostly during their medical/nursing classroom and clinical training. The analysis revealed that the participants had moderate levels of overall preparedness, knowledge about IPV, and perceived knowledge, with a mean score of 2.30, 18.62, and 2.18, respectively. The respondents had low scores in practice issues in new diagnosis (0.91), current screening (1.69), and actions when IPV is identified (0.91). The perceived preparedness and knowledge have a significant positive correlation, as shown by an r value of 0.8476 and a p-value of <0.05. Conclusion: The study shows that participants stated minimal previous IPV knowledge and training. It is necessary to put in place adequate resources and specific training programs to overcome this issue for both ER nurses and physicians.

The Relationship between Nursing Students' Smart Devices Addiction and Their Perception of Artificial Intelligence.

Background: The concept of addiction in relation to cellphone and smartphone use is not new, with several researchers already having explored this phenomenon. Artificial intelligence has become important in the rapid development of the technology field in recent years. It has a very positive impact on our day-to-day life. Aim: To investigate the relationship between nursing students' addiction to smart devices and their perceptions of artificial intelligence. Methods: A cross-sectional design was applied. The data were collected from 697 nursing students over three months at the College of Nursing, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University. Results: The correlation test shows a significant correlation between smart device addiction and the artificial intelligence of the respondents (p-value < 0.05). In addition, the majority of the students, 72.7% (507), are moderately addicted to smartphones, 21.8% (152) are highly addicted, and only 5.5% (38) have a low addiction. Meanwhile, 83.6% (583) of them have high levels of perception of artificial intelligence and the rest, 16.4% (114), have a moderate level. Conclusions: The nursing students' perception of artificial intelligence varies significantly according to their level of addiction to smart device utilization.

Simulation-Based Peer-Assisted Learning: Perceptions of Health Science Students.

OBJECTIVE: Since 2010, simulation-based learning has become increasingly popular as a well-recognized method of learning used by medical undergraduates in clinical settings. However, the relatively new concept of simulation-based peer-assisted learning has not yet been widely accepted, so it has not been well documented. Therefore, this study evaluated the perceived advantages of simulation-based peer-assisted learning among health professions students and interns and their acceptance of this new concept of learning from a student-instructor. METHODS: This was a pilot study conducted with 11 students in various health profession fields at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University (PNU). The students were given a comprehensive lecture on simulation scenario development and were assigned to four separate interdisciplinary teams for a practical session on simulation scenario writing. Then, they each completed a questionnaire seeking their opinion concerning their experience and concept understanding. RESULTS: The results confirmed the advantages of interprofessional simulation-based peer-assisted learning as it helped in understanding the process as perceived by the study participants. All students expressed their willingness and enthusiasm to use simulation as a technique for peer-assisted learning. CONCLUSION: The study affirms the importance of developing student teachers' teaching skills at an institutional level. The future implementation of simulation-based peer-assisted learning is dependent on the students' awareness of the concept. By exploring a new dimension of medical education, the student teachers could expand their horizon of exposure to holistic case management and interactive learning and equip themselves with practical communication skills to excel in a real-world setting.

Investigating the learning approaches of students in nursing education.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the differences between nursing students' surface and deep approaches to learning across their demographic profiles. Further, this study explores the association between the participants' ages, year levels, and learning approaches. METHODS: From December 2019 to February 2020, we used a quantitative-comparative- correlational study design at the University of Hail KSA. A survey-based questionnaire was used to collect data from 349 randomly selected nursing students. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and t-tests were used to examine the difference between the surface learning and the deep learning approaches of the participants across their profiles. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship between participants' learning approaches, ages, and year levels. RESULTS: A significant difference in the deep learning approach was noted for age (F (3, 345) = 35.71; p = 0.01] and program type (bridging/regular) [t (347) = -8.81, p = 0.01]. A moderately positive significant correlation was found between age and both deep (r = 0.47, n = 349, p = 0.01) and surface (r = 0.45, n = 349, p = 0.01) learning approaches. CONCLUSION: This study shows that nursing students use both surface and deep learning approaches alike and are able to capitalise on either learning style. Both learning approaches are important and valuable in nursing education. The age of the student is correlated with the learning approach. Older students have higher scores for both deep and surface learning approaches. Academia must develop creative learning environments that can encourage students to use both approaches and to advance the transition to deep learning.

Adherence of Type 2 Diabetic Patients to Self-Care Activity: Tertiary Care Setting in Saudi Arabia.

AIM: To analyse the prevalence of self-care practices in T2D patients in KSA. METHODS: The study was conducted in King Fahad Medical City (KFMC) in Saudi Arabia, and 385 patients were selected as samples. Data were collected using the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities-Arabic (SDSCA) and consisted of 14 items related to self-care activities of T2D patients related to management and control of disease and four other aspects related to education and advice from healthcare members regarding management of T2D. RESULTS: The self-care attributes including adherence to medication commitment activities (M = 6.13, SD = 1.25) were the most practised of all the domains. Glucose monitoring (M = 4.15, SD = 2.42) and foot care (M = 3.28, SD = 1.69) were at an average level, and adherence to the diet plan and exercise was found to be at a poor level (M = 2.57, SD = 1.73 and M = 2.13, SD = 2.00) respectively. About 179 patients (74.3%) were found to be advised to follow a low-fat eating plan, and only 89 patients (36.9%) had received information concerning fruits and vegetables in their diet. More than 90% patients were found to be advised to strictly carry out exercise and blood sugar monitoring. CONCLUSION: It was found that adherence to self-care activities including diet, exercise, and foot care was relatively poor while intake of medication was strictly followed. The education provided by healthcare providers related to self-management attributes was found to be significant and had positive effects on the overall health and well-being of T2D patients.

Cryotherapy intervention in relieving arteriovenous fistula cannulation-related pain among hemodialysis patients at the King Khalid Hospital, Tabuk, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Pain during arteriovenous fistula (AVF) cannulation remains a common problem in hemodialysis (HD) patients that leads to noncompliance to lifetime maintenance HD. This study was performed to determine the effect of cryotherapy on reducing pain during AVF cannulation among HD patients in the King Khalid Hospital, Tabuk, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This is an experimental study which included 62 patients undergoing HD through an AVF. Randomization was used to assign the patients into the experimental (received cryotherapy) and control (no cryotherapy) groups. The Arabic version of Wong-Baker pain rating scale was used to determine the pain score. There was a significant difference in the pre-and post-intervention pain scores among the experimental group, while there was no such difference in the control group. The null hypothesis was rejected based on a P <0.05. Our study suggests that cryotherapy intervention to relieve AVF cannulation-related pain among adult patients undergoing HD is effective. Therefore, it is recommended that cryotherapy should be considered as a complementary intervention to reduce pain related to AVF cannulation.

Determinants and prevalence of depression in patients with chronic renal disease, and their caregivers.

INTRODUCTION: This study explored the prevalence of depression among the patients with chronic kidney disease and their caregivers and its association to their demographic profile. METHODS: A descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional study that used the Hamilton rating scale tool to assess the prevalence of depression among 226 patients undergoing hemodialysis and 105 of their caregivers in a hospital in Saudi Arabia. RESULTS: Patients with chronic renal disease and their caregivers experience depression at varying levels. Depression was positively associated with the socioeconomic and marital status of the patients. Socioeconomic status of the caregivers was seen to be associated with their depression. CONCLUSION: Depression is highly prevalent among patients with chronic renal disease and their caregivers.

Solitude, Religious and Cultural Uniqueness in a Foreign Environment: Adjustments as an Arab Student.

Arab-Muslims have extremely religious-centered and restrictive cultural practices. Living in a foreign country where Islam is a minority religion and culture is categorically different entails a great deal of adjustment. This study explored how Arab-Muslim International Students live and cope in a non-Arab, non-Muslim country. The authors used phenomenological approach with Colaizzi's method of analysis to (1) explore the lived experience of the Arab students' academic and social life and (2) come up with recommendations that can be supported by universities in Philippines and other countries with Arab students. Emergent themes include Hybrid vision and empowerment from education beyond borders "Tatallo at wa kudurat," Stigma in the Arab world "Hallah," Islam as way of life "Al Islam: Manhaj Hayyat," and Future of the Arab-Muslim students "Wahaa." The major concepts that emerged from the lived experience of these students focused on the practical reasons for quality education, challenges along the way, culture shock, the stigma, and misconceptions about Arabs and Muslims. They experienced discrimination, the impact of stereotyping and misconceptions about the Arab-Muslims. Their tenacity of the Islam faith has become a coping mechanism and kept them enormously strong. They also strived to show the real meaning of being Muslim, and finally, looking forward to how they can become the oasis in the desert. The Arab-Muslim International Students experience difficult adjustments in a foreign country to acquire high quality education, while holding on to their Islam faith and keeping their culture intact.