The differences between learned and practiced competences among nurses: An international pilot study.

AIM: The primary aim was to describe differences, if any, between learned and practiced competences among a convenience sample of Italian and Slovenian nursing staff; the secondary aim was to validate an instrument capable of measuring internationally such competences. BACKGROUND: The distance between competences learned and those practiced as a source of under- or over-education has not been investigated to date at the international level. DESIGN: A explorative observational investigation was performed in 2019 by involving 426 Italian and Slovenian members of the nursing staff working in medical and surgical departments. The study was conducted according to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines. METHODS: Members of the nursing staff (health care assistants, general nurses, specialist nurses and advanced nurses) were invited to complete the Nursing Competence Instrument based on the European Federation of Nursing Association's four categories of the nursing care continuum, from health care assistants to advanced practice nurses. RESULTS: The construct validity of the Nursing Competence Instrument indicated the presence of four identifiable dimensions (internal consistency ranging from 0.82 to 0.93). On average, the scores of the competences practiced were interestingly slightly higher than those learned among general care nurses. In contrast, health care assistants, specialist nurses and advanced practice nurses, reported to have learned importantly slightly lower as that practiced. CONCLUSIONS: At the overall levels, nurses tend to apply what they had been thought; additionally, all profiles seem to rate at low ranges both the competences practiced and those learned, suggesting the need to maximise nursing competences, both in the classroom and in the daily practice. Mapping the degree of competences acquired in education, as applied in the clinical practice, might assist clinical nurses, nurse educators and health care managers to identify areas at need of improvement. Moreover, mapping differences (if any) across countries might have research, managerial and educational implications.

Implementation of active learning methods by nurse educators in undergraduate nursing students' programs - a group interview.

BACKGROUND: Modern and active learning methods form an important part in the education of Nursing students. They encourage the development of communication and critical thinking skills, and ensure the safe health care of patients. Our aim was to obtain naturalistic data from nurse educators regarding want the use and effects of implementing active learning methods (Peyton's Four-Step Approach, Mind Mapping, Debriefing and Objective Structured Clinical Examination methods) in the study process of students of Nursing after a completed education module, Clinical skills of mentors, as part of the Strengthening Nursing in Bosnia and Herzegovina Project. We wish to learn about the perception of nurse educators regarding the use of active learning methods in the study process of Nursing in the future. METHODS: Qualitative research was conducted and a group interview technique was used for data collection. Beforehand, research participants were included in a two-day education module, Clinical skills of mentors, as part of the Strengthening Nursing in Bosnia and Herzegovina Project. Content analysis of the discussion transcriptions was conducted. RESULTS: Fourteen nurse educators participated. Group interviews were conducted in September 2019. The obtained categories form four topics: (1) positive effect on the development of students' communication skills (2) positive effect of learning methods on the development of students' critical thinking skills (3) ensuring a safe learning environment (4) implementation of active learning methods. CONCLUSIONS: The use of various active learning methods in simulation settings improves the Nursing students' critical thinking and communication skills. Therefore, we believe that Peyton's Four-Step Approach, Mind Mapping and Debriefing methods should be included as tools for effective student learning and as preparation for directly performing safe nursing interventions with a patient. Effective approaches to the assessment of Nursing students may ensure quality patient health care in accordance with the vision of the nursing profession.

Sick building syndrome among healthcare workers and healthcare associates at observed general hospital in Slovenia.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the possible associations between self-perceived sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms among healthcare workers and healthcare associates and self-perceived parameters of indoor work environment quality. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted from February to April 2019. Validated standardized evaluation tools (MM 040 NA Hospital 2007 and MM 040 NA Office 2007) were used for estimating the prevalence of SBS among observed populations. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests for assessing possible associations in SBS symptoms between healthcare workers and associates were used. RESULTS: The response rate was 69.8%. The results showed a lower prevalence of six or more SBS symptoms in healthcare associates (6.4%) compared to healthcare workers (12.0%). Healthcare workers perceived the most frequent risk factors for SBS to be poor air quality, an inappropriate level of relative humidity, and inappropriate room temperature, while the least frequently self-perceived risk factors were inappropriate lighting and noise levels. CONCLUSIONS: This study represents a platform for further analyses - the identification of health risk factors with environmental monitoring.

Nurses' work characteristics and self-assessment of the work environment-Explorative cross-sectional study.

AIM: The aim of the study was to explore the characteristics of nursing work and the correlation with the conditions in nurses' work environment. BACKGROUND: Although the correlation between nurses' work characteristics and the safety of health care provision has been confirmed, nurses continue to work in discouraging environments. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 1,744 nurses from 16 Slovenian hospitals participated. Variables included the following: work characteristics, ergonomic conditions at work, the prevalence of low back pain and self-assessment of conditions in the work environment. RESULTS: One nurse was responsible for 17.90 patients per shift (SD = 13.615), shifts were understaffed in 42.9% of cases, and technical assistive devices were available in 30% of cases. Job demands were explained with number of patients/shift (p < .001), job satisfaction (p < .001), availability of assistive devices (p = .001) and the female gender (p = .001). Decision authority was low and explained with a non-leadership position (p < .001), educational achievement (p < .001), dissatisfaction with the job (p < .001) and the male gender (p = .008). CONCLUSION: A safe patient-to-nurse ratio, job satisfaction, availability of assistive devices and fostering decision authority turned out to be important in our study. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Europe is facing an increasing shortage of nurses, so actions for reducing nurse overload and encouraging decision authority are extremely important both for nurses and for patients. Participative leadership and ensuring gender equality in nursing are vital.

Association between Sick Building Syndrome and Indoor Environmental Quality in Slovenian Hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Increased exposure times to various health risk factors and the vulnerability of building users might result in significantly higher prevalence rates of sick building syndrome (SBS) in a hospital setting compared to other indoor environments. The purpose of our study was to assess the association between SBS symptoms and measured environmental parameters at a Slovenian general hospital. A combination of a self-assessment study and field measurements was conducted in order to estimate the health risk factors for SBS symptoms among the users of a Slovenian general hospital. The Chi-square test was used to analyse the association between observed health and environmental parameters. The response rate was 67.5%. A total of 12.0% of healthcare workers at hospital wards reported at least six SBS symptoms, 19.0% reported 2-3 SBS symptoms. At the observed hospital wards, the most deviations were recorded for the level of lighting (83.3%), noise level (73.6%), and room temperature (55.3%). A statistically significant association was found between indoor environmental quality and skin-related SBS symptoms (χ2 = 0.009; p = 0.006). This information will be of great value in defining an integral strategy of environmental health activities aimed at healthier indoor environmental quality in hospitals.