A 13-Year Trend Analysis of HIV Epidemiology in the Philippines (2010 to 2022).

PURPOSE: This article describes the trends and contributing factors in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemiology in the Philippines from 2010 to 2022. This is the first trend analysis of the Philippine HIV/AIDS situation. DESIGN: Using time trend research design, 13-year longitudinal epidemiological data were collected and analyzed to present a dynamic perspective of the Philippine HIV/AIDS epidemic. METHODS: Secondary data analysis of HIV surveillance public documents from 2010 to 2022 was conducted. The Centers for Disease Control's socioecological model was used to guide the literature and interpretation of findings. Frequency, percentage distribution, and Sieve-bootstrap t-test for linear trends were used to analyze the results. FINDINGS: There is an increased trend in HIV incidence, late diagnosis, and AIDS-related mortality in all geographical regions in the country from 2010-2022. The majority of HIV cases are males, ages 25-34, and reside in the nation's capital. Increased HIV incidence among overseas workers, sex workers, and HIV-positive blood products were noted. CONCLUSION: Trends in Philippine HIV epidemiology are contrary to global trends. Community-based HIV prevention programs targeting specific high-risk populations are needed. CLINICAL EVIDENCE: Community health nurses in the Philippines play a critical role in reversing the rising trend of HIV/AIDS. They are positioned to lead targeted education and prevention programs for high-risk groups using the socioecological model to implement community-based strategies that address factors contributing to the epidemic. Their efforts in early detection and linkage to care are essential in reducing late diagnosis and AIDS-related mortality.

Innovative Strategies to Facilitate Newly Licensed Nurse Transition to Practice During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Quality Improvement Project.

As healthcare facilities transition from initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative to consider innovative strategies to overcome instructional challenges presented to nursing schools in order to maintain a competent workforce amidst nursing shortages and increasing patient volumes and complexity. Nursing professional development practitioners will play a pivotal role in revitalizing transition-to-practice programs to meet the demands of the new workforce. This article details an academia-practice initiative for newly licensed nurses who enter practice during the pandemic.

Korean Version of the Nursing Student Attitudes and Knowledge toward Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Patients Scale.

AIM: This study aimed to analyze the reliability and validity of a Korean version of the Nursing Student Attitudes and Knowledge Toward Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Patients (K-NAKL) Scale, which measures health and heterosexual attitudes toward LGBT individuals. BACKGROUND: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals often face discrimination and a lack of care experience on the part of healthcare professionals. INTRODUCTION: In South Korea, the current knowledge and attitude measurement tools for medical staff regarding LGBT individuals are limited, as they only focus on homosexuality and do not account for different sexual orientations. METHODS: The participants were 217 nursing college students aged 18-25. The item-total correlations method and Cronbach's alpha coefficient were used to analyze internal consistency reliability. Face validity, content validity, construct validity, and criterion validity testing were conducted to establish scale validity. We made sure to follow STROBE guidelines when carrying out this research. RESULTS: The K-NAKL is a culturally appropriate instrument used to measure the attitudes and knowledge of Korean nursing students when it comes to LGBT health. DISCUSSION: As LGBT health is increasingly gaining social interest, the nursing education curriculum needs to produce culturally competent graduates to meet the health needs of this vulnerable and marginalized population. The current study contributes to that goal. CONCLUSION: The K-NAKL is a valid and reliable tool with which to measure attitudes and knowledge regarding LGBT health among Korean nursing students. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: The K-NAKL can enable Korean nursing students to increase their knowledge and improve their attitudes when caring for the LGBT population. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING POLICY AND HEALTH POLICY: The study highlights the importance of incorporating LGBT-related health education into nursing curricula and developing inclusive policies to improve the quality of care and health outcomes for LGBT individuals.

International nurse education research collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic: Researchers' perspectives.

BACKGROUND: International research collaborations in nurse are increasing. However, collaborations in international nurse education research are limited compared to clinical nurse studies. This paper presents the experiences of seven investigators of a multi-country study while conducting collaborative research among nurse students across five continents. OBJECTIVE: This paper aims to describe the experiences and challenges of conducting an international nurse education research and to propose recommendations to enhance these collaborative research experiences. METHODS: Narrative perspectives from nurse educators on the international nurse collaborative experience were described in this discussion paper. RESULTS: International collaboration in nurse education research was a positive and enriching experience. While several challenges were experienced by the collaborators, the presence of facilitating factors, benefits of collaboration, and opportunities for personal and professional growth and development outweighed the challenges. Team leader attributes, active engagement, commitment, genuine interest, and cultural sensitivity are essential in creating a successful international nurse research project. CONCLUSION: International collaborative nurse research fosters expansion of nurse knowledge through sharing of expertise and development of culturally diverse perspectives.

Faculty perceptions of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on new graduate nurses' transition to practice: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted nursing education worldwide. Most studies have focused on how the pandemic affected students. With an alarming workforce shortage, a better understanding of the pandemic's impact on new nurses is vital to proactively develop strategies to promote success of the profession's newest members. PURPOSE: This study explored faculty perceptions of the pandemic's impact on new nurses' practice preparedness and recommendations for promoting effective transition to practice. METHODS: Using an exploratory-descriptive qualitative approach and convenience sampling, 116 nurse faculty from across North Carolina, United States responded to open-ended questions within an electronic survey. Data were analyzed with thematic analysis. RESULTS: Four themes emerged: 1) Less Hands-On, 2) Transition-to-Practice Opportunities, 3) Key Role of Preceptors, and 4) Provide Additional Support. CONCLUSIONS: Findings provide strategies clinical nurses and leaders can implement to meet the needs of new nurses entering professional practice during the ongoing pandemic. Due to less hands-on learning, pandemic graduates may benefit from extended time with a trained preceptor and opportunities to focus on clinical reasoning, managing multiple patients, effective communication, and safe skill performance. Upon entering the clinical environment, pandemic graduates' inexperience may increase the likelihood of transition shock, requiring multi-faceted approaches for providing support.

Translation and Validation of Nursing Students' Knowledge and Attitudes of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Health Concerns Survey in the Greek Language.

Nursing students have limited knowledge of providing quality care to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals. The aim of this study was to explore the psychometric properties of the Nursing Students' Knowledge of and Attitudes toward Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Health Concerns (NKALH) survey as well as to examine whether sociodemographic variables may affect attitudes toward LGBT individuals. In this cross-sectional study which was carried out from January−March 2022, 258 nursing students from two Greek universities completed the NKALH. For survey translation, the procedure of forward and backward translation was followed. Construct validity, reliability, and internal consistency were explored via confirmatory factor analysis, the test−retest reliability method, and Cronbach's alpha index. The correlation between the dimensions of the attitude subscale was used to explore convergent validity. Analyses were carried out with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 26.0. The level of significance was set at <0.05. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed that the attitude subscale consists of three dimensions (Comfortable, Responsibility, Willingness to Care). The Pearson test (r) revealed strong correlations between two measurements (Comfortable r = 0.932, p < 0.001, Responsibility r = 0.938, p < 0.001, and Willingness to Care r = 0.915, p < 0.001), indicating good reliability. The Cronbach's alpha index of the total scale was 0.783, highlighting its good internal consistency. Bivariate analysis revealed that sexual orientation, religion, and age are related to knowledge and attitudes toward LGBT individuals. The NKALH survey is a valid and reliable tool to measure the knowledge and attitudes of Greek nursing students on the health concerns of LGBT individuals.

Nurse faculty perceptions of readiness for practice among new nurses graduating during the pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic caused major changes in nursing education, namely a shift to remote learning and significant reduction of clinical practice experience. It is not known how these changes will affect new graduate nurses transitioning to practice. PURPOSE: To provide guidance to transition-to-practice programs, this study quantitatively described and compared nurse faculty perceptions of readiness for practice among students who graduated pre-pandemic and those who will graduate during the pandemic. METHODS: A convenience sample of 116 nurse faculty across North Carolina completed surveys online. Surveys collected information on demographics, professional experience, and teaching changes experienced during the pandemic. The Nursing Practice Readiness Tool was used to measure perceptions of readiness for practice. RESULTS: Nurse faculty reported a wide range of changes due to the pandemic, with limitations in clinical learning prevalent. There was a statistically significant decrease in practice readiness scores for the total scale, six subscales, and all tool items at p < 0.001 for all paired comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: While there was an overall significant decrease in scores for all competency areas, further analysis of the tool subscales and items can provide guidance for clinical nurses working with new graduates and nurse faculty working with continuing students.

A 15-Year Trend Study of Internationally Educated Nurses' NCLEX-RN Performance.

AIM: The aim of the study was to describe trends in internationally educated nurses' (IEN) National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurses (NCLEX®-RN) performance from 2003 to 2017 and to determine the odds of passing the exam based on country of nursing education. BACKGROUND: IEN comprise 5.6 percent of US nurses; more than half come from the Philippines. There is a lack of research on IEN NCLEX-RN performance. METHOD: Correlational research was used to determine the performance and likelihood of passing the NCLEX-RN based on country of nursing education using secondary data analysis. Odds ratios were estimated to express the odds of passing. RESULTS: IEN NCLEX-RN applications and pass rates are decreasing. The odds of passing the NCLEX-RN among Philippine-educated nurses are lower compared to all other IEN. The odds of passing the Canadian NCLEX-RN are higher for all IEN. CONCLUSION: The low NCLEX-RN pass rate of IEN reflects differences in nursing education and practice across countries.