The relationship between the ethical attitudes and holistic competence levels of intensive care nurses: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Intensive care units are directly associated with the competency level of nurses and are units where ethical problems are frequently experienced. This research aims to determine the relationship between intensive care nurses' ethical attitudes and holistic competence levels. METHODS: This study was conducted as a cross-sectional design using self-report questionnaires distributed to 131 intensive care nurses in Turkey. The data of the study were collected with the "Nurses Information Form," "Holistic Nursing Competence Scale" and "Ethical Attitude Scale for Nursing Care". RESULTS: The total mean score of the Holistic Nursing Competence of the nurses was 6.89±0.95. Holistic Nursing Competence level was significantly lower for those who had experienced less than one year in the profession, and it was higher for those who worked in the emergency intensive care unit and the nurses whose clinics had 21 and above nurses. The total mean score of the nurses' ethics attitude toward nursing care was 59.36±29.09. Ethical Attitude for Nursing Care was significantly lower for those who had a master's degree, and the nurses whose clinics had 21 and above nurses scored higher. There was a weak and negative correlation between the nurses' Holistic Nursing Competence Scale and the total mean score of the Ethical Attitude Scale for Nursing Care. The ethical attitude was predicted in 13.2% of the Holistic Nursing Competence of nurses. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that nurses' holistic competence levels were high, their ethical attitudes were negative, and there was a weak negative correlation between their holistic competence levels and their ethical attitudes toward care.

Effect of Artificial Intelligence Course in Nursing on Students' Medical Artificial Intelligence Readiness: A Comparative Quasi-Experimental Study.

BACKGROUND: It is predicted that artificial intelligence (AI) will transform nursing across all domains of nursing practice, including administration, clinical care, education, policy, and research. PURPOSE: This study examined the impact of an AI course in the nursing curriculum on students' medical AI readiness. DESIGN AND METHODS: This comparative quasi-experimental study was conducted with a total of 300 3rd-year nursing students, 129 in the control group and 171 in the experimental group. Students in the experimental group received 28 hours of AI training. The students in the control group were not given any training. Data were collected by a socio-demographic form and the Medical Artificial Intelligence Readiness Scale. RESULTS: An AI course should be included in the nursing curriculum, according to 67.8% of students in the experimental group and 57.4% of students in the control group. The mean score of the experimental group on medical AI readiness was higher ( P < .05) and the effect size of the course on readiness was -0.29. CONCLUSIONS: An AI nursing course positively affects students' readiness for medical AI.

The effectiveness of auscultatory, colorimetric capnometry and pH measurement methods to confirm placement of nasogastric tubes: A methodological study.

AIM: To determine the effectiveness of auscultatory, colorimetric capnometry and pH measurement methods for confirmation of correct nasogastric tube placement in critically ill patients. BACKGROUND: Incorrect nasogastric tube placement causes serious complications. DESIGN: This was a methodological and comparative study. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 88 new insertions of nasogastric feeding tubes between April 2018-2019. Results from the 'auscultatory', 'pH' and 'colorimetric capnometry' methods were compared with the location of the nasogastric tube as determined through radiography. Descriptive statistics, Eta analysis and the Cohen kappa compliance test as well as sensitivity and specificity were conducted. RESULTS: There was a weak agreement (26.3%) between the auscultation and radiological evaluation for confirming nasogastric tube placement. The pH measurement and colorimetric capnometry methods were not correlated with radiological evaluation. Stomach pH increased as patient age increased and use of the colorimetric capnometry method failed to confirm the oesophageal and duodenal location. The specificity of the auscultation was low, and both the specificity and sensitivity pH methods were low. CONCLUSION: It was determined that auscultation, measuring pH and colorimetric capnometry were unreliable methods for confirming placement of nasogastric tubes. It is recommended to confirm initial placement of the nasogastric tube with radiography and to develop effective and reliable non-radiological measurement methods that can be performed at the bedside.

Student Nurses' Assessment of Medical Errors.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of nursing students' assessment of cases of medical error. METHOD: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 145 nursing students in Izmir, Turkey. The epidemiology of the medical errors that the students witnessed during clinical practice was examined. Then, the success of the students in using the Text-Based Medical Error cases tool developed by the researchers was examined. RESULTS: Of the students, 24.1% had witnessed medical errors during clinical practice. The percentage of students successfully analyzing cases of medical errors related to patient identification, falling, medication administration, blood transfusions, health-care-associated infections, and pressure ulcers were 51.72%, 7.59%, 17.24%, 8.28%, 45.52%, and 56.55%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The students' ability to evaluate cases of medical error needs improvement.

Effect of an aged simulation suit on nursing students' attitudes and empathy.

PURPOSE: Today, with an increasingly older population, it is essential to have well-educated and well-prepared nurses who can meet the health-related needs of geriatric patients but in some cases students have difficulty in understanding and empathizing with older persons. The impact of use of an aged simulation suit on the empathy and attitudes of nursing students towards older persons was investigated in this study. METHODS: A descriptive mixed-methods study was conducted, using the Basic Empathy Scale, The Kogan's Attitude towards Old People Scale, and semi-structured interviews. RESULTS: The Kogan's Attitude towards Old People Scale mean scores and the Basic Empathy Scale mean scores showed that there was a statistically significant increase in the empathy and attitude scores of students from the high-score group after they had carried out tasks using an aged simulation suit. A total of four themes were determined through data analysis. CONCLUSION: The use of an aged simulation suit proved to be an effective educational technique which made a positive contribution towards nursing students' development of empathy and also made a positive change in their attitude towards older persons.

Intensive care unit nurses' knowledge of medication administration via enteral tubes.

BACKGROUND: Medication administration via enteral tubes is a complex and key application for which nurses in intensive care units are responsible. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate drug administrations via enteral tubes by nurses in intensive care units. METHODS: This research was conducted using a descriptive and cross-sectional research design. The study was conducted with 289 nurses at intensive care units in hospitals in Izmir, Turkey. The data of the study were collected with the 'Sociodemographic Information Form' and the 'Enteral Medication Administrations Questionnaire', which was designed in accordance with the literature and consists of questions on interventions before, during and following medication administrations via enteral tubes. RESULTS: It was found that more than half the nurses (62.3%) use nasogastric tubes for medication administrations and that all of them use the enteral way for the administration of medications in the form of tablets, while 58.8% use this method to administer the medications in the form of enteric-coated tablets. It was determined that approximately half the nurses (52.6%) apply more than one medication separately, and a majority (84.1%) use tap water to wash the enteral tube. CONCLUSIONS: Enteral medication administration practices are inconsistent. Some nurses use unsafe practices and may therefore compromise patient care. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Conduction of education programmes on medication administration via enteral tubes for intensive care unit nurses is important in improving nurses' knowledge.

Investigation of Turkish nurses frequency and knowledge of administration of intramuscular injections to the ventrogluteal site: Results from questionnaires.

BACKGROUND: Intramuscular injection is important in the administration of parenteral medication and is a frequently-performed nursing responsibility. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify the frequency of use of the ventrogluteal site and the level of nurses' knowledge of administering an intramuscular injection to this site. DESIGN: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted of nurses working in four hospitals (n=362). Data collection tools included a 12 item sociodemographic questionnaire and a 24 item questionnaire on knowledge of the ventrogluteal site for intramuscular injection. FINDINGS: 17.1% of participants reported using the VG site frequently in intramuscular injections. On the other hand, 35.9% reported that they do not use the VG site in intramuscular injections just because they are not used to giving injections on this site. Level of knowledge of ventrogluteal site was also limited with the mean score of correct answers from 24 questions being 14.37. CONCLUSION: It was found in the study that nurses' knowledge of the ventrogluteal site was limited, and they are not preferentially using the ventrogluteal site for intramuscular injections to adults even though it is recommended in recent nursing literature.

Effect of photoperiod and melatonin on volume and cellular parameters of testis in pinealectomized rats / Efecto del fotoperiodo y la melatonina sobre el volumen y parámetros celulares de los testículos en ratas pinealectomizadas

Mammalian reproductive axis is regulated by the combination of three fundamental tissues of neuroendocrine system including hypothalamus, hypophysis and gonads. In recent years, pineal gland has been included in this axis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of 12L (Light):12D (Dark) photoperiod and melatonin administration (0.5 mg/kg/day; subcutaneously) on testicular volume and cellular parameters of testis at the pinealectomized (PE) rats. For this aim, twelve adult rats were firstly pinealectomized and then divided into two groups as GI and GII randomly. The GI rats served as control group and received only normal saline, whereas GII rats were the melatonin administered group. It was found that the total testicular volume, diameter and epithelial height of seminiferous tubules and number and nuclear diameter of the interstitial cells of the testes were increased in the GII. However, increase in the interstitial cell number was not found statistically significant among groups. In conclusion, it was observed that the 12L:12D photoperiod and doses of melatonin given increased the investigated parameters in PE rats.

El eje reproductivo de los mamíferos está regulado por la combinación de tres tejidos fundamentales del sistema neuroendocrino, incluyendo el hipotálamo, hipófisis y las gónadas. En los últimos años, la glándula pineal se ha incluido en este eje. El objetivo fue investigar el efecto del fotoperíodo 12L (Luz):12O (oscuridad) y la administración de melatonina (0,5 mg/kg/día, vía subcutánea) sobre el volumen testicular y los parámetros celulares del testículo en ratas pinealectomizadas (RP). Doce ratas adultas fueron pinealectomizadas y divididas en dos grupos, GI y GII de manera aleatoria. Las ratas del GI sirvieron como grupo de control y recibieron sólo solución salina normal, mientras que a las ratas del GII se les administró melatonina. Se encontró que el volumen total, diámetro y altura del epitelio de los túbulos seminíferos de los testículos, y el número y diámetro nuclear de las células intersticiales se incrementaron en el GII. Sin embargo, el aumento en el número de las células intersticiales no fue significativo entre los grupos. En conclusión, se observó que el fotoperíodo 12L:12O y la dosis administrada de melatonina aumentan los parámetros investigados en RP.