Missed nursing care in surgical care- a hazard to patient safety: a quantitative study within the inCHARGE programme.

BACKGROUND: Missed nursing care occurs globally, and the consequences are severe for the patients when fundamental care needs are not fulfilled, nor delivered in a person-centred way. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence and cause of missed nursing care, and the relationship between registered nurses' and nursing assistants' perceptions of missed nursing care, in a surgical care context. METHODS: A quantitative study was performed using the MISSCARE survey, measuring missed nursing care and associated reasons, in three surgical wards with registered nurses and nursing assistants as the participants (n = 118), during May-November in 2022. The MISSCARE survey also covers background data such as job satisfaction and intention to leave. The survey was distributed paper-based and the response rate was 88%. RESULTS: Aspects of nursing care rated to be missed the most were 'attending interdisciplinary care conferences', 'turning patient every 2 h', 'ambulation 3 times per day or as ordered', and 'mouth care'. Differences between registered nurse and nursing assistant ratings were detected for eight out of 24 items, where registered nurses rated more missed nursing care. The uppermost reasons for missed nursing care were 'inadequate number of staff' and 'unexpected rise in patient volume and/or acuity on the unit'. Registered nurses and nursing assistants rated differently regarding six of 17 items. Almost every fourth staff member (24.6%, n = 29) had the intention to leave within a year in the present department. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of missed nursing care is frequent in the surgical context, and in combination with a high number of staff members intending to leave their employment, poses a hazard to patient safety. Registered nurses, holding higher educational levels, reported more missed care compared with the nursing assistants. The main reason for missed nursing care was an inadequate number of staff. These findings support a warranted investment in nursing within the organisation. The results can be used to form strategies and interventions, to reduce nurse attrition and optimise competence utilisation, and to achieve safe person-centered fundamental care.

Effective learning activity to facilitate post-graduate nursing students' utilization of nursing theories - Using the fundamentals of care framework.

AIMS: To explore how postgraduate nursing students used the Fundamentals of Care framework in a written assignment based on a clinical situation, and describe their learning process in using the framework. DESIGN: A qualitative descriptive study design applying the Fundamentals of Care framework. METHODS: Postgraduate nursing students' theoretical written assignments (n = 35) based on self-experienced clinical cases were included. The data were collected in 2021 in five specialties in a postgraduate nursing programme in Sweden. The data were analysed using content analysis. RESULTS: Applying the framework to a self-experienced clinical case illuminated the importance of nurse-patient relationships and clarified the meaning of person-centred care. The students assessed the framework as easy-to-use bedside as a guide to providing nursing care. By using the framework, the students were aided in reasoning about the fundamental values of care such as ethics, equality in healthcare and patient rights. When students reflected on their learning process, they stated that the assignment taught them how to use the framework, as well as paving the way for finding and applying other theories of nursing. CONCLUSION: Learning activities with an opportunity to practice analysing nursing care guided by a theory, combined with a self-evaluating element, are conducive to deepening students' learning and improving their ability to use theories in clinical practice. IMPACT: The framework illuminated the importance of the nurse-patient relationship in nursing care to the students and made them recognize and value the clinical use of theories. It is the responsibility of leaders in nurse education and healthcare to provide the next generation of specialist nurses-future nursing leaders-with regular opportunities to analyse nursing care through theories and frameworks. Nurses call for continuous learning on theories; leaders in nurse education and healthcare must meet these needs.

Oral health and oral care in patients in a surgical context: A quantitative study comparing patients' and nurses' assessments.

AIMS: To investigate fundamental care delivery regarding oral care in a surgical context, and to compare patients' self-reported oral health with registered nurse assessments. DESIGN: A descriptive and comparative study, with a consecutive selection. METHODS: A patient oral health rating tool, including questions about performed oral care, was distributed to patients (n = 50), at four surgical wards in Sweden. The response rate was 72%. Oral health status was assessed by a registered nurse using the Revised Oral Assessment Guide (ROAG), and a comparison between patient and registered nurse assessment was performed by calculating Cohen's kappa coefficient and percentage agreement. RESULTS: Patients (38%) reported severe oral symptoms, mostly dry lips and not an adequate amount of saliva, and 80% were not offered help with oral care. ROAG assessments revealed that 74% had problems with oral health. Almost half of the patients (48%) needed assistance with oral care but only 10% received help. Registered nurses assessed the patient's oral health as worse than the patient's self-assessment did. CONCLUSION: There are deficiencies in fundamental care delivery regarding oral care in a surgical care context. Oral health assessments need to be performed by registered nurses. Routines for systematic oral assessments and for oral care need to be implemented by nurse managers to ensure that patients' fundamental care needs are fulfilled. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND PATIENT CARE: Oral health assessments need to be performed regularly by registered nurses since it is insufficient that patients self-assess their oral health. Nurse managers need to provide and implement routines for nurse assessments and oral care in surgical care contexts. IMPACT: There are deficiencies in patients' oral health and oral care, and registered nurses need to perform oral health assessments. Nurse managers need to implement routines for registered nurse assessments and oral care. PATIENT CONTRIBUTION: Patients admitted to a surgical ward were included in the study after being screened for inclusion criteria. After participants signed informed consent, they filled in a questionnaire about oral health and oral care, and a registered nurse performed an oral health assessment. REPORTING METHOD: This study was carried out according to the STROBE checklist.

Swedish men and smoking: Views on screening-detected abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), most common among elderly male smokers, often show no symptoms before rupture. To facilitate better care and counselling targeted to smoking cessation for these patients, more knowledge is required about their views. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to describe the views on AAA and smoking among male smokers with screening-detected AAA. A qualitative approach with individual interviews with 16 men with screening-detected AAA was applied. Three had quit smoking by the time of the interviews. Thematic analysis was performed, and four themes emerged: (i) accepting the course of life; (ii) the elusive AAA: a disturbing experiencing or merely a minor inconvenience?; (iii) being in safe hands; and (iv) smoking as an unexpected topic of discussion. Most of the participants felt they were in "safe hands", although thoughts about death were also evoked. However, the information about smoking cessation was unexpected, and the relationship between AAA and smoking unclear. Presenting the connection between AAA and smoking in a clear manner and motivating smoking cessation in an individually-targeted way are important.

Relatives of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Their experience of care and support.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe relatives' experience of patient care and the support they themselves received during the course of disease progression. METHOD: A total of 15 relatives were included from two neurology clinics in Sweden: 7 wives, 4 husbands, and 4 daughters. Data were collected through qualitative interviews 6 to 12 months after the patient had died. Content analysis was performed to analyze the interviews. RESULT: The results showed that patient care was experienced as positive and as being based on the patient's needs and desires. Treatment from the staff, support and help, knowledge, availability, and continuity among the team were important reasons for the relations to feel secure. In addition, support for relatives was available, but different factors influenced its use. Most relatives did not think about their own needs but focused on the patient. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: It is important that care and support for both patients and relatives be based on individual needs. The staff members responsible for providing this care and support must have knowledge and experience of the disease and its specific care. If they do not belong to an ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) team, they may require further education and support. The relatives focus on the patient's situation and do not think of their own needs. It is therefore important that health professionals be observant of the relatives and offer them help and support to better manage their situation.

Employers' requests when advertising for nurses-A national mapping of recruitment advertising for nurses in Sweden.

INTRODUCTION: There is a shortage of nurses and many are leaving the profession. Maintaining sufficient nursing staff is a major healthcare challenge for societies worldwide. Work conditions, job orientation, and career opportunities all factor into nurses' rates of attrition, exit, and turnover. Newly graduated nurses have requested structured introductory and/or mentoring programmes to ease their transition from education to work life and develop the skills and knowledge necessary in their particular work setting. Nurses also seek opportunities to continue learning and developing professionally. AIMS: To map and describe the content of recruitment advertisements for nurses. Research questions were: 'What qualifications do healthcare employers request when recruiting nurses?' and 'What sorts of professional development do healthcare employers offer nurses? MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive national mapping of recruitment advertisements for nurses in Sweden where all advertisements, N = 450, on 20 of the 21 regional hospital websites were collected. A qualitative and a quantitative content analysis was performed. RESULTS: Personal characteristics dominated requested competence in recruitment advertisements. Employers offered general nursing opportunities with unspecific work content and focused more on recruiting newly registered, rather than experienced, nurses. In only a few advertisements, employers asked for a master's degree. No employer requested nurses with a PhD or research experience. CONCLUSION: While the World Health Organization stresses the need for a sustainable recruitment and attainment of nurses to secure health care, employers' recruitment of mostly newly graduated nurses and offering little professional development and few career opportunities may be one explanation for the difficulties in securing safe nurse staffing.

InCHARGE: Co-creating, implementing and evaluating interventions to utilize nurses' competence and achieve person-centred fundamental care-A research protocol describing an action research approach.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: This research protocol presents an action research project with the aim to demonstrate the value of person-centred fundamental care to nurses and nurse managers in surgical care units to encourage a far-reaching change in this direction. The objectives are to describe this process and to evaluate the effects on missed nursing care and person-centred fundamental care. METHODS: In a novel collaboration between nursing science and medical humanities the action research design will be used to interact with nursing staff and leaders in three surgical care units and design interventions with the purpose to affect the direction of nursing. Initially, the care units will be presented with interactive workshops including evidence-based education on person-centered fundamental care, person-centredness, nurse role responsibility and leadership. This will be followed by cocreation of interventions to stimulate person-centered fundamental care. The Fundamentals of Care framework will be used as the overarching theoretical framework. Data on missed nursing care, person-centred climate and person-centered fundamental care will be collected repeatedly from patient- and nursing stakeholders through interviews and validated questionnaires. Additionally, data from written reflections following clinical observations and focus group interviews will be included. The duration of the study will be approximately five years from ethical approval. DISCUSSION: It has been previously reported that the current working environments of registered nurses are forcing them to ration their caring responsibilities, leading to a lack of fulfillment of patients' fundamental care needs, with possible severe consequences for patients. The action research design helps researchers gain an understanding of the contextual factors important for forthcoming interventions, enabling reflective processes and cocreation of interventions with stakeholders. This may lead to feasible interventions and strengthen nursing leadership in the involved units.

Patient complaints about communication in cancer care settings: Hidden between the lines.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate patient complaints in cancer care settings reported to patient advisory committees (PACs) and describe the frequency and content of communication failures across all reports. METHODS: Content analysis, with a summative approach, was applied to cancer care complaints (2016-2020) by 692 patients to PACs in one Swedish healthcare region. RESULTS: More than half the patients reported communication failures. Patients reported not receiving proper information, not being listened to, and being treated disrespectfully or impersonally. Communication failures occurred in different stages of the patients' cancer care, from diagnostic workup to end-of-life. Compared with the results of the PACs, communication failures were underreported, and were often combined with complaints in other categories. CONCLUSIONS: Communication failures are hidden "between the lines" and do not appear clearly in existing reporting systems. Healthcare must utilize the knowledge conveyed by patient complaints and create conditions and environments that support healthcare providers in delivering person-centered care. PRACTICE IMPLICATION: A summary picture of patients' complaints in Swedish cancer care is provided. These results could be used to further improve the patient complaint system. Above all, the results could serve as a "wake-up call" about the importance of communication and a valuable resource in improving cancer care.

Why is pain still not being assessed adequately? Results of a pain prevalence study in a university hospital in Sweden.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of pain and pain assessment among inpatients in a university hospital. BACKGROUND: Pain management could be considered an indicator of quality of care. Few studies report on prevalence measures including all inpatients. DESIGN: Quantitative and explorative. METHOD: Survey. RESULTS: Of the inpatients at the hospital who answered the survey, 494 (65%) reported having experienced pain during the preceding 24 hours. Of the patients who reported having experienced pain during the preceding 24 hours, 81% rated their pain >3 and 42.1% rated their pain >7. Of the patients who reported having experienced pain during the preceding 24 hours, 38.7% had been asked to self-assess their pain using a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS); 29.6% of the patients were completely satisfied, and 11.5% were not at all satisfied with their participation in pain management. CONCLUSIONS: The result showed that too many patients are still suffering from pain and that the NRS is not used to the extent it should be. Efforts to overcome under-implementation of pain assessment are required, particularly on wards where pain is not obvious, e.g., wards that do not deal with surgery patients. Work to improve pain management must be carried out through collaboration across professional groups. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Using a pain assessment tool such as the NRS could help patients express their pain and improve communication between nurses and patients in relation to pain as well as allow patients to participate in their own care. Carrying out prevalence pain measures similar to those used here could be helpful in performing quality improvement work in the area of pain management.

Patient information and participation still in need of improvement: evaluation of patients' perceptions of quality of care.

AIMS: To identify areas in need of quality improvement by investigating inpatients' perceptions of quality of care, and to identify differences in perceptions of care related to patient gender, age and type of admission. BACKGROUND: Nursing managers play an important role in the development of high-quality care. METHODS: Quality of care was assessed using the Quality from the Patients' Perspective (QPP). In all, 2734 inpatients at a Swedish university hospital completed the QPP. RESULTS: Inadequate quality was identified for 15 out of 24 items, e.g. information given on treatment and examination results, opportunities to participate in decisions related to care and information on self-care. Patients with emergency admissions reported lower scores for quality of information and doctors' care than did patients with planned admissions. CONCLUSION: Results from the present survey identified areas in need of quality improvement and differences in perceived care quality between patients. Quality of care must be developed in close collaboration with other healthcare professionals; in this respect, nursing managers could play an important role. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Nursing managers could play a more active part in measuring quality of care, and in using results from such measurements to develop and improve quality of care.

Is satisfaction with doctors' care related to health-related quality of life, anxiety and depression among patients with carcinoid tumours? A longitudinal report.

The aim of this study was to investigate (i) whether specific aspects of the initial consultation (IC) and/or patients' satisfaction with doctors' care are related to health-related quality of life (HRQoL), anxiety and depression among patients with carcinoid tumours and (ii) whether patients' satisfaction with doctors' care changes over time. The study has a longitudinal design. The HRQoL and psychosocial function among patients who met the doctors showing good ability to identify patients' worry and wish for information were compared with those patients who met doctors showing less good ability. Patients' HRQoL, anxiety, depression and satisfaction with doctors' care were assessed longitudinally, shortly after each of the first four admissions to specialist care. Patients who met doctors showing good ability to identify their wish for information at the IC reported higher levels of cognitive function. Higher satisfaction with doctors' care was related to higher emotional and cognitive function, to higher global QoL, and to lower levels of problems with diarrhoea, financial difficulties, constipation, anxiety and depression shortly after each of the first three admissions, although not after the fourth admission to the specialist care. Although most patients with carcinoid tumours report high satisfaction with care, it is important to be aware of the fact that some patients may be less satisfied. Doctors should provide patients with information which matches the individual patients' needs and preferences as patients' satisfaction with doctors' provision of information is related to patients' HRQoL, anxiety and depression.

Health related quality of life and psychosocial function among patients with carcinoid tumours. A longitudinal, prospective, and comparative study.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to investigate HRQoL and psychosocial function among patients with carcinoid tumours, longitudinally and prospectively, and to compare HRQoL among patients with carcinoid tumours to that of the Swedish general population. The aim was also to investigate the prevalence of distress during the first year after diagnosis. METHODS: At four assessments during the first year after diagnosis, HRQoL was measured by the EORTC QLQ-C30 3.0, anxiety and depression by the HADS, and prevalence, and worst aspects of distress by an interview guide. ANOVA was performed in order to study changes over time with regard to HRQoL, anxiety and depression. Comparisons regarding HRQoL between patients and the Swedish population were made by the use of one-sample t-tests and changes over time regarding the prevalence of distress was investigated by means of Cochran's Q. RESULTS: High levels of physical-, emotional-, cognitive-, and social function and somewhat lower levels of role function and global quality of life were reported at all assessments. Role- and emotional function increased over time. Patients reported lower role function and global quality of life and more problems with fatigue and diarrhoea than the Swedish general population, at all assessments. Fatigue, limitations to work and pursue daily activities, and worry that the illness will get worse were among the most prevalent aspects at all assessments. At all assessments the majority reported worrying about the family's situation, the ability to care for the family, and worrying before the check-up. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that HRQoL and psychosocial function among patients with carcinoid tumours remains stable during the first year, that the patients report a lower HRQoL than the Swedish general population, and that a majority of the patients report a number of aspects of emotional distress. In the clinical care, it should be considered that the majority of patients report not only fatigue and diarrhoea but also worries about their prognosis, their families, tests, and examinations. Efforts to reduce these worries should be made.

Secondary insults related to nursing interventions in neurointensive care: a descriptive pilot study.

The patients at a neurointensive care unit are frequently cared for in many ways, day and night. The aim of this study was to investigate the amount of secondary insults related to oral care, repositioning, endotracheal suctioning, hygienic measures, and simultaneous interventions at a neurointensive care unit with standardized care and maximum attention on avoiding secondary insults. The definition of a secondary insult was intracranial pressure > 20 mm Hg, cerebral perfusion pressure < 60 mm Hg and systolic blood pressure < 100 mm Hg for 5 minutes or more in a 10-minute period starting from when the nursing intervention began. The insult minutes did not have to be consecutive. The study included 18 patients, seven women and 11 men, aged 36-76 years with different neurosurgical diagnoses. The total number of nursing interventions analyzed was 1,717. The most common kind of secondary insults after a nursing measure was high intracranial pressure (n = 93) followed by low cerebral perfusion pressure (n = 43) and low systolic blood pressure (n = 14). Repositioning (n = 39) and simultaneous interventions (n = 32) were the nursing interventions causing most secondary insults. There were substantial variations between the patients; only one patient had no secondary insult. There were, overall, a limited number of secondary insults related to nursing interventions when a standardized management protocol system was applied to reduce the occurrence of secondary insults. Patients with an increased risk of secondary insults should be recognized, and their care and treatment should be carefully planned and performed to avoid secondary insults.

Maintenance of airway pressure during filter exchange due to auto-triggering.

BACKGROUND: Daily routine ventilator-filter exchange interrupts the integrity of the ventilator circuit. We hypothesized that this might reduce positive airway pressure in mechanically ventilated ICU patients, inducing alveolar collapse and causing impaired oxygenation and compliance of the respiratory system. METHODS: We studied 40 consecutive ICU subjects (P(aO2)/F(IO2) ratio ≤ 300 mm Hg), mechanically ventilated with pressure-regulated volume control or pressure support and PEEP ≥ 5 cm H2O. Before the filter exchange, (baseline) tidal volume, breathing frequency, end-inspiratory plateau pressure, and PEEP were recorded. Compliance of the respiratory system was calculated; F(IO2), blood pressure, and pulse rate were registered; and P(aO2), P(aCO2), pH, and base excess were measured. Measurements were repeated 15 and 60 min after the filter exchange. In addition, a bench test was performed with a precision test lung with similar compliance and resistance as in the clinical study. RESULTS: The exchange of the filter took 3.5 ± 1.2 s (mean ± SD). There was no significant change in P(aO2) (89 ± 16 mm Hg at baseline vs 86 ± 16 mm Hg at 15 min and 88 ± 18 mm Hg at 60 min, P = .24) or in compliance of the respiratory system (41 ± 11 mL/cm H2O at baseline vs 40 ± 12 mL/cm H2O at 15 min and 40 ± 12 mL/cm H2O at 60 min, P = .32). The bench study showed that auto-triggering by the ventilator when disconnecting from the expiratory circuit kept the tracheal pressure above PEEP for at least 3 s with pressure controlled ventilation. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that a short disconnection of the expiratory ventilator circuit from the ventilator during filter exchange was not associated with any significant deterioration in lung function 15 and 60 min later. This result may be explained by auto-triggering of the ventilator with high inspiratory flows during the filter exchange, maintaining airway pressure.

The use of nurse checklists in a bedside computer-based information system to focus on avoiding secondary insults in neurointensive care.

The feasibility and accuracy of using checklists after every working shift in a bedside computer-based information system for documentation of secondary insults in the neurointensive care unit were evaluated. The ultimate goal was to get maximal attention to avoid secondary insults. Feasibility was investigated by assessing if the checklists were filled in as prescribed. Accuracy was evaluated by comparing the checklists with recorded minute-by-minute monitoring data for intracranial pressure-ICP, cerebral perfusion pressure CPP, systolic blood pressure SBP, and temperature. The total number of checklist assessments was 2,184. In 85% of the shifts, the checklists were filled in. There was significantly longer duration of monitoring time at insult level when Yes was filled in regarding ICP (mean 134 versus 30 min), CPP (mean 125 versus 26 min) and temperature (mean 315 versus 120 min). When a secondary insult was defined as >5% of monitoring time spent at insult level, the sensitivity/specificity for the checklist assessments was 31%/100% for ICP, 38%/99% for CPP, and 66%/88% for temperature. Checklists were feasible and appeared relatively accurate. Checklists may elevate the alertness for avoiding secondary insults and help in the evaluation of the patients. This concept may be the next step towards tomorrow critical care.

Patient attitudes, behaviours, and other factors considered by doctors when estimating cancer patients' anxiety and desire for information.

The aim was to describe the patient attitudes, behaviours, and other factors, considered by doctors when estimating cancer patients' worry about how the disease may develop and the desire for information about the disease and its treatment. Data was gathered through semi-structured interviews with 19 doctors regarding 29 patients within endocrine oncology and haematology care, and the data were analysed by content analysis. The doctors considered the patients' verbal expressions, verbal behaviours, questions, body language, and facial expressions together with their own professional knowledge and experience, when estimating the patients' worry and desire for information. The doctors also considered contextual factors, patients' demographical factors, and medical situation when estimating the patients' worry, and also when estimating the patients' desire for information. The findings illustrate that estimating patients' worry and desire for information is a multifaceted and complex task, and that doctors consider not only the patients' verbal and nonverbal cues, but also factors, such as their own professional knowledge and experience, contextual factors, and patients' demographical variables. The findings should be communicated to doctors who meet cancer patients in medical consultations in order to illuminate the complexity of the medical consultation. The awareness of potentially important patient cues and other factors may aid doctors in their efforts to gain insight about their patients' emotions and informational needs.