Gaining acceptance, insight and ability to act: A process evaluation of a preventive stress intervention as part of a transition-to-practice programme for newly graduated nurses.

AIM: To investigate how NGNs perceived and applied an intervention for preventing stress-related ill health embedded in a transition-to-practice programme when entering their professional life. DESIGN: A qualitative exploratory descriptive design was selected for this study to gain insights and perspectives on the adoption and utilization of the intervention. METHODS: In this qualitative methodology process evaluation, semi-structured and audio-recorded interviews were conducted with a sample of 49 nurses. Data were collected between December 2016 and July 2017, and were sorted in NVivo 12 Plus, followed by thematic analysis. RESULTS: The analysis resulted in three change processes stimulated by the intervention: (a) Building acceptance of being new; (b) Gaining insight into professional development and health and (c) Practical steps for skills development, healthy habits and better-organized work. In addition to the three themes, barriers that hindered the progression of the processes were also described. Each process influenced the development of the others by stimulating a deeper understanding, motivation to change and courage to act. Several barriers were identified, including the use of cognitively demanding intervention tools, fatigue, high work demands, inconvenient work hours and a hostile social climate on the ward. CONCLUSION: This process evaluation showed that newly graduated nurses used knowledge from the intervention and adopted new behaviours largely in accordance with how the intervention was intended to work. IMPACT: When entering a new profession, it is crucial to receive a well-thought-out, structured and targeted introduction to the new professional role, tasks and work group. Nurses stated that the intervention increased their understanding of the role as new nurses and their insight into how to develop skills that promoted better functioning and recovery. The intervention also stimulated the development of new health behaviour and some new learning strategies.

The use of the evidence-based practice process by experienced registered nurses to inform and transform clinical practice during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal national cohort study.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many registered nurses (RNs) worked on the frontline caring for severely ill patients. They did so with limited knowledge of how to treat and prevent the disease. This extreme situation puts pressure on RNs to find evidence on which to base the care of their patients. AIMS: To examine: (1) the extent to which evidence-based practice (EBP) process was applied by Swedish RN cohorts 15-19 years after graduation during the pandemic, (2) whether there was any change to their EBP process from pre-pandemic to late pandemic, (3) the relationship between RNs' use of the EBP process and the duration of exposure to work situations severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and (4) whether level of education, position and care setting were associated with the extent of RNs' EBP process. METHODS: In 2021, the level of EBP activities was investigated among 2237 RNs 15-19 years after graduation. The scale used to measure EBP consisted of six items of the EBP process. Unpaired t-tests or one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used in the analysis. RESULTS: RNs used the EBP process to a moderate extent to inform and transform their clinical practice. There was a minor but significant decrease in practicing the EBP process from pre-pandemic to late in the pandemic. RNs who were most affected by the pandemic scored higher on the scale than less-affected colleagues. RNs in nonclinical positions reported more EBP activities, as did RNs in management positions. RNs working in outpatient settings reported more EBP activities than their colleagues in hospitals. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: It is imperative that RNs hone their skills in EBP if they are to be prepared for future healthcare crises. Healthcare providers have a duty to facilitate the development of EBP and, in this regard, RNs in clinical positions in hospitals need particular support.

Early career demanding psychosocial work environment and severe back pain and neck/shoulder pain in experienced nurses: A cohort study.

AIMS: Back pain and neck/shoulder pain are common among nurses. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between nurses' exposure to a demanding psychosocial work environment during the first three years after graduation and the occurrence of severe back pain and neck/shoulder pain in the longer term, 11-15 years later. METHODS: The Longitudinal Analysis of Nursing Education (LANE) study (nursing graduates from 26 Swedish universities in the years 2002, 2004 and 2006) was used to create two risk cohorts of nurses not reporting severe back pain (n=1764) or neck/shoulder pain (n=1707). Nurses exposed to a demanding psychosocial work environment for one, two or three of the first three years in their career were compared to nurses not having a demanding psychosocial work environment for any of these three years regarding the incidence of severe back pain or neck/shoulder pain at follow-up, 11-15 years later. Relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using binomial regression. RESULTS: The RR (95% CI) of having severe back pain for nurses who had a demanding psychosocial work environment for one of the three years was 1.36 (0.82-2.28) and 2.08 (1.21-3.57) for two of the three years and 2.82 (1.43-5.55) for all three years. Corresponding RRs (95% CIs) for severe neck/shoulder pain were 1.35 (0.87-2.10), 1.49 (0.88-2.51) and 1.41 (0.62-3.20), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses who were repeatedly exposed to a demanding psychosocial work environment early in their career reported severe back pain to a higher extent in the longer term.

Registered nurses' psychological capital: A scoping review.

AIMS: The aim was to examine the extent and scope of empirical research concerning registered nurses' psychological capital. BACKGROUND: In a time of global nursing shortage, identifying variables that could positively contribute to the retention of the nursing workforce is essential. Prior research has shown that psychological capital correlates positively with employees' better performance and well-being. DESIGN: A scoping review. DATA SOURCES: A systematic literature search was conducted in the following databases: PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science and Scopus covering the period from 1 January 2005 to 7 May 2023. REVIEW METHODS: The JBI methodological guidance for scoping reviews was followed. The results were summarized narratively. RESULTS: A total of 111 studies reported in 114 peer-reviewed articles were included. Studies were carried out across 20 countries, with the majority from China (45), Australia (nine), Pakistan (nine), Canada (eight), South Korea (eight) and the United States (eight). A positive correlation was found between registered nurses' psychological capital and desirable work-related outcomes, such as work engagement, commitment and retention intention. CONCLUSION: A comprehensive overview of research evidence suggests that psychological capital is associated with many positive work-related outcomes and might therefore be a valuable resource for reducing nurse turnover.

Paramedics' perceptions of job demands and resources in Finnish emergency medical services: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Paramedics' fatigue is rising. Stress factors show increased risk for burnout, fatigue, leaving the profession, decreased performance and risk for patient safety. Meanwhile, paramedics' strong community of practice, autonomy and a sense of professional respect are important factors in forming psychological resilience. We aimed to explore Finnish paramedics' perceptions of job demands and resources. METHODS: Our study design was descriptive, inductive with a constructivist approach. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we analyse open-ended questions, from a web-based survey and essays written by Finnish paramedic masters-degree students. The study followed the SRQR checklist. RESULTS: We identified paramedics' job demands as stress from a high workload, environmental factors and emotional burden. Performance expectations and a sense of inadequacy were further noted, as well as an organizational culture of hardiness, presenting lack of support and sense of inequality. Paramedics' job resources were pressure management strategies, which were expressed as positive coping mechanisms, agency to affect workload and professional self-actualization, expressed as psychologically safe work community, professional pride and internal drive to professional development. CONCLUSIONS: Finnish paramedics exhibit resources and demands related to uncertainty and emotional burden as well as cultural hardiness and psychological safety in communities. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: This study was done based on survey data collected and analysed by the authors. No patient or public contribution was utilized for this study.

Depression, anxiety and stress among Swedish university students before and during six months of the COVID-19 pandemic: A cohort study.

AIMS: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on societies and citizens worldwide, raising concerns about potential mental health impacts. We aimed to describe trajectories of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms during the COVID-19 outbreak compared to before the outbreak, and to determine if trajectories were modified by pre-pandemic loneliness, poor sleep quality and mental health problems. METHODS: We conducted a cohort study with 1836 Swedish university students entering the study before 13 March 2020, the onset of the pandemic, with follow-ups within three (FU1) and six months (FU2) of the outbreak. Generalized Estimating Equations were used to estimate mean differences in symptom levels over time-periods, and to estimate potential effect modifications. RESULTS: We found small differences in mean levels of the depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS-21) over time. Compared to before the pandemic, depression increased by 0.25 points of 21 (95% CI: 0.04 to 0.45) at FU1 and decreased by 0.75/21 (95% CI:-0.97 to -0.53) at FU2. Anxiety decreased from baseline to FU1 by 0.09/21 (95% CI: -0.24 to 0.07) and by 0.77/21 (95% CI: -0.93 to -0.61) to FU2. Stress decreased from baseline to FU1 by 0.30/21 (95% CI: -0.52 to -0.09) and by 1.32/21 (95% CI: -1.55 to -1.09) to FU2. Students with pre-pandemic loneliness, poor sleep quality or pre-pandemic mental health problems did not have worse trajectories of mean mental health symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Symptom levels were relatively stable during the first three months of the pandemic, while there was a slight decrease during the summer months, probably due to seasonality effects.

Finnish paramedics' professional quality of life and associations with assignment experiences and defusing use - a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Paramedics experience traumatic events and social emergencies during assignments while also being subjected to verbal and physical threats. Consequently, they are at risk for burnout and secondary traumatic stress, factors inherent to professional quality of life. Defusing and peer-support potentially decrease such symptoms; however, perceived defusing needs and use are not always balanced. Our aim was to explore Finnish paramedics' professional quality of life, using the Professional Quality of Life Scale, with associations to EMS assignment experiences as well as formal and informal defusing need and use over a 12-month period. METHODS: A quantitative study of 257 Finnish paramedics using a cross-sectional design. Study outcomes were secondary traumatic stress (STS), compassion satisfaction (CS), and burnout (BO) scores using the modified 9-item Short Professional Quality of Life scale (ProQOL). Likert-type scales were used to collect participants' recollections of assignment experiences and defusing from a 12-month period. Associations were explored using Spearman's correlation coefficients. RESULTS: Short ProQOL score medians were STS 4.00 (IQR 3), BO 6.00 (IQR 3) and CS 13.00 (IQR 3). STS and BO correlated to experiences of social emergencies and traumatic events while BO correlated to experiences of threat situations (r = 0.206, p = .001). Paramedics perceived a need for defusing in general associated with STS (r = 0.178, p < .001) and participated in informal defusing. Participation in defusing of any form did not associate with ProQOL scores. CONCLUSIONS: Finnish paramedics' more frequent experiences of social emergencies, traumatic events, and paramedic-directed threat situations were associated with higher levels of STS and BO. STS was also associated with paramedics' increased need for defusing and use of informal peer defusing, although neither STS, BO or CS scores associated to any defusing form. Managing paramedics STS and BO, while fostering CS, could therefore be a future research focus.

Psychosocial working conditions of shiftworking nurses: A long-term latent transition analysis.

AIM: This study aimed to identify profiles of working conditions to which nurses were exposed to over time and investigate how changes in working conditions relate to shiftworking and health. BACKGROUND: Previous studies rarely addressed the issue of working conditions development over long periods and the effects of such development on nurses' health. METHODS: Data from a national cohort of nurses in Sweden (N = 2936) were analysed using a person-centred analytical approach-latent profile and latent transition analysis. RESULTS: Nurses report better psychosocial working conditions as they progress into mid-career. Shiftworking nurses experience poorer working conditions than their dayworking counterparts and tend to move from shiftwork to daywork as they progress into mid-career. In mid-career, nurses in work environments characterized by low autonomy and support tend to report poorer health outcomes. CONCLUSION: Current analyses suggest that shiftworking nurses are particularly in need of interventions that address poor work environments. Not only do they experience more negative psychosocial working conditions than their dayworking counterparts, but they do so while having to contend with demanding schedules. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: The findings highlight that organisational interventions should target different aspects of the work environment for nurses in diverse stages of their careers.

Registered Nurses' Evidence-Based Practice Revisited: A Longitudinal Study in Mid-Career.

BACKGROUND: To improve patient outcomes and patient safety and to reduce costs in health care, the implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP) is crucial. AIMS: To examine the use of the EBP process in Swedish health care. Specifically, to examine whether professional career development (years of experience, years in current position, specialist education, care setting) is associated with RNs' practice of EBP activities and changes in the extent of practicing the EBP process between early and mid-career. METHODS: In this observational longitudinal study, the extent of EBP activities was investigated in three national cohorts of 2,474 RNs. Nurses rated their own EBP levels 11-15 and three years after graduation. Six items measured the respondents' extent of practicing the EBP process. Comparisons of EBP levels between subgroups were tested using unpaired t-tests or one-way ANOVAs. RESULTS: On average, RNs used the EBP process occasionally every half year. RNs with specialist education reported a higher extent of EBP activities as did RNs who worked in outpatient and home care settings. There was a significant increase in the extent of EBP activities 11 to 13 years after graduation compared to three years after graduation. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: The findings raise some central questions for practice: How well equipped are RNs to practice the EBP process? What is needed to facilitate EBP in clinical settings? Building on the findings of this study, managers in clinical practice need to develop supportive organizational structures that facilitate EBP. This study suggests that mid-career RNs increased the extent of practicing the EBP process over time compared to previous reported practice in their first years as RNs. However, the level of EBP activities was low to moderate, and this modest increase took 11 to 13 years to achieve. To enhance the practice of EBP in nursing care, educational and organizational factors need to be considered.

Preventing Stress-Related Ill Health Among New Registered Nurses by Supporting Engagement in Proactive Behaviors-A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: New registered nurses (RNs) are at risk of developing symptoms of stress-related ill health. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of a 3 × 3 hour group intervention aiming to prevent symptoms of stress-related ill health among new RNs by increasing engagement in proactive behaviors. The intervention involves discussions and models of newcomer experiences and stress and the behavior change techniques reinforcing approach behaviors, systematic exposure, and action planning. DESIGN: A randomized parallel group trial with an active control condition. PARTICIPANTS: The study sample consisted of 239 new RNs participating in a transition-to-practice program for new RNs in a large county in Sweden. METHODS: Participants were randomized to either the experimental intervention or a control intervention. Data on experiences of stress, avoidance of proactive behaviors, engagement in leisure activities, role clarity, task mastery, and social acceptance were collected before and after the intervention. Effects were evaluated using multilevel model analysis and regression analysis. Missing data were imputed using multiple imputation. RESULTS: The control group experienced a statistically significant increase in experiences of stress during the period of the study (t(194.13) = 1.98, p = .049), whereas the level in the experimental group remained stable. Greater adherence to the intervention predicted a greater effect on experiences of stress (ß = -0.15, p = .039) and social acceptance (ß = 0.16, p = .027). LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: Transition-to-practice programs may benefit from adding an intervention that specifically addresses new RNs' experiences of stress to further support them as they adjust to their new professional role. However, replication studies with larger samples, more reliable measures, and longer periods of follow-up are needed.

New Graduate Nurses' Developmental Trajectories for Capability Beliefs Concerning Core Competencies for Healthcare Professionals: A National Cohort Study on Patient-Centered Care, Teamwork, and Evidence-based Practice.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to describe the developmental trajectories of registered nurses' capability beliefs during their first 3 years of practice. The focus was on three core competencies for health professionals-patient-centered care, teamwork, and evidence-based practice. METHODS: A national cohort of registered nurses (n = 1,205) was recruited during their nursing education and subsequently surveyed yearly during the first 3 years of working life. The survey included 16 items on capability beliefs divided into three subscales for the assessment of patient-centered care, teamwork, and evidence-based practice, and the data were analyzed with linear latent growth modeling. RESULTS: The nurses' capability beliefs for patient-centered care increased over the three first years of working life, their capability beliefs for evidence-based practice were stable over the 3 years, and their capability beliefs for teamwork showed a downward trend. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: Through collaboration between nursing education and clinical practice, the transition to work life could be supported and competence development in newly graduated nurses could be enhanced to help them master the core competencies. Future research should focus on determining which factors impact the development of capability beliefs in new nurses and how these factors can be developed by testing interventions.

The concept of research utilization as understood by Swedish nurses: demarcations of instrumental, conceptual, and persuasive research utilization.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The literature implies research utilization (RU) to be a multifaceted and complex phenomenon, difficult to trace in clinical practice. A deeper understanding of the concept of RU in a nursing context is needed, in particular, for the development of instruments for measuring nurses' RU, which could facilitate the evaluation of interventions to support the implementation of evidence-based practice. In this paper, we explored nurses' demarcation of instrumental RU (IRU), conceptual RU (CRU), and persuasive RU (PRU) using an item pool proposed to measure IRU, CRU, and PRU. METHODS: The item pool (12 items) was presented to two samples: one of practicing registered nurses (n = 890) in Sweden 4 years after graduating and one of recognized content experts (n = 7). Correlation analyses and content validity index (CVI) calculations were used together with qualitative content analysis, in a mixed methods design. FINDINGS: According to the item and factor analyses, CRU and PRU could not be distinguished, whereas IRU could. Analyses also revealed problems in linking the CRU items to the external criteria. The CVIs, however, showed excellent or good results for the IRU, CRU, and PRU items as well as at the scale level. The qualitative data indicated that IRU was the least problematic for the experts to categorize, whereas CRU and PRU were harder to demarcate. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings illustrate a difficulty in explicitly demarcating between CRU and PRU in clinical nursing. We suggest this overlap is related to conceptual incoherence, indicating a need for further studies. The findings constitute new knowledge about the RU concepts in a clinical nursing context, and highlight differences in how the concepts can be understood by RNs in clinical practice and experts within the field. We suggest that the findings are useful for defining RU in nursing and further development of measures of RU.

Under pressure - Nursing staff's perspectives on working hours and recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to increased pressure on healthcare systems. During periods when the demands exceed the capacity of healthcare organizations, adaptive strategies are used to meet these demands. During the COVID-19 pandemic, working hours for nursing staff were reorganized and extended. This has posed challenges for recovery, which may be a key factor for maintaining health and safety under such conditions. Objectives: The aim of the study was to bring insights into how nursing staff perceived their working hours and recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic, and if they experienced any changes in their sleep and well-being. Design: A qualitative descriptive design was chosen, as it is suitable for gaining insight into perceptions and experiences. Methods: Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted using an interview guide. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Sixteen registered nurses and six certified nursing assistants from four Swedish hospitals participated in the study. Results: The organization of working hours during the COVID-19 pandemic was considered suboptimal and resulted in more demanding working hours and poor recovery. Nursing staff experienced loss of control as they lost influence over working hours, working hours became more unpredictable and the boundaries between work and leisure became blurred. Nursing staff also experienced a decline in their health and well-being, including extreme fatigue, impaired sleep and physical/mental changes. Conclusion: The strategies used by healthcare organizations to meet increasing demands during the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to impaired recovery and well-being of nursing staff, which could generate negative feedback loops contributing to depletion of resources at the organizational level.

'We are expected to be problem solvers'-Paramedics' performance expectations through the lens of organizational socialization: An interview study.

AIM: To explore Finnish paramedics' perceptions of work-related performance expectations in relation to work experience, and understand how organizational socialization contributes to understanding paramedics' performance expectations. DESIGN: A qualitative design with a deductive-inductive approach utilizing a social constructivist framework. The organizational socialization framework by Wanberg was used as the theoretical basis. METHODS: Data were collected between May and August 2023, using group and individual interviews of newly graduated (n = 9) and experienced paramedics (n = 13). Participants were recruited via social media channels. Data were first analyzed deductively, according to constructs of the organizational socialization framework (role clarity, task mastery, and social acceptance), then inductively, using codes not utilized in the deductive phase. DATA SOURCES: Interviewed Finnish paramedics (N = 22), both newly graduated paramedics (n = 9) and experienced paramedics (n = 13). The interviews were performed remotely and then transcribed into text. RESULTS: Our findings showed comparable performance expectations between newly graduated and experienced paramedics, mismatches in role clarity of paramedic work, challenges in both learning and upholding professional competence, and difficulties of social acceptance into the paramedic community. There were variations in how expectations were perceived between groups, indicating that experience might partly affect how paramedics identify and manage performance expectations. The organizational socialization framework enables the contextualization of these performance expectations. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Paramedic work involves challenges to upholding clinical competence, aligning to a professional role, and social integration into the professional community. Our research contributes to understanding how paramedics perceive these challenges as performance expectations in different stages of their careers and how they could be managed utilizing a framework for organizational socialization. The socialization of paramedics into the workforce needs to account for these performance expectations, especially considering the changing paradigm of paramedic work, role, and societal expectations. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No Patient or Public Contribution.

Critical incidents and post-traumatic stress symptoms among experienced registered nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Registered nurses working on the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic encountered significant challenges, including exposure to critical incidents. Critical incidents refer to sudden unexpected clinical events that surpass an individual's ability to cope, leading to considerable psychological distress, which could potentially result in the development of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. Research has shown a high prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms among healthcare workers, particularly those in close contact with COVID-19 patients. Objective: To assess the levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms among registered nurses in relation to exposure to working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as how much their work was affected by the pandemic, re-deployment, working hours hindering sufficient recovery between shifts and critical incidents. Design: Cross sectional study. Settings: The registered nurses working in multiple health care services covering all 21 geographic regions in Sweden. Participants: A total of 1,923 registered nurses, who are part of a Swedish national cohort and have been followed since their nursing education, were invited to participate in a survey in late September 2021 (15 to 19 years post graduation). Methods: The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, unpaired t-tests, and one-way analysis of variance. Cohen's d was employed to quantify differences in mean levels between subgroups. Results: The response rate were 56.5 %. Over 50 % of experienced registered nurses reported significant disruptions to their work environments. In total, 85 % of registered nurses were exposed to at least one critical incident in their work during the pandemic, with 60 % facing organisational changes and nearly 50 % experiencing emotionally distressing situations. The exposure to work situations involving critical incidents consistently demonstrated strong associations with higher levels of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms compared to those not exposed, with effect sizes ranging from moderate to high. Conclusions: This study underscores the profound impact that working conditions, such as redeployment and exposure to critical incidents, have on the mental health of registered nurses. We offer valuable insights into registered nurses' pandemic-related challenges, highlighting the need for support and interventions to prevent and manage critical incidents, ultimately promoting their well-being. We also highlight the significance of thorough workforce readiness planning for future pandemics and other challenging health care scenarios, such as staff shortage.

Fear of childbirth in expectant fathers, subsequent childbirth experience and impact of antenatal education: subanalysis of results from a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To explore if antenatal fear of childbirth in men affects their experience of the birth event and if this experience is associated with type of childbirth preparation. DESIGN: Data from a randomized controlled multicenter trial on antenatal education. SETTING: 15 antenatal clinics in Sweden between January 2006 and May 2007. SAMPLE: 762 men, of whom 83 (10.9%) suffered from fear of childbirth. Of these 83 men, 39 were randomized to psychoprophylaxis childbirth preparation where men were trained to coach their partners during labor and 44 to standard care antenatal preparation for childbirth and parenthood without such training. METHODS: Experience of childbirth was compared between men with and without fear of childbirth regardless of randomization, and between fearful men in the randomized groups. Analyses by logistic regression adjusted for sociodemographic variables. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported data on experience of childbirth including an adapted version of the Wijma Delivery Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ B). RESULTS: Men with antenatal fear of childbirth more often experienced childbirth as frightening than men without fear: adjusted odds ratio 4.68, 95% confidence interval 2.67-8.20. Men with antenatal fear in the psychoprophylaxis group rated childbirth as frightening less often than those in standard care: adjusted odds ratio 0.30, 95% confidence interval 0.10-0.95. CONCLUSIONS: Men who suffer from antenatal fear of childbirth are at higher risk of experiencing childbirth as frightening. Childbirth preparation including training as a coach may help fearful men to a more positive childbirth experience. Additional studies are needed to support this conclusion.

Factors associated with evidence-based practice among registered nurses in Sweden: a national cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Evidence-based practice (EBP) is emphasized to increase the quality of care and patient safety. EBP is often described as a process consisting of distinct activities including, formulating questions, searching for information, compiling the appraised information, implementing evidence, and evaluating the resulting practice. To increase registered nurses' (RNs') practice of EBP, variables associated with such activities need to be explored. The aim of the study was to examine individual and organizational factors associated with EBP activities among RNs 2 years post graduation. METHODS: A cross-sectional design based on a national sample of RNs was used. Data were collected in 2007 from a cohort of RNs, included in the Swedish Longitudinal Analyses of Nursing Education/Employment study. The sample consisted of 1256 RNs (response rate 76%). Of these 987 RNs worked in healthcare at the time of the data collection. Data was self-reported and collected through annual postal surveys. EBP activities were measured using six single items along with instruments measuring individual and work-related variables. Data were analyzed using logistic regression models. RESULTS: Associated factors were identified for all six EBP activities. Capability beliefs regarding EBP was a significant factor for all six activities (OR = 2.6-7.3). Working in the care of older people was associated with a high extent of practicing four activities (OR = 1.7-2.2). Supportive leadership and high collective efficacy were associated with practicing three activities (OR = 1.4-2.0). CONCLUSIONS: To be successful in enhancing EBP among newly graduated RNs, strategies need to incorporate both individually and organizationally directed factors.

Psychological capital, grit and organizational justice as positive strengths and resources among registered nurses: A path analysis.

AIM: To examine registered nurses' individual strengths (psychological capital and grit) and an organizational resource (organizational justice) as well as associated work-related outcomes. In a time of a global nursing shortage, there is an urgent need to identify strengths and resources that can have a positive impact on the health, well-being and retention of registered nurses. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey. METHODS: A nationwide convenience sample of 514 registered nurses responded to a survey. Data were collected using a self-reported questionnaire between March and May 2018. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and multivariate path analysis. RESULTS: Participants rated their psychological capital and grit moderately high. Grit and organizational justice were found to have significant direct effects on psychological capital. Furthermore, psychological capital had positive direct effects on engagement and the perception of well-conducted everyday nursing as well as negative direct effects on burnout, the stress of conscience and the intent to leave the profession. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that nurse leaders and managers could consider improving registered nurses' well-being with two complementary approaches. It might be useful to reinforce positive, individual strengths, such as psychological capital, and at the same time create more favourable nursing work environments, for example by strengthening organizational justice. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION: Psychological capital and grit are emerging concepts in nursing workforce research. Identifying registered nurses' positive strengths and resources is important for inventing interventions that enhance nurses' engagement and well-being as well as reduce turnover intentions. IMPACT: Nurse leaders and managers play crucial roles in managing and developing registered nurses' individual strengths and organizational resources. This has gained even more importance now as the COVID-19 pandemic could have a long-term negative impact on nurses' well-being. REPORTING METHOD: The study is reported following STROBE guidelines. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.

Associations Between Procrastination and Subsequent Health Outcomes Among University Students in Sweden.

Importance: Procrastination is prevalent among university students and is hypothesized to lead to adverse health outcomes. Previous cross-sectional research suggests that procrastination is associated with mental and physical health outcomes, but longitudinal evidence is currently scarce. Objective: To evaluate the association between procrastination and subsequent health outcomes among university students in Sweden. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study was based on the Sustainable University Life study, conducted between August 19, 2019, and December 15, 2021, in which university students recruited from 8 universities in the greater Stockholm area and Örebro were followed up at 5 time points over 1 year. The present study used data on 3525 students from 3 time points to assess whether procrastination was associated with worse health outcomes 9 months later. Exposure: Self-reported procrastination, measured using 5 items from the Swedish version of the Pure Procrastination Scale rated on a Likert scale from 1 ("very rarely or does not represent me") to 5 ("very often or always represents me") and summed to give a total procrastination score ranging from 5 to 25. Main Outcomes and Measures: Sixteen self-reported health outcomes were assessed at the 9-month follow-up. These included mental health problems (symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress), disabling pain (neck and/or upper back, lower back, upper extremities, and lower extremities), unhealthy lifestyle behaviors (poor sleep quality, physical inactivity, tobacco use, cannabis use, alcohol use, and breakfast skipping), psychosocial health factors (loneliness and economic difficulties), and general health. Results: The study included 3525 participants (2229 women [63%]; mean [SD] age, 24.8 [6.2] years), with a follow-up rate of 73% (n = 2587) 9 months later. The mean (SD) procrastination score at baseline was 12.9 (5.4). An increase of 1 SD in procrastination was associated with higher mean symptom levels of depression (ß, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.09-0.17), anxiety (ß, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.04-0.12), and stress (ß, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.08-0.15), and having disabling pain in the upper extremities (risk ratio [RR], 1.27; 95% CI, 1.14-1.42), poor sleep quality (RR, 1.09, 95% CI, 1.05-1.14), physical inactivity (RR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.04-1.11), loneliness (RR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.02-1.12), and economic difficulties (RR, 1.15, 95% CI, 1.02-1.30) at the 9-month follow-up, after controlling for a large set of potential confounders. Conclusions and Relevance: This cohort study of Swedish university students suggests that procrastination is associated with subsequent mental health problems, disabling pain, unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, and worse psychosocial health factors. Considering that procrastination is prevalent among university students, these findings may be of importance to enhance the understanding of students' health.

Training and support for the role of facilitator in implementation of innovations in health and community care: a scoping review protocol.

BACKGROUND: Implementing and sustaining innovations in clinical practice, such as evidence-based practices, programmes, and policies, is frequently described as challenging. Facilitation as a strategy for supporting implementation requires a facilitator, i.e. an individual with a designated role to support the implementation process. A growing number of studies report that facilitation can help tackle the challenges in implementation efforts. To optimise the potential contribution of facilitation as a strategy to improve the implementation of new practices, there is a need to enhance understanding about what training and support is required for individuals in the facilitator role. The objective of this scoping review is to map how facilitators have been trained for, and supported in, the facilitator role in implementation studies in health and community care. Specifically, the review aims to examine what is reported on training and support of facilitators in terms of learning outcomes, content, dose, mode of delivery, learning activities, and qualifications of the trainers and how the facilitators perceive training and support. METHODS: This scoping review will follow the guidance of the Joanna Briggs Institute and the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Review checklist. We will include articles in which (a) facilitation is deployed as an implementation strategy, with identified facilitator roles targeting staff and managers, to support the implementation of specified innovations in health or community care, and (b) training and/or support of facilitators is reported. We will exclude articles where facilitation is directed to education or training in specific clinical procedures or if facilitation supports the implementation of general quality improvement systems. All types of peer-reviewed studies and study protocols published in English will be included. A systematic search will be performed in MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (embase.com), Web of Science Core Collection, and CINAHL (Ebsco). DISCUSSION: The proposed scoping review will provide a systematic mapping of the literature on the training and support of implementation facilitators and contribute useful knowledge within the field of implementation science to inform future facilitation initiatives. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: Registered at Open Science Framework (registration https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/M6NPQ ).