Public health nurses' experiences following up children with overweight and obesity according to national guidelines. A qualitative study

PURPOSE

This study aimed to develop knowledge of how the follow-up regarding overweight and obesity among children in primary school is experienced by the PHN and how the guidelines may be used to improve health services in this follow-up.

METHODS

We analysed semi-structured interviews of 9 PHNs using qualitative content analysis.

RESULTS

Two themes emerged: Following up with children with overweight and obesity is an important but challenging duty; The PHNs call for clearer guidelines. Following five sub-themes: PHNs strive to adhere to the guidelines, show compassion in the follow-up, have difficulty handling parents' feelings and reactions, feel alone with the responsibility, and have suggestions for clearer guidelines.

CONCLUSIONS

PHNs call for enough resources to communicate the results of the child's weight in a sufficient form. PHNs and families should establish common goals. The PHN should avoid one-way communication but meet the parents' concerns and needs. This requires the PHN to focus on building a secure relation to the child and the families, as described by Peplau. Guidelines must include instructions and tools on how to communicate and meet the family's concerns. Political action and increased funding could strengthen the follow-up and thereby prevent more obesity among children, which can be a predictor of poorer health outcomes later in life.

Norwegian pre-service teacher students' and public health nursing students' views on health - a qualitative study of students' perceptions

PURPOSE

In 2020, the Norwegian school curriculum was revised, introducing a new cross-curricular subject, Public Health, and Life Skills. The curriculum emphasizes collaboration between teachers and the school health service. Subsequently, a research project, Literacies for Health and Life Skills, was initiated at Oslo Metropolitan University. The aim was to develop a new approach to the subject. A part of the research was to explore perceptions about good and poor health among teacher students and public health nursing students.

METHODS

This study has a qualitative design using auto-photography, group discussions and photo-elicitation interviews as methods to explore the students' views on health.

RESULTS

A analysis revealed three themes about good health in both student groups: Relaxation and tranquillity, belonging and relations, and enjoyment as important to health. Three themes about poor health emerged in both student groups: The ideal body and self-perception, you are as healthy as you feel, and the best in life is also the worst. The students' statements were characterized by underlying assumptions about health in society, with a focus on "healthism". No major differences between the student groups were found.

CONCLUSION

This study serves as a step towards increased understanding of health perceptions among future professionals working with children and adolescents.

Charting the Course of the Nursing Professional Identity: A Qualitative Descriptive Study on the Identity of Nurses Working in Care for Older Adults

AIMS

To explore and describe the meaning of nurses working in care for older adults give to the nursing professional identity.

DESIGN

A qualitative approach was taken.

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 50 bachelor and vocational-educated nurses working in care for older adults. Interviews were conducted between December 2019 and May 2020. Data were analysed and interpreted through inductive content analysis.

RESULTS

Five themes embody the meaning of the nursing professional identity of nurses who work in care for older adults. The five themes are: born to care: a lifelong motivation to nursing; nursing through the noise: dedication in a demanding profession; the silent backbone: caught in the crossfire of interdisciplinary teams; learning under pressure: the demand for expanded nursing expertise and against the current: the barriers to advocacy in nursing.

CONCLUSION

The professional nursing identity of nurses working in care for older adults is multi-faceted. A personal dedication to patient care, where patients 'human' aspect is heavily valued, commits nurses to their profession and underscores their dedication to upholding the quality standard in nursing practice.

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION

The older adults' nursing identity highlights that nursing deserves acknowledgement as a professional occupation. Nurses should speak to the public about their professional roles to improve the public view of older adult nursing.

IMPACT

A clear understanding of the older adult nursing professional identity clarifies specific roles, experiences and expectations. This can help attract and retain nurses whose views of older adult nursing align with the nursing professional identity. This could help resolve nurse turnover and reduce shortages in older adult care.

REPORTING METHOD

We adhered to Consolidated Criteria For Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

No patient or public contribution.

Public health nurses' experiences with mental health promotion for adolescent immigrants in schools: A qualitative study

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to explore public health nurses' experiences with mental health promotion for adolescent immigrants in lower secondary and high school, aiming to enhance knowledge and insights for effective mental health promotion.

METHODOLOGICAL DESIGN AND JUSTIFICATION

A qualitative design employing a hermeneutic approach was chosen. Thirteen public health nurses were selected using purposive criterion sampling and snowballing. Thematic analysis was applied, adhering to COREQ guidelines for transparency.

ETHICAL ISSUES AND APPROVAL

The research was approved by the Norwegian Centre for Research Data. The guidelines of the National Committee for Research Ethics in the Social Sciences and the Humanities were followed.

RESEARCH METHODS, INSTRUMENTS, AND/OR INTERVENTIONS

Data were collected through three focus-group interviews (n = 13), using semi-structured interview guides to explore the experiences of public health nurses in promoting mental health among adolescent immigrants.

OUTCOME MEASURES

This study identified three key themes: (i) Striving to understand adolescent immigrants' mental health aspects, including both positive and negative aspects; (ii) Different strategies for promoting mental health, viewing adolescents as both recipients and contributors to their well-being; and (iii) Barriers to public health nurses' promotion of mental health, including language, cultural, and knowledge-related obstacles and trust issues.

RESULTS

Public health nurses noted that language barriers and trust issues often delayed adolescent immigrants from seeking help for mental health concerns. Cultural competence and empathy were deemed crucial. To meet these needs, public health nurses must build rapport with parents, collaborate with professionals, implement follow-up programmes, and advocate for policy changes.

STUDY LIMITATIONS

Limitations of this qualitative study include potential bias from the authors' background and non-generalizability of results to other contexts.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, public health nurses' experiences reveal the need for enhanced cultural competence, language proficiency, and trust-building to better serve adolescent immigrants. Collaborative efforts, follow-up programmes, and policy advocacy are essential to improve mental health promotion in school settings.

A balancing act-midwives' and public health nurses' experiences with breastfeeding counselling

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To explore midwives' and public-health nurses' experiences of breastfeeding counselling in order to provide a deeper insight into breastfeeding counselling.

METHODOLOGICAL DESIGN AND JUSTIFICATION

A qualitative design was used, and qualitative content analysis was conducted to analyse the data in accordance with the phenomenological hermeneutic tradition.

ETHICAL ISSUES AND APPROVAL

The Norwegian Centre for Research Data approved this study. All participants provided written consent.

RESEARCH METHODS

Four focus-group interviews were conducted on a sample of eight midwives and 13 public-health nurses in Norway.

RESULTS

Three interrelated themes describing the meaning of midwives' and public-health nurses' experiences with breastfeeding counselling emerged from the analysis: Breastfeeding Counselling Means Responsibility for Collaboration and Facilitation, Being Confident as a Breastfeeding Counsellor Means Striving for Professional Competence and Supporting the Individual Breastfeeding Family Means Being Sensitive and Adapting to Novel Situations.

STUDY LIMITATIONS

The focus groups comprised a mix of midwives and public-health nurses, which may have inhibited honest declaration of these professionals' opinions of each other.

CONCLUSION

Midwives and public-health nurses regard structural factors and prioritising breastfeeding support in society as important for providing good breastfeeding counselling. Midwives and public-health nurses strive to find a balance between relying on their own competence, promoting breastfeeding in accordance with guidelines and respecting mothers' choices. Healthcare professionals require knowledge about breastfeeding, good clinical judgement, a listening attitude and openness to how breastfeeding affects mother's everyday life to provide good breastfeeding care.

Professional identity and role perception of Radiographers and Clinical Technologists in Nuclear Medicine - An exploratory qualitative study

INTRODUCTION

An awareness of Professional Identity (PI), an individual's identity in relation to their professional group, and Role Perception (RP), an individual's view of their specific role, may enable safe and effective practice by providing an understanding of professional boundaries, behaviours and activities. This research aimed to explore and gain an understanding of the PI and RP of Radiographers and Clinical Technologists working as Nuclear Medicine Technologists (NMT's).

METHODS

10 NMT's were recruited from a large National Health Service (NHS) Trust. Utilising the established methodology of Qualitative Description, data was obtained using semi-structured interviews and analysed using inductive thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Four themes were identified: "Becoming the Unexpected" which detailed various training pathways; "Caring with Science" which described the NMT's role and defined their PI; "Same View, Different Lens" which portrayed how Radiographers and Clinical Technologists practise as team of NMT's; and "Confirmation of Professional Self" which presented how individuals view their professional status.

CONCLUSION

The study showed that the NMT role is highly specialised, multi-faceted and patient-centred. Their professional status is based on the nature of their role and their university level education and training. They work together under the umbrella title of NMT with a dual professional identity of "provider of care" and "user of science and technology". However, they may have an individual identity of Radiographer or Clinical Technologist that is determined by their training pathway.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

This research has provided valuable understanding of the PI and RP of NMT's. By highlighting the differences in the regulatory status of this workforce, an insight into the future implications in the context of national healthcare planning has been provided, highlighting potentially significant issues that may impact on the manner in which NMT's can practice.

Standing alone on the frontline. The meaning of being a nurse in the archipelago-A phenomenological hermeneutical study

AIM

The aim of this study was to illuminate the meaning of being a nurse in the archipelago.

METHODOLOGICAL DESIGN AND JUSTIFICATION

A phenomenological hermeneutical design was applied, as there is a need to understand the lifeworld and the meaning of being a nurse in the archipelago.

ETHICAL ISSUES AND APPROVAL

Approval was granted by the Regional Ethical Committee and local management team. All participants provided consent to participate.

RESEARCH METHOD

Individual interviews were conducted with 11 nurses (Registered Nurses or primary health nurses). The interviews were transcribed, and the text was analysed by means of phenomenological hermeneutical method.

RESULTS

The analyses ended in one main theme: Standing alone on the frontline, and three themes: 1. Combating sea, weather and the clock with the sub-themes: Fighting to give care to patients despite harsh conditions and Fighting against time; 2. Standing firm but wavering with the sub-themes: Embracing the unexpected and Calling out for support; and 3. Being a lifeline throughout the entire lifespan with the sub-themes: Having responsibility for the islanders and Having an intertwined private and work life.

STUDY LIMITATIONS

The interviews may be considered few, but the textual data were rich and assessed suitable for the analysis. The text may be interpreted differently, but we deemed our interpretation as more probable than others.

CONCLUSION

Being a nurse in the archipelago means standing alone on the frontline. Nurses, other health professionals and managers need knowledge and insight about working alone and the moral responsibilities thereof. There is a need to support the nurses in their lonely work. Traditional means of consultations and support could preferably be supplemented by modern digital technology.

Professional identity research in the health professions-a scoping review

Professional identity impacts the workforce at personal, interpersonal and profession levels however there is a lack of reviews of professional identity research across practising health professionals. To summarise professional identity research in the health professions literature and explore how professional identity is described a scoping review was conducted by searching Medline, Psycinfo, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, and Business Source Complete using "professional identity" and related terms for 32 health professions. Empirical studies of professional identity in post-registration health professionals were examined with health profession, career stage, background to research, theoretical underpinnings and constructs of professional identity being extracted, charted and analysed using content analysis where relevant. From 9941 studies, 160 studies across 17 health professions were identified, with nursing and medicine most common. Twenty studies focussed on professional identity in the five years post-entry to the workforce and 56 studies did not state career stage. The most common background for the research was the impact of political, social and healthcare reforms and advances. Thirty five percent of studies (n = 57) stated the use of a theory or framework of identity, the most common being classified as social theories. Individual constructs of professional identity across the research were categorised into five themes-The Lived Experience of Professional Identity; The World Around Me; Belonging; Me; and Learning and Qualifications. Descriptions of professional identity are broad, varied, rich and multi-layered however the literature is under theorised with current theories potentially inadequate to capture its complexity and make meaningful contributions to the allied health professions.

A glimmer of hope: My reflections on global health efforts in Haiti

Many factors impact access to care and global health equity, which can be transformed by nursing. When healthcare infrastructure is suboptimal, nursing's role expands exponentially. In this reflection, I share my experiences accessing healthcare as a child in a low-resource community and highlight nursing activities to improve global health equity. Nurses can facilitate change by becoming active in communities, humanitarian organizations, policymaking, and advocacy.

What school nurses strive to achieve for themselves in order to remain in practice: A qualitative study

AIM

This study aims to describe and interpret what it is school nurses strive to achieve for themselves in order to remain in practice.

DESIGN

A qualitative study with a hermeneutic approach.

METHOD

The data were collected by means of in-depth interviews with 15 Norwegian school nurses on two separate occasions and analysed using a phenomenological hermeneutic method.

RESULTS

The analysis resulted in the following themes: (1) trusting your own professional ability, (2) aspiring to appreciation and (3) accomplishing self-care. These themes were reflected in the school nurses' choices and actions and were regarded as an expression of what was of value to them as a nurse. Thus, the nurses' realizing what they strived to achieve for themselves can comprehensively be understood as a good of higher value for their remaining in nursing practice.

Public health nurses' professional dignity: An interview study in Finland

BACKGROUND

Dignity is a central human value supported by nurses' professional ethics. In previous studies, nurses in clinical practice have experienced that dignity increased their work well-being and pride of work. Dignity is also strictly interweaved to professional identity in the different nursing' roles, but little is known about dignity among public health nurses and primary care settings.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to describe the perceptions of nursing's professional dignity of public health nurses in primary care in Finland.

RESEARCH DESIGN

An inductive qualitative descriptive approach with semi-structured focus group interviews was utilised.

PARTICIPANTS AND RESEARCH CONTEXT

Twenty-seven Finnish public health nurses were interviewed via eight semi-structured focus group interviews in primary health care settings.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Before data collection, research permissions were obtained from participating health care centres. This type of research in Finland, with competent adult participants, does not require ethical pre-assessment but written and oral informed consent obtained before the interviews.

FINDINGS

Based on our findings, public health nurses perceived that professional dignity was (1) part of their self-respect, an observed daily value based on their acknowledged competence. Besides, they perceived that (2) service users' trust in public health nurses was a strong expression of professional dignity, and it could be uncovered when recipients of care utilised their services. In addition, public health nurses experienced that (3) professional dignity was an expression of different intertwined interprofessional and social factors.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Professional dignity is simultaneously an essential prerequisite and an outcome of public health nurses' work. In future, more information would be needed to implement strategies in primary health care to foster nurses' professional dignity also in international public health arenas.

Norwegian public health nurses' competence areas

OBJECTIVE

To explore the competence areas of public health nurses in Norway.

DESIGN

A qualitative and comparative design was employed.

SAMPLE

A purposive sample of 41 public health nurses participated.

MEASUREMENTS

Data were gathered from focus groups and individual interviews. The interviews centered around an open question about public health nurses' knowledge. They also discussed 10 proposed competence areas for public health nursing, developed from the literature. A qualitative content analysis was conducted on the interview transcripts, followed by a synthesis of the data from the interviews and earlier developed competencies. The 10 competence areas for Norwegian public health nursing were then refined. Finally, we compared the affirmed competence areas with earlier developed cornerstones and the new educational guidelines.

RESULTS

The interviews revealed 10 competence areas. These 10 competence areas were synthesized with the 10 proposed competencies from literature. Ten affirmed competence areas, which mostly corresponded with the competences from literature, were developed. The affirmed competencies were supported by the previously developed cornerstones and new educational guidelines.

CONCLUSIONS

The affirmed competencies will help promote and explain the content and focus of PHNs' work in Norway and may have implications for education and international research.

Registered Nurse’s Perception on Nursing Brand Image during the COVID-19 Pandemic Era in Indonesia

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has changed the image of nursing globally. However, the nursing brand image remains limited to explore among registered nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic era in Indonesia. AIM: This study aims to explore registered nurse’s perception of nursing brand image in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic era. METHODS: The descriptive qualitative study was conducted using purposive sampling technique. This study enrolled 15 registered nurses who cared for COVID-19 patients. The semi-structured interview was conducted face-to-face within 45–60 min through WhatsApp video calls. Colaizzi’s methods and NVivo 12TM Plus were used for data analysis. RESULTS: The data analysis revealed five themes, namely, (1) Caring as a nursing brand image; (2) Interprofessional collaboration culture; (3) Providing 24-h holistic care; (4) Being more respected; (5) Becoming a long-life learner. CONCLUSION: During COVID-19 pandemic era, nurses perceived that nursing brand image becomes more positive in Indonesia.

Public health nurses' encounters with undocumented migrant mothers and children

OBJECTIVES

Undocumented migrant children (UMC) are often affected by policies and practices that do not take their best interests into account. The aim of this study was to describe how public health nurses (PHNs) experienced challenges and dilemmas in ensuring the best interests of the undocumented migrant child.

DESIGN

This study had a qualitative descriptive design.

SAMPLE

Focus group interviews and semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven PHNs in four different child health centers (CHCs).

RESULTS

Qualitative content analysis was applied. Three main themes were identified: building trust, ensuring the best interests of the child, and dilemmas and challenges in ensuring the best interests of the child. The study revealed examples of immigration policy being prioritized over the best interests of the child. PHNs experienced frustration when the best interests of the child were not taken into account. Strategies for managing these conflicting demands were identified.

CONCLUSION

Conflicting demands appeared when national immigration policies collided with fundamental human rights and ethical standards. Rules that exclude certain groups are incompatible with PHNs professional ethics.

Professional Identity During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Nurses in China

BACKGROUND

Emergency and intensive care unit nurses are the main workforce fighting against COVID-19. Their professional identity may affect whether they can actively participate and be competent in care tasks during the pandemic.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the level of and changes in professional identity of Chinese emergency and intensive care unit nurses as the COVID-19 pandemic builds.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey composed of the Professional Identity Scale for Nurses plus 2 open-ended questions was administered to Chinese emergency and intensive care unit nurses through an online questionnaire.

RESULTS

Emergency and intensive care unit nurses had a medium level of professional identity. Participants' total and item mean scores in 5 professional identity dimensions were higher than the professional identity norm established by Liu (P < .001). The greatest mean item score difference was in the dimension of professional identity evaluation (3.57 vs 2.88, P < .001). When asked about their feelings witnessing the COVID-19 situation and their feelings about participating in frontline work, 68.9% and 83.9%, respectively, reported positive changes in their professional identity.

CONCLUSIONS

The professional identity of emergency and intensive care unit nurses greatly improved during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. This finding may be attributed to more public attention and recognition of nurses' value, nurses' professional fulfillment, and nurses' feelings of being supported, motivated, respected, and valued.

Professional Identity in Graduating Nursing Students

BACKGROUND

This research examines the meaning of nursing professional identity development from the perspectives of both associate degree nursing students and baccalaureate degree nursing students in their final semester. It provides insight into the student's understanding of nursing professional identity and the factors students identified as supporting or detracting from it.

METHOD

Participants were guided through individual interviews using semistructured interview questions and later invited to focus groups with other students to clarify and elaborate on previous comments.

RESULTS

Results demonstrated both groups shared many descriptions of what it means to be a nursing professional, including knowledge, caring, team-work, and integrity. Good communication, confidence, competence, critical thinking, advocacy, and leadership were concepts the participants frequently used to describe the professional nurse.

CONCLUSION

This research helps to further the understanding of this significant topic in nursing education and to serve as a basis for student activities that help foster nursing professional identity formation. [J Nurs Educ. 2021;60(2):74-80.].

Being a real nurse: A secondary qualitative analysis of how public health nurses rework their work identities

Many Western nations are emphasizing the importance of population health across health care delivery organizations and education systems. Despite significant momentum to integrate population health into nursing practice, a parallel effort to examine how these efforts impact practicing nurses' views of their professional role and work identity has not occurred. This secondary qualitative analysis, employing an abductive approach, explored processes public health nurses use in creating and maintaining their work identity through three organizing themes: narrative self-identity, mandated identity, and identity as struggle. The analysis was based on interview data collected from 30 US public health nurses residing in 17 states. 'Being a real nurse' describes public health nurses' efforts to balance a contradictory work identity where at times they are expected to focus on populations and at other times, on individuals. The identity work revealed through this study should be further explicated and specific strategies developed for stabilizing a work identity for public health nurses, as well as for any nurse charged with a population health role.

Professional identity: A concept analysis

The purpose of this study is to give clarity to the concept of professional identity, drawing from health-related fields to help provide a common language and understanding for research and practice. Professional identity, professionalism, professional socialization, and other related terms are often used without a clear definition or with conflicting definitions. This can lead to misunderstandings and assumptions that complicate research and confuse educators and professionals in guiding novice members. Concept analysis. Initially, 737 articles were identified by searching CINAHL, PubMed Central, Google Scholar, Academic Search Complete, PsyINFO, and SocINDEX for the period 2000 to 2019. Finally, 68 studies met the inclusion criteria, 60 of which are discussed in this concept analysis. This concept analysis uses the method described by Walker and Avant. This concept analysis clarifies the definition of professional identity, using literature from health and related professions, as containing the attributes: skills and functions; knowledge values and ethics; personal identity; group identity; and the influence of the context of care. A more clear definition of professional identity will help researchers to have more precision in their analyses and provide mentors and educators with a clear goal.

"Looking for Deviations": Nurses' Observations of Older Patients With COPD in Home Nursing Care

Nurses working in home care play a significant role in observing and identifying changes in the health status of patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this study was to explore and describe nurses' observations of older patients with COPD when providing home nursing care. In this qualitative explorative study, data were collected through observations of 17 home care visits using the think-aloud technique, followed up with individual interviews with the nurses. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the data. The findings showed that the nurses' observations (focus, methods, and interpretation) were characterized by their search for deviations from what they judged to be the patient's habitual state. The nurses did not use any tool or guidelines, nor did they follow a standard procedure. Instead, when observing and interpreting, they performed a complex process guided by their experience and knowledge of the patient, and the patient's individual and contextual circumstances. This knowledge contributes to warranted reflection on nurses' practice in this context to secure COPD patients' safety and quality of life.

Developing a comprehensive career development scale for public health nurses in Japan

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to develop a scale that can comprehensively measure public health nurses'(PHNs) career development and to verify the validity and reliability of that scale.

DESIGN AND SAMPLES

This study is a cross-sectional investigation. The participants were 1,009 PHNs working in a government facility in Japan. A total of 586 participants who had been working for more than 3 years as PHNs were analyzed.

MEASUREMENTS

Anonymous self-response questionnaires included items on professional awareness, practical competency, and job satisfaction. We conducted exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis to clarify the construct validity of the scale. The reliability was examined by the Cronbach's α coefficient. The validity was examined by an external reference relevant validity and the known-group method.

RESULTS

The scale was structured with 32 items covering three factors: "community activities, policy, and management," "PHN identity," and "foundations as a PHN." The Cronbach's α coefficients were all greater than 0.9. In confirmatory factor analysis, the scale showed acceptable goodness of fit.

CONCLUSIONS

The comprehensive career development scale for PHNs proved its reliability and validity. This scale may be useful to promote PHN identity and competency comprehensively in basic education and in-charge education.

Nordic homecare nursing from the perspective of homecare nurses-a meta-ethnography

The pressure on homecare nursing in the Nordic countries has increased in recent years because of a reorganisation of healthcare systems that has put a focus on very early discharge from hospital as well as demographic changes. This article details an analysis of the findings of 13 published qualitative research reports about Nordic homecare nurses' experiences of their work. Using a process of meta-ethnography, the authors identify five themes within the primary research: home care as a professional practice on foreign ground; home care as a massive time constraint; home care as fair rationing; home care as relationships with relatives as fellow players or opponents; and home care as latent paternalism. These have two main implications for practice: homecare nurses should continuously be taught how to cooperate with partners who are emotionally involved; and also homecare nurses may benefit from training that focuses on the challenges of carrying out professional work in private settings.

Public health nursing and the issue of trust in campus sexual assault

Public Health Nurses are the largest group of public health practitioners in both local and state health departments across the United States. Essential for the delivery of health services in the community, Public Health Nurses frequently provide care for underserved and vulnerable populations. Among these populations are the victims of campus sexual assault, a growing problem on college and university campuses. Both nationally and internationally, sexual assault has been described as a public health and human rights concern. With the signing of the Senate Bill 967 in California, affirmative consent, known as "yes means yes," requires both parties in a sexual encounter to give voluntary and affirmative consent. Many colleges and universities across the country have adopted similar standards. However, students may choose not to seek health care after an assault at the Student Health Center, preferring to obtain care in community clinics or health departments. Students must be able to be safe on and off campus, and must be able to trust they will be heard by campus authorities and the health care community, and be treated with respect. Public health nurses need to be prepared to work with victims of campus sexual assault and have a solid foundation in the issues surrounding assault, and the needs of the student to trust their caregivers. This paper presents an overview of the vulnerability and risk factors in sexual assault, presents legislation on campus and institutional responsibility, and provides a foundation for Public Health Nurses working with victims of sexual assault.

Perceptions of experiences with interprofessional collaboration in public health nursing: A qualitative analysis

In public health nursing interprofessional collaboration has become a goal, however, there is little clarity on the distribution of responsibility or approach to cooperation between the professional groups. The aim of the study was to explore public health nurses' perceptions of their experiences related to interprofessional collaboration. A qualitative content analysis was carried out. An interview study with a purposeful sample of 23 Norwegian public health nurses (PHNs) was conducted. Data were analysed using semi-structured interviews to identify categories and themes of PHNs' working lives. The data were classified into three major themes: institutionality: the institutional understanding of the professional roles; competence: clarifying jurisdictional borders, and recognition: professionals' recognition of different roles. There needs to be a robust strategy in collaborative working that involves public health nurses among other professionals to avoid role overlap, interpersonal and interprofessional conflict and reduce the damaging threat or stress that comes with informal or ad hoc rules of engagement and status claiming by one profession over another.

Mental health work in school health services and school nurses' involvement and attitudes, in a Norwegian context

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To explore school nurses' experiences with and attitudes towards working with young people with mental health problem in the school health services.

BACKGROUND

Worldwide, 10%-20% of children and adolescents are affected by mental health problems. When these occur during youth, they constitute a considerable burden and are one of the main causes of disability among adolescents. School nurses are at the forefront of care for children and adolescents, identifying pupils struggling with physical, mental, psychosocial or emotional issues.

DESIGN

A qualitative, explorative study was performed based on open-ended questions in a cross-sectional study of 284 school nurses in Norway. Inclusion criteria were as follows: working as a school nurse in the school health services with children and adolescents between the ages of 11-18 years. A qualitative inductive content analysis was conducted.

RESULTS

Three generic categories emerged: perception of their role and experiences with mental health: the school nurses acknowledge their important role in work with adolescents focusing on their mental health. Perception of their professional competence: the school nurses described a lack of confidence and unmet training needs concerning mental health problems. Experiences with collaboration: the school nurses requested more knowledge about inter- and multidisciplinary cooperation regarding follow-up of pupils with mental health problems.

CONCLUSIONS

The school nurses lacked knowledge and confidence in respect of working with children and adolescents suffering from mental health problems. This may be a barrier to giving pupils adequate aid.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Nurses need to acquire more knowledge about mental health problems among children and adolescents as this is a growing public health issue. Educational programmes for school nurses need to be revised to achieve this.

Public health nurses’ experience, involvement and attitude concerning mental health issues in a school setting

The aim of the study was to describe and explore public health nurses’ perceptions of involvement and their attitudes concerning the mental health aspects of their work in schools. Furthermore, we wished to explore their need for useful approaches and training topics. The teenage years in particular are associated with an incidence of mental health problems such as depression. Public health nurses in schools have an extensive role in relation to health promotion and the prevention of both physical and mental health. A cross-sectional study with 284 public health nurses from 163 municipalities in Norway was carried out, using the Depression Attitude Questionnaire. The public health nurses reported various degrees of confidence and time spent working with mental health issues. Confidence was found to be related to further education and courses.