Factors Influencing Nurses' Self Care Practices

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed nurses to more stress and inability to practice self-care activities. These have resulted in conditions that threaten their health, well-being, and ability to work. Nurses' lack of self-care can predispose them to chronic health conditions and staff burnout which may adversely affect patient care. The panacea for this concern is a deliberate effort to promote holistic health and wellbeing through self-care activities targeted towards physical, mental, social and spiritual aspects of nurses. The purpose of this study was to explore factors influencing self-care practices among registered nurses during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Convenience sampling was used to select 294 nurses from four urban hospitals in Kingston Jamaica. A questionnaire was utilized for data collection. Logistical regression analysis was conducted using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 22.0. Ethical approval was obtained. Results: The response rate was 46% (Out of 294 questionnaires distributed, only 136 were returned). Although 93% of participants engage in self-care activities during COVID-19 pandemic, only 45% practiced self-care on a daily basis. Half of the participants (50%) practiced self care activities sometimes while 5% do not engage in self care practices. Activities that promote psychological and social wellbeing were not common among participants. Most self care activities were towards the promotion of physical health and wellbeing. Majority of respondents indicated that excess workload, fatigue, lack of time and poor remuneration are factors that prevent their practice of self-care. Findings also revealed that demographic data such as age, sex, income, gender and ethnic background influences self-care practices among nurses. Conclusion: The practice of self care among nurses needs improvements. Although respondents engage in some activities to care for self, majority are not consistent with this practice.

Hermeneutic phenomenological human science research method in clinical practice settings: An integrative literature review

Researchers conduct phenomenological studies to better understand the experiences of phenomena. Researchers conducting phenomenological studies use different research methods grounded in philosophical underpinnings. Van Manen's hermeneutic phenomenological human science method is used in understanding phenomena in diverse disciplines. The purpose of the integrative review was to explore and synthesize research to address two questions about the human science method in clinical practice settings. Wittemore and Knafi (2005)'s method for integrative review was used to explore current literature and summarize the use of human science method. A database search of keywords in peer-reviewed articles published from 2009 to 2019 was reviewed. Eleven key research studies were selected for the integrative literature review. The key studies met the inclusion criteria of phenomenology, nurses, human science method, clinical practice, and van Manen. Researchers used van Manen's human science method as guidelines for collecting and analyzing data about the lived experience of diverse phenomena in clinical practice settings. An understanding of the human science method will guide researchers who conduct research studies using van Manen's approach to phenomenology.

Narrative Training as a Method to Promote Nursing Empathy Within a Pediatric Rehabilitation Setting

PURPOSE

Empathy is deemed essential to nursing, yet interventions that promote and sustain empathy in practicing nurses within healthcare organizations are limited. We tested the feasibility and perceived impact of an arts-based narrative training intervention involving pediatric rehabilitation nurses for the purpose of promoting nursing empathy.

DESIGN AND METHODS

One-group qualitative repeated-measures design at an urban Canadian pediatric rehabilitation hospital. Eight nurse participants attended six 90-minute weekly group narrative training sessions and two in-depth interviews pre- and post-intervention.

RESULTS

The intervention positively impacted participants in three primary domains: Empathy for Patients and Families, Empathy Within Nursing Team, and Empathy for the Self. Major findings included: increased value placed on patients' and families' backstory, identification of "moral empathic distress" (MED), enhanced sense of collaborative nursing community, and renewal of professional purpose.

CONCLUSIONS

This study is the first of its kind conducted in the pediatric rehabilitation nursing context. Results indicate that arts-based narrative training enhances nursing empathy and contributes to a supportive nursing culture.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

In addition to enhancing empathy in clinical domains, nurses who participated in narrative training reported improved team collaboration, self-care practices, and renewed professional purpose. The results from the intervention are encouraging and future research needs to explore its utility in other settings with larger and more diverse sample.

Health-promoting leadership: An integrative review and future research agenda

AIM

To provide a synthesis of the evidence of health-promoting leadership related to nursing by exploring definitions, core attributes and critical conditions.

BACKGROUND

Increasing pressure in healthcare settings due to efficiency requirements, population ageing with complex illnesses and projected global shortage of nurses, is a potential threat to nurses' health and job satisfaction, and patient quality of care and safety. New ways of thinking about nursing leadership and evidence-based human resource management are required to improve nursing environments.

DESIGN

Integrative literature review.

DATA SOURCES

Eight databases were searched: Academic Search Premier, CINAHL, Emerald, ERIC, Web of Science, MEDLINE, Psychinfo and Science Direct. Included papers were published between 2000-2016.

REVIEW METHODS

Of 339 papers, 13 were eligible for inclusion: eight qualitative and five quantitative. Studies were assessed for quality using standardized checklists. Framework-based synthesis was used, allowing for themes identified a priori to be specified as coding categories. This method also allows new themes to emerge de novo.

RESULTS

Four themes were identified. There are multiple definitions of health-promoting leadership, along with description of the non-health-promoting leader. The health-promoting nurse leader engages in employees' health promotion, and takes responsibility for actions and maintains open communication, accommodating nurses' participation in change processes. Through competence development, the health-promoting organization builds capacity.

CONCLUSION

Health-promoting leadership may be a promising path to optimizing nursing outcomes through holistic thinking, which emphasizes the importance of context. Accumulated research is required to build a stronger line of international research, with attention to underlying mechanisms, limiting conditions and behaviours known to health-promoting leadership.

Support for caring and resiliency among successful nurse leaders

Health care practice settings are replete with competing priorities for nurse leaders who are responsible to the staff, the organization, and the patients and their families. In the midst of the competing priorities, there is a mandate for successful nursing leadership that is patient centered. To support the continuance of nurse leader success and avoid discouragement and attrition, a caring and resilient model for leadership may be necessary. This article considers the practices of nurse leaders that support caring, resiliency, and, ultimately, their success. Successful navigation toward patient-centered solutions through the intentional and inextricably linked living caring and resiliency was enhanced with practices of self-care, accountability, and reflection. Within each of the 3 intentional practices, a primary process emerged that revealed how nurse leaders actualize their caring and resiliency. The practices and mutually supportive processes are discussed. Useful questions are provided to guide any nurse leader who is contemplating practices of self-care, accountability, and reflection for supporting caring and resiliency.