Ultra-Orthodox Nursing Students’ Cultural Challenges Inside and Outside Their Community during the COVID-19 Pandemic

In line with findings that nurses from minority groups have an important role in making health services accessible to their community, our study aimed to identify the challenges ultra-Orthodox Jewish nurses faced during COVID-19 in their encounters with patients and health staff from other communities, as well as their own community. The ultra-Orthodox community is a highly religious group that maintains isolation from general society, a phenomenon that affected its member experiences during COVID-19. Our research followed sequential explanatory mixed methods. The quantitative phase included a questionnaire completed by 235 female students (111 ultra-Orthodox and 124 non-ultra-Orthodox), followed by a qualitative phase, which included six focus-groups (n = 15). The quantitative analysis showed that the ultra-Orthodox students felt a higher sense of responsibility toward their community. They used their authority and knowledge to guide their community during the pandemic. The qualitative analysis identified two themes expressed as challenges ultra-Orthodox nursing students encountered within their community and with other sections of Israeli society. Our research shows the important role that transcultural nurses play in mediating updated health information otherwise inaccessible to their community, especially in times of crises. It is important to address dilemmas this group faces inside and outside their respective communities.

Nursing Informatics in Israel From a Historical Perspective

The field of nursing informatics is expanding in Israel, which is known as a start-up nation. This study is a systematic literature review aimed to obtain a historical perspective of the Israel's nursing informatics development. To study how nursing informatics has evolved in Israel over the past 20 years, we analyzed two major issues: (1) the development of the nursing informatics field over these years; and (2) nursing informatics studies that were carried out by nurses. The main criteria for choosing these studies were: (1) nursing informatics research conducted in Israel; (2) investigated by nurses; and (3) published in academic international journals, including PhD dissertations. Thirty studies were located, and two main issues were identified: nurse managers who were engaged in health information technology were not recognized as nursing informatics practitioners, and a minority of nurses performed nursing informatics researches. Although many health information technology projects were and are performed in Israel, the nursing informatics field is not fully recognized by Israeli nurses. Therefore, it is essential for Israeli nurses to understand the importance of advancing the nursing informatics body of knowledge, which will give nurses the authorization to become influential as health information technology professionals in areas such as health education, practice, and research-for the benefit of patients.

Forming an Affiliation Between Two Culturally Different Academic Institutions of Nursing Studies

Introduction

This article describes the association of two culturally different institutions opening a joint Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program for ultra-Orthodox Jewish (Haredi) women in order to enable them to find jobs due to changes in their society and increasing global demand for nurses in the labor market. The objective of this description is to illustrate the efforts and changes needed to facilitate the affiliation of two culturally and ideologically different organizations and the implications and conclusions of such a program.

Methods

The study is based on interviews with past administrators, a review of the literature, and supporting institution documents.

Conclusions

A joint nursing academic program was founded by two culturally different educational institutions for the ultra-Orthodox Jewish women population. Creating a culturally sensitive nursing academic program helped ultra-Orthodox women acquire an academic profession which enabled their integration into the academic professional's work world and add more nurses to the labor market.The authors reviewed the efforts and changes needed to facilitate the affiliation of two culturally and ideologically different organizations based on the Bolman and Deal four frames model.

Megacode Simulation Training in Undergraduate Nursing Education

ABSTRACT

The use of simulation to prepare new graduates to enter a dynamic workforce is an effective strategy to improve skill acquisition, critical thinking, and the training needed to care for complex patients. Megacode simulation was implemented in the undergraduate curriculum during the last semester prior to graduation. Students (n = 52) completed the Clinical Decision-Making Self-Confidence Scale; 95 percent were satisfied with the megacode experience and perceived the simulation training as beneficial in content knowledge and skill acquisition. Megacode simulation provided senior-level nursing students the opportunity to develop in their new role as graduate nurse.

Nurse and Nurse Student Attitudes and Perceived Self-efficacy in Use of Information and Communication Technologies: Professional and Cultural Differences

Information and communication technologies have become essential and design-effective tools in the global healthcare system. Evidence suggests that information and communication technologies can promote nursing practice and patient satisfaction and quality of care. Competency with information and communication technologies is essential for both nurses and nursing students, and attitudes toward its use and perceived self-efficacy are important for implementation in the workplace. This study aimed to explore nurse and nursing student attitudes and perceived self-efficacy regarding information and communication technologies use in clinical practice and to examine professional and cultural differences between these groups in their attitudes and perceived self-efficacy in information and communication technologies use. A cross-sectional study was conducted among Israeli nursing students (n = 144) and registered nurses (n = 104). The findings revealed that respondents held overall positive attitudes toward information and communication technologies' use in clinical practice and perceived themselves as competent in this context. Significant differences were found between nurses and students in their attitudes toward information and communication technologies and information and communication technologies self-efficacy. Cultural group (Jewish/Arab) was found related to positive attitudes toward use of information and communication technologies in clinical practice. Nurse educators and managers should be aware of the potential impact of cultural and professional differences on the adoption and implementation of information and communication technologies and should institute initiatives within the organization and academia to manage cultural and professional discrepancies.