Interpersonal relationships of the nursing team in the work environment according to nursing students: A qualitative study

AIM

To explore the perceptions of nursing students from Brazilian universities about the interpersonal relationship of the nursing team in the work environment.

BACKGROUND

Healthcare institutions are complex entities where diverse professionals from different educational backgrounds work together to provide high-quality care to the population. The effective coordination of services within these institutions is closely linked to the interpersonal relationships among these different healthcare professionals. Nurses play a crucial role as members of the multidisciplinary healthcare team, acting as fundamental links between other professionals and patients.

DESIGN

This is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach.

METHODS

An online, open-ended questionnaire was used. A total of 30 nursing students participated in the study.

RESULTS

Data were organized in two themes: (1) Interpersonal relationships of the nursing team and (2) Improving interpersonal relationships of the nursing team. Also, eight sub-themes were identified: Conflict dynamics within the nursing team, Hierarchical issues, Lack of communication, Impact of workplace interpersonal relationships on nursing students, Valuing the profession, Understanding role boundaries, Training in effective communication and conflict management, and Curricular reform.

CONCLUSIONS

Blurred boundaries between professional roles, lack of respect, ineffective communication, hierarchical issues, and conflicts, were identified. Of particular concern was the limited interaction observed between the nursing team and multidisciplinary/support teams. Inadequate interpersonal relationships between members of the health team reflect negatively on nursing students during their clinical placements. These findings underscore the urgent need for interventions aimed at improving interpersonal relationships within nursing teams.

Perceptions of nursing students about leadership: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Competent nursing leadership is essential for quality care. Nursing students must be empowered to exercise leadership.

OBJECTIVE

To identify the perceptions of undergraduate nursing students about leadership and provide recommendations for educating future nurses to exercise leadership.

DESIGN

This is a qualitative descriptive study.

PARTICIPANTS

The study involved 30 undergraduate nursing students from universities localized in the southeast region of Brazil.

METHODS

Data were collected in February 2023 through online Google Forms. Thematic content analysis was used.

RESULTS

Three themes; (1) Opinions about leadership in nursing, (2) Skills needed by a nursing leader, and (3) Suggestions for educating nursing students in leadership, and 11 sub-themes were identified. Twelve (40 %) participants reported not having taken classes on leadership yet. Twenty-one (70 %) participants stated not feeling prepared for nursing leadership.

CONCLUSIONS

Undergraduate nursing students are aware of the importance of leadership in nursing care. Several skills were identified as necessary for a competent nursing leader, but efficient communication was pointed out as the most indispensable. Theoretical and practical classes, innovative teaching methods, extracurricular activities, and continuing education, were described as important measures to ensure competent nursing leadership.

Trends of publications on transformational leadership in nursing: a bibliometric analysis

PURPOSE

This study aims to analyze the structure of publications on transformational leadership in nursing and determine its evolution process through a bibliometric analysis.

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH

It is a descriptive bibliometric study. Data were collected on October 24, 2022, from the Web of Science and analyzed using Excel, VOSviewer, HistCite and Bibliometrix R programs.

FINDINGS

A total of 348 studies conducted by 962 authors and published between 1990 and 2021 were included. It was found that 84.5% of these publications were original articles and 97.7% were published in English. The studies are from 82 different journals and were carried out by researchers from 43 countries. The most productive country was the USA (n = 151).

RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS

Only one database was used to search for studies. The searches were limited to the nursing category, and only studies published up to 2021 were included. Another important point is that, although there were no language limitations for the field literature search, English keywords were used; thus, the search can be considered semi-limited. It is believed that more comprehensive search strategies may generate different findings.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE

Two main themes were identified as the studies carried out in the field of transformational leadership in nursing, generally, directly or indirectly addressed the effects of this style of leadership either on nurses' performance/job satisfaction or on quality care/patient safety; however, a gap was observed in the literature in the area of nursing education. Researchers can be inspired by the results of the present study, by learning about the focus of published research on transformational leadership, which will encourage them to plan new studies to improve nursing education, nursing care, nursing management and working conditions of nurses. Through the results of this study, it is also possible to learn about countries and researchers for possible collaborations in future studies.

Challenges faced by nurse managers during the COVID-19 pandemic: an integrative review

Background

Nurses have crucial roles in caring for patients and preventing the spread of COVID-19. Therefore, nurse managers have a prominent role during the pandemic, being responsible for the support and training of the nursing team to ensure quality care. While performing their duties in this time of fear and uncertainty, nurse managers face several challenges.

Aim

To identify the challenges faced by nurse managers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

It is an integrative literature review whose search for articles was carried out in Medline, PubMed and Scopus. Qualitative content analysis was used.

Results

Twelve primary research studies were included. Four themes emerged: (1) Workplace demands, (2) Impacts on physical and psychological health, (3) Coping measures and resilience and (4) Recommendations to better support nurse managers in times of crisis. Nurse managers had their roles expanded or completely changed, and they experienced many pressures and stressors in the workplace. Nurse managers also faced physical and psychological health problems. Nurse managers drew on experience; management skills; social media applications; support from family, colleagues and hospital administrators; training, and continuing education to solve the problems that emerged due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Organisations should use collaborative, inclusive and participatory practices for better crisis management.

Conclusions

Knowing the experiences of nurse managers during the pandemic period may help health institutions and policymakers better prepare for emergencies.

Ethical dilemmas experienced by nurses while caring for patients during the Covid-19 pandemic: An integrative review of qualitative studies

Aim

This study aimed to identify ethical dilemmas faced by nurses while caring for patients during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Background

Nurses express several concerns during disease outbreaks, some of which are related to ethical dilemmas.

Evaluation

It is an integrative review in which four databases were searched. Critical appraisal tools and PRISMA guidelines were used. Content analysis was performed to analyse the obtained data.

Key issues

A total of 14 studies were identified. The results are presented into four categories: concerns with beneficence–nonmaleficence; awareness of need for autonomy; challenges to justice; and coping with ethical dilemmas.

Conclusion

While caring for patients during the COVID‐19 pandemic, nurses often put their own health and that of their families at risk. The ethical dilemmas faced by nurses are mainly caused by the lack of Protective Personal Equipment (PPE), shortages of medical supplies and personnel and the uncertainties that permeate an environment threatened by a new and highly contagious disease such as COVID‐19.

Implications for nursing management

This review provides information that can inspire nurse managers working during the COVID‐19 pandemic to support and empower nurses to act in accordance with ethical principles, which is important in order for nurses to protect themselves while providing efficient and effective care.

Cultural Competence of Turkish Nurses and Nursing Students: An Integrative Literature Review

INTRODUCTION

Turkish population is characterized by its great cultural diversity, thus, Turkish nurses and nursing students often interact with patients of different cultural backgrounds from theirs. Cultural competence is needed to provide qualified contemporary nursing care. This study aimed to explore the literature on the cultural competence of Turkish nurses and nursing students.

METHODOLOGY

The Whittemore and Knafl review methodology was used to extract, summarize, and synthesize data of 15 primary research articles published between January 2011 and January 2021. The search was done in the Turkish Academic Network and Information Center-ULAKBIM (PubMed, TRDizin, DergiPark).

RESULTS

Three themes were identified: cultural competence, cultural-related problems, and importance of training on transcultural nursing.

DISCUSSION

Appropriate educational courses on transcultural nursing should be implemented in Turkish nursing schools as well as in continuing education programs for Turkish nurses.

Personal protective equipment in times of new coronavirus / Equipamentos de proteção individual em tempos de novo coronavírus / Equipos de protección personal en tiempos de nuevo coronavirus

Objetivo: alertar para a falta de equipamento de proteção individual e/ou seu uso incorreto e suas consequências para o controle da pandemia do novo coronavírus. Método: estudo teórico e reflexivo, utilizando reportagens, estudos científicos e relatórios. Resultados: para prevenir o contágio pelo novo coronavírus, uma das principais medidas é o isolamento social, o que profissionais de saúde não podem fazer, a eles restam uma boa higienização e o uso de equipamentos de proteção individual. Entretanto, em muitos países, incluindo o Brasil, há falta dos mesmos. São muitos os casos de profissionais infectados pelo vírus em torno do mundo. O profissional de saúde não devidamente equipado corre o risco de se contaminar e também ser fonte de contaminação. Governos de diversos países estão procurando formas de resolver o problema, porém enquanto isso não acontece os profissionais de saúde continuam correndo riscos, se contaminando e sendo afastados do trabalho, o que em um curto período poderá causar a estagnação do sistema de saúde. Conclusões: é preciso suprir as instituições de saúde com equipamentos de proteção individual e fornecer ensino aos profissionais com relação ao uso correto dos mesmos.Descritores: Infecções por coronavírus; Pandemias; Equipamento de proteção individual; Pessoal de saúde; Doenças transmissíveis.