Artificial intelligence in future nursing care: Exploring perspectives of nursing professionals - A descriptive qualitative study

Background

The healthcare landscape is rapidly evolving, with artificial intelligence (AI) emerging as a transformative force. In this context, understanding the viewpoints of nursing professionals regarding the integration of AI in future nursing care is crucial.

Aims

This study aimed to provide insights into the perceptions of nursing professionals regarding the role of AI in shaping the future of healthcare.

Methods

A cohort of 23 nursing professionals was recruited between April 7, 2023, and May 4, 2023, for this study. Employing a thematic analysis approach, qualitative data from interviews with nursing professionals were analyzed. Verbatim transcripts underwent rigorous coding, and these codes were organized into themes through constant comparative analysis. The themes were refined and developed through the grouping of related codes, ensuring an authentic representation of participants' viewpoints.

Results

After careful data analysis, ten key themes emerged including: (I) Perceptions of AI readiness; (II) Benefits and concerns; (III) Enhanced patient outcomes; (IV) Collaboration and workflow; (V) Human-tech balance: (VI) Training and skill development; (VII) Ethical and legal considerations; (VIII) AI implementation barriers; (IX) Patient-nurse relationships; (X) Future vision and adaptation.

Conclusion

This study provides valuable insights into nursing professionals' perspectives on the integration of AI in future nursing care. It highlights their enthusiasm for AI's potential benefits while emphasizing the importance of ethical and compassionate nursing practice. The findings underscore the need for comprehensive training programs to equip nursing professionals with the skills necessary for successful AI integration. Ultimately, this research contributes to the ongoing discourse on the role of AI in nursing, paving the way for a future where innovative technologies complement and enhance the delivery of patient-centered care.

Assertive communication training for nurses to speak up in cases of medical errors: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Several authors have previously assessed the effects of assertive communication training for nurses to speak up in cases of medical errors. Inconsistent results regarding the nurses' attitudes, behaviors, and confidence levels were noticed.

OBJECTIVE

To identify the effectiveness of assertive communication training on nurses' behaviors, attitudes, and confidence levels for speaking up in cases of medical errors and to identify vital components for success.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, ERIC, Embase, Scopus, and CINAHL were searched up for studies published from the inception of the database to December 16, 2022.

METHODS

Two researchers independently performed a primary screening of titles and abstracts for relevant studies, followed by a review of full texts if the references met inclusion criteria and quality assessment. Data were retrieved for nurses and nursing students who received medical error-related assertive communication training for speaking up, and learning outcomes for attitudes, behaviors, and confidence levels were reported based on pooled data. Pooled estimates were calculated using a random-effects model.

RESULTS

A total of eleven studies with 1299 participants were included in systematic review, and among them nine studies with 804 participants were analyzed in meta-analysis. From the pooled results, the intervention group, which received assertive communication training, exhibited substantially improved speaking-up behaviors compared with the control group (SMD = 0.58; 95 % CI, 0.14-1.03). Considerable differences were noted in the nurses' times of speaking up in cases of medical errors between pretest (38 %; 95 % CI, 0.14-0.68) and posttest (78 %; 95 %CI, 0.70-0.85) based on the pooled data. The nurses' attitudes and confidence levels for speaking up varied markedly between pretest and posttest.

CONCLUSION

Structured assertive communication training may improve nurses' speaking-up behaviors in cases of medical errors. To conduct effective assertive communication training, nursing educators should incorporate multiple teaching approaches into structured training and ensure an adequate training duration.

Precursors and outcomes of work engagement among nursing professionals-a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Health services organizations must understand how best to lower nursing professionals' turnover intentions, and increase their job satisfaction and the quality of care provided to patients. This study aims to examine whether work engagement (WE) is a significant predictor of the achievement of these preferred organizational goals. The study also aims to examine whether organizational culture and organizational climate can manage the WE of nursing professionals and indirectly contribute to the accomplishment of the preferred organizational goals.

METHODS

In detail, a cross-sectional questionnaire survey study was conducted through a convenience sampling of a total of N = 164 nurses, from four Norwegian public hospitals. Structural equation modeling was employed in testing the hypothesis in the conceptual model, using Stata software. Furthermore, mediation analyses were achieved through use of the "medsem" package in the Stata software, in testing whether the proposed direct and indirect effects were statistically significant, and the type of mediation found.

RESULTS

The three key findings from this study are: i) WE of nursing professionals was found to be positively related to service quality of care (β = 0.551) and job satisfaction (β = 0.883). Job satisfaction fully mediates the relationship between WE and turnover intention and in itself explains almost 60% (R² = 0.59) of turnover intention; ii) nursing professionals' perception of organizational culture (β = 0.278) and collaboration climate (β = 0.331) were both directly related to their WE; and iii) WE fully mediates the relationship between organizational culture/climate and service quality of care and job satisfaction. Moreover, WE partially mediates the relationship between collaborative climate and job satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS

The WE of nursing professionals is highly correlated to their job satisfaction. WE and turnover intentions are (fully) mediated by job satisfaction. Employers should therefore focus on improving the job satisfaction of nursing professionals. The WE of nursing professionals is a common key factor for such improvement. Consequently, leaders and managers should continuously manage nursing professionals' WE, focusing on such areas as organizational culture and climate, because WE is an effective means of enabling multiple desirable outcomes for hospital organizations.

How do nurses acquire English medical discourse ability in nursing practice? Exploring nurses' medical discourse learning journeys and related identity construction

BACKGROUND

In Taiwan's hospitals, English medical discourse underpins nursing and medical practice. Much patient care work is done through language work, by both text and talk. This means that when nurses start their nursing careers in the hospital context, where English medical discourse is shared to produce knowledge and engage in practice, knowledge of medical discourse and the ability to use it are prerequisites. In the process of learning and using such specialist language, the formation of professional identities is assumed.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to explore nurses' learning journeys relating to medical discourse and the development of their professional identities.

METHODS

This research adopted a qualitative approach, using data from 10 nurses working in different hospitals in Taiwan.

RESULTS

The findings revealed that English medical discourse was employed in Taiwan's hospitals not only for fulfilling professional purposes but also for socialising nurses into the healthcare community. Nurses acquired it through interactions, small talk, relationships, discussions, and nursing tasks. Their professional identities were formed through engaging in meaningful nursing practice based on English medical discourse. However, in the learning process, they encountered difficulties in the areas of listening, speaking, and reading, which raised concerns about patient safety.

CONCLUSION

Sufficient support is needed to ease nurses' difficulties in learning. We propose having primary and secondary preceptors, establishing a mentorship policy, and creating a learning environment that is supportive of nurses' learning experiences.

Interaction effects of physical and psychosocial working conditions on the risk of disability pension among nursing professionals and care assistants in Sweden: A prospective study

BACKGROUND

Nursing professionals and care assistants are often subject to a combination of negative physical and psychosocial work environment factors, but most disability pension studies on such occupations have focused on one or the other of these factors. As they often coexist, there are reasons to assume that simultaneously being exposed to both types of exposures will increase the risk of disability more than being exposed to either.

OBJECTIVES

The study examined combinations of physical and psychosocial work conditions as predictors of future disability pension among nursing professionals and care assistants in Sweden.

PARTICIPANTS

The study was based on a random and representative sample of 79,004 participants in any of the Swedish Work Environment Surveys from 1993 to 2013. A total of 2576 nursing professionals, 10,175 care assistants, and 66,253 workers in other occupations were included.

METHODS

Information on background factors and disability pension was obtained from population registers. Cox proportional hazard regressions with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were performed to study if pairs of combinations of physical and psychosocial factors were related to an increased risk of disability pension. Additionally, measures of synergistic effects were estimated. The analyses were stratified on occupation group, with adjustment for selected confounders.

RESULTS

The results indicated increased hazard ratios (HR) for disability pension for most combinations of physical and psychosocial working conditions. The hazard ratios for joint exposure to high demands and heavy physical work were high among both nursing professionals (HR 1.91; CI 1.06-3.44) and care assistants (HR 2.09; CI 1.63-2.69). Also, the combination of high demands and strenuous postures resulted in significantly elevated risks of disability pension among nursing professionals (HR 1.95; CI 1.20-3.16) and care assistants (HR 2.18; CI 1.71-2.77). The HRs for joint exposure to low control and both heavy physical work and strenuous postures were significant among all other occupations (HR 2.30; CI 2.05-2.58 and HR 2.24; CI 2.01-2.51), and among care assistants (HR 1.52; CI 1.26-1.85 and HR 1.61; CI 1.34-1.93), but not significant among nursing professionals. The synergistic effects on disability pension from combined exposures were generally positive among all three occupational groups.

CONCLUSION

Nursing professionals and care assistants exposed to both negative physical and psychosocial conditions had an increased risk of disability pension. A synergistic effect with respect to disability pension was found among care assistants who reported low control and strenuous postures at work.

[Compliance of nursing professional practices related to drug preparation and administration: A cross-sectional and longitudinal descriptive study]

OBJECTIVES

Evaluate the compliance of practices of nursing professionals related to the preparation and administration of drugs in 2018. Discuss the evolution of compliance practices from 2014 to 2018.

METHODS

Prospective transversal observational study. Based on an observation grid with 55 compliance criteria, we conducted direct observation of medication doses prepared and administered by nursing professionals. For each compliance criterion, the auditor could indicate whether the practice was compliant, non-compliant or not applicable. A convenience target of 250 observations has been set.

RESULTS

A total of 252 doses of drugs were observed between March 1, 2018 and April 29, 2018. Drug doses were observed by day (52 %), evening (30 %) or night (18 %) mainly nurses (80 %) working on regular shifts (94 %). Just over half of the doses required preparation by a nurse (58 %) and almost half of the doses were administered parenterally (48 %). In 2018, the observed compliance rate of the drug circuit ranged from 25.0 % to 86.3 %.

CONCLUSION

This descriptive study shows a compliance rate of practices of nursing professionals related to the preparation and administration of drugs, which varies from 25.0 % to 86.3 % by observed stage of the drug circuit. 2018. The study identified 15 action actions for continuous improvement.

Perspectives of nursing professionals and older adults differ on aspects of care for older people after a nationwide improvement program

Background

The perspectives of nursing professionals might differ from those of older adults when it comes to care for older people. This cross-sectional study compares the views of older adults with the views of nursing professionals on the quality of care after a nationwide improvement program for care for older people was implemented (2008–2016) in the Netherlands.

Methods

Questionnaire data were used from 385 nursing professionals (response rate 51%) that were part of the Nursing Staff Panel, a nationwide representative group of nursing staff, and working in home care, hospitals or general practices. Additionally, questionnaire data were used from 73 older adults (response rate 81%) who were involved in regional networks to discuss project proposals and to represent the voice of older adults in the nationwide improvement program. Participants were asked to evaluate care for older people with regard to collaboration between healthcare organizations and with regard to the tailored service, accessibility, and quality of care within their organizations and in the region in which they lived.

Results

A majority of older adults (54%) and nursing professionals (61%) felt that collaboration with others had improved over the last few years. Approximately one third of the older adults stated that care for older people was tailored to fit individual needs and was accessible most of the time or always, as opposed to approximately two thirds of the professionals. Moreover, 17% older adults thought that the quality of care was good, compared with 54% of the nursing professionals. 77% of the nursing professionals and 94% of the older adults thought that improvements were still needed in care for older people, for example better integration of the different aspects of care and a more patient-centered approach.

Conclusion

Older adults who were involved in networks of the improvement program generally gave a less positive evaluation of aspects of care for older people and its development than nursing professionals. Considering differences in the perspectives of key stakeholders is relevant for the development and evaluation of nationwide improvement programs, for a correct interpretation of findings, and for making appropriate recommendations.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12913-018-3114-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Brazilian nursing professionals: leadership to generate positive attitudes and behaviours

PURPOSE

This paper aims to identify the kind of work environment that should be offered by hospital leaders to their nursing staff in Brazil to generate job satisfaction, organizational commitment and organizational citizenship behaviour within their field of expertise.

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH

A survey was applied to 171 nurses and 274 nursing technicians who work at five private hospitals in Brazil. Both factor analysis and regression analysis were used to analyse the study model.

FINDINGS

The results indicate that to stimulate positive behaviours and attitudes among nursing staff, managers should mainly be concerned about establishing a clear and effective communication with their professionals to ensure role clarity, promote a good working environment and encourage relationships based on trust.

RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS

The limitations of the study are absence of the researcher while the questionnaires were filled out and the fact that the sample comprised respondents who made themselves available to participate in the research.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

This study contributes to elucidate the factors that can promote a good internal climate for nursing staff, assisting hospital leaders to face the huge managerial challenges of managing, retaining and advancing these professionals.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE

The findings contribute to the body of knowledge in leadership among nursing professionals in developing countries. Hospital leaders in Brazil should encourage trusting relationships with nursing professionals through clear, effective and respectful communications, besides investing in team development and promoting a good working environment.