Building a Culturally Responsive Workforce: Faculty of Color in Nursing Education

The representation of nursing faculty of color is disproportionate to that in the general population, despite recruitment and retention strategies. Boosting the presence of nursing faculty of color requires an understanding of factors that undermine diversity initiatives and calls for the adoption of innovative practices. This article addresses the importance of racial and ethnic diversity within nursing education. Furthermore, it examines the factors that prevent the recruitment and retention of a racially and ethnically diverse nursing faculty workforce and provides evidence-based recommendations for increasing diversity among nursing faculty and nursing organizations.     

Healthcare professionals’ knowledge,skills, and role in offering and facilitating memory making during end-of-life care in the adult intensive care unit

BackgroundAn activity to provide a tangible keepsake following the death of a loved one is termed ‘memory making’. However, limited evidence is available related to professionals' education and support to provide memory making opportunities in the adult intensive care unit (ICU). Having a greater understanding of healthcare professionals’ experiences can inform future patient/family care and support for professionals in end-of-life care.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to describe what participants perceive memory making to be, if they have facilitated memory making activities as part of their practice, if they perceive it as part of their role, and if they have the necessary skills to do so.MethodsSeventy-five registered nurses (75% response rate), 19 medical doctors (76% response rate), and two social workers (66.7% response rate) completed a survey at a single tertiary referral centre in an adult ICU.ResultsParticipants reported memory making to include the creation of tangible keepsakes as well as nontangible activities. Overall, participants reported high agreement scores that the responsibility for initiating memory making predominately belonged to the nurse. Participants reported skills most needed involved the ability to interact with the family, being open to the concept, and integrating memory making into their standard of care. Having developed a rapport with families was considered an enabler, whereas lack of knowledge and clinical workload were reported as inhibitors to offering memory making.ConclusionsOverall, participants in this study reported positive experiences with offering memory making to families during end-of-life care in the adult ICU. Nurses are more likely to perceive professional responsibility for offering memory making, likely due to their increased time at the bedside and higher prominence and leadership in other end-of-life practices. To support professionals, education should include conceptual knowledge, procedural knowledge of keepsake creations, communication techniques using reflective practices, and organisational support to facilitate time requirements.     

A historical analysis of vaccine mandates in the United States military and its application to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate

The Department of Defense has implemented a mandate that all military personnel be vaccinated against COVID-19. This article reviews the historical precedent of vaccine mandates for United States military personnel dating back to the formation of the continental army, as well as previous controversies about vaccine mandates such as the first influenza vaccine mandate and the Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program. The historical review discusses precedent for the current COVID-19 vaccine mandate and the reception of these vaccine mandates by military personnel. The review then discusses how these historical lessons can inform the present COVID-19 vaccine mandate.     

NICE’s recent guidelines on “the size of your waist” unfairly penalizes shorter people

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has just released its latest guidelines to assess and predict health risk, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension or cardiovascular disease. Their latest advice is “Keep the size of your waist to less than half of your height”. We believe this advice is flawed and will seriously and unfairly penalize shorter people and lull taller people into a false sense of security. In this short communication, we provide this evidence. We consider this a serious oversight by NICE and feel strongly that this evidence needs to be made available in the public domain.     

Comparison of Foaming Properties Between the Shirasu Porous Glass Membrane Device and Tessari’s Three-way Stopcock Technique for Polidocanol and Ethanolamine Oleate Foam Production: A Benchtop Study

PurposeTo compare the characteristics of polidocanol (POL) and ethanolamine oleate (EO) sclerosing foams produced by a Shirasu porous glass membrane (SPGM) device with those made using a 3-way stopcock (3WSC).Materials and MethodsFoam half-life times were measured in an ex-vivo benchtop study. Computed tomography (CT) images of each foam were obtained over the time course, and a CT texture analysis was conducted. The bubble size in each foam was measured by an optical microscope.ResultsMedian foam half-life times were longer in the SPGM group than in the 3WSC group (POL: 198 vs 166 s, P = .02; EO: 640 vs 391 s, P < .01). In the CT texture analysis, median standard deviation (SD) and entropy (randomness) were lower, and median energy (uniformity) and gray-level cooccurrence matrix (GLCM) homogeneity were higher in the SPGM group than in the 3WSC group (POL SD: at 30 s and 50–300 s; POL entropy: at 0–60 s; EO SD: at 0–600 s; EO entropy: at 0–460 s; POL energy: at 0–40 s; POL GLCM homogeneity: at 0–250 s; EO energy: at 0–360 s; EO GLCM homogeneity: at 0–480 s; all P < .05). Median bubble diameters in the SPGM group and in the 3WSC group were 69 and 83 μm (P < .01), respectively, in the POL foam; and 36 and 36 μm (P = .45), respectively, in the EO foam.ConclusionsPOL and EO foams had greater uniformity and longer foam half-life time when prepared with an SPGM device than with a 3WSC.     

基于罗森塔尔效应的护理干预对脑出血后遗症病人的心理状况和生活质量的影响

目的:探讨基于罗森塔尔效应的护理干预对脑出血后遗症病人的心理状况和生活质量的影响。方法:按照随机数字表法将2019年1月—2021年1月收治的98例脑出血后遗症病人分为对照组和观察组各49例,对照组实施常规护理,观察组在常规护理基础上给予基于罗森塔尔效应的护理干预。干预前后采用卒中量表(NIHSS)、功能独立性评定量表(FIM)、生活活动功能测量量表Barthel指数(BADL)评定两组病人康复情况,采用非精神病性焦虑量表(HADS-A)、非精神病性抑郁量表(HADS-D)、自我效能量表(GSES)评定两组病人心理状态,采用生活质量简明调查表(SF-36)评定两组病人生活质量。结果:观察组病人干预后NIHSS评分低于对照组,FIM和BADL评分高于对照组(P<0.05);观察组病人干预后HADS-A和HADS-D评分低于对照组,GSES评分高于对照组(P<0.05);观察组病人干预后生活质量各维度(躯体功能、躯体角色、肌体疼痛、总体健康、活力、社会功能、情绪角色、心理卫生)评分均明显高于对照组(P<0.05)。结论:基于罗森塔尔效应的护理干预应用于脑出血后遗症病人能有效促进病人康复,改善病人心理状态,提高病人生活质量。     

«Cuidados perdidos» y calidad de los cuidados durante la pandemia por COVID-19: factores y estrategias influyentes

ObjectiveTo analyze the quality of care provided during the COVID-19 pandemic, identifying what care has been prioritized and factors that have influenced such care.BackgroundGiven the need to adapt care due to the pandemic, nurses may have been subjected to factors that have negatively affected them, however it has also been possible to find actions that have enabled nurses to maintain the quality of care provided.MethodExploratory study with a sample of 225 nurses. Data collection was performed using a self-assessment of the care provided, the ‘Care Left Undone’ Scale, and ad hoc questionnaire for demographic variables.ResultsThe mean rate of missed care was 5.76. Significant differences were identified according to age, professional experience, field of specialty and personal and professional strategies.ConclusionBoth personal and professional feelings, characteristics, and strategies have an effect in the perception of quality of care provided and missed care during the pandemic.     

Importance of human papillomavirus vaccination leaflets focusing on the safety profile targeted pediatricians in Japan

ObjectivesTo investigate the association between providing leaflets to support pediatricians in explaining the safety of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and mother’s decision to vaccinate their daughters in Japan.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we conducted a survey of mothers to evaluate the effect of leaflets that were created to support pediatricians in explaining the safety profile of the HPV vaccine. Mothers who provided consent for vaccination before receiving an explanation were excluded from the study. The primary outcome was the mother’s decision to vaccinate their daughters with the HPV vaccine after receiving an explanation from pediatricians using our leaflets.ResultsAmong 161 eligible mothers, 101 decided on HPV vaccination (decided group) and 60 did not (decided against group). There was no difference in the maternal background between the 2 groups. The decided group had a significantly more positive impression of the leaflets than the undecided group. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, a detailed explanation for possible adverse events and specific solutions to them was associated with the mother's decision to have their daughters vaccinated (odds ratio 2.35, 95% confidence interval 1.02–5.44), but not the pathology of cervical cancer and the HPV vaccination process.ConclusionLeaflets emphasizing an explanation of adverse events may contribute to mothers’ decision making for HPV vaccination.     

The Influence of Prior Functional Status on Self-Care Improvement During a Skilled Nursing Facility Stay

ObjectivesOlder adults' prior health status can influence their recovery after a major illness. We investigated the association between older adults’ independence in self-care tasks prior to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) stay and their self-care function at SNF admission, discharge, and the change in self-care function during an SNF stay.DesignRetrospective study of 100% national CMS data files from October 1, 2018, to December 31, 2019.Settings and ParticipantsThe sample included 616,073 Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries who were discharged from an SNF between October 1, 2018, and December 31, 2019.MethodsThe admission Minimum Data Set (MDS) was used to determine residents’ prior ability (independent, some help, dependent) to complete self-care tasks before the current illness, exacerbation, or injury. Seven self-care tasks from MDS Section GG were used to calculate total scores (range 7-42 points) for self-care at admission, discharge, and the change in self-care between admission and discharge.ResultsMost residents (62.0%) were independent, 35.3% needed some help, and 2.64% were dependent in self-care prior to SNF admission. Nearly 25% of residents with urinary incontinence, 28.8% with bowel incontinence, and 31.7% with moderate-severe cognitive impairment were independent in self-care prior to SNF admission compared with approximately 70% of residents without these conditions. Compared with residents who were dependent in self-care prior to SNF admission, those who were independent or needed some help had significantly higher self-care total scores at admission (5.67 vs 4.21 points, respectively) and discharge (6.44 vs 3.82 points, respectively) and exhibited greater improvement in self-care (3.48 vs 1.62 points, respectively).Conclusions and ImplicationsOur findings are evidence that the new MDS item for a resident's independence in self-care tasks before SNF admission is a valid measure of their prior self-care function. This is clinically useful information and should be considered when developing rehabilitation goals.