The effects of spiritual care intervention on spiritual well-being,loneliness, hope and life satisfaction of intensive care unit patients

BackgroundThe intensive care unit is a place where patients try to cope with pain and question the meaning and purpose of life and spiritual needs emerge.ObjectiveThe present study was conducted to examine the effects of spiritual care interventions on the spiritual well-being, loneliness, hope, and life satisfaction of patients treated in intensive care.Research methodologyThe study was conducted in an intensive care unit as an interventional study with a randomized pre-test, post-test, and control group between September and December 2021. A total of 64 patients, 32 in the intervention group and 32 in the control group, were included in the sample. The patients in the intervention group received eight sessions (twice a week) of spiritual nursing interventions according to the Traditions-Reconciliation-Understandings-Searching-Teachers model in the intensive care unit, while the control group received routine nursing care.ResultsThe mean age of the participants was 63.53 ± 4.10 years in the intervention group and 63.37 ± 3.18 years in the control group. Most of the participants in both the intervention (59.4 %) and control (68.7 %) groups were female. Following the intervention, the findings showed that the intervention had positive effects on patients’ spiritual well-being (t = -10.382), loneliness (t = 13.635), hope (t = -10.440), and life satisfaction (t = -10.480) levels (p < 0.001).ConclusionsIt was found that the spiritual care provided in the intensive care unit positively affected patients’ spiritual well-being, hope, loneliness, and life satisfaction levels. It can be recommended that nurses working in intensive care develop a spiritually supportive environment by addressing the spiritual issues of patients and their relatives and using existing spiritual care services.Implications for clinical practiceIntensive care nurses should provide an environment and nursing care that meet their patients’ spiritual needs. Spiritual care can be given to improve spiritual well-being, hope, and life satisfaction levels and to alleviate loneliness in intensive care patients.     

Evaluation of compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction among emergency nurses in Jordan: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundNurses working in emergency departments are overworked and exposed to frequent stressors over time, leading to compassion fatigue, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress.AimsThis study aimed to assess the levels of compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction, and examine the relationship of these two variables with specific demographic, health-related, and work-related factors among emergency nurses in Jordan.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study. The Professional Quality of Life Scale Version 5 was used to collect data.ResultsA convenience sampling method was used to recruit 203 registered nurses from emergency departments in Jordan. The mean compassion fatigue and satisfaction scores were moderate. There was a significant but negligible correlation between compassion satisfaction and educational levels (r = 0.15, p < 0.05) and between secondary traumatic stress and comorbid diseases (r = −0.16, p < 0.05).ConclusionsAlthough the levels of compassion fatigue and satisfaction were moderate, both may negatively affect nurses’ care and patient outcomes. Conversely, compassion satisfaction should be improved in order to overcome the negative effects of compassion fatigue.     

灵性关怀培训对护士灵性健康和灵性照护能力的影响

目的探讨灵性关怀培训方案对护士灵性健康和灵性照护能力的影响。方法2018年3—9月以自愿报名的方式在某省肿瘤医院招募80名护士参与研究,以随机数字表法将其分为试验组(40名)和对照组(40名)。试验组在常规业务学习的基础上连续6个月接受每月2次的集体灵性关怀培训,主要形式包括专家授课、团体干预、临床实践和案例分享;对照组连续6个月参与医院组织的业务学习。培训前后,采用灵性健康量表和灵性照护认知量表对两组护士进行调查,比较培训效果。结果培训6个月后,试验组护士灵性健康和灵性照护认知总分分别为(106.30±8.72)、(185.75±16.53)分,均高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(t值分别为5.38、4.52;P<0.01);各维度得分也均高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(t值为2.22~5.22,P<0.05);且试验组护士的灵性健康和灵性照护认知总分及各维度得分均高于试验组干预前得分,差异有统计学意义(t值为3.18~8.99,P<0.01)。结论基于自我与患者共同成长理念构建的灵性关怀培训方案可提高护士的灵性健康和灵性照护认知水平。     

Person-centred care among intensive care unit nurses: A cross-sectional study

ObjectivePractising person-centred care is crucial for nurses in the intensive care unit, as patients have high physical and psychological care needs. We aimed to identify the predictors of person-centred care among nurses working in intensive care settings.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 188 intensive care unit nurses at four tertiary hospitals in two cities of South Korea were included. They completed self-reported questionnaires on emotional intelligence, compassion satisfaction, secondary traumatic stress, burnout, and person-centred care. Emotional intelligence was measured using the Korean version of the Wong and Law’s emotional intelligence scale. Compassion satisfaction, secondary traumatic stress, and burnout were measured by the Professional Quality of Life questionnaire (version 5). Person-centred care was measured using the person-centred critical care nursing scale.ResultsMultiple regression identified compassion satisfaction (β = 0.49, p <.001) as the most powerful predictor of person-centred care, followed by emotional intelligence (β = 0.21, p =.004) and intensive care unit career length (β = 0.17, p =.021). These three variables accounted for 31.0 % of the variance in person-centred care.ConclusionsThis study highlights the importance of career length, emotional intelligence, and compassion satisfaction in the promotion of person-centred care among intensive care unit nurses. Nursing management should contemplate specific measures to reduce turnover among experienced intensive care unit nurses and to enhance the factors that promote person-centred care, such as compassion satisfaction and emotional intelligence.     

Personality,stress and coping in intensive care nurses: a descriptive exploratory study

Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between personality traits, perception of workplace stress and coping among intensive care unit (ICU) nurses. Background: Research has indicated that ICUs are stressful environments. There is a tendency for research studies to investigate causes of stress and ways of coping, but few studies, particularly in recent years, have considered the personality traits of the staff who thrive in this challenging environment, the work stress they perceive and the coping strategies they use. Method: A convenience sample of critical care nurses (n = 46) completed three standardised questionnaires during September 2007: the revised NEO personality inventory (NEO‐PI‐R); the nurses stress scale (NSI) and the Brief Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced (COPE) scale. Findings: ICU nurses did not perceive their workplaces to be stressful. Certain personality traits, openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness, were associated with problem‐solving coping strategies such as active planning and reframing. Openness and extraversion were associated with less perceived stress from the ‘patients and relatives' dimension of the NSI; there were also negative correlations between conscientiousness and the ‘workload stress' and stress from lack of ‘confidence and competence’ dimensions of the NSI. Conclusion: Certain personality traits may have a buffering effect on workplace stress. Pre‐employment screening to identify staff that exhibit personality and coping traits associated with low perceived stress may be considered as part of the recruitment strategy to address problems relating to stress, sickness and retention. Relevance to clinical practice: The retention and recruitment of staff who have lower perceived workplace stress and who utilise problem‐focused coping may result in less reported absences and fewer critical incidents and errors.     

Oral care practices of intensive care nurses: A descriptive study

The aim of this study was to investigate intensive care unit (ICU) nurses’ views and practices on oral care and to define the factors related to oral care measures. A study was carried out in eight ICUs of a teaching hospital in 2008. One hundred one nurses constituted the study sample. The data were collected using ‘Oral Care Practices Survey’ which included demographic characteristics (5 items) and current oral care practices (13 items). Oral care was given the highest priority by nearly 60% of the nurses. The most commonly used solution was sodium bicarbonate (79.2%), and the most frequently used equipment was foam swab (82.2%). Oral care was carried out less than every 4 h per day by 44.5% of the nurses. The oral care products and solutions were reported to be different in almost every unit. The relationship between the use of toothpaste and the place of employment was statistically significant (x² = 24.566, d.f. = 6, P = 0.000). There was a statistical significance between the clinics and frequency of oral care (x² = 81.486, d.f. = 42, P = 0.000). This study suggests that there is a wide variety of type and frequency of oral care measures among ICU nurses. Optimal oral care supported by evidence is an effective prevention method for eliminating oral complications.     

Fostering positive emotions,psychological well-being,and productive relationships in the intensive care unit: A before-and-after study

BackgroundIntensive care units (ICUs) are emotionally demanding workplaces. Exposure to stress can negatively impact ICU staff members' emotional resilience, health, and capacity to provide care. Despite recognition of the benefits of promoting “healthy workplaces”, there are limited interventional studies aimed at improving the well-being of ICU staff.AimThe aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a multifaceted intervention for improving well-being of staff working in a tertiary ICU.MethodsA before-and-after interventional study was conducted over a 2-year period, between 2019 and 2021. Interventions included social activities, fitness, nutrition, and emotional support. An electronic version of the PERMA-Profiler questionnaire was used to assess the well-being of a convenience sample of ICU staff before (n = 96) and after (n = 137) the intervention. Ten focus groups (each involving 12–18 nurses) were held to explore nurses' perceptions of the intervention's effectiveness.ResultsAfter the intervention, a significantly greater proportion of participants described their work week as draining (32% vs 19%, χ² = 4.4 df + 1, P = 0.03) and at least a bit harder than normal (38% vs 22%, χ² = 6.4 df + 1, p = 0.01) compared to baseline surveys. However, well-being scores after the intervention (mean = 6.95, standard deviation = 1.28) were not statistically different (p = 0.68) from baseline scores (mean = 7.02, standard deviation = 1.29). Analysis of focus groups data revealed three key categories: boosting morale and fostering togetherness, supporting staff, and barriers to well-being.ConclusionsAfter the intervention, there was a preserved level of well-being from baseline despite a statistically significant increase in staff reporting the work week as draining and at least a little bit harder than normal. These findings must be considered in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which started after baseline data collection and continues to impact the community, including staff workload and pressures in intensive care. The study findings may inform strategies for improving ICU staff members' well-being.     

Determining intensive care unit nurses' perceptions and practice levels of spiritual care in Turkey

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Spiritual Care Perceptions and Practices Scale and to evaluate factors that may be effective in providing spiritual care by general intensive care unit (ICU) nurses. Background: Spiritual needs are necessary to offset spiritual deficiencies or support moral strength. During hospitalization, patients with critical conditions and their families tend to become anxious because of fear of the unknown and an uncertain future. Spiritual issues become prominent concerns for these patients and their families. Method: The data of the study were collected from a university hospital, two public hospitals and two private hospitals. A total of 170 nurses were in the ICU of these hospitals, and 123 nurses (79·4%), agreed to participate and, were included in this study. Prior to the study, an information sheet was provided to all nurses to explain the purpose and procedures of the survey. The demographic data form of ICU nurses and the Nurses' Spiritual Care Perceptions and Practices Scale were used for data collection. Results: A statistically significant difference was found between the marital status of the nurses and the total scale mean score. It was also determined that ICU nurses are in a better position regarding their perception levels of spiritual care compared to their practice levels of spiritual care, and nurses with a higher perception of spiritual care also have higher scores in the practice of spiritual care. Conclusions: ICU nurses were found to be inadequate in spiritual care practices. Study findings may be used to improve the support of nurses, to ensure sensitive spiritual care in their daily practices. Relevance to clinical practice:: ICU nurses should be aware of the importance of spiritual care and develop tools for assessing the spiritual needs of patients.     

A research regarding the relationship among intensive care nurses' self-esteem,job satisfaction and subjective well-being

ObjectiveThe paper aims to explore the status of intensive care unit (ICU) nurses' self-esteem, job satisfaction, and subjective well-being and to investigate the relationship among the three elements.MethodsA cross-sectional survey of 224 nurses from five teaching hospitals in Tianjin, China, was conducted. Self-esteem scale, job satisfaction scale, and subjective well-being scale were used to explore the status of ICU nurses' self-esteem, job satisfaction, and subjective well-being. Correlation among the three elements was calculated by SPSS 17.0.ResultsThe scores of three scales (i.e., ICU nurses' self-esteem, job satisfaction, and subjective well-being) were 27.67 ± 3.41, 43.57 ± 9.04, and 69.73 ± 11.60, respectively. The subjective well-being was significantly positively correlated with self-esteem and job satisfaction (r = 0.454, P < 0.01; r = 0.584, P < 0.01, respectively).ConclusionThe study shows that the prevalence of subjective well-being and self-esteem with ICU nurses are at a low level, and job satisfaction is at the median level. Associations among self-esteem, job satisfaction, and subjective well-being in ICUs have been confirmed. Self-esteem and job satisfaction positively correlated with nurse subjective well-being. The higher the self-esteem and job satisfaction levels are, the stronger the subjective well-being is. The working pressure in ICUs cannot be alleviated temporarily; hence, to promote a high subjective well-being, managers and ICU nurses increase their self-esteem and job satisfaction through taking strategies that strengthen psychological construction.     

传染病医院护士同情心负荷的质性研究

目的了解传染病医院护士同情心负荷的影响因素以及护士应对同情心负荷过高的方法,避免同情心负荷过高造成职业倦怠。方法采用质性研究EdmundHusserl观点构成的现象学方法为指导,使用个人访谈法,深入访问在某三级甲等传染病医院工作的7位注册护士,运用现象学分析法对资料进行分析、整理并提炼主题。结果一定的同情心负荷有助于护士完成本职工作,但同情心负荷过高则会导致护士产生职业倦怠。结论为了避免护士同情心负荷过高造成职业倦怠,护理管理者需从护理入职培训、护理管理、心理疏导等方面采取有效措施,引导护士正确应对同情心负荷。