Effects of two teaching strategies on the relationship between nursing students’ self-efficacy and performance in BLS/AED

Purpose: Nurses and nursing students are often first responders to in-hospital cardiac arrest events; thus they are expected to perform Basic Life Support (BLS) and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) without delay. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between nursing students’ self-efficacy and performance before and after receiving a particular training intervention in BLS/AED. Materials and methods: Explanatory correlational study. 177 nursing students received a 4-h training session in BLS/AED after being randomized to either a self-directed (SDG) or an instructor-directed teaching group (IDG).1 A validated self-efficacy scale, the Cardiff Test and Laerdal SkillReporter® software were used to assess students’ self-efficacy and performance in BLS/AED at pre-test, post-test and 3-month retention-test. Independent t-test analysis was performed to compare the differences between groups at pre-test. Pearson coefficient (r) was used to calculate the strength of the relationship between self-efficacy and performance in both groups at pre-test, post-test and retention-test. Results: Independent t-tests analysis showed that there were non-significant differences (p-values > 0.05) between groups for any of the variables measured. At pre-test, results showed that correlation between self-efficacy and performance was moderate for the IDG (r = 0.53; p < 0.05) and the SDG (r = 0.49; p < 0.05). At post-test, correlation between self-efficacy and performance was much higher for the SDG (r = 0.81; p < 0.05) than for the IDG (r = 0.32; p < 0.05), which in fact was weaker than at pre-test. Finally, it was found that whereas the correlation between self-efficacy and performance increased from the post-test to the retention-test to almost reach baseline levels for the ILG (r = 0.52; p < 0.05), it slightly decreased in this phase for the SDG (r = 0.77; p < 0.05). Conclusion: Student-directed strategies may be more effective than instructor-directed strategies at promoting self-assessment and, therefore, may help to improve and maintain the relationship between nursing student self-efficacy and actual ability to perform BLS/AED.

Development and psychometric evaluation of the basic electrocardiogram interpretation self-efficacy scale

Purpose: Research suggests that nurses and nursing students lack competence in basic electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation. Self-efficacy is considered to be paramount in the development of one's competence. The aim of this study was to develop and psychometrically evaluate a scale to assess self-efficacy of nursing students in basic ECG interpretation. Materials and methods: Observational cross-sectional study with a convenience sample of 293 nursing students. The basic ECG interpretation self-efficacy scale (ECG-SES) was developed and psychometrically tested in terms of reliability (internal consistency and temporal stability) and validity (content, criterion and construct). The ECG-SES’ internal consistency was explored by calculating the Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α); its temporal stability was investigated by calculating the Pearson correlation coefficient (r) between the participants’ results on a test–retest separated by a 4-week interval. The content validity index of the items (I-CVI) and the scale (S-CVI) was calculated based on the reviews of a panel of 16 experts. Criterion validity was explored by correlating the participants’ results on the ECG-SES with their results on the New General Self-Efficacy Scale (NGSE). 1 Construct validity was investigated by performing Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and known-group analysis. Results: The excellent reliability of the ECG-SES was evidenced by its internal consistency (α = 0.98) and its temporal stability at the 4-week re-test (r = 0.81; p < 0.01). The ECG-SES’ content validity was also excellent (all items’ I-CVI = 0.94–1; S-CVI = 0.99). A strong, significant correlation between the NGSE and the ECG-SES (r = 0.70; p < 0.01) showed its criterion validity. Corroborating the ECG-SES’ construct validity, PCA revealed that all its items loaded on a single factor that explained 74.6% of the total variance found. Furthermore, known-groups analysis showed the ECG-SES’ ability to detect expected differences in self-efficacy between groups with different training experiences (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The ECG-SES showed excellent psychometric properties for measuring the self-efficacy of nursing students in basic ECG interpretation.

Effects of two teaching interventions on nursing students’ acquisition of competence in ECG interpretation

Purpose: Nurse ability to recognise patient arrhythmias could contribute to preventing in-hospital cardiac arrest. Research suggests that nurses and nursing students lack competence in electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of two training strategies on nursing students’ acquisition of competence in ECG interpretation. Materials and methods: A controlled randomised trial with 98 nursing students. Divided in groups of 12–16, participants were randomly allocated to one of the following 3-h teaching intervention groups: 1) traditional instructor-led (TILG), and 2) flipped classroom (FCG). Participants’ competence in ECG interpretation was measured in terms of knowledge (%), skills (%) and self-efficacy (%) using a specifically designed and previously validated toolkit at pre-test and post-test. Two-way MANOVA explored the interaction effect between ‘teaching group’ and ‘time of assessment’ and its impact on participants’ competence. Within-group differences at pre-test and post-test were explored by carrying out paired t-tests. Between-group differences at pre- and post-test were examined by performing independent t-test analysis. Results: There was a statistically significant interaction effect between ‘teaching group’ and ‘time of assessment’ on participants’ competence in ECG interpretation (F(3,190) = 86.541, p = 0.001; Wilks’ Λ = 0.423). At pre-test, differences in knowledge (TILG = 35.12 ± 12.07; FCG = 35.66 ± 10.66), skills (TILG = 14.05 ± 10.37; FCG = 14.82 ± 14.14), self-efficacy (TILG = 46.22 ± 23.78; FCG = 40.01 ± 21.77) and all other variables were non-significant (p > 0.05). At post-test, knowledge (TILG = 55.12 ± 14.16; FCG = 94.2 ± 7.31), skills (TILG = 36.90 ± 16.45; FCG = 86.43 ± 14.32) and self-efficacy (TILG = 70.78 ± 14.55; FCG = 79.98 ± 10.35) had significantly improved, regardless of the training received (p < 0.05). Nonetheless, participants in the FCG scored significantly higher than participants in the TILG in knowledge, skills and self-efficacy (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Flipping the classroom for teaching ECG interpretation to nursing students may be more effective than using a traditional instructor-led approach in terms of immediate acquisition of competence in terms of knowledge, skills and self-efficacy. Further research on the effects of both teaching strategies on the retention of the competence will be undertaken.

Knowledge about the rncci: an exploratory study about the perception of nursing students

The National Network of Continuing Care (RNCCI) was created in 2006 by Decree Law nr. 101/2006. Its mission is to supply adequate health and social care to all people who, independent of their age, are in a situation of dependence, and its action is articulated with the already existing health and social services, being a multidisciplinary team needed composed out of medical doctors, nurses, social workers and psychologists. Given the aforementioned it’s pertinent to perform research, with nurses and nursing students, about this new valence of care.

Conhecimentos sobre a RNCCI: um estudo exploratório sobre a perceção dos alunos do curso de enfermagem

A Rede Nacional de Cuidados Continuados (RNCCI) foi criada em 2006 pelo decreto-lei nº 101/2006, no âmbito do Ministério da Saúde e da Segurança Social. A RNCCI tem como missão prestar os cuidados adequados, de saúde e apoio social, a todas as pessoas que, independentemente da idade, se encontrem em situação de dependência, e articula-se com os serviços de saúde e sociais já existentes. Para cumprir a sua missão, a RNCCI, necessita de uma equipa multidisciplinar, na qual integram vários profissionais, tais como: médicos, enfermeiros, assistentes sociais, psicólogos, entre muitos outros, de entre estes os enfermeiros são os profissionais que maior percentagem detêm na constituição da mesma. Daí que seja pertinente a realização de estudos de investigação, com enfermeiros e estudantes de enfermagem, nesta nova valência de cuidados. O presente estudo incide sobre os conhecimentos dos estudantes de enfermagem sobre a RNCCI, que frequentam o terceiro e quarto ano na Escola Superior de Saúde do Instituto Politécnico de Bragança. Sendo a questão de investigação deste estudo: “Quais os conhecimentos dos alunos de enfermagem do terceiro e quarto ano da licenciatura em enfermagem sobre a RNCCI?”. Foi realizado um estudo de natureza quantitativa, descritivo, correlacional, num plano transversal. Optou-se por um processo de amostragem não probabilística de conveniência, que refletisse a distribuição da população por ano de escolaridade. Assim, considerou-se uma amostra de 120 alunos (75 % da população), selecionados acidentalmente, visando a disponibilidade, rapidez e o menor custo na recolha de dados. Concluiu-se que os alunos de enfermagem de uma forma geral apresentam conhecimentos sobre a RNCCI. Destacando-se uma percentagem de 90% de respostas corretas referentes sobre a RNCCI. No entanto 75% dos alunos responderam erradamente às afirmações relacionados com o processo de referenciação e tipologia das respostas da RNCCI. Comparando estes resultados com estudos realizados com enfermeiros que exercem funções na RNCCI, verifica-se que os alunos não apresentam conhecimentos suficientes para desencadear funções ou processos relacionados com a RNCCI, apesar de terem conhecimentos gerais da mesma, pois apresentam consideráveis falhas desde logo no processo de referenciação, assim como profissionais que já trabalham na área. Tais factos constatados salientam a importância de formação teórica e/ou prática, no plano curricular da licenciatura de enfermagem, preparando os futuros enfermeiros para exercerem as suas funções na RNCCI, e não só. Pois os enfermeiros que trabalham nos cuidados de saúde primários e secundários, também eles necessitam de ter conhecimentos sobre a RNCCI, verificando-se muito frequentemente é durante o internamento que se inicia o processo de referenciação. Sugerindo que o conhecimento dos alunos sobre a RNCCI, são adquiridos na sua maioria durante a realização do ensino clínico, onde acompanham este tipo de atividades. Embora a formação base da licenciatura, permita uma vasta aquisição de competências teórico-práticas, e a integração de formação sobre a RNCCI, seja considerada pelos alunos de enfermagem, como importante ou muito importante, a mesma pode considerar-se atualmente praticamente inexistente.

Errors in preparation and medication management in nursing professionals

The preparation and administration of medications is one of the most common and relevant functions of nurses, demanding great responsibility. Incorrect administration of medication, currently constitutes a serious problem in health services, and is considered one of the main adverse effects suffered by hospitalized patients. Objectives: Identify the major errors in the preparation and administration of medication by nurses in hospitals and know what factors lead to the error occurred in the preparation and administration of medication. Methods: A systematic review of the literature. Deined as inclusion criteria: original scientiic papers, complete, published in the period 2011 to May 2016, the SciELO and LILACS databases, performed in a hospital environment, addressing errors in preparation and administration of medication by nurses and in Portuguese language. After application of the inclusion criteria obtained a sample of 7 articles. Results: The main errors identiied in the pr eparation and administration of medication were wrong dose 71.4%, wrong time 71.4%, 57.2% dilution inadequate, incorrect selection of the patient 42.8% and 42.8% via inadequate. The factors that were most commonly reported by the nursing staff, as the cause of the error was the lack of human appeal 57.2%, inappropriate locations for the preparation of medication 57.2%, the presence of noise and low brightness in preparation location 57, 2%, professionals untrained 42.8%, fatigue and stress 42.8% and inattention 42.8%. Conclusions: The literature shows a high error rate in the preparation and administration of medication for various reasons, making it important that preventive measures of this occurrence are implemented.

Engagement and labour stress in nursing

Engagement is a useful concept in the profession of nursing as it focuses on the positive dimension of human behaviour and visualizes the work context as a positive situation. Evaluate the stress and engagement levels on Portuguese and Spanish nurses and analyse the factors related to the stress and engagement levels in the two sample groups. Comparative exploratory study in a quantitative paradigm. Sample of 867 nurses (504 Portuguese, 363 Spanish), female 83.6% (78.6% Portugal, 90.6% Spain) and average age of 37. Portuguese (77.2%) and Spanish nurses (39.4%), work on average 40 hours per week. 60.6% and 57.7% of the Spanish and Portuguese respectively exercise their profession for 10 years. Sociodemographic questionnaire, the Pamela Gray-Toft’s Nursing Stress Scale (1981) and Schaufeli & Bakker’s Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (2003) were used. In what concerns Engagement there are statistically signiicant differences in the three dimensions, the p-value of the t-Student test were under 5%, highlighting the Spanish nurses for being more vigorous, dedicated and absorbed by their work: vigour, dedication and absorption. The sample of Portuguese nurses experience higher stress levels although the difference with Spanish nurses isn’t statistically signiicant. There are statistically signiicant differences between Portugal and Spain in “Lack of help from colleagues” and also in the psychological domain in general. The Spanish nurses feel more vigorous, dedicated and absorbed by their work. The Portuguese nurses perceive more psychological stress and mention having less help from colleagues.