[Open ICU in pandemic phase Sars-CoV-2: the partial reopening of family visits in an ICU in Northern Italy]. / Terapia intensiva 'aperta' in fase pandemica Sars-CoV-2: esperienza di riapertura parziale delle visite dei familiari in una Terapia Intensiva del Nord Italia.

. Open ICU in pandemic phase Sars-CoV-2: the partial reopening of family visits in an ICU in Northern Italy. INTRODUCTION: During the Covid-19 pandemic, policies restricting family visits to health care facilities were commonly adopted, negatively impacting on patients, families and on the care team. AIM: To describe the reorganisation of a 23-bed Intensive Care Unit in Northern Italy for partial reopening to visits during the pandemic. METHODS: The reorganisation involved several phases: I) feasibility analysis, II) thawing out resistances; III) identifying behavioural, IV) organisational and structural indications for family access in the Covid area; V) fostering communication to guarantee information and emotional support for family members and VI) assessing, through an anonymous questionnaire, the degree of agreement on the impact of the presence of family members on health care team, patient and perception of safety. RESULTS: The majority of the relatives felt that the visit at the patient's bedside had a beneficial effect and reduced their anxiety. Almost all family members felt protected from the Covid-19 infectious risk. Healthcare staff also felt that the presence of family members contributed positively to the relationship with the patient. No family members contracted the Covid-19 infection during the evaluation period. CONCLUSIONS: Reopening access to family members during the Covid-19 period is possible, sustainable and beneficial. The use of flexible and motivational management principles by the coordinator were crucial in ensuring a family-centred approach during the pandemic.

The first COVID-19 new graduate nurses generation: findings from an Italian cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Nursing education has been disrupted by the onset of the COronaVIrus Disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic, potentially impacting learning experiences and perceived competencies at the time of graduation. However, the learning experiences of students since the onset of COVID-19, their perceived competences achieved and the employment status one month after graduation, have not been traced to date. METHODS: A cross sectional online survey measured the individual profile, the learning experience in the last academic year and the perceived competences of the first COVID-19 new nursing graduates in two Italian universities. Details relating to employment status and place of employment (Covid-19 versus non-COVID-19 units) one month after graduation were also collected and the data compared with those reported by a similar cohort of new graduates pre-pandemic in 2018-2019. All those who graduated in November 2020 and attended their third year after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic were eligible. The online survey included individual, nursing programme and first working experience variables alongside the Nurse Competence Scale (NCS). Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed. RESULTS: A total of 323 new graduates participated. In their last academic year, they experienced a single, long clinical placement in non-COVID-19 units. One month after graduation, 54.5% (n = 176) were working in COVID-19 units, 22.9% (n = 74) in non-COVID-19 units and 22.6 (n = 73) were unemployed. There was no statistical difference among groups regarding individual variables and the competences perceived. Fewer new graduates working in COVID-19 units experienced a transition programme compared to those working in non-COVID-19 units (p = 0.053). At the NCS, the first COVID-19 new graduate generation perceived significantly lower competences than the pre-COVID-19 generation in the 'Helping role' factor and a significant higher in 'Ensuring quality' and 'Therapeutic interventions' factors. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the first COVID-19 new graduate generation had been employed in COVID-19 units without clinical experience and transition programmes, imposing an ethical debate regarding (a) the role of education in graduating nurses in challenging times with limited clinical placements; and (b) that of nurse managers and directors in ensuring safe transitions for new graduates. Despite the profound clinical placement revision, the first COVID-19 new graduate generation reported competences similar to those of the pre-COVID-19 generation, suggesting that the pandemic may have helped them to optimise the clinical learning process.

[The use of facial masks: updated information after Covid-19]. / L'uso delle maschere facciali:le informazioni aggiornate dopo il Covid-19.

. The use of facial masks: updated information after Covid-19. Preventive spread of infections to and from healthcare workers and patients relies on effective use of personal protective equipment. During the Covid-19 epidemic, different, often conflicting indications were given, based on evolving knowledge on the spread mechanism of the virus. In this contribution the most up to date indications on the use of facial masks by health care workers and general population, for the prevention of contagion are discussed and confronted.