The Clinical Learning Environment, Supervision and the Nurse Teacher Evaluation Scale: Turkish Version.

AIM: The aim of this study is to adapt the Clinical Learning Environment, Supervision and Nurse Teacher Evaluation Scale to the Turkish language and culture. METHODS: This psychometric test was conducted in a nursing school in Ankara, Turkey, from April to June 2014. Convenience sampling was used. The sample of this study was 190 third- and fourth-year nursing students. The items of the scale were evaluated by Pearson correlation coefficient for correlation-based item analysis. Cronbach's alpha, test and retest analysis were used to measure reliability. Exploratory factor analysis and correlation analysis were performed to determine validity. Principal component analysis was used to analyze factor. RESULTS: The subscales' Cronbach's alpha values were varied between .760 and .933. A positive relationship was found between tests and retests points of the subscales (P < .05). Five factors were identified in the exploratory factor analysis. There was a meaningful correlation between subscale points of the Clinical Learning Environment, Supervision and Nurse Teacher Evaluation Scale and the Clinical Learning Environment Scale (P < .05). CONCLUSION: The Turkish version of the Clinical Learning Environment, Supervision and Nurse Teacher Evaluation Scale was validated and a reliable measurement tool. It can be used to evaluate clinical nursing education in Turkey.

The Effectiveness of Discharge Training for Patients After Cardiac Surgery.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of written and verbal discharge training given to patients who underwent cardiac surgery. DESIGN AND METHODS: It was conducted on 180 patients between November 2011 and June 2012. The patients were divided into two groups. The first 90 patients were given verbal discharge training, whereas the others were provided with both written and verbal trainings. Using pretest and posttest questionnaires, knowledge levels of the patients were evaluated before training and 1 month after discharge. Patients given verbal discharge training had a success rate of 10.2% pretest, 48.1% posttest, whereas the success rate of patients who received both written and verbal discharge training was 6.35% pretest, 90.7% posttest. FINDINGS: The findings show that both written and verbal discharge training increased the knowledge levels. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The findings imply that written-verbal discharge training may help patients to solve the problems after discharge, which may reduce the number of patients presenting at hospital and, in turn, related healthcare costs.

Life Experiences of Patients With Glaucoma: A Phenomenological Study.

BACKGROUND: Studies that describe the experiences of patients with glaucoma from different cultures may help health professionals gain a broader perspective on this issue. Currently, few qualitative studies describe how patients with glaucoma in Turkey cope with daily life. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of patients with glaucoma. METHOD: This descriptive phenomenological study used purposive sampling to enroll 20 patients with glaucoma. A qualitative, in-depth, face-to-face interview technique was used to collect data during January and February 2014. The data were analyzed using to the Van Kaam method. RESULTS: Seven themes were identified, including confirming the diagnosis by acute symptoms or unrelated symptoms, grateful to God for having a non-life-threatening disease, feeling happy after receiving more accurate information, coping with the disease by using eye drops and attending follow-up examinations regularly, managing daily life to avoid further damage to eyesight, emotional reactions related to going blind, and urging family members or friends to attend regular glaucoma checkups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with glaucoma experience physiological and psychological problems throughout the course of their disease. Being informed and cultural practices such as "praising God" and "resignation" helped patients cope with the disease. Furthermore, because of the cultural characteristic of social collectivism, participants acted to protect the health of others by informing them about glaucoma. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Understanding the experiences of patients with glaucoma is important for nursing practice. Nurses should be encouraged to take a greater role in the care of patients with glaucoma by becoming the primary source of glaucoma disease, treatment, and care-related information.

A study on the validity and reliability of the Amblyopia andStrabismus Questionnaire (A&SQ) in Turkish.

BACKGROUND/AIM: This study aims to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Amblyopia and Strabismus Questionnaire (AandSQ) that is translated into Turkish. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a methodological study. A total of 149 patients took part in the survey research between December 2012 and June 2014 in an university hospital, and 37 were retested. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used for the questionnaire's reliability analysis. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the subscales of fear of losing the better eye, distance estimation, visual disorientation, double vision, and social contact and appearance were found to be 0.80, 0.88, 0.95, 0.80, and 0.81, respectively. Five factors determined by the exploratory factor analysis explained 69.87% of the total variance. CONCLUSION: The Turkish version of the AandSQ is found as a reliable and valid scale for analyzing Turkish society. The AandSQ might be helpful for measuring quality of life in patients with strabismus.

The evaluation of dorsogluteal and ventrogluteal injection sites: a cadaver study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to measure the thickness of the muscles in the dorsogluteal and the ventrogluteal injection sites and to determine which injection site is farther away from the neurovascular structures. BACKGROUND: Although the dorsogluteal region is frequently used for intramuscular injections, the ventrogluteal region is suggested as a more secure injection site due to its distance to the neurovascular structures. However, there are no measurements regarding the distances of these structures. Due to this reason, the distance between these injection sites and the neurovascular structures should be measured. DESIGN: This study is a descriptive study that used cadavers to measure the distance between the injection sites and the neurovascular structures. METHODS: The study was conducted on 29 cadavers fixed with 10% formalin. The needle was advanced until reaching its end point. A 1·5-inch needle was used for the injections in both regions. The gluteal region was dissected. Parameters were measured with a digital vernier calliper. Data Analysis was performed using spss and the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test was used to examine differences among measurements from the two injection regions. Data were collected between February and May 2014. RESULTS: Sum of the thickness of the muscles is greater in the dorsogluteal region. The ventrogluteal region is farther than the dorsogluteal region from neurovascular structures. For the ventrogluteal injection administered from the same side, total thickness of the muscle was 22·22 ± 5 mm, distance to the superior gluteal artery was 13·87 ± 16 mm and distance to the superior gluteal nerve was 11·82 ± 14 mm. For the dorsogluteal injection, total thickness of the muscle was 28·35 ± 7 mm, distance to the superior gluteal artery was 6·83 ± 9 mm, and distance to the superior gluteal nerve was 5·67 ± 9 mm. CONCLUSION: Intramuscular injections must be based on an individual clinical assessment of each patient. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The ventrogluteal region is preferred as the first-choice injection site. A needle of recommended length should be used to reach the target muscle.

The frequency and causes of occupational injuries among nursing students in Turkey.

The aim of this study is to determine the number and causes of occupational incidents that occurred in nursing students. This study was a descriptive, cross-sectional study performed at a military nursing school in Turkey in June 2009 with 218 nursing students as subjects. A data collection form for identifying the characteristics of the students and their exposure to incidents was used. The frequency of incidents increased with the increase in the number of years enrolled in the nursing program. It was determined that needlesticks (47.3%) and broken ampules during medication preparation (37.8%) were the 2 most common reasons for injuries. This study showed that although nursing students had high percentage of penetrating injuries, the overall incidence of injury was low. For prevention of occupational incidents, information about occupational incidents, risks, and prevention methods must be included in the nursing curriculum.

Experiences of the relatives of patients undergoing cranial surgery for a brain tumor: a descriptive qualitative study.

The functional changes that develop because of neurological sequelae in patients with a brain tumor have a negative effect on daily activities and self-care. This situation in turn has a negative effect on the lives of the patients' relatives and increases their work load. We interviewed 10 relatives of patients who had undergone cranial surgery for a brain tumor as part of a descriptive qualitative study and asked them to describe their experiences during the perioperative period and home care. The data obtained from the patients' relatives were evaluated using Colaizzi's analysis method and divided into three categories and eight themes: (a) personal feelings (first reactions, decision for surgery, first meeting with the patient after surgery, ambiguity), (b) management of the changes (management of the side effects of the tumor, management of role and behavioral changes, management of care at home, social support), and (c) need for knowledge about managing the disease process. We found that brain tumor surgery can be more frightening for patients and their relatives than other surgical interventions. Also, because the patient requires prolonged postoperative care, the patient's family plays an important role at every stage of the patient's treatment and care.