Conflict occurrence and preferred management styles among ICU nurses during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Intensive care units (ICUs) have been overwhelmed by the increasing number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, causing psychological burdens, stress, and various types of conflict among nurses. AIM: To examine the occurrence, type, and intensity of conflict and preferred management styles among ICU nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. STUDY DESIGN: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in a government hospital in Saudi Arabia using a convenience sample of 95 nurses from three ICUs. Data were collected using an e-questionnaire comprising the Nursing Conflict Scale, Rahim Organizational Conflict Inventory-II, and sociodemographic variables. RESULTS: Most participants reported exposure to moderately (64.2%) or highly (34.79%) intense conflict during the pandemic. The competitive (2.23 ± .472) and intragroup (2.23 ± .385) types of conflict were the most frequently reported. The preferred conflict management style was collaborating (21.85 ± 5.49), followed by accommodating (18.39 ± 4.03). Pearson's correlation analysis showed that age, years of experience, and education were significantly associated with conflict type and management style. Preparedness to care for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases was associated with interpersonal conflict (r = .20, p = .04). CONCLUSIONS: The participants experienced moderate- to high-intensity conflict; however, they employed constructive rather than destructive management styles. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Nurse leaders, policymakers, and educators must initiate transformational intervention programmes to enhance and sustain nurses' competencies in constructive conflict management strategies. Interpersonal communication and crisis management training programmes should be formulated to raise nurses' awareness and enhance their competencies vis-à-vis taking a positive approach to overcoming various conflict types and levels, particularly during crises.

Locus of Control and Self-Directed Learning Readiness of Nursing Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study from Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has caused one of the worst global pandemics in recent decades. It has disrupted education systems worldwide, leading to a forced shift from traditional face-to-face to blended or fully distanced learning, requiring a higher level of student readiness for self-directed learning (SDL) and a more internal locus of control (LOC). OBJECTIVE: This study explored the relationship between locus of control and level of readiness for SDL among Saudi nursing students and whether the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted this relationship. METHODS: A cross-sectional correlational descriptive study was conducted to survey 277 Saudi nursing students enrolled in the bachelor program at one of the reputable universities in Saudi Arabia. An E-questionnaire containing two scales, the Self-Directed Learning Readiness Scale for Nursing Education, and the Locus of Control Scale, was used to collect data in addition to the selected participants' characteristics. RESULTS: Nursing students had a moderate-to-low level of readiness for SDL (mean = 144.0), and the majority had an external LOC. There was a significant association between locus of control and level of readiness for self-directed learning (r = 0.19 *, p = 0.001), and the internal locus of control was more significantly associated with self-directed learning (r = 0.22 *, p = 0.0001) than with external locus of control. CONCLUSION: The study findings indicate a propensity of respondents indicating an external locus of control, whereas most of the respondents' reported levels of readiness ranged between low and moderate across all dimensions of self-directed learning. This study was not registered.

Quality of nursing care in Saudi's healthcare transformation era: A nursing perspective.

BACKGROUND: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia corporates performance improvement strategies in health sector to transform hospital operations and instituting a culture of quality through performance improvement initiatives. Quality of nursing care (QNC) is a concern for nursing professionals and administration. Donabedian's 'Quality-of-Care' framework plays a vital role in transforming nursing care and determining appropriate intervention development and implementation plans. AIM: To explore the nurses' perception for the QNC and find their perspectives in achievements and gaps by adopting the Donabedian model. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a convenience sample of 639 nurses from a tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia using Karen-personnel instrument for measuring QNC. The achievements and gaps in nursing care quality determined by redistributing Karen statements to the three dimensions of the Donabedian structure, process and outcome model. FINDINGS: The nurses' overall perception of the QNC was positive. According to the Donabedian model, the nurses focussed on care procedures (i.e., process-oriented) and required resources (i.e., structure-oriented), although the transformation era requires nurses' performance to focus on the outcome dimension. CONCLUSION: To activate the vital roles of nurses in accomplishing health transformation initiatives, there should be collaborative efforts among nursing managers, educators and policy-makers to sustain quality of structure, process and outcome-oriented nursing care and be more outcome-oriented.

Workplace violence against nursing staff in a Saudi university hospital.

BACKGROUND: Violence against nurses is a major challenge for healthcare administrators. It is gaining more attention because it has a negative impact on nurses, the quality of health care and health organization. Common types of violence include physical harassment, sexual abuse, aggression, mobbing and bullying. Patients, their relatives and co-workers are considered the main perpetrators. AIM: To determine the prevalence rate of workplace violence against nursing professionals in a university hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, most frequent type and perpetrators as well as the contributing factors. METHODS: This quantitative cross-sectional study adapted a survey questionnaire from the Massachusetts Nurses Association Survey on Workplace Violence/Abuse to collect data from a quota sample of 370 nursing personnel. RESULTS: Almost half of the participants had experienced violence in the professional setting during the 12 months prior to the study. The majority of subjects perceived workplace violence as verbal abuse. Nearly all nursing professionals identified patients as the leading cause. Slightly more than half mentioned understaffing, misunderstandings, long waits for service and lack of staff training and policies for preventing crisis as contributing factors. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY: The prevalence rate is extremely high among nurses in the targeted Saudi university hospital. Saudi health as well as university hospitals' administration and policy makers should adopt and introduce a 'zero tolerance policy', set standards and develop practical measures for preventing the incidence and for controlling the prevalence of violence against nurses. Besides, healthcare organizations, particularly hospitals, can fulfil their obligations to provide both staff and patients with more secure environment. Further research on the topic is needed.