RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Given the grave ethical tension and dilemmas posed continuously which are aggravated in the intensive care unit context and its related caregiving provision, combined with their impact on critical care nurses' job satisfaction and work-related risks, exploring and analyzing these tensions and conflicts is crucial. This study was conducted to examine the relationship between perceived ethical work climate and problems among critical care nurses in addition to exploring their perspectives on the ethical work climates while caring for patients with infectious diseases. DESIGN AND METHOD: A mixed-method research design was used to conduct this study among 635 participants, comprising 170 from Egypt, 144 from Jordan, 161 from Saudi Arabia, and 160 from the United Arab Emirates. Online or paper-based survey forms were distributed to all eligible critical care nurses who agreed to take part in the study. The survey contained both quantitative and qualitative data that were analyzed separately and integrated during the discussion. The study was reported following the STROBE guidelines. FINDINGS: The overall ethical work climate was fairly good and was significantly associated with ICU nurses' personal and professional characteristics. The findings also identified three main themes: (1) an ethical sense of failure, (2) environmental condemnation, and (3) an instant action plan for resolving ethical conflicts. CONCLUSIONS: ICU nurses perceived that ICU ethical climate was fairly good. The results indicated that ICU nurses generally had a relatively fair perception of the ethical work climate, with implications for addressing ethical issues and conflicts in various settings. IMPACT: Mentorship and/or close supervision concerning ethical resilience, consultation, and decision-making is crucial in the ICU milieu. Metacognitive strategies to reinforce problem-solving and decision-making ICU nurses' skills could help them overcome the different ethical challenges. Adequate resources, teamwork, and organizational support are promising tactics to improve ICU nurses' ethical skills. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.
RESUMO
Background: Needle stick injuries constitute the greatest threat to nursing students during clinical practice because of accidental exposure to body fluids and infected blood. The purpose of this study was to (1) determine the prevalence of needle stick injuries and (2) measure the level of knowledge, attitude and practice among nursing students about needle stick injuries. Methods: Three hundred participants undergraduate nursing students at a private college in Saudi Arabia were included, of whom 281 participated, for an effective response rate of 82%. Results: The participants showed good knowledge scores with a mean score of 6.4 (SD = 1.4), and results showed that students had positive attitudes (Mean = 27.1, SD = 4.12). Students reported a low level of needle stick practice (Mean = 14.1, SD = 2.0). The total prevalence of needle stick injuries in the sample was 14.1%. The majority, 65.1%, reported one incidence in the last year, while (24.4%) 15 students reported two incident of needle stick injuries. Recapping was the most prevalent (74.1%), followed by during injection (22.3%). Most students did not write a report (77.4%), and being worried and afraid were the main reasons for non-reports (91.2%). The results showed that female students and seniors scored higher level in all needle stick injuries domains (knowledge, attitude and practice) than male students and juniors. Students who had needle stick injuries more than three times last year reported a lower level of all needle stick injury domains than other groups (Mean = 1.5, SD =1.1; Mean = 19.5, SD =1.1; Mean = 9.5, SD =1.1, respectively). Conclusion: Although the student's showed good knowledge and positive attitudes in NSI, the students reported a low level of needle stick practice. Raising awareness among nursing students and conducting continuing education related to sharp devices and safety and how to write an incident reporting is highly recommended.
