Nurse staffing in Portuguese public hospitals.

AIM: This study aims to contribute to the knowledge of nurse staffing in hospital settings in central and northern Portugal. BACKGROUND: Nurse staffing is a critical factor for the quality and safety of health care and is still an understudied topic in Portugal. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 850 nurses from 12 public hospitals in the central and northern regions of Portugal. RESULTS: Nurse staffing in these hospital units is insufficient, especially in internal medicine units and central hospitals. Nurses' perceptions are in line with the objective data. CONCLUSIONS: The shortage of nurses is a horizontal issue that is especially serious in internal medicine units and central hospitals and a potential threat to the quality of care. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: The results stress the need for an urgent leadership intervention in nurse staffing levels in the hospitals analysed in this study. Contextual knowledge about nurse staffing is essential for decision-making and supporting health and human resource management policies.

Associativism in nursing, public communication, and interaction with the media.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the processes of producing messages and interacting with the media by professional nursing associations. METHODS: Qualitative, descriptive study based on semi-structured interviews with managers of five professional nursing associations in Portugal. The data were subjected to thematic content analysis. RESULTS: Regulatory and union associations use public relations services and refer more strategies for interacting with journalists. Professional specialization associations interact less frequently and prefer social media for publishing their messages. Voluntary work and the reduced professionalization of the communication of specialized associations favors a nursing retraction stance towards the media. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: Organizational and cultural factors may help to explain nursing's limited access to the media. The use of renewal, cooperation, and education strategies will help overcome some of the limitations experienced by these associations.

Impact of safe nurse staffing on the quality of care in Portuguese public hospitals: A cross-sectional study.

AIM: To assess the impact of safe nurse staffing on the quality of care, based on the structure-process-outcome approach, in Portuguese hospitals. BACKGROUND: Safe nurse staffing is essential for the quality of care in hospital settings, together with work environment, organisational commitment and nursing practices. However, there is little evidence of its analysis in the Portuguese context. METHOD: A cross-sectional survey study was conducted using a sample of 850 nurses from 12 public hospital units in the central and northern regions of Portugal. RESULTS: The proposed structural equation model for quality assessment has a good fit (χ2 /df = 2.37; CFI = 0.88, PCFI = 0.83; PGFI = 0.77, RMSEA = 0.04), showing the impact of safe nurse staffing, work environment, and affective and normative organisational commitment on the quality of care (mortality rate and adverse events). The mediating effect of nursing practices was also found. CONCLUSION: Safe nurse staffing, which is compromised in 90% of the units, is a predictor of the quality of care through the mediating effect of nursing practices. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: The results not only highlight the need for urgent intervention but also support political decision-making with a view to improving the access to quality care.

Associativism in nursing, public communication, and interaction with the media / Asociación en enfermería, comunicación pública e interacción mediática / Associativismo em enfermagem, comunicação pública e interação com a mídia

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe the processes of producing messages and interacting with the media by professional nursing associations. Methods: Qualitative, descriptive study based on semi-structured interviews with managers of five professional nursing associations in Portugal. The data were subjected to thematic content analysis. Results: Regulatory and union associations use public relations services and refer more strategies for interacting with journalists. Professional specialization associations interact less frequently and prefer social media for publishing their messages. Voluntary work and the reduced professionalization of the communication of specialized associations favors a nursing retraction stance towards the media. Final considerations: Organizational and cultural factors may help to explain nursing's limited access to the media. The use of renewal, cooperation, and education strategies will help overcome some of the limitations experienced by these associations.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Describir los procesos de producción de mensajes y de interacción mediática por parte de asociaciones profesionales de enfermería. Métodos: Estudio cualitativo de tipo descriptivo con base en entrevistas semiestructuradas con dirigentes de cinco asociaciones profesionales de enfermería de Portugal. Los datos sometidos al análisis de contenido temático. Resultados: Las asociaciones de regulación y sindicalismo recorren a servicios de relaciones públicas y refieren más estrategias de interacción con periodistas. Las asociaciones de especialización profesional interaccionan con menor frecuencia y prefieren las redes sociales para publicaren sus mensajes. El trabajo voluntario y la reducida profesionalización de la comunicación de asociaciones especializadas tienden a una postura de retracción de la enfermería hacia mediática. Consideraciones finales: Factores organizacionales y culturales podrán ayudar a explicar el acceso limitado de la enfermería a la midiática. El recurso a estrategias de renovación, cooperación y educación permitirá superar algunas de las limitaciones vividas por esas asociaciones.

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever os processos de produção de mensagens e de interação com a mídia por parte de associações profissionais de enfermagem. Métodos: Estudo qualitativo de tipo descritivo com base em entrevistas semiestruturadas com dirigentes de cinco associações profissionais de enfermagem de Portugal. Os dados foram sujeitos à análise de conteúdo temático. Resultados: As associações de regulação e sindicalismo recorrem a serviços de relações públicas e referem mais estratégias de interação com jornalistas. As associações de especialização profissional interagem com menor frequência e preferem as redes sociais para publicarem as suas mensagens. O trabalho voluntário e a reduzida profissionalização da comunicação de associações especializadas tendem a uma postura de retração da enfermagem para com a mídia. Considerações finais: Fatores organizacionais e culturais poderão ajudar a explicar o acesso limitado da enfermagem à mídia. O recurso a estratégias de renovação, cooperação e educação permitirá superar algumas das limitações vividas por essas associações.

Estudos realizados em Portugal no âmbito do cateterismo venoso periférico: protocolo de scoping review / Studies carried out in Portugal in the area of peripheral venous catheterization: scoping review protocol / Estudios realizados en Portugal en el campo de cateterización venosa periférica: protocolo de scoping review / Artigo de revisão sistemática systematic review article

Contexto: Apesar da sua natureza ubíqua, a prática de cateterização venosa periférica não é homogénea entre contextos clínicos internacionais. Em Portugal, a informação referente à prática de cateterismo venoso periférico encontra-se dispersa na literatura, impossibilitando uma análise suficientemente compreensiva e abrangente da sua natureza e implicações. Objetivos: Mapear os estudos realizados em Portugal no âmbito do cateterismo venoso periférico. Método de revisão: Metodologia de scoping review proposta pelo Joanna Briggs Institute. Foi definido um protocolo adequado a cada base/repositório, que visa a identificação de estudos que respondam aos critérios delineados. O processo de análise da relevância, extração e síntese dos dados será desenvolvido por revisores independentes. Apresentação e interpretação dos resultados: O mapeamento dos estudos realizados em Portugal neste âmbito contribuirá para a identificação dos principais indicadores de estrutura, processo e resultado descritos em estudos nacionais. Conclusão: Espera-se que esta revisão sustente o desenvolvimento de intervenções e revisões sistemáticas futuras que potenciem a eficácia/segurança dos cuidados prestados ao doente com cateter periférico.

Background: Despite its ubiquitous nature, the practice of peripheral venous catheterization is not homogeneous among international clinical contexts. In Portugal, the information regarding the practice of peripheral venous catheterization is scattered in the literature, hindering efforts of a comprehensive analysis of its nature and implications. Objetive: To map the studies developed in Portugal in the field of peripheral venous catheterization. Review method: Scoping review methodology proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. An adequate protocol was established for each base/repository in order to identify studies that meet the criteria outlined. The analysis of data relevance, extraction and synthesis will be performed by independent reviewers. Presentation and interpretation of results: the mapping of the studies carried out in Portugal in this area will contribute to the identification of the main indicators of structure, process and outcome described in national studies. Conclusion: It is expected that this review will support the development of future interventions and systematic reviews that enhance the efficacy/safety of the care provided to patients with peripheral catheter.

Contexto: Apesar de su naturaleza ubicua, la práctica del cateterismo venoso periférico no es homogénea en contextos clínicos internacionales. En Portugal, la información sobre la práctica del cateterismo venoso periférico está dispersa en la literatura, haciéndolo imposible un análisis lo suficientemente completo de su naturaleza e implicaciones. Objetivos: Mapear los estudios realizados en Portugal en el ámbito del cateterismo venoso periférico. Método de revisión: Metodología de scoping review propuesta por Joanna Briggs Institute. Se definió un protocolo adecuado a cada base/repositorio para identificar estudios que respondan a los criterios delineados. El proceso de análisis da relevancia, extracción y síntesis de los datos será desarrollado por revisores independientes. Presentación e interpretación de los resultados: El mapeo de los estudios realizados en Portugal en esta área contribuirá a la identificación de los principales indicadores de estructura, proceso y resultado descritos en estudios nacionales. Conclusión: Se espera que esta revisión contribuya al desarrollo de futuras intervenciones y revisiones sistemáticas que mejoren la eficacia/seguridad de la atención del paciente con catéter periférico.

Nurse managers' perceptions of nurse staffing and nursing care quality: A cross-sectional study.

AIM: To verify the association between the nurse staffing and the quality of nursing care, mediated by the care process, based on a hypothetical model, in Portuguese public hospitals. BACKGROUND: Nurse staffing influences health outcomes. Understaffing is associated with an increased risk for adverse events (AEs) and a reduction in the quality of care. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a sample of 55 Portuguese nurse managers. A path model was developed to analyse potential causal mediation effects on care quality. RESULTS: Nurse staffing (number and competencies) and teamwork indirectly influence the quality of care. This process is mediated by the response capacity, the use of new techniques and work methods and patient's surveillance capacity. The AEs occurrence also has a mediating role, being negatively associated with the quality of care. CONCLUSIONS: Optimizing nursing care safety and quality requires an adequate nurse staffing level, both in terms of number and competencies, as well as teamwork. Process components seem to play a mediating role in these relations. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: These results deserve the attention of nursing management for investment in the nursing staff and in the care process, to improve quality and create value in health care.

Práticas dos enfermeiros na cateterização intravenosa periférica: um estudo descritivo / Nurses' peripheral intravenous catheter-related practices: a descriptive study / Prácticas de los enfermeros relacionadas con el cateterismo intravenoso periférico: un estudio descriptivo

Enquadramento: A inserção e a manutenção do cateter venoso periférico (CVP) são os procedimentos mais comumente realizados por enfermeiros em contexto clínico. Todavia, as atuais taxas de insucesso no cateterismo são elevadas, comprometendo o plano terapêutico e o bem-estar do doente. Objetivo: Conhecer as práticas dos enfermeiros durante a inserção e a manutenção de CVPs. Metodologia: Foi realizado um estudo transversal e descritivo num serviço de cardiologia no centro de Portugal. As práticas profissionais dos enfermeiros (n = 26) durante a gestão do CVP foram observadas e registadas pela enfermeira investigadora, durante o turno da manhã, utilizando uma checklist baseada em recomendações de padrões de cuidados transnacionais. Resultados: Durante a inserção de CVP (n = 38), as principais áreas digressivas corresponderam ao uso de luvas (55,2%), à utilização de técnica asséptica (44,7%), à higienização das mãos (18,4%-84,2%), e ao ensino do doente (28,9%). Relativamente à manutenção do CVP (n = 66), a desinfeção do obturador (78,8%), o flushing do cateter (53,3%-78,8%) e a educação do doente (24,2%) foram as principais áreas desviantes. Observaram-se taxas significativas de insucesso no cateterismo (25,8%). Conclusão: Um número substancial de práticas relacionadas com o CVP não segue as recomendações de padrões de cuidados internacionais, o que pode colocar em risco a segurança do doente e a qualidade dos cuidados.

Background: Peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) insertion and maintenance are the procedures most commonly performed by nurses in clinical settings. However, current catheter failure rates are high, thus compromising the patient's therapeutic plan and well-being. Objective: To understand nurses' practices during PIVC insertion and maintenance. Methodology: A transversal and descriptive study was conducted in a cardiology ward in central Portugal. Nurses' (n = 26) practices during PIVC management were observed and recorded by a research nurse during the morning shift, using a checklist based on transnational standard of care (SoC) recommendations. Results: During PIVC insertion (n = 38) the main digressive areas included glove usage (55.2%), use of the aseptic non-touch technique (44.7%), hand hygiene (18.4%-84.2%), and patient education (28.9%). Regarding PIVC maintenance (n = 66), catheter hub disinfection (78.8%), catheter flushing (53.3%-78.8%), and patient education (24.2%) were the main deviating areas found. Significant PIVC failure rates were found (25.8%). Conclusion: Overall, a substantial number of PIVC-related practices does not comply with current SoC recommendations, which may pose a risk to patient safety and care quality.

Marco contextual: La inserción y el mantenimiento del catéter intravenoso periférico (CIVP) son los procedimientos que los enfermeros realizan con mayor frecuencia en entornos clínicos. Sin embargo, las tasas de fallo del catéter actuales son altas, lo que compromete el plan terapéutico y el bienestar del paciente. Objetivo: Entender las prácticas de los enfermeros durante la inserción y el mantenimiento del CIVP. Metodología: Se realizó un estudio transversal y descriptivo en una sala de cardiología en el centro de Portugal. Un enfermero investigador observó y registró las prácticas de los enfermeros (n = 26) durante el manejo del CIVP en el turno de la mañana, para lo cual utilizó una lista de verificación basada en las recomendaciones del estándar transnacional de atención (SoC, en inglés). Resultados: Durante la inserción del CIVP (n = 38), las principales áreas divergentes se refirieron al uso de guantes (55,2%), al uso de la técnica aséptica no táctil (44,7%), a la higiene de las manos (18,4%-84,2%) y a la educación del paciente (28,9%). En cuanto al mantenimiento del CIVP (n = 66), la desinfección del conector del catéter (78,8%), el lavado del catéter (53,3%-78,8%) y la educación del paciente (24,2%) fueron las principales áreas desviadas encontradas. Se encontraron tasas significativas de fallo del CIVP (25,8%). Conclusión: En general, un número considerable de prácticas relacionadas con el CIVP no están en conformidad con las recomendaciones actuales del SoC, lo que puede representar un riesgo para la seguridad del paciente y la calidad de la atención.

Health professionals' practices related with tourniquet use during peripheral venipuncture: a scoping review. / Práticas relacionadas ao uso do garrote durante a punção venosa periférica: uma revisão de escopo.

OBJECTIVES: during peripheral venipuncture, health professionals are recommended to use a tourniquet above the puncture site in order to potentiate venous distension. Given its characteristics and use in clinical settings, tourniquets may represent a source of microorganism dissemination. However, the results of scientific studies in this area are scattered in the literature. This scoping review aims to map the available evidence on health professionals' practices related with tourniquet use during peripheral venipuncture and associated microbiological contamination. METHODS: scoping review following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. Two independent reviewers analyzed the relevance of the studies, extracted and synthesized data. RESULTS: fifteen studies were included in the review. Overall, tourniquets were reused without being subject to recurring decontamination processes. It has been found that practitioners share these devices among themselves and use them successively for periods between two weeks and seven and half years. CONCLUSION: nursing practices related to tourniquet use during peripheral venipuncture are not standard. Reuse of tourniquets may jeopardize the patient's safety if reprocessing (cleaning and disinfection/sterilization) is not adequate, given the type of tourniquet material and microbiota found. New studies are needed to assess the impact of various types of reprocessing practices on tourniquet decontamination and patient safety.

Reaching out: Organizational structures and public communication of nursing professional associations and trade unions in Portugal.

AIM: To describe the organizational structure and resources for strategic mediacommunication of nursing professional associations and trade unions in Portugal. DESIGN AND METHODS: Quantitative study, with a cross-sectional, exploratory/descriptive design. From October to November 2017, a questionnaire was sent to 21 nursing professional associations and trade unions in Portugal. Eleven (52.4%) organizations replied: nine professional associations and two trade unions. RESULTS: The participating organizations rely on basic structures regarding strategic communication: 54.5% of them have less than 500 members; 63.6% of them have no communication budget; 54.5% of them have no formal communication structure, and only 27.3% of them hold events for the purpose of media coverage. Consequently, most of these organizations have occasional interactions with journalists, create messages about nursing problems, and directed mostly to nurses, perpetuating a circular communication. CONCLUSION: Nursing professional organizations have limited resources and lack of formal communication structures. The restricted interaction with the media and the "echoing" voice that propagates within the profession may hinder citizens' full understanding of its contribution. Nursing organizations must develop a nation-wide strategy that promotes transversal collaboration and resources optimization, with the purpose of increasing their media visibility and strengthening their Public Health mission.

Práticas relacionadas ao uso do garrote durante a punção venosa periférica: uma revisão de escopo / Health professionals' practices related with tourniquet use during peripheral venipuncture: a scoping review / Prácticas relacionadas al uso del garrote durante la punción venosa periférica: una revisión de alcance

Objetivos durante a punção venosa periférica, recomenda-se o uso de um garrote acima do local da punção para potencializar a distensão venosa. Dadas as suas características e o uso em ambientes clínicos, os garrotes podem representar uma fonte de disseminação de micro-organismos. Entretanto, os resultados de estudos científicos nessa área estão dispersos na literatura. Esta revisão de escopo tem como objetivo mapear as evidências disponíveis a respeito das práticas dos profissionais de saúde no que concerne ao uso do garrote durante a punção venosa periférica e à contaminação microbiológica associada. Método revisão de escopo de acordo com a metodologia do Instituto Joanna Briggs. Dois revisores independentes analisaram a relevância dos estudos, extraíram e sintetizaram dados. Resultados quinze estudos foram incluídos na revisão. Em geral, os garrotes foram reutilizados sem processos de descontaminação recorrentes. Verificou-se que os profissionais compartilham esses dispositivos entre si e os usaram continuamente por períodos entre duas semanas e sete anos e meio. Conclusão as práticas de enfermagem relacionadas ao uso do garrote durante a punção venosa periférica não são uniformes. A reutilização de garrotes pode colocar em risco a segurança do paciente se o reprocessamento (limpeza e desinfecção/esterilização) não for adequado, dado o tipo de material do garrote e a microbiota encontrada. Novos estudos são necessários para avaliar o impacto de vários tipos de práticas de reprocessamento na descontaminação de garrotes e na segurança do paciente.

Objectives during peripheral venipuncture, health professionals are recommended to use a tourniquet above the puncture site in order to potentiate venous distension. Given its characteristics and use in clinical settings, tourniquets may represent a source of microorganism dissemination. However, the results of scientific studies in this area are scattered in the literature. This scoping review aims to map the available evidence on health professionals' practices related with tourniquet use during peripheral venipuncture and associated microbiological contamination. Methods scoping review following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. Two independent reviewers analyzed the relevance of the studies, extracted and synthesized data. Results fifteen studies were included in the review. Overall, tourniquets were reused without being subject to recurring decontamination processes. It has been found that practitioners share these devices among themselves and use them successively for periods between two weeks and seven and half years. Conclusion nursing practices related to tourniquet use during peripheral venipuncture are not standard. Reuse of tourniquets may jeopardize the patient's safety if reprocessing (cleaning and disinfection/sterilization) is not adequate, given the type of tourniquet material and microbiota found. New studies are needed to assess the impact of various types of reprocessing practices on tourniquet decontamination and patient safety.

Objetivos durante la punción venosa periférica, se recomienda el uso de un garrote arriba del sitio de la punción para potenciar la distensión venosa. Dadas sus características y uso en ambientes clínicos, los garrotes pueden representar una fuente de diseminación de microorganismos. Sin embargo, los resultados de estudios científicos en esta área están dispersos en la literatura. Esta revisión de alcance tiene como objetivo mapear las evidencias disponibles acerca de las prácticas de los profesionales de salud en lo que concierne al uso del garrote durante la punción venosa periférica y la contaminación microbiológica asociada. Método revisión de alcance de acuerdo con la metodología del Instituto Joanna Briggs. Dos revisores independientes analizaron la relevancia de los estudios, extrajeron y sintetizaron datos. Resultados quince estudios se incluyeron en la revisión. En general, los garrotes fueron reutilizados sin procesos de descontaminación recurrentes. Se verificó que los profesionales comparten estos dispositivos entre sí y los utilizaron continuamente por períodos entre dos semanas y siete años y medio. Conclusión las prácticas de enfermería relacionadas al uso del garrote durante la punción venosa periférica no son uniformes. La reutilización de garrotes puede poner en riesgo la seguridad del paciente si el reprocesamiento (limpieza y desinfección/esterilización) no es adecuado, dado el tipo de material del garrote y la microbiota encontrada. Nuevos estudios son necesarios para evaluar el impacto de varios tipos de prácticas de reprocesamiento en la descontaminación de garrotes y en la seguridad del paciente.

Practice environment scale of the nursing work index: Portuguese version and psychometric properties.

AIM: To assess the psychometric properties regarding the Portuguese version of the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index. BACKGROUND: The Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index is the most widely used measure for assessing the practice environment. A model with a higher number of factors appears to be more adequate to Portuguese settings. METHOD: A confirmatory factor analysis was performed to the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index using a sample of 850 Portuguese nurses. Three models were tested: the original model, a seven-factor model and a higher-order model. An analysis of invariance was performed in two subsets to confirm the stability of the solution. RESULTS: The seven-factor model fit better to the data than the original model. After refinement, this solution showed suitability and a stable factor structure. Reliability, convergent validity and discriminant validity were confirmed. A second-order factor solution also showed suitability. CONCLUSION: The seven-factor structure of the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index showed a better goodness-of-fit to Portuguese settings than the original structure. The second-order factor solution allows an overall assessment of practice environments. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: The Portuguese version of the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index is a valuable tool for assessing Portuguese nursing practice environments. The seven-factor solution of the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index showed high specificity.