The Effects of Mentoring Programs on Mental Health in Undergraduate Nursing Students: An Integrative Review.

AIM: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of mentoring programs on undergraduate nursing students' mental health. BACKGROUND: The study of nursing has been cited as stressful, with negative effects on academic and physical well-being and mental health in nursing students. METHOD: An integrative review of the literature using the method of Whittemore and Knafl was performed on mentoring programs designed to mitigate student stress. Electronic databases searched included CINAHL, Medline, PubMed, Embase, ERIC, and Scopus. RESULTS: The eight studies included in this review suggest that mentoring has positive impacts on nursing students' mental health, reducing stress and anxiety and enhancing well-being and sense of belonging. CONCLUSION: Mentoring programs have positive effects on mental health outcomes in undergraduate nursing students. Implementation of structured programs at the start of undergraduate studies can facilitate increased mental and physical well-being and decrease stress and anxiety.

"Did I do the right thing?" Nurses' experiences of caring for victims of child maltreatment: A qualitative study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to explore and gain insight into pediatric nurses' lived experiences in caring for children who experienced maltreatment. DESIGN AND METHOD: A qualitative descriptive phenomenological approach using Giorgi's method was used to support the inquiry of this study. Participants were recruited through the Society of Pediatric Nurses (SPN) and the International Association of Forensic Nursing (IAFN). To collect data, the research team conducted semi-structured interviews individually with each participant online via online video conferencing. RESULTS: A total of 21 nurses participated in the study. In the final analysis of data, six meaning units are found: (1) helplessly watching children relive the traumatizing events, (2) lack of knowledge and training on caring for children who experienced maltreatment, (3) adversarial relationship and resentment towards parents, (4) conflicting emotions and feelings, (5) long-lasting effects of trauma, and (6) feelings of isolation and loneliness. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric and forensic nurses' experiences of caring for children who experienced maltreatment were highlighted by the fact that they lacked the knowledge of caring for these children and felt isolated. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Implementing simulation training on nurses' knowledge and confidence in caring for children who experienced maltreatment is a paramount of importance. This in turn may improve nurses' sense of belonging and enhance the quality of care victims receive.

Moral Distress and Intention to Leave During COVID: A Cross-sectional Study on the Current Nursing Workforce to Guide Nurse Leaders for the Future.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate how the experience of caring for COVID-19 patients, nurses' moral distress, and the current practice environment impact nurses' intention to leave. BACKGROUND: Caring for COVID-19 patients has been associated with an increase in nurses' moral distress and an increase in nurses' turnover. To date, research has focused on nurses' moral distress, the practice environment, and intentions to leave during the pandemic's peak. The current workplace climate, including those who stayed in their positions, has not been adequately assessed. METHODS: This cross-sectional correlational study was conducted in a Magnet® hospital. RESULTS: Moral distress related to team/system (B = 0.64, t = 3.86, P < 0.001), nurses' participation in hospital affairs (B = -2.21, t = -3.52, P < 0.001), and staffing (B = -1.91, t = -5.48, P < 0.001) are strongest predictors for nurses' intention to leave postpandemic. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses in practice still report experiencing COVID-related moral distress; however; issues related to resources and staffing have the most substantial impact on intention to leave among the current nursing workforce.

Caring for victims of child maltreatment: Pediatric nurses' moral distress and burnout.

BACKGROUND: Moral distress is a significant concern for nurses as it can lead to burnout and intentions to leave the profession. Pediatric nurses encounter stressful and ethically challenging situations when they care for suspected victims of child maltreatment. Data on pediatric nurses' moral distress are limited, as most research in this field has been done in adult inpatient and intensive care units. AIM: The purpose of this study was to describe pediatric nurses' moral distress and evaluate the impact of caring for suspected victims of child maltreatment on nurses' moral distress, burnout, and intention to leave. Design and method: This descriptive cross-sectional correlational study was conducted in a mid-Atlantic, urban area Magnet pediatric level I trauma center that cares for over 1800 cases of suspected child maltreatment annually. An anonymous electronic survey was sent to all the nurses working at the hospital. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS: Institutional Review Board approval was received from the first author's university and the hospital where the study was conducted. FINDINGS: Overall, nurses (N = 146) reported low levels of moral distress with a mean score of 59.54 (SD = 49.22) and a range of 0-300 on the Moral Distress Scale Neonatal-Pediatric version. Although the frequency of caring for suspected child maltreatment victims did not affect nurses' moral distress, caring for victims with fatal maltreatment contributed to nurses' intention to leave, χ2 (1) = 5.35, p = 0.02. CONCLUSION: The results of this study add to the understanding of moral distress in pediatric nursing. Caring for victims with fatal maltreatment impacts pediatric nurses' intention to leave.

Nurses' Moral Distress, Burnout, and Intentions to Leave: An Integrative Review.

Moral distress has been widely addressed across the nursing profession and within other disciplines. Forensic nurses are a vital part of the nursing profession as they care for complex patients who may suffer physically and psychologically. However, forensic nurses' moral distress in the context of caring for victims of violence has not been addressed. This integrative review of the literature reveals the consequences of moral distress on the nursing workforce particularly regarding nurses' burnout and intentions to leave their jobs. Turnover contributes to the country's critical shortage of nurses, which affects the quality of care patients receive and increases the costs for healthcare institutions.