Direct observation of procedural skills is an evidence-based assessment tool used for assessing competence in the practical procedures that nursing students undertake during clinical placement. Having knowledge about students’ satisfaction with their educational issues is very important as it helps both faculty and students to achieve educational goals. However factors that may influence student satisfaction with this method of assessment are not known in the school of nursing sciences at the University of Zambia. The purpose of this study was to investigate factors influencing student satisfaction with direct observation of procedural skills in order to get students views on this assessment tool. A cross sectional quantitative survey was used on ninety two (92) conveniently sampled final year undergraduate nursing students. Data were collected using a validated self-reported questionnaire and analysed using IBM SPSS Version 20. Fisher’s exact tests were used to determine association between student satisfaction and the independent variables. A p-value of ≤ .05 was considered statistically significant. Major findings revealed that poor clinical environment 98.9% and faculty non availability 98% influenced student’s satisfaction negatively. Other significant associations where clinical experiences, and feedback, with p ≤ .05. In conclusion, the major factors that influenced student satisfaction included poor clinical environment which was not conducive for assessments as it lacked many essential medical surgical supplies and non-availability of faculty in the clinical area who were needed to provide feedback, guidance and supervision to the students. Improving the clinical environment, ensuring faculty availability in order to provide timely and constructive feedback may help students achieve their learning objectives. Direct observation of procedural skills still remains an appropriate tool to assess student clinical competence. However, further research and development of cheap, less stressful and economic methods of clinical evaluation to blend with this tool is required in the school of nursing sciences.

Background and objective: Chronic pain is a common symptom among patients worldwide. This issue leads health care professionals to manage patients’ chronic pain by using opioids. However, some patients tend to abuse these medications and develop opioid use disorder. The aim of the study was to identify and explore factors that influence nurses’ knowledge and attitudes toward patients in chronic pain with opioid use disorder.Methods: A literature review was conducted. CINAHL, Medline, and PsychINFO databases were used to search for relevant articles. A total of 12 articles that met the inclusion criteria were retrieved.Results: This literature review showed several factors that influence nurses’ knowledge and attitudes. These factors were nurses’ education, role support, demographic factors, nurses’ experiences, and nurses’ beliefs and culture.Conclusions: The findings of this literature review will inform the development of an educational program to promote nurses’ knowledge and attitudes toward patients in chronic pain with opioid use disorder.

Background: This present research was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a clinical simulation where senior nursing students cared for a standardized patient with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The goal of the simulation was to teach the nursing students how to work with children with autism. In addition, the study aimed to determine if individual differences in personality affect students’ abilities to complete the simulation and how a student’s personality may affect their perceptions of the simulation. Projected outcomes included learning the use of appropriate communication strategies, improved assessment skills, prioritization of care, development of problem-solving skills, and decision-making abilities when dealing with children with ASD.Methods: Simulations are verified as effective training mechanisms to increase students’ self-efficacy in multiple nursing settings. Therefore, seventy-five senior baccalaureate nursing students completed the standardized patient simulation for care of an individual with ASD. The effect on the students’ self-efficacy was measured using the Occupational and Academic Self-Efficacy for Nursing Measure, the IPEP-NEO short form, and an ASD simulation study questionnaire.Results and conclusions: Logistic regression was used to investigate the relationship between personality measures and experience with ASD. The higher the openness and extraversion scores the more likely respondents were to disclose positive benefits in relation to expectations, communication strategies, teamwork, and reflection.

This study aimed to assess nursing students’ attitudes toward mental illness in Saudi Arabia. The research design was cross sectional survey. A convenience sample of 315 nursing students. The attitudes towards patients with mental illness questionnaire (AMI) was employed. The results of analysis found that nursing students had favorable attitudes (social relationships) toward people affected by mental illness. Their AMI1 score was slightly higher than the neutral score 20.82. In addition, the findings suggested that students showed slightly affirmative attitudes of tendency to inform others in case oneself or a close relative being mentally ill. 10.50 was the score of AMI2. Nursing students had favorable attitudes towards mental illness despite having negative stereotyped attitudes toward mental illness.

Background: This study assessed reliability and validity of scenario-specific and generic simulation assessment rubrics used in two different deteriorating patient simulations, and explored learner and instructor preferences.Methods: Learner performance was rated independently by three instructors using two rubrics.Results: A convenience sample of 29 nursing students was recruited. Inter-rater reliability was similar but slightly higher for the generic rubric than the scenario-specific learning outcomes assessment rubric (ICC = .759 vs .748 and IRR = .693 vs .641) for two different scenarios. Most students found the scenario-specific rubric more helpful to their learning (59%), and easier to use (52%). Instructors (3/3) found the scenario-specific rubric more helpful to guide debriefing.Conclusions: Scenario-specific rubrics may be more valuable for learners to help them identify their own knowledge and performance gaps and assist them in their preparation for simulation. Additionally, scenario-specific rubrics provide direction for both learners and instructors during debriefing sessions.

Collaborative community-based organizations (CBOs) and academic partnerships are a prerequisite for the creation of quality learning environments for undergraduate nursing students. However, the explicit nature of the relationship between academic and CBO partners is not as well-defined as the one between hospitals and their clinical settings. The aim of this study was to describe and evaluate the implementation and impact of a 3-year-long partnership between a nursing school and 20 different CBOs. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with 11 CBO partners throughout June and July of 2018. Interview questions explored the collaborative process, its benefits, and areas for improvement. Study participants reported that the partnerships brought several benefits, including familiarizing students with marginalized populations, demystifying the health care system for the populations served by the CBOs, and the students’ development of sustainable health promotion tools that contributed positively to the CBOs’ overall mission. Challenges identified by the CBOs included finding resources to provide adequate student supervision and population access, and some students’ challenges with adapting to the CBOs’ client population or community environment. Collaborative partnerships were mutually beneficial for populations, students and the community organizations. These results support the establishment and long-term development of these types of partnerships.

Background and objective: Globally, the use of clinical simulation has been incorporated in different nursing programs. It is important to evaluate simulation using reliable and valid instruments. Using the same instrument helps to evaluate simulation under the same criteria both nationally and internationally. The National League of Nursing developed three simulation scales which is widely used in different countries and demonstrates a good reliability and validity. Nevertheless, it is only available in English. The aim of the study was to translate the original NLN simulation evaluation scales into Traditional Chinese and evaluate its psychometric properties.Methods: Beaton and colleague’s (2000) cross-cultural adaptation guidelines was adopted. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (α) and Corrected item-total correlation was used to determine the internal reliability. Haccoun’s single group technique was used to assess the equivalent of the scale in the original and the translated version. Lastly, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was used to determine the factor structure and Intra-Class Correlation Coefficient (ICC) to test the stability of translated scale.Results: Nine simulation experts from Hong Kong, Mainland China, Singapore and Taiwan confirmed translation of the NLN scales (EPQ-C, SDS-C, SSCL-C). Cronbach’s alpha of all subscales and overall scales were acceptable (0.72-0.89). The intra-language, inter-language and temporal inter-language cross correlations between the original and translated scales were correlated (p < 0.01). ICC of the translated scales ranges from good to excellent (0.78-0.91). Lastly, EFA also demonstrated the items were theoretically coherent (≥ 0.40) and have the same factor structure as the original English version.Conclusions: Traditional Chinese NLN simulation evaluation scales demonstrated strong validity and reliability.

Background and objective: Printing workers are frequently exposed to many forms of occupational hazards while doing their jobs. Little research was done in Egypt about printings occupational hazards, which constitute a huge burden on the affected workers and employment settings. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the perception of occupational hazards and safety measures among printing workers.Methods: Descriptive analytic design was carried out the current study at the Egyptian Book House Press in Cairo on a purposive sample of 200 workers using a structured questionnaire to collect data, which include demographic data, occupational hazards, predisposing factors and safety measures as perceived by workers.Results: The results revealed that the majority of workers exposed to moderate level of occupational health hazards and safety measures. The most hazards the printing workers are exposed to it, are health, chemical, injury and psychological hazards. Also, there is a highly statistically significant negative correlation with total occupational hazards and safety measures.Conclusions: The study can be concluded that the workers exposed to moderate occupational hazards. As well, the majority of workers stated that there is a moderate level of safety measures to occupational hazards in their workplace. Therefore, this study recommended that continuous training of the printing workers on safety guidelines and enforcement of standard safety practices to decrease the potential occupational hazards.