Prevention and early management of in-hospital cardiac arrest: a challenge for nursing educators

Cardiac arrest can be defined as the heart’s inability to effectively eject blood out due to either an electrical or mechanical failure. This condition poses an immediate threat to life and is always considered to be a medical emergency. In Western countries, cardiac arrest is continuously highlighted as one of the leading causes of in-hospital death and the latest research suggests that survival rates after suffering one of these episodes still remain below 20%. Consequently, prevention and effective early management of in-hospital cardiac arrest constitute the basis of international algorithms for saving lives

Development and psychometric assessment of the basic resuscitation skills self-efficacy scale

Background: Nurses are usually the first responders to an in-hospital cardiac arrest. As bystanders, nurses are expected to master some basic resuscitation skills. Self-efficacy levels are a key component in the acquisition of basic resuscitation skills. Aim: To develop, test and validate a self-efficacy scale that accurately measures nursing students’ confidence levels in their capabilities when responding to a cardiac arrest. Methods: This study enrolled a conveniently recruited sample of 768 nursing students from two different universities in Europe. The Basic Resuscitation Skills Self-Efficacy Scale (BRS-SES) was developed and its psychometrics established. Content validity, criterion validity, discriminant validity, and internal consistency were assessed. Performing item-analysis, principal component analysis and known group analysis evaluated construct validity. Results: Principal component analysis revealed the three-subscale structure of the final 18-item BRS-SES. A Cronbach’s alpha of 0.96 for the overall measure demonstrated the internal consistency of the BRS-SES. Data also evidenced discriminant ability of the BRS-SES and known-group analysis showed its high sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion: The BRS-SES showed good psychometric properties for measuring self-efficacy in basic resuscitation skills that nursing students, as future first responders to an in-hospital cardiac arrest, will be expected to master. Implications for practice: The BRS-SES is a validated tool that could have a positive impact on the training of basic resuscitation skills and, therefore, on patients’ outcomes

Effects of a simulation-based workshop on nursing students' competence in arterial puncture

Objective: To evaluate whether a short simulation-based workshop in radial artery puncture would improve nursing students’ competence to a level in which they could practise the procedure on a live patient without compromising his safety. Methods: Quasi-experimental one-group pretest-posttest study with 111 third-year nursing students. A 1.5-hour simulation-based workshop was implemented. This included a video-lecture, live demonstrations, selfdirected simulated practice in dyads and individual intermittent feedback. Participants’ skills, knowledge and self-efficacy in arterial puncture were measured before and after attending the workshop. Results: After the intervention, a total of 61.1% of the participants showed the level of competence required to safely practice radial artery puncture on a live patient under supervision. Conclusion: Effective simulation-based training in arterial puncture for nursing students does not necessarily need to be resource-intensive. Well-planned, evidence-based training sessions using low-tech simulators could help educators to achieve good educational outcomes and promote patient safety

Estudio biométrico de la abeja melífera (Apis mellifera, Linneo 1758) (Hymenoptera, Apidae) de la isla de La Palma del Archipiélago Canario. II. Ángulos y longitudes de las alas.

The honey bees (A. mellifera L.) from the island of La Palma constitute a morphological group within which differences related to the geographical location of the apiaries are difficult to distinguish, probably due to the buying and selling of hives among beekeepers, and also to the migratory style of bee-keeping practised on the island. We have also studied the possible relationship of these bees with A. m. intermissa, which is distributed throughout the north of Africa, and with A. m. iberica in the Iberian Peninsula. Our results indicate that these bees are probably the result of a cross between these two races followed by selection of the best genotypes adapted to the environmental conditions.Las abejas meliferas (A. mellifera L.) oriundas de la isla de La Palma constituyen un grupo morfológico, en el que no podemos apreciar diferencias relacionadas con la localización geográfica de los colmenares; probablemente esto sea debido a las prácticas de compra-venta de colmenas entre los apicultores, y a la transhumancia practicada dentro de la isla. También hemos estudiado la posible relación de parentesco de estas abejas con la raza que se distribuye por el norte de África (A. m. intermissa), o con la que se localiza en la Península Ibérica (A. m. iberica). Los resultados obtenidos nos indican que probablemente estos animales sean el resultado de un proceso cruce entre las dos razas, y posterior selección de los genotipos mejor adaptados a unas determinadas condiciones ambientales

Design and validation of a three-instrument toolkit for the assessment of competence in electrocardiogram rhythm recognition

Background: Rapid and accurate interpretation of cardiac arrhythmias by nurses has been linked with safe practice and positive patient outcomes. Although training in electrocardiogram (ECG) rhythm recognition is part of most undergraduate nursing programmes, research continues to suggest that nurses and nursing students lack competence in recognising cardiac rhythms. In order to promote patient safety, nursing educators must develop valid and reliable assessment tools that allow the rigorous assessment of this competence before nursing students are allowed to practise without supervision. Aim: To develop and psychometrically evaluate a toolkit to holistically assess competence in ECG rhythm recognition. Methods: Following a convenience sampling technique, 293 nursing students from a nursing faculty in a Spanish university were recruited for the study. The following three instruments were developed and psychometrically tested: a knowledge assessment tool (ECG-KAT), a skills assessment tool (ECG-SAT) and a self-efficacy assessment tool (ECG-SES). Reliability and validity (content, criterion and construct) of these tools were meticulously examined. Results: A high Cronbach’s alpha coefficient demonstrated the excellent reliability of the instruments (ECG-KAT=0.89; ECG-SAT=0.93; ECG-SES=0.98). An excellent context validity index (S-CVI/Ave>0.94) and very good criterion validity were evidenced for all the tools. Regarding construct validity, principal component analysis revealed that all items comprising the instruments contributed to measure knowledge, skills or self-efficacy in ECG rhythm recognition. Moreover, known-groups analysis showed the tools’ ability to detect expected differences in competence between groups with different training experiences. Conclusion: The three-instrument toolkit developed showed excellent psychometric properties for measuring competence in ECG rhythm recognition

La mexicanidad en el diseño del mueble del siglo XXI

En los últimos siglos han sucedido movimientos sociales y políticos que urgen a las culturas a redefinirse en cuanto a su identidad cultural. Después de un periodo de transculturización llamado “globalización”, en el que el diseño de productos debió adecuarse a los mercados globales, borrando todo el rastro de identidad cultural de la sociedad que lo ideó, produjo y utiliza, y de cierta forma, modificando usos y costumbres de la sociedad que lo importa, las fronteras de las diversas identidades culturales que conformamos el planeta, y sobre todo, de aquellos países de Latinoamérica con economías emergentes se diluyen, creando confusión en las nuevas generaciones en cuanto a los valores culturales y de identidad que poseen

Mexicanity in the 21st century furniture design

En los últimos siglos han sucedido movimientos sociales y políticos que urgen a las culturas a redefinirse en cuanto a su identidad cultural. Después de un periodo de transculturización llamado “globalización”, en el que el diseño de productos debió adecuarse a los mercados globales, borrando todo el rastro de identidad cultural de la sociedad que lo ideó, produjo y utiliza, y de cierta forma, modificando usos y costumbres de la sociedad que lo importa, las fronteras de las diversas identidades culturales que conformamos el planeta, y sobre todo, de aquellos países de Latinoamérica con economías emergentes se diluyen, creando confusión en las nuevas generaciones en cuanto a los valores culturales y de identidad que poseen.Abstract: In recent centuries, social and political movements that urge cultures to redefine their cultural identity have emerged. After a period of transculturation called “globalization” in which product design had to adapt to global markets deleting all trace of the cultural identity of the society that conceived it, produced it and uses it, and in a way, changing uses and customs of the society that import it, the boundaries of the diverse cultural identities that make up the planet, and especially of those Latin American countries with emerging economies, are diluted creating confusion in the new generations in terms of the cultural values and identity they have

The diagnosis of hereditary angioedema: family caregivers’ experiences

The aim of this study was to understand the experiences of family caregivers in the process of diagnosing hereditary angioedema. An interpretive and qualitative research methodology based on Gadamer’s philosophical hermeneutics was carried out. Data collection took place between May 2015 and August 2016 and included a focus group and in-depth interviews with 16 family caregivers. Two themes define the experiences of family caregivers: “Family life focuses on identifying the problem” and “Discovering and coping with a complex diagnosis.” The process of diagnosis generates fear, anxiety, uncertainty, and incomprehension. Family caregivers are the main support for patients diagnosed with hereditary angioedema. As they share in the patients’ suffering, they need a diagnosis to be established to be able to cope with the disease and offer support. Family health nurses can contribute to improving the coping process in this phase of the disease

Validation of the Satisfaction Scale of Basic Psychological Needs in Physical Education with the Incorporation of the Novelty in the Spanish Context

The purpose of the study was to validate to the physical education context, the Spanish version of the Scale of the Satisfaction of Psychological Needs toward the Physical Education classes of Menéndez and Fernández-Rio, with the incorporation of the novelty, since they contemplated its inclusion. In this study, 1444 students participated (mean = 15.34, standard deviation = 1.12) from several schools in Almeria. To analyze the psychometric properties of the scale, several analyses were carried out. The results offered support for both the four-factor structure and the higher-order model called satisfaction. The analysis of invariance with respect to gender showed that the factor structure of the questionnaire was invariant. The Cronbach alpha values were higher than 0.70 in the subscales. The results of this study demonstrated the reliability and validity of the Scale of the Satisfaction of Psychological Needs, with the incorporation of novelty in the Spanish context of Physical Education

Ethical conflicts among physicians and nurses during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A qualitative study

Rationale, Aims and Objectives The healthcare system and professionals working in the sector have experienced a high caseload during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This has increased the potential for morally harmful events that violate professionals' moral codes and values. The aim of this study was to understand and explore experiences of new moral challenges emerging among physicians and nurses caring for individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) checklist was used in this qualitative study based on Gadamer's phenomenology. Participants were selected using a convenience sampling method. Thirteen medicine and nursing graduates were interviewed in depth. The participants all worked on the frontline at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were gathered in two basic healthcare districts in Spain, encompassing both primary care and hospital care. Results Four main themes emerged from the data analysis: (1) Betrayal of moral and ethical values as a key source of suffering; (2) Ethical and moral sense of failure accompanying loss of meaning; (3) Lack of confidence in performance; (4) Self-demand and self-punishment as personal condemnation among healthcare workers. Conclusions Health institutions must implement interventions for health professionals to help mitigate the consequences of experiencing complex ethical scenarios during the pandemic. In addition, they should promote training in moral and ethical deliberation and prepare them to make decisions of great ethical significance