What is known about the spirituality in older adults living in residential care facilities? : an integrative review

Aim: To synthesize evidence regarding the spiritual needs and care of older adults living in residential care facilities from the perspectives of older adults and nurses or caregivers. Design: Integrative review of literature. Data sources: Literature search was conducted using CINAHL Plus with Full Text via EBSCO, Scopus, PubMed, PsychInfo, Web of Science, and ProQuest Social Science Databases from March to December 2017. Review methods: This integrative review utilised the Whittemore and Knafl framework and PRISMA in the selection of eligible articles. Quality of the articles was evaluated using the Mixed Method Appraisal Tool. Results: Seven articles were reviewed and analysed. There is limited evidence and no agreed definition of spiritual needs and care of older adults living in residential care facilities. Spiritual needs of older adults in residential care facilities is a psychosocial, religious and existential construct. Spiritual care in residential care facilities is linked to information gathering, religious guidance, maintaining family connections, providing companionship, discussing end of life issues, and providing counseling. Older adults highly value the role of nurses and caregivers in fulfilling their spiritual needs and providing spiritual care. However, nurses and caregivers perceived arranging a referral to a religious advisor as the main aspect of spiritual care. Therefore, nurses’, caregivers’, and older adults’ views on spiritual care differed to some extent. Conclusion: The practical aspects of spiritual needs assessment and spiritual care provision requires further investigation, which is essential to improve the effectiveness of service delivery in residential care facilities

[In Press] Spiritual care provision in residential aged care facilities : perspectives of Nepalese residents, nurses, and caregivers

Spiritual care remains a neglected dimension in the context of living in residential aged care facilities. Using a grounded theory methodology, in-depth interviews were conducted with 17 Nepalese aged care residents, 3 nurses, and 4 caregivers to explore the residents’ spiritual needs and how nurses/caregivers perceive and respond to these. The analysis revealed that the process of providing spiritual care and meeting spiritual care needs are complex, which includes preparing internally, interacting with residents, integrating care, and involving in residents’ spiritual practices. To facilitate appropriate and the required spiritual care, effort to increase nurses and caregivers’ readiness and ensure managerial support are crucial

[In Press] Seeking and maintaining connections : a grounded theory study of maintaining spirituality in residential aged care facilities

Background: Moving to a residential aged care facility involves living far from family and a familiar environment, and leaving behind the social support system of relatives, friends, and society. The pressure to find and develop new and meaningful connections in a residential aged care facility can be significant for older adults. Objective: To provide a theoretical explanation of how older adults seek and maintain connections in a residential aged care facility. Methods: A grounded theory study was conducted. A total of 17 residents were recruited from two Nepalese residential aged care facilities using theoretical sampling. Face to face in-depth, semi-structured interviews and observation within interviews were conducted. Data analysis included the process of open, axial, selective coding, and constant comparative analysis as per Corbin and Strauss' variant of grounded theory. Results: This study identified that the process of seeking connections in a residential aged care facility was forward-moving, and involved "identifying sources," "developing connections," and "appraising responses." By seeking connections, residents built new connections. Similarly, the study found that maintaining connections was a continuous process of "sustaining connections with co-residents," "preserving connections with nurses/caregivers," and "continuing connections with inner-self and higher being/s." Maintaining connections led residents to balance shifting connections. Furthermore, it was found that the process of seeking and maintaining connections was conditional on facility arrangement i.e. the way residents were placed, rules, regulations, co-residents' language, gender, religious affiliation, attitudes, the attitudes and practices of nurses/caregivers, decreasing physical abilities of residents, increasing illness of residents, illness or death of co-residents, and retirement or resignation of nurses/caregivers. Conclusion: The current study provides unique insights into the process of seeking and maintaining connections in a residential aged care facility. Facility arrangement, rules, regulations, and caregiving practices should resonate with residents' socio-cultural expectations and spiritual belief system to support their process of seeking and maintaining connections. Implications for practice: The findings can be beneficial for managers, nurses, caregivers, and spiritual advisors in developing interventions that promote the development of meaningful connections in a residential aged care facility

Making meaning of the new identity‐as‐residents : a grounded theory study

Residential living has the potential to threaten older adults' established identity. This study utilized grounded theory methodology to explore how older adults make meaning of the new identity-as-resident in a residential aged care facility. Using theoretical sampling, in-depth semi-structured interviews and observation within interviews were conducted with 17 residents from two Nepalese residential aged care facilities. Data analysis involved the process of open, axial, selective coding, and constant comparative analysis as specified by grounded theory methodology. The process that older adults experience in making meaning of their new identity-as-resident involved phases of isolating, exploring, evaluating, and compromising, which led in consequence to internalization of the new identity. Furthermore, it was found that this process depends on the facility structure, rules and regulations, and the attitudes and practices of nurses/caregivers. A focus on these facilitators is crucial for managers and nurses/caregivers working in residential aged care to assist residents in constructing a positive identity-as-resident. The findings can potentially be beneficial for raising awareness, educating nurses/caregivers, developing policies for promoting a positive identity-as-resident in residential aged care facilities worldwide

Transition to professional practice: Perspectives of new nursing graduates of Nepal

Abstract Background Internationally, the transition from student nurse to practicing nurse is recognized as being the most stressful period. Yet very little is known about how new nursing graduates perceive this transition in Nepal. The study aimed to explore new nursing graduates’ perceptions of the transition to professional practice. Methods A qualitative descriptive methodology was used. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 purposively recruited participants from two private hospitals in Nepal. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines were used to report the findings of this study. Results New nursing graduates perceived the transition to professional practice as an intense experience. Inductive thematic analysis yielded four intrinsically linked themes that encompassed new nursing graduates’ transition experiences: ‘getting hit by reality’, ‘losing confidence’, ‘feeling unsupported’, and ‘gathering strengths.’ The theme ‘getting hit by reality’ included three sub-themes: ‘gap between theory and practice,’ ‘no protective shield,’ and ‘plethora of responsibilities’, which explains nurses’ initial encounter with real-world practice. The theme ‘losing confidence’ contained three sub-themes: ‘being fearful,’ ‘being ignored,’ and ‘being accused,’ which describes how nurses started losing confidence as they confronted the real side of the profession. The theme ‘feeling unsupported’ included two sub-themes: ‘left without guidance,’ and ‘limited support from seniors,’ which explains how nurses perceived their work environment. The theme ‘gathering strength’ contained two sub-themes: ‘reflecting’ and ‘asking for help,’ which describes how nurses coped with the challenges related to the transition. Conclusion To facilitate the transition to practice, educational institutions must impart to students a realistic understanding of the transition process, address the theory-practice gap, and collaborate with hospitals. Similarly, hospitals should have realistic expectations from new nurses, assign work according to their capabilities, and allow them sufficient time for role integration. Likewise, well-conceived detailed orientation, mentorship or preceptorship programs, and regular professional development programs are vital to easing the transition. Furthermore, establishing and maintaining a supportive work culture, which promotes equity, respect, and safety among employees, is crucial for positive transition experiences

Recurrent COVID-19 Waves and Lockdown: Impact on Daily Life and Mental Health of People in Nepal

Background. Lockdown is recognized as an effective measure in limiting the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) throughout the world. However, recurrent COVID-19 infection and the extension of lockdown have threatened the livelihoods of people, mainly socioeconomic and mental health dimensions. Objective. The present study is aimed at identifying the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on the daily life and mental health of the general population of Nepal. Furthermore, the study identified the predictors of the mental health status of the people during COVID-19 lockdown. Methods. The study was conducted among 354 Nepalese people specifically the breadwinner of the family. Respondents completed the questionnaires related to the sociodemographic characteristics, COVID-19, and its impact on various aspects of life, including mental health via Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 items (DASS-21). Data was collected through the web-based method, Google Forms questionnaire. Respondents were contacted through email and social networks (Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp, and Viber) following a snowball approach. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Logistic regression analysis was done to identify significant demographic, COVID-related, and socioeconomic factors associated with mental health outcomes. Results. Based on DASS-21 scores, the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was 46.6% (mild: 22.3%, moderate: 16.7%, severe: 6.5%, and extremely severe: 1.1), 42.1% (mild: 10.2%, moderate: 18.6%, severe: 11.6%, and extremely severe: 1.7%), and 39% (mild: 16.7%, moderate: 12.7%, and severe: 9.6%), respectively. Various factors associated with COVID-19, its lockdown measures, and sociodemographic characteristics of the people were identified as the significant predictors of depression, anxiety, and stress among the general population of Nepal. Conclusion. The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on individuals’ work, income, education, living standard, lifestyle, and consequently mental health is significant. The study findings warrant the importance of understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals’ all aspects of life and timely monitoring and appropriate intervention on risk groups to reduce the severity and chronicity of mental health problems