Assessment of nursing students' stress levels and coping strategies in operating room practice

The aim of this study was to evaluate the stress levels and stress coping strategies of nursing students in their first operating room experience. This descriptive study was done with 126 nursing students who were having an experience in an operating room for the first time. Data were collected by using Personal Information Form, Clinical Stress Questionnaire, and Styles of Coping Inventory. The nursing students mostly had low clinical stress levels (M = 27.56, SD = 10.76) and adopted a self-confident approach in coping with stress (M = 14.3, SD = 3.58). The nursing students generally employed a helpless/self-accusatory approach among passive patterns as their clinical stress levels increased, used a self-confident and optimistic approach among active patterns as their average age increased, and those who had never been to an operating room previously used a submissive approach among passive patterns. The results showed that low levels of stress caused the nursing students to use active patterns in coping with stress, whereas increasing levels of stress resulted in employing passive patterns in stress coping. The nursing students should be ensured to maintain low levels of stress and use active patterns in stress coping. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Effects of the contact isolation application on anxiety and depression levels of the patients

This study was aimed to assess the effects of contact isolation application on anxiety and depression levels of the patients, the effects of certain sociodemographics and patient characteristics on anxiety and depression levels, and the thoughts of the isolated patients about contact isolation. This non-randomized quasi-experimental study was carried out with 60 isolated and 57 non-isolated patients with hospital infection. The data were acquired from Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A (anxiety) and HADS-D (depression)) and patient information form. There was no statistically significant difference between the anxiety and depression levels of the isolated and non-isolated patients. In the isolated patients, the depression points were higher in patients who were, women, received primary education and had lower income levels. Of the patients, 86.4% of them told that they were happy to be in the isolation room. Contact isolation application did not affect anxiety and depression levels of the patients. However, personal attributes increased the development of depression. In contact isolated patients, personal attributes should be taken into consideration in nursing care planning to prevent development of depression

Retrospective Analysis of Pediatric Tracheostomy

Purpose. This paper reviews analyses for tracheostomy within our patient population over the last 6 years. Methods. We conducted a retrospective chart review of consecutive patients undergoing tracheostomy at the tertiary Dicle University Medical hospital, Turkey, from January 2006 to December 2012. Patient age, sex, emergency, planned tracheostomy, indications, complications, and decannulation time were all assessed. Results. Fifty-six (34 male, 22 female) adult Pediatric patients undergoing tracheostomy between 2006 and 2013 were investigated. The most common indication for tracheostomy was upper airway obstruction (66.7%), followed by prolonged intubation (33.3%). Mean decannulation times after tracheostomy ranged between 1 and 131 days, the difference being statistically significant (P=0.040). There was no significant difference in terms of mean age (9.8±6.0; P=0.26). There was also no statistical difference between emergency and planned tracheotomies (P=0.606). Conclusion. In our patient population, there was a significant decline in the number of tracheotomies performed for prolonged intubation and an increasing number of patient tracheostomy for upper airway obstruction. According to the literature, permanent decannulation rates were slightly higher with an increase in genetic diseases such as neuromuscular disease

Fatigue Is a Major Symptom at COVID-19 Hospitalization Follow-Up

Persistent symptoms after hospitalization with COVID-19 are common, but the frequency and severity of these symptoms are insufficiently understood. We aimed to describe symptoms and pulmonary function after hospitalization with COVID-19. Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Central Denmark Region were invited for follow-up 3 months after discharge. Clinical characteristics, patient reported outcomes (Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS), anxiety and depression (HADS)), symptoms, pulmonary function test and 6-min walk test were collected. We included 218 patients (mean age 59.9 (95% CI: 58.2, 61.7), 59% males). Fatigue, dyspnea and impaired concentration were the most prevalent symptoms at follow-up. Using FAS, 47% reported mild-to-moderate fatigue and 18% severe fatigue. Mean HADS was 7.9 (95% CI: 6.9, 8.9). FAS was correlated to HADS (β = 0.52 (95% CI: 0.44, 0.59, p < 0.001)). Mean DLCO was 80.4% (95% CI: 77.8, 83.0) and 45% had DLCO ˂ 80%. Mean DLCO was significantly reduced in patients treated in the ICU (70.46% (95% CI 65.13, 75.79)). The highest FAS and HADS were seen in patients with the shortest period of hospitalization (2.1 days (95% CI: 1.4, 2.7)) with no need for oxygen. In conclusion, fatigue is a common symptom after hospitalization for COVID-19 and ICU treatment is associated to decreased diffusion capacity