The 10 most-cited articles in Journal of Advanced Nursing, 2017

AIM: To summarize the associations between weight stigma and physiological and psychological health for individuals who are overweight or obese. BACKGROUND: Weight stigma can be defined as individuals experiencing verbal or physical abuse secondary to being overweight or obese. Weight stigma has negative consequences for both physiological and psychological health. DESIGN: A quantitative systematic review. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL and MEDLINE from 1 January 2008 - 30 July 2016. REVIEW METHODS: A systematic review was conducted using the Cochrane Collaboration guidelines, the PRISMA statement guidelines and the quality assessment from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Inclusion criteria consisted of quantitative studies that examined the associations between weight stigma and physiological and psychological health outcomes in adults who were overweight or obese. Exclusion criteria consisted of qualitative studies, literature reviews, expert opinions, editorials and reports on weight stigma without health outcomes or with behavioural outcomes and intervention…

AIMS: To develop a comprehensive model of nursing turnover intention by examining the effects of job demands, job resources, personal demands and personal resources on burnout and work engagement and subsequently on the intention to leave the organization and profession. BACKGROUND: The ageing population and a growing prevalence of multimorbidity are placing increasing strain on an ageing nursing workforce. Solutions that address the anticipated nursing shortage should focus on reducing burnout and enhancing the engagement of Registered Nurses (RNs) to improve retention. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey design. METHOD: Data were collected in 2014-2015 via an e-survey from 2,876 RNs working in New Zealand. Data were analysed with structural equation modelling. RESULTS: Higher engagement results in lower intention to leave the organization and profession. Burnout has significant effects on intentions to leave through lower engagement. While most of the demands and resources' variables (except professional development) have effects on intentions to leave, greater workload and greater…

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate any possible relationship between sleep disorders, burnout and job performance in a shift-work population of nurses. BACKGROUND: Sleep disorders and burnout can affect the job performance of nurses in terms of efficiency, productivity, task execution speed and supervision, which can be compromised when work shifts are organized on a 24-hour schedule and when the shift itself is irregular. DESIGN: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted from August 2014 - January 2015 on a sample of 315 shift-work nurses across 39 wards in seven central Italian hospitals. METHODS: The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to detect the presence of sleep disorders, the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory was used to detect the presence of any possible type of burnout and the Job Performance Scale was used to measure job performance. Data analysis was mainly based on a multivariate logistic regression to identify variables significantly associated with investigated outcomes. RESULTS: On shift-work nurses' sleep quality and burnout correlated…

AIMS: To examine how the Conservation of Resources theory explains burnout in the nursing profession. BACKGROUND: Burnout, which is an accumulation of work-related mental stress in people-oriented occupations, has been an issue of concern for decades for healthcare workers, especially nurses. Yet, few studies have examined a unified theory that explains the aetiology, progression and consequences of nurse burnout. DESIGN: This discussion article integrates current knowledge on nurse burnout using Conservation of Resources theory, which focuses on four resources (i.e., objects, conditions, personal characteristics and energy). DATA SOURCES: The databases that were used in this study included CINAHL, PubMed and PsycINFO. All reviewed articles were published between January 2006 - June 2016. FINDINGS: The Conservation of Resources theory explains that burnout will occur as a result of perceived or actual loss of these four resources. Furthermore, nurse burnout could affect work performance, leading to lower alertness and overall quality of care. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Healthcare…

AIM: To report on an analysis on the concept of 'readiness for hospital discharge'. BACKGROUND: No uniform operational definition of 'readiness for hospital discharge' exists in the literature; therefore, a concept analysis is required to clarify the concept and identify an up-to-date understanding of readiness for hospital discharge. Clarity of the concept will identify all uses of the concept; provide conceptual clarity, an operational definition and direction for further research. DESIGN: Literature review and concept analysis. METHOD: A review of literature was conducted in 2016. Databases searched were: Academic Search Complete, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, PsycARTICLES, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection, PsycINFO, Social Sciences Full Text (H.W. Wilson) and SocINDEX with Full Text. No date limits were applied. RESULTS: Identification of the attributes, antecedents and consequences of readiness for hospital discharge led to an operational definition of the concept. The following attributes belonging to 'readiness for hospital discharge' were extracted from the…

AIM: To identify the theories used to explain learning in simulation and to examine how these theories guided the assessment of learning outcomes related to core competencies in undergraduate nursing students. BACKGROUND: Nurse educators face the challenge of making explicit the outcomes of competency-based education, especially when competencies are conceptualized as holistic and context dependent. DESIGN: Theoretical review. DATA SOURCES: Research papers (N = 182) published between 1999-2015 describing simulation in nursing education. REVIEW METHODS: Two members of the research team extracted data from the papers, including theories used to explain how simulation could engender learning and tools used to assess simulation outcomes. Contingency tables were created to examine the associations between theories, outcomes and tools. RESULTS: Some papers (N = 79) did not provide an explicit theory. The 103 remaining papers identified one or more learning or teaching theories; the most frequent were the National League for Nursing/Jeffries Simulation Framework, Kolb's theory of…

AIM: To systematically identify, evaluate and synthesize qualitative research that examined the symptoms and health-related quality of life themes that are important from the perspective of patients with venous leg ulceration. BACKGROUND: Venous leg ulceration is a common chronic condition; the symptoms and associated treatments have a negative effect on health-related quality of life. Qualitative research methods can provide insight into the personal experiences of patients with venous leg ulceration. DESIGN: Qualitative evidence synthesis (using framework synthesis). DATA SOURCES: Multiple electronic databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and CINAHL were comprehensively searched from inception to November 2015. REVIEW METHODS: Systematic identification, quality assessment and synthesis of existing qualitative research were performed; framework synthesis was conducted on included studies. An inductive approach was used and emergent themes were identified. The final stage in the synthesis involved the development of new interpretations. RESULTS: Thirteen studies met the…

AIMS: This article discusses the ways researchers may become open to manifold interpretations of lived experience through thematic analysis that follows the tradition of hermeneutic phenomenology. BACKGROUND: Martin Heidegger's thinking about historical contexts of understandings and the notions of 'alētheia' and 'techne' disclose what he called meaning of lived experience, as the 'unchanging Being of changing beings'. While these notions remain central to hermeneutic phenomenological research, novice phenomenologists usually face the problem of how to incorporate these philosophical tenets into thematic analysis. DESIGN: Discussion paper. DATA SOURCES: This discussion paper is based on our experiences of hermeneutic analysis supported by the writings of Heidegger. Literature reviewed for this paper ranges from 1927 - 2014. We draw on data from a study of foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong to demonstrate how 'dwelling' in the language of participants' 'ek-sistence' supported us in a process of thematic analysis. Data were collected from December 2013 - February 2016. IMPLICATIONS…

AIM: To investigate transition in newly qualified nurses through an exploration of their stressors and stress experiences during their first 12 months postqualifying. BACKGROUND: Globally, thousands of new nurses qualify annually. They are crucial for the profession and healthcare service delivery. Work-related stress has multiple serious consequences, yet there is a lack of robust, empirical evidence that directly analyses newly qualified nurses and the stress they feel and experience in the workplace. Understanding what causes newly qualified nurses' stress is vital to retaining and nurturing this vital component of the workforce. DESIGN: Longitudinal, explanatory sequential mixed methods, cohort study. METHODS: At the point of qualification (n = 288), 6 months postqualifying (n = 107) and 12 months postqualifying (n = 86), newly qualified nurses completed the Nursing Stress Scale, with 14 completing a one-to-one interview at 12 months postqualifying. Data were collected from 2010 - 2012. Inferential statistics, "thematic analysis" and "side-by-side comparisons in a discussion"…

AIM: To increase understanding of workplace bullying and its relation to work climate and different outcomes among nurses. Examine a proposed bullying model including both job resource and job demands, as well as nurse outcomes reflected in job performance, job satisfaction, and work ability. BACKGROUND: Workplace bullying has been identified as some of the most damaging mechanisms in workplace settings. It is important to increase understanding of workplace bullying in relation to work climate and different outcomes among nurses. DESIGN: This study adopted a cross-sectional web based survey design. METHOD: A sample of 2946 Registered Nurses from four public Norwegian hospitals were collected during October 2014. We analysed data using descriptive statistics, correlations, Cronbach's alpa, confirmatory factor analyses, and structural equation modelling. RESULTS: The majority of work climate characteristics confirmed to influence workplace bullying, and additionally had direct influence on nurse outcomes; job performance, job satisfaction, and work ability. Bullying had a mediational…