Search Results (7)

Background/Objectives: Ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and transient ischemic attack (TIA) differ in terms of medical severity and prognosis; however, it remains unclear whether these differences are reflected in nursing complexity and nursing intensity when assessed using standardized nursing language. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed routinely collected nursing and administrative data from an acute care hospital. Hospitalizations were classified as ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, or TIA using ICD-9-CM codes. Nursing complexity was measured as the number of nursing diagnoses (NDs) documented within 24 h of admission, while nursing intensity was measured as the number of nursing actions (NAs) recorded during hospitalization. Group differences were tested using ANOVA and Kruskal–Wallis tests, as appropriate. Results: A total of 728 hospitalizations were included: 429 ischemic strokes, 236 hemorrhagic strokes, and 63 TIAs. Overall, 4136 NDs and 27,528 NAs were recorded. Distinct patterns emerged across stroke categories. ND counts differed significantly (F = 5.81, p = 0.003), with TIA showing lower counts than both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, while no significant difference was observed between ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. NA counts also differed significantly (H = 16.73, p < 0.001), with the highest counts in hemorrhagic stroke, intermediate counts in ischemic stroke, and the lowest counts in TIA. In a sensitivity analysis standardized by length of stay, nursing intensity also differed significantly across stroke categories (H = 12.999, p = 0.002), although the pattern differed from that observed for cumulative counts. Conclusions: Nursing complexity and nursing intensity showed distinct patterns across stroke categories. While complexity was comparable between ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke and lower in TIA, intensity followed a clear gradient, highest in hemorrhagic stroke, intermediate in ischemic stroke, and lowest in TIA. Standardized nursing data may complement medical indicators by capturing additional dimensions of patient needs and care delivery in people with stroke. Full article

Background/Objectives: Empathy and emotional regulation (susceptibility and resistance) play an important role in a nurse’s well-being and the provision of high-quality care. This phenomenon has not yet been studied in the context of nurses working in neuroscience. This study aimed to explore the perceptions related to empathy among nurses working in neuroscience contexts. Methods: Employing a mixed-methods approach, we conducted an online quantitative survey with 211 nurses working in various neuroscience settings using the Balanced Emotional Empathy Scale (BEES) and 15 online semistructured qualitative interviews to delve deeper into empathetic experiences. The mean and measures of dispersion, such as standard deviation, were used to analyze the quantitative data. Thematic analysis investigated qualitative data, and data triangulation was performed. Results: The quantitative findings revealed no significant differences in empathy or emotional regulation across the different neuroscience settings but highlighted an increase in susceptibility related to young age (under 29) and years of service (first 5 years). The interviews brought to light the challenges nurses face in highly emotional situations and the strategies they employ to manage empathy and maintain professional detachment, such as self-care strategies, awareness development, and team support. One hindering factor is managers. Conclusions: The findings of this study underscore the essential role of empathetic capability in nursing care in neuroscience. The experience of younger nurses and the first 5 years of employment are elements to be considered by managers for burnout risk. Nurses demonstrate susceptibility and resistance and maintain a balance in dealing with high-emotional-stress situations. The implications of these findings are significant and should guide future research and practice in the field of neuroscience nursing. Full article

Background: In 2008, the European Association of Neuroscience Nursing (EANN) initiated the NeuroBlend™ project, which aimed to delineate the roles and competencies of neuroscience nurses across Europe. This project resulted in the development of the European Competence Profile (ECP), intended to standardize educational pathways and professional recognition for this specialized field. Aim: This study examines the relevance of neuroscience nursing practices to the competencies outlined in NeuroBlend™ across different Italian care settings, including multiple sclerosis, pediatric neurosurgery, pediatric neurology, Alzheimer’s disease, and substance addiction. Methods: A phenomenological approach was employed, utilizing focus groups to gather the perspectives of nurses on the competencies defined by the NeuroBlend™ model. The focus groups were conducted from May 2022 to September 2022. The data collected from the focus groups were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Thirty nurses participated in the focus groups. Thematic analysis revealed the core competencies, such as communication, empathy, flexibility, and reflective skills, as critical in all care settings. The main themes that emerged were relationships with patients and families, personalized care, and continuity of care. Conclusions: The competencies outlined in the NeuroBlend™ framework are vital to the role of neuroscience nurses in the settings studied and remain highly relevant in the context of Italian healthcare. Full article

Background: Stroke is the second leading cause of death and the third leading cause of disability worldwide. Stroke nurses play an important role in the care of patients living with stroke by using best practices and adhering to stroke-management guidelines. This study aims at examining the current nursing practice for stroke patients in Saudi Arabia. Method: A cross-sectional descriptive design was used to collect data from nurses working in the stroke unit and intensive care unit between the period of February and June 2022 using electronic self-administered questionnaires. Results: A convenience sample of 131 nurses who provided care for stroke patients was enrolled. Significant differences in nursing practice were found between the stroke units and the intensive care units regarding the activation of the stroke code, X² (4, N = 131) = 48.34, p < 0.001; transferring stroke patients to a designated bed, X² (4, N = 131) = 48.74, p = 0.002; applying the NIHSS, X² (4, N = 131) = 70.11, p < 0.001; using the modified Rankin scale, X² (4, N = 131) = 61.24, p < 0.001; providing intervention for neglect syndrome, X² (4, N = 131) = 44.72, and hemianopsia, X² (4, N = 131) = 39.22; screening for poststroke depression, X² (4, N = 131) = 101.59, p < 0.001; assessing for psychosocial needs, X² (4, N = 131) = 74.44, p < 0.001, and encouraging patients to express their feelings, X² (4, N = 131) = 58.64, p < 0.001; educating patients and families about stroke prevention, X² (4, N = 131) = 40.51, p < 0.001. Conclusion: As per the results of the study, there is an urgent need for stroke units run by specialized stroke nurses to provide early stroke management and improve survivors’ outcomes. Structured stroke-care programs are needed to improve nursing practice and meet the international standard of stroke care. Full article

Since December 2019, the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic has transfixed the medical world. COVID-19 symptoms vary from mild to severe and underlying chronic conditions such as pulmonary/cardiovascular disease and diabetes induce excessive inflammatory responses to COVID-19 and these underlying chronic diseases are mediated by endothelial dysfunction. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is the most common cause of death in COVID-19 patients, but coagulation induced by excessive inflammation, thrombosis, and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) also induce death by multiple-organ dysfunction syndrome. These associations imply that maintaining endothelial integrity is crucial for favorable prognoses with COVID-19 and therapeutic intervention to support this may be beneficial. Here, we summarize the extent of heart injuries, ischemic stroke and hemorrhage, acute kidney injury, and liver injury caused by immune-mediated endothelial dysfunction that result in the phenomenon of multi-organ dysfunction seen in COVID-19 patients. Moreover, the potential therapeutic effect of angiotensin receptor blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors that improve endothelial dysfunction as well as the bradykinin storm are discussed. Full article

Neurosciences and neurotechnologies (from now on called neuro-advancements) constantly evolve and influence all facets of society. Neuroethics and neuro-governance discourses focus on the impact of neuro-advancements on individuals and society, and stakeholder involvement is identified as an important aspect of being able to deal with such an impact. Nurses engage with neuro-advancements within their occupation, including neuro-linked assistive technologies, such as brain-computer interfaces, cochlear implants, and virtual reality. The role of nurses is multifaceted and includes being providers of clinical and other health services, educators, advocates for their field and their clients, including disabled people, researchers, and influencers of policy discourses. Nurses have a stake in how neuro-advancements are governed, therefore, being influencers of neuroethics and neuro-governance discourses should be one of these roles. Lifelong learning and professional development could be one mechanism to increase the knowledge of nurses about ethical, social, and legal issues linked to neuro-advancements, which in turn, would allow nurses to provide meaningful input towards neuro-advancement discussions. Disabled people are often the recipients of neuro-advancements and are clients of nurses, therefore, they have a stake in the way nurses interact with neuro-advancements and influence the sociotechnical context of neuro-advancements, which include neuro-linked assistive devices. We performed a scoping review to investigate the role of narrative around nurses in relation to neuro-advancements within academic literature and newspapers. We found minimal engagement with the role of nurses outside of clinical services. No article raised the issue of nurses having to be involved in neuro-ethics and neuro-governance discussions or how lifelong learning could be used to gain that competency. Few articles used the term assistive technology or assistive device and no article covered the engagement of nurses with disabled people within a socio-technical context. We submit that the role narrative falls short of what is expected from nurses and shows shortcomings at the intersection of nurses, socio-technical approaches to neuro-assistive technologies and other neuro-advancements and people with disabilities. Neuro-governance and neuroethic discourses could be a useful way for nurses and disabled people to co-shape the socio-technical context of neuro-advancements, including neuro-assistive technologies. Lifelong learning initiatives should be put in place to provide the knowledge necessary for nurses to take part in the neuroethics and neuro-governance discussion. Full article

The detrimental effects of oxidative stress and chronic neuroinflammation on neuronal cell death have been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). The nutritional neuroscience is quickly growing, and phytochemicals or phytobioactive compounds such as curcumin, resveratrol, propolis, ginsenoside, and ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been extensively applied to potential therapeutic purposes for numerous neurodegenerative diseases for their anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. However, their administration as food supplements in the daily diet of the elderly is normally a voluntary and less-organized behavior, indicating the uncertainty of therapeutic effects in this sporadic population; specifically, the effective physiological dosages and the real positive effects in preserving brain health have not yet been fully elucidated. In this review, we collect several lines of evidence on these compounds, which constitute a major type of nutraceuticals and are widely integrated into the daily anti-aging caring of elderly patients, and discuss the underlying anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory mechanisms of these phytochemicals. In conclusion, we highlight the implications of these compounds in the prevention and treatment of geriatric diseases, and of the potential supplementation procedures used as a dietary therapeutic program in clinical nursing services for patients with neurodegenerative diseases or for the elderly in certain communities, which we hope will lead to more beneficial health outcomes with respect to brain function, innate immunity, and gastrointestinal function, as well as more economic and social benefits. Full article