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Background: Nurses have a critical role to play in achieving the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While Goal 3 (good health and well-being) is of particular importance to nursing, every SDG contributes to the advancement of universal health and well-being. Yet many nurses are unfamiliar with the SDGs and how they relate to everyday nursing practices., Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine RNs' knowledge of and attitudes toward the SDGs., Methods: This study used a descriptive correlational cross-sectional design. A convenience sample of RNs from multiple countries completed an anonymous online survey that included eight demographic items and 25 items exploring participants' knowledge of and attitudes toward the SDGs. Descriptive, parametric, and nonparametric statistics were used to analyze the data., Results: The majority of nurses in this study perceived themselves as lacking knowledge of the SDGs. Most wanted to know more, including how they could take action to help achieve the goals. Overall, participants agreed that the SDGs are relevant to nursing practice and that nurses are integral to their advancement. Participants who were younger than age 50, those living in the United States, and those who practiced primarily in a clinical or community setting were more likely than others to self-report lower SDG knowledge scores., Conclusions: The study findings contribute to our collective understanding of RNs' knowledge and attitudes regarding the SDGs. They can assist nurse educators and leaders worldwide in developing targeted strategies to better inform nurses and prepare them for actions that will advance these goals. Increasing nurses' knowledge of the SDGs, especially as these goals relate to daily clinical practice, may lead to greater nursing engagement and impact., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Abstract: Nurse honor guards are groups of volunteer nurses that attend fellow nurses' funerals or memorial services and conduct a brief ceremony to recognize the nurse's dedication to the profession. These ceremonies incorporate elements of nursing's history, including the wearing of traditional nursing uniforms. Nurse honor guards highlight that nurses not only tend to the well-being of their patients but also share a collective responsibility to support and care for one another. This article describes what nurse honor guards do and discusses the authors' experiences participating in them., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of the perceptions and experiences of nurses caring for patients and families under the COVID-19 pandemic's socially restrictive practices and policies., Background: The COVID-19 global pandemic has affected the delivery of health care to patients and their families, with many aspects altered because of the need for social distancing, social isolation, and visitation restriction policies. These policies have created communication challenges for interdisciplinary health care teams, patients, and families. As frontline caregivers, nurses have felt strongly the impact of these challenges., Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted among 17 RNs who were caring for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic and were recruited via social media posts on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Watson's theory of human caring served as the conceptual framework for the study., Results: Several themes emerged regarding nurses' experiences of communication with patients and families. These include communication challenges and barriers, prioritization, integration of group communication, nurse self-reflection, and acceptance of gratitude., Conclusions: The study findings underscore the importance of nurses' communication with patients and families under the pandemic's restricted conditions. They demonstrate the value of nurses' ability to innovate in fostering all parties' participation in the plan of care, and highlight the comfort nurses provide to patients who are isolated from loved ones. Strategies that fostered communication were identified, as were areas for further research., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Alternative-to-discipline programs can facilitate a safe return to practice., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Abstract: Nurses are trusted to be truthful and to provide considered, substantiated information in a neutral way. Yet the COVID-19 crisis has highlighted how some nurses engage in misinformation on social media and in other venues. This article explores the reasons why people believe they are fully informed, including the possible influence of confirmation biases. It also describes the augmented ethical responsibilities of nurses to examine in depth what they think they know and understand and to account for cognitive biases. Strategies for nurse leaders, managers, and educators are provided to facilitate good practice and help ensure nurses are held accountable for their actions and social media postings., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Abstract: For nurses, the challenges posed by demanding work environments and schedules often lead to fatigue, and this can be exacerbated during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. In this article, the authors discuss causes and challenges of nurse fatigue and consider several evidence-based strategies and solutions for individual nurses and organizations. Barriers to implementation, including a negative workplace culture and inadequate staffing, are also described, and several resources are presented., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Vaccine safety is their main concern., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

A new nurse learns focus and grace under pressure., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Editor's note: From its first issue in 1900 through to the present day, AJN has unparalleled archives detailing nurses' work and lives over more than a century. These articles not only chronicle nursing's growth as a profession within the context of the events of the day, but also reveal prevailing societal attitudes about women, health care, and human rights. Today's nursing school curricula rarely include nursing's history, but it's a history worth knowing. To this end, From the AJN Archives highlights articles selected to fit today's topics and times. This month's article, from January 1939, describes Nurses' House in Long Island, New York, where nurses could stay for "fun or rest, or just plain comfort and content." The home was a legacy of Emily H. Bourne, who was known primarily for her support of the blind and for building what is now the New Bedford Whaling Museum in Massachusetts. Bourne (who was not a nurse) left money in her will for the purchase of a mansion where nurses could come to rest and relax between cases. The home was sold in 1959 to create a fund for nurses in need. Today, Nurses' House is a nonprofit, nurse-managed, national service organization that provides short-term financial assistance to nurses in all 50 states. For more on nurses' well-being-especially relevant amid a global pandemic-see this month's original research article, "Well-Being and Resilience Among Health Care Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study."-Betsy Todd, MPH, RN., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

The nurse, scientist, and activist discusses how nurses can work to dismantle racism.

Purpose: This project examined nurses' positive and negative perceptions of the technology used in language interpretation for patients who have limited English proficiency (LEP). The intervention was guided by the technology acceptance model, a framework that addresses users' acceptance or rejection of computer-based technology., Methods: A sample of 47 nurses participated. Nurses' perceptions of an existing telephone-based remote interpretation technology were compared with their perceptions of a video remote interpretation (VRI) system. Instruments included a structured questionnaire to collect nurses' demographic and other characteristics and to measure their perceptions of the technology used in language interpretation; open-ended questions were added on how technology affected nursing care and nurses' rapport and communication with patients. Questionnaires on the telephone-based interpretation technology were administered, and after an eight-week trial of the VRI technology, questionnaires on the VRI system were administered., Results: Overall, positive perceptions of VRI were significantly higher and negative perceptions significantly lower compared with perceptions of telephone-based interpretation technology (P < 0.001 for both). Qualitative findings indicated that VRI technology improved communication and was less time consuming for nurses., Conclusions: Nurses preferred VRI technology because of its positive effects on time expenditure and communication. VRI technology is likely to be adopted successfully and ensures increased use of professional language interpretation for patients with LEP.

A striking plea for education in recognizing mental illness.

Updated several times a week with posts by a wide variety of authors, AJN's blog Off the Charts allows us to provide more timely-and often more personal-perspectives on professional, policy, and clinical issues. Best of the Blog is a regular column to draw the attention of AJN readers to posts we think deserve a wider audience. To read more, please visit: www.ajnoffthecharts.com.

Purpose: To explore whether burnout is an independent predictor of career choice regret among nurses., Methods: In November 2017 we invited a random sample of 89,995 members of the American Nurses Association to participate in an anonymous online survey. The survey collected demographic and professional information and included the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel (known as the MBI-HSS [MP]), as well as several items exploring career choice regret. Of the 86,858 nurses who received the e-mail invitation, 8,638 (9.9%) responded. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted for the final sample of 6,933 nurses who provided complete responses to the MBI-HSS (MP) and the career choice regret survey items., Results: Fifteen percent of the 6,933 participating nurses had career choice regret. On multivariable analysis, experiencing burnout, working unplanned or mandatory overtime, being male, and having a higher academic degree related to nursing were independent predictors of career choice regret. Burnout was the strongest such predictor., Conclusion: Career choice regret among U.S. nurses is relatively common. Of the independent predictors this study identified, burnout had the strongest relationship with career choice regret. Organizational strategies aimed at reducing burnout and supporting nurses' ongoing professional development should be pursued.

In 1968, the criteria for brain death were established by the Harvard Ad Hoc Committee. Despite what may appear to be unambiguous definitions, clinicians, ethicists, and the public have grappled with the concept of brain death since its inception. In light of recent public discourse on the topic, Harvard Medical School convened a conference to examine research and ethical inquiry conducted over the past 50 years related to death as defined by neurologic criteria. Drawing on the report produced by this conference, this article provides an overview of the development of brain death criteria, describes recent controversies and updates, and discusses implications of these criteria for nurses.

: Purpose: This qualitative study was conducted to explore the perceptions and concerns of Liberian RNs who work for international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Liberia, and to elicit insights and suggestions about how to improve collaboration between national and expatriate nursing staff., Methods: Five focus groups involving 19 nurses and an individual interview with one nurse were conducted. A semistructured interview guide was used to gather perspectives and garner suggestions. A phenomenological approach was used to identify emergent themes., Results: Regarding positive experiences, participants from all 10 NGOs reported that working with expats gave them opportunities to be mentored, learn new skills, and try out new techniques and equipment. Negative experiences included problems with disrespect and expats' lack of cultural competency. Participants spoke of adverse patient outcomes that resulted when expats made assumptions and wouldn't listen to national staff., Conclusions: The findings indicate that changes are warranted in the current work culture between national and expatriate nursing staff. Improving collaboration between national and expatriate RNs could lead to higher-quality care and better patient outcomes. Predeployment training for expatriates that incorporates the voices of national staff is recommended; this would raise awareness of the realities of nursing in low-resource settings and promote respect for national staff.

According to this study.

A nurse perceives a possible decline in her own cognitive abilities.

Clinicians contend with a crisis of addiction as solutions remain elusive.

A nurse is reminded that quality of life is in the eye of the beholder.

Poorly documented and unacknowledged.

In nursing, there's often a delicate balance between worlds.

: An increasing number of nurses are approaching retirement age and finding themselves faced with numerous challenges and opportunities. Yet many avoid thinking about and preparing for this important professional and personal transition. Some cannot imagine what they will do when their career ends, whereas others do not believe they are financially ready to retire. This article discusses strategies to address these and other common concerns and will help nurses embrace this new and exciting stage of their lives with deliberation, confidence, and financial security.

: Nurses regularly circumvent work systems they perceive to be flawed to provide more efficient or better care. If kept secret, however, such workarounds become ethically questionable, even when the nurse is trying to do the right thing. In this article, the author discusses how nurses can be creative problem solvers without resorting to practices that may be ethical in intent yet potentially harmful in their consequences.

A nurse learns it's not inappropriate to celebrate life as death approaches.

: This article provides an overview of moral distress, including the existing research on the concept, and a discussion of ways to evolve our understanding of moral distress in order to meet current and future practice challenges.

: Editor's note: From its first issue in 1900 through to the present day, AJN has unparalleled archives detailing nurses' work and lives over more than a century. These articles not only chronicle nursing's growth as a profession within the context of the events of the day, but they also reveal prevailing societal attitudes about women, health care, and human rights. Today's nursing school curricula rarely include nursing's history, but it's a history worth knowing. To this end, From the AJN Archives highlights articles selected to fit today's topics and times.In this month's article from the January 1935 issue, Lillian M. Gilbreth, a highly respected psychologist and industrial engineer, examines the problem of fatigue in nursing. A nonnurse expert, Gilbreth notes the negative effects of fatigue on skills, a problem "enormously more serious when the product of the work is human comfort and sometimes even human life, as it often is with the work of the nurse." In their article in this issue, "Health Care Worker Fatigue," Lea Anne Gardner and Deborah Dubeck of the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority share examples of fatigue-related adverse events and discuss the need for both personal and institutional fatigue risk management strategies.

: Editor's note: From its first issue in 1900 through to the present day, AJN has unparalleled archives detailing nurses' work and lives over the last century. These articles not only chronicle nursing's growth as a profession within the context of the events of the day, but they also reveal prevailing societal attitudes about women, health care, and human rights. Today's nursing school curricula rarely include nursing's history, but it's a history worth knowing. To this end, From the AJN Archives will be a frequent column, containing articles selected to fit today's topics and times.This month's article, from the December 1912 issue, shares a nurse's struggles with the limitations of her role (and with the "morals" of the household) while caring for a seriously ill toddler. Her nursing assessment points to a diagnosis that is ultimately proven accurate, but her concerns are brushed off by the attending physician, delaying the child's treatment. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that this nurse is grappling with "moral distress" of a kind still encountered in health care today. In this issue, Cynda Hylton Rushton and colleagues offer a new perspective on these dilemmas in "Moral Distress: A Catalyst in Building Moral Resilience."

Updated several times a week with posts by a wide variety of authors, AJN's blog Off the Charts allows us to provide more timely-and often more personal-perspectives on professional, policy, and clinical issues. Best of the Blog will be a regular column to bring AJN readers recent posts that we think deserve a wider audience. To read more, please visit: www.ajnoffthecharts.com.

EHRs have the potential to support nursing workflow or hinder it.

Symptom recognition, institutional support, and healthy coping strategies are crucial.

Background: Much of African history has been written by colonial "masters" and is skewed by cultural bias. The voices of indigenous peoples have largely been ignored., Purpose: The purpose of this study was to collect the oral histories of African nursing leaders who studied and practiced nursing from the late colonial era (1950s) through decolonization and independence (1960s-70s), in order to better understand their experiences and perspectives., Methods: This study relied on historical methodology, grounded specifically within the context of decolonization and independence. The method used was oral history., Results: Oral histories were collected from 13 retired nurses from Mauritius, Malawi, and Togo. Participants' educational and work histories bore the distinct imprint of European educational and medical norms. Nursing education provided a means of earning a living and offered professional advancement and affirmation. Participants were reluctant to discuss the influence of race, but several recalled difficulties in working with both expatriate and indigenous physicians and matrons. Differences in African nurses' experiences were evident at the local level, particularly with regard to language barriers, gender-related divisions, and educational and practice opportunities., Conclusion: The data show that although institutional models and ideas were transported from colonial nursing leaders to African nursing students, the African nurses in this study adapted those models and ideas to meet their own needs. The findings also support the use of storytelling as a culturally appropriate research method. Participants' stories provide a better understanding of how time, place, and social and cultural forces influenced and affected local nursing practices. Their stories also reveal that nursing has held various meanings for participants, including as a means to personal and professional opportunities and as a way to help their countries' citizens.

Presence, improvisation, dark humor--crucial skills of a hospice nurse.