Experiences of working as an advanced practice nurse in Finland--the substance of advanced nursing practice and promoting and inhibiting factors.

Background: Evaluation of new advanced practice nursing roles, from different angles, is strongly recommended in the literature. New nurses' experiences of working in an advanced role may highlight problems and/or factors that promote or inhibit a successful implementation of new advanced nursing roles.

Aim: To explore advanced practice nurses' experiences of the content of their nursing care and to describe promoting or inhibiting factors for working with a full scope of advanced nursing practice.

Zest for life among 65- and 75-year-olds in Northern Finland and Sweden--a cross-sectional study.

Background: Zest for life refers to being satisfied with life and having the energy and courage to look for new experiences. Research into zest for life among older people is scarce, even though it is an important topic. Similarly related concepts such as life satisfaction, quality of life and purpose in life have received more attention.

The first evaluation of the advanced practice nurse role in Finland - the perspective of nurse leaders.

Aims: The aim of this study is to explore and describe nurse leaders' (NLs) experiences of the role of advanced practice nurses (APNs).

Background: The first group of advanced practice nurses (17) in Finland graduated in 2006 and were thereafter employed by seven different organizations in more or less clearly defined advanced practice nurses roles.

Methods: Seven nurse leaders at the relevant organizations were interviewed a year after the introduction of the advanced practice nurses role.

Factors associated with 'stress of conscience' in healthcare.

Aim: The main purpose of this study was to examine factors related to 'stress of conscience' i.e. stress related to a troubled conscience in healthcare.

Sources of burnout among healthcare employees as perceived by managers.

Aim: This paper is a report of a study to investigate healthcare managers' perspectives on factors contributing to the increase of healthcare employees on sick leave for burnout symptoms.

Background: Current turbulent healthcare reorganization has resulted in structural instability, role conflicts and vague responsibility commitments, all of which contribute to increasing numbers of sick days caused by burnout symptoms. Managers' perceptions of burnout sources are important as these perceptions guide the actions taken to prevent burnout.

Development of the perceptions of conscience questionnaire.

Health care often involves ethically difficult situations that may disquiet the conscience. The purpose of this study was to develop a questionnaire for identifying various perceptions of conscience within a framework based on the literature and on explorative interviews about perceptions of conscience (Perceptions of Conscience Questionnaire). The questionnaire was tested on a sample of 444 registered nurses, enrolled nurses, nurses' assistants and physicians.

Development and initial validation of the Stress of Conscience Questionnaire.

Stress in health care is affected by moral factors. When people are prevented from doing 'good' they may feel that they have not done what they ought to or that they have erred, thus giving rise to a troubled conscience. Empirical studies show that health care personnel sometimes refer to conscience when talking about being in ethically difficult everyday care situations.