The Perspectives of Iranian Women on Delayed Childbearing: A Qualitative Study.

Background: Delayed childbearing is a growing trend in Iran.

Purpose: This study explores the perspectives of women on delayed childbearing.

Methods: A qualitative study using a content analysis approach was conducted on data acquired using private semistructured interviews with 23 women aged ≥30 years who were childless or pregnant for the first time in an urban area of Iran.

Effect of systematic relaxation techniques on anxiety and pain in older patients undergoing abdominal surgery.

Inadequate pain control in older patients who have undergone abdominal surgery can lead to many complications. This study investigates the effect of systematic relaxation techniques on pain and anxiety in older patients undergoing abdominal surgery. One hundred twenty-four patients were randomly assigned into the experimental and control groups.

Effect of nature-based sound therapy on agitation and anxiety in coronary artery bypass graft patients during the weaning of mechanical ventilation: A randomised clinical trial.

Background: Weaning from mechanical ventilation is a frequent nursing activity in critical care. Nature-based sound as a non-pharmacological and nursing intervention effective in other contexts may be an efficient approach to alleviating anxiety, agitation and adverse effects of sedative medication in patients undergoing weaning from mechanical ventilation.

Objectives: This study identified the effect of nature-based sound therapy on agitation and anxiety on coronary artery bypass graft patients during weaning from mechanical ventilation.

Iranian primigravid women's awareness of the risks associated with delayed childbearing.

Objectives: To explore older (35 years +) primigravid women's knowledge of the risks of delayed childbearing and to identify the characteristics of those with limited knowledge.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey involving 675 primigravid women in Tehran, Iran, using a cluster random sampling method at the first prenatal visit. A validated questionnaire assessed the women's awareness of delayed-childbearing risks.

Clinical nurses' perceptions and expectations of the role of doctorally-prepared nurses: a qualitative study in Iran.

Nurses with doctorates are increasing in number throughout the world, yet the multitude of roles they play following graduation is unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe clinical nurses' perceptions and expectations of the role of doctorally-prepared nurses in Iran. A qualitative study, using a content analysis approach was conducted with 43 clinical nurses chosen using a purposive sampling strategy.

Ethical issues in patient safety: Implications for nursing management.

The purpose of this article is to discuss the ethical issues impacting the phenomenon of patient safety and to present implications for nursing management. Previous knowledge of this perspective is fragmented. In this discussion, the main drivers are identified and formulated in 'the ethical imperative' of patient safety.

Validity and reliability of the scientific review process in nursing journals - time for a rethink?

As pressure to publish increases in the academic nursing world, journal submission numbers and rejection rates are soaring. The review process is crucial to journals in publishing high quality, cutting-edge knowledge development, and to authors in preparing their papers to a high quality to enable the nursing world to benefit from developments in knowledge that affect nursing practice and patient outcomes and the development of the discipline. This paper does not intend to contribute to the debate regarding the ethics of reviewing, but rather seeks to explore notions of how the quality of the reviewing process can be enhanced to benefit authors, the reviewers, and the state of nursing knowledge.

Facilitating safe care: a qualitative study of Iranian nurse leaders.

Aim  The purpose of this study was to explore and describe how nurse leaders facilitate safe care from the perspectives of both nurses and nurse leaders. Background  The health-care system's success in improving patient safety pivots on nursing leadership. However, there is a lack of knowledge in the international literature about how nurse leaders facilitate provision of safe care and reaching the goal of a safe health-care system.

Effect of nature-based sounds' intervention on agitation, anxiety, and stress in patients under mechanical ventilator support: a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Few studies have been conducted to investigate the effect of nature-based sounds (N-BS) on agitation, anxiety level and physiological signs of stress in patients under mechanical ventilator support. Non-pharmacological nursing interventions such as N-BS can be less expensive and efficient ways to alleviate anxiety and adverse effects of sedative medications in patients under mechanical ventilator support.

Objectives: This study was conducted to identify the effect of the nature-based sounds' intervention on agitation, anxiety level and physiological stress responses in patients under mechanical ventilation support.

Nursing students' perspectives and suggestions on patient safety--implications for developing the nursing education curriculum in Iran.

Background: Nursing students' close involvement in knowledge development about patient safety will enhance the integrity of the current content of nursing education and pave the way towards developing a nursing curriculum that facilitates achieving a safer health-care system.

Objectives: This study explores nursing students' perspectives and suggestions on developing patient safety aspects of the nursing curriculum in the context of Iranian culture.

Design: A qualitative methodology involving three focus groups with a purposive sample of 18 nursing students from a large Iranian nursing school, utilising directed semi-structured interviews generated data, which was analysed using the content analysis process.

What is strategic management?

Aim: To discuss the theoretical concept of strategic management and explore its relevance for healthcare organisations and nursing management.

Background: Despite being a relatively new approach, the growth of strategic management within organisations has been consistently and increasingly promoted. However, comprehensive definitions are scarce and commonalities of interpretation are limited.

Iranian nurses self-perception -- factors influencing nursing image.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to describe the perspectives of Iranian nurses regarding factors influencing nursing image.

Background: Nursing image is closely tied to the nurse's role and identity, influencing clinical performance, job satisfaction and quality of care. Images of nursing and nurses are closely linked to the cultural context in which nursing is practised, hence, this study explores how Iranian nurses perceive the factors that influence their own image.

Global nurse leader perspectives on health systems and workforce challenges.

Aim: As part of the 2011 annual American Organization of Nurse Executives conference held in San Diego, California, a session was presented that focused on nursing workforce and health systems challenges from a global perspective. This article includes content addressed during the session representing nurse leader perspectives from the UK, Singapore and the USA.

Background: Recent events in global economic markets have highlighted the interdependence of countries.

A South African perspective: current position and challenges in health care service management and education in nursing.

Aim: The present study discusses the current context of South African nurse managers' working environment, exploring the challenges of disease demographics, service change and development, and educating a nursing workforce to meet healthcare delivery demands.

Background: Post-apartheid South Africa has a legacy of inequalities in access to healthcare; increasingly poor morbidity and mortality demographics; and inadequate numbers of qualified nurses to provide a service to meet the Millennium Development Goals outlined by the Government in 2010.

Evaluation: The present study discusses the current position and developments pertaining to nursing management relating to both healthcare challenges and educating a nursing workforce.

A framework for recognition of prior learning within a Postgraduate Diploma of Nursing Management in South Africa.

Aims: The present study focuses on the development of an initial framework to guide educators in nursing management in designing a portfolio for the recognition of prior learning for accreditation of competencies within a postgraduate diploma in South Africa.

Background: In South Africa, there is a unique educational need, arising from the legacy of apartheid and previous political regimes, to facilitate educational development in groups previously unable to access higher education. Awareness of the need for continuous professional development in nursing management practice and recognition of prior learning in the educational environment has presented the possibility of using one means to accomplish both aims.

Challenges in designing an All-Wales professional development programme to empower ward sisters and charge nurses.

Aim: To discuss the challenges of designing a professional development programme for ward managers working in in-patient facilities in Wales.

Background: In 2008, the Minister of Health launched the Free to Lead, Free to Care initiative to empower ward managers. One work-stream involved the creation of a universal professional development programme to ensure they had the skills and knowledge to function effectively in their roles in the newly restructured NHS in Wales.

Evaluation of a multidisciplinary faculty to support learning in surgical practice.

The Theatre Faculty Project was a programme of education seminars, personal study and workplace educational activities for surgeons, operating theatre staff and surgical trainees at a hospital in north-west England. Its aim was to create a multidisciplinary faculty with an understanding of implicit aspects of surgical practice, of how these enter clinical thinking and professional judgement and are used to enhance the learning, teaching and assessment of surgeons. A qualitative evaluation of the faculty project showed improved educational understanding and multidisciplinary awareness among its participants.