A cross-sectional study on nurses' attitudes towards physical restraints use in nursing homes in Portugal.

Aim: To explore nurses' opinions regarding restraint measures and attitudes towards physical restraints use in nursing homes.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: Nursing staff of 33 Portuguese nursing homes was asked to complete the Portuguese version of the Maastricht Attitude Questionnaire (MAQ), an instrument on attitudes regarding physical restraints (reasons, consequences and appropriateness of restraint use) and opinions about restraint measures (restrictiveness and discomfort).

Exploring the meaning of night shift placement in nursing education: A European multicentre qualitative study.

Background: An appropriate clinical learning environment has been identified as pivotal in nursing undergraduate education and should be planned responsibly. Specifically, night shifts placements have been documented as an important opportunity for developing a full understanding of the nursing profession and the whole process of nursing care. However, night shifts during placement have been reported to be stressful and anxiety-provoking, so their usefulness for nursing students is still debated.

Night shifts as a learning experience among nursing students across Europe: Findings from a cross-sectional survey.

Background: Organising clinical placements during nights has been reported as an additional opportunity to introduce students to the whole picture of their future responsibilities. However, studies in this field are still lacking.

Objectives: To describe and compare (a) the night shift experience of nursing students across Europe, (b) the patient-related problems that they face during night shifts, (c) the night care activities nursing students are called to perform, and (d) the perceived effects of night shift work on learning outcomes.

Nursing student profiles and occurrence of early academic failure: Findings from an explorative European study.

Background: In the European context regulated by the Bologna Process principles, there is little evidence to date on the different profiles, if any, of nursing students enrolled in the 1st academic year and their academic outcomes.

Aims: To describe and compare the nursing student profiles and their academic outcomes at the end of the 1st year across European Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNS) courses.

Design: An exploratory multicentre cohort study involving five countries: Nursing students who were enrolled in nursing programmes for the academic year 2011/2012 in the participating BNS courses, willing to participate and regularly admitted to the 2nd academic year, were included in this study undertaken in 2013.