T Kawakita is an Assistant Professor at Faculty of Nursing, Osaka Medical College. Her interests are to promote the quality of nurses work life and practice environments that support quality profession practice.

Objectives: To determine the job characteristics consisting of fi ve factors advocated by Hackman & Oldham (1980) and their connection with job satisfaction.

Method: Nurses working in one of 37 hospitals who provided consent to participate in this study completed a questionnaire survey between November 2013 and March 2014. Th e survey items included participants’ backgrounds, a job characteristics scale developed for nurses consisting of fi ve factors and 30 items and a nurses’ job satisfaction scale consisting of 14 factors and 59 items. Analysis was performed using SPSS Statistical soft ware (ver. 19) to calculate a correlation coeffi cient between job characteristics and job satisfaction.

Results: Th e number of participants who responded to the questionnaire was 2,919 (recovery rate: 45.6%). Of these, 2,211 were valid responses (response rate: 75.7%). Th e mean age of the respondents was 36.7±9.3 years. Th ere was a positive correlation between the total score of the job characteristics and the four sub-factors (autonomy, diversity, clarity of the role and feedback) and the total job satisfaction score (γ=0.25, 0.27, 0.09, 0.24 and 0.16, respectively; p<0.001). Th ere was a negative correlation between interdependence in the rest of the sub-factors and job satisfaction (γ=-0.15; p<0.001). Discussion: It is thought that the jobs that enhance the autonomy of nurses enable nurses to fulfi ll their potential, leading to improvement in job satisfaction. On the other hand, there is a consistent negative relationship between interdependence and job satisfaction. Th is suggests that improvement in all fi ve factors in job characteristics is not necessarily associated with improvement in job satisfaction.

Akiko Hara is an Assistant Professor at Faculty of Nursing, Osaka Medical College. Her research interests include nursing practice and clinical judgment. Her current research project is concerned with the safe taking blood method.

Objectives: Th e present study aimed to determine the positional relationship between the cutaneous veins, nerves and arteries in order to perform venipuncture safely.

Methods: Th e study included healthy adults (in their 20s to 50s) and was performed between May 2012 and March 2013. Data were collected by imaging the minor axis of the cubital fossa (Hueter’s line) aft er performing a vascularization at 10 cm on the proximal side from the cubital fossa. Th e diagnostic ultrasound device Xario (Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation) was used and the terminal was of a linear type with a frequency of 9 MHz.

Results: Th e study included 10 participants (4 men and 6 women) with a mean age of 36.5±7.33 years, an average height of 161.9±6.90 cm and a mean body weight of 58.9±9.62 kg. Th e mean diameter of the cubital fossa was 23.5±2.08 cm. In all the participants, the median cubital vein, brachial artery, median nerve and radial nerve were identifi ed. Th e distance between the skin surface and median cubital vein was 1.9±1.03 mm, between the median cubital vein and brachial artery was 11.0±6.32 mm and between the radial nerve and median cubital vein was 5.9±4.16 mm.

Discussion: Th e results showed that the brachial artery and median cubital vein were side-by-side and parallel to each other, whereas the radial nerve was deeply located. Th is further confi rmed the need to be careful in deep regions with respect to the radial nerve and among the blood vessels located nearby with respect to the brachial artery. Veins and arteries may be close to each other in some people. In patients whose veins are diffi cult to puncture, performing venipuncture under echographic observation may help minimize complications such as nerve damage and accidental arterial puncture.

W C Wong is the Lecturer (Division of Nursing and Health Studies) of The Open University of Hong Kong. She is a Registered Nurse and Registered Psychiatric Nurse. She had worked in many different clinical areas, including acute care unit and psychiatric unit before joining the university. Her research interests include mental health nursing and nursing education.

The attitude of psychiatric nurse towards the causes of patient violence determines his/her management of aggressive behavior of in-patients. Th e causes of patient’s aggressive behavior can be divided into internal causes and external causes. Th e aim of the present study was to assess the attitude towards causes of patient violence of Hong Kong psychiatric nurses. A cross-sectional survey was employed. A self-administrative questionnaire (Th e Management of Aggression and Violence Attitude Scale, MAVAS) was used to assess the attitudes of causes of patients’ violence of nurses in a local psychiatric hospital. Convenience sampling was employed. Ethical approval was obtained from the research hospital and Ethical Committee of a local University. Results were statistically analyzed. Hong Kong psychiatric nurses harbored disagreement on several internal causes of patient violence, encompassing the statements, namely: Patients are aggressive because they are ill; Aggressive patients will calm down automatically if left alone and it is diffi cult to prevent patients from becoming violent or aggressive. Th e training of management of violence in Hong Kong is emphasized on practical skills such as de-escalation techniques, positioning, body mechanism in controlling and restraint of aggressive patient. It is rare to explore the nurse attitudes towards the causes of patient violence which infl uence their decision and action on the management. If the theoretical input of the causes of patient violence should enrich and strengthen the basic nursing curriculum, the psychiatric nurses in Hong Kong would be enlightened. In conclusion, adding the contemporary research fi ndings concerning the causes of patient violence in the training could be benefi cial to decision making of nurses on a suitable and reasonable management on aggressive behavior of mentally-ill patients.

Filiz Ozel has completed her Undergraduate study in the Nursing Section of Uludag University School of Health (2004-2007). After obtaining her undergraduate degree, she has worked as a Clinic Nurse (2007-2009). She has initiated her Postgraduate study in the Department of Internal Diseases Nursing, Ege University Health Sciences Institute. She has completed her Doctorate education from the Department of Internal Diseases Nursing, Ege University School of Nursing. She has then worked as an Observer in the Behçet’s Syndrome Center af New York Langone Medical Center Seligman Center For Advanced Therapeutics. She took part in a number of national and international congresses and courses during her postgraduate and doctorate education. She is currently working in the Department of Internal Diseases Nursing, Ege University Nursing Faculty as a Research Assistant.

Aim: Th e aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between type D personality and self-care ability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Method: Th e study sample consists of 50 patients who were treated in the Rheumatology Service of Ege University School of Medicine during the research period and had agreed to participate to the research. Th e “Identifi cation Form for Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis”, “Type D Scale - DS14”, and “Self-Care Ability Scale” prepared by researchers according to the literature were used as data collection tools.

Results: Among the patients included in the study, 80% were female and 20% were male. Th e average age of the patients was X = 62.26 ± 12.25; 96.67% of the patients were married and 13.33% were widowed. 54% of the patients had a history of rheumatoid arthritis among their family members. Distributions of the average Type D personality scores were found to be X = 14.10 ± 4.81 for negative aff ection and X = 12.10 ± 6.15 for social suppression. Th e self-care ability score was X = 81.24 ± 17.53. No statistically signifi cant result was detected between the patients’ average social supression score and average self-care ability score (B = -0.76, p<0.05) through regression analysis. As the type D scale social supression score increased, self-care ability decreased.

Conclusion: Th e conclusion of this study is that type D personality aff ects self-care ability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Th erefore, determining both the personality type and self-care status of these patients and considering these factors during the management of the disease are recommended.

Noor Hanita Zaini has completed her Master of Nursing Science from University of Malaya. She is currently pursuing her PhD. She is active in teaching and research. She has experienced in Critical Care Nursing especially in emergency and cardiovascular care. Her special interest is the use of mobile application in patient education.

Background: Th e use of applications (app) has already been shown to be a useful method and an essential mechanism to guide the patient towards healthcare knowledge. Apps used in healthcare are emerging as an adjunct to assist patients in selfmanagement. Patients who undergo open cardiac surgery face a diffi cult recovery process. Studies have shown that nursing education can improve health outcomes and reduce the risk of new cardiac events. Despite this, there are no guidelines or standards for how to best educate cardiovascular surgical patients. Th e use of medical apps is increasing in frequency however locally there are only limited applications available in healthcare sector.

Objective: To develop “My Education: CABG” as a learning tool for Coronary Bypass Graft Surgery (CABG) patients.

Methodology: Th e development process of app is based on systematic instructional model (assessment, design, development, implementation and evaluation). Th e level of satisfaction and helpfulness of app were assessed by an adapted questionnaire completed by 30 patients undergoing CABG.

Result: Th e application of My Education: CABG was developed through review of literatures associated with education given to CABG patient. Aft er review by experts, the app fi nally was developed and evaluated by patients who reported that they were satisfi ed with the usefulness of My Education: CABG app.

Conclusion: My Education: CABG is designed to help CABG patients in the pre and post-surgery process, creating a patientsided driver of successful recovery. Th is app is benefi cial for healthcare providers in educating CABG patients and preventing secondary complications.

Magda Bayoumi is currently working as an Assistant Professor, Head of Nursing Department at Al-Farabi Colleges Riyadh. She has been the Dean College of Medical Applied Sciences, King Khalid University in the Medical & Surgical Departments for 4 years and as a Lecturer in the Faculty of Nursing, King Saud University for 4 years and before to that working in haemo and peritoneal dialysis for seven years. She was awarded with PhD in 2007 from Ain Shams University. She has published more than 10 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as Reviewer of repute. Her main interests are in nursing research, adding to new nursing knowledge for the benefi t of patients, families and communities; this encompasses all aspects of health including promotion and prevention.

Background: Th e benefi t of massage therapy in reducing stress, pain and depression in chronic diseases, however studies have shown the uses of massage therapy in dialysis patient can relieve purities and signifi cantly improve anxiety levels. Th e Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation (SCOT) highlights approximately 11437 patients on hemodialysis therapy in Saudi Arabia.

Aim: To evaluate impact of massage therapy during hemodialysis session on QoL and physical fi tness.

Methods: Th e study involved 16 patients with end stage renal disease who were undergoing hemodialysis treatment. Th ey were randomly assigned to either a control group or an experimental group. Th e control group received only standard care for hemodialysis patients for eight weeks while the experimental group received massage therapy during the same period. Assessments were conducted on the participants both at the beginning of the study and at the end of the eight weeks treatment period. Researchers used the physical fi tness scale and KDQoL-SF 36. Th e scores of the participants at the start of the study were compared to their scores at the end of the study.

Results: Th e pre-post physical fi tness practice of intervention sessions’ activities among patients in the two groups, the signifi cant diff erences were in the Chair (seconds), Arm curl (seconds), Chair sit & reach (cm), 8-foot up & go (count) and 2-min step test (count). Regarding to blood pressure and pulse changes, blood fl ow and session duration among patients in the two groups the systolic blood pressure was decrease and pulse, session duration and blood follow were increased. More interestingly the post KDQoL-SF the sleep pattern was improved with massage therapy and reported patient satisfaction.

Conclusion: Based on the fi ndings, researchers of the study reached the conclusion that the massage therapy can eff ectively benefi t on patients’ QoL and physical fi tness; therefore can be integrated in the standard care given to such patients.

W C Wong is the Lecturer (Division of Nursing and Health Studies) of The Open University of Hong Kong. She is a Registered Nurse and Registered Psychiatric Nurse. She had worked in many different clinical areas, including acute care unit and psychiatric unit before joining the university. Her research interests include mental health nursing and nursing education.

A comprehensive nursing education nurtures competent nurses. Apart from designed nursing curriculum, extra-curricular activities (ECAs), which are believed to enhance perceived social support, are appraised for a comprehensive development of University students. None of previous studies, however, investigated the infl uences of ECAs among undergraduate nursing students. Th is study aimed to examine the infl uences of ECAs on perceived social support of undergraduate nursing students in Hong Kong. Ethical approval was gained from the research University. A cross-sectional survey was employed. Convenience samples of all full-time, Bachelor of nursing students in a local University were recruited. A self-administrative questionnaire was used to collect the hours involved in ECAs and assess perceived social support of subjects. An independent samples t-test was conducted to compare the perceived social support scores between subjects spending diff erent hours on ECAs per week. Th ere was a signifi cant diff erence in perceived social support scores for spending less than 5 hours per week (M=48.4, SD=6.07) and spending more than 5 hours on ECAs per week (M=50.13, SD=4.76; t (15)=-1.98, p=0.05, two-tailed) among female students. For the male students, no signifi cant diff erence was manifested. Female students mostly take part in the ECAs that involve others, such as social club. Female students experienced and perceived more support in the interactive human relationship in ECAs. Hence, female students, who spent more time on ECAs, had perceived better social support than those spent less time on them. ECA exerts positive infl uence on perceived social support among female undergraduate nursing students. Better perceived social support enhances the development of competent nurse. It is suggested that ECAs, exclusively those involve others should be promoted in nursing education.

Anastesia Nzute is presently a Doctoral student at the Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing at the University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. She has a degree in Health studies, University of Wolverhampton, UK (with expertise in Maternal and Child Health). She has lectured with the School of Midwifery St. Luke`s Hospital, Zaria. She has five unpublished papers relating to her research interest and has presented in conferences. She is also an active member of Centre for the Advancement of International Education (CAIPE)and the Royal College of Nursing, United Kingdom.

Despite increases in awareness and knowledge of the effectiveness of Insecticide Treated Net (ITNs), there is still low usage among rural Nigeria women. Literature indicates the need for more social participatory research to explore taken for granted lived experiences of those engaged in the battle to prevent malaria. This paper explores how Nigerian women negotiate family dynamics in the cause of malaria prevention. It is part of a larger original research study based on experiential stories of 20 rural women who were selected purposively, based on their knowledge of ITN, ownership, age, education, marital and socioeconomic status. Data collection involved in-depth individual interviews with mothers, and focus group discussion with mothers and health care workers. The findings revealed that women undergo a form of ontological distress as they adjust their lives to negotiate family dynamics around the issue of malaria prevention. A sense of incompleteness was engendered as they struggled to maintain family harmony in the face of conflict between their own personal value systems and those of a patriarchal social structure. The study concludes that women’s empowerment through knowledge and information acquisition and increased entrepreneurial skills are vital tools to alleviate the situation. In light of recent political change, a more philosophical approach to the study of these family dynamics may be needed, consonant with the aspirations of a new Nigeria.

Izumi Ueda has worked as a Public Health Nurse in Japan. She is currently an Associate Professor supervising the home nursing care fi eld in the Nursing Department of Sapporo Medical University. Her research themes include, identifi cation of core-competency in home nursing care education, development nursing skill education core-curriculum, processes of home nursing care and development of bed bath skills in home nursing.

Due to rapid population ageing, the number of elderly people requiring high quality nursing care at home is increasing. Th is study aims to improve the quality of life of the elderly requiring home care and the hygienic care skills of home nursing staff , the latter of which tends to be overlooked. We identify actual conditions of bed bath training provided to date and home bed bath skills through literature review. Using the medical literature database, we searched literature using two key terms, “bed bath” and “practicum” and extracted 50 Japanese and 57 international papers published in the last ten years (up to March, 2015). We excluded non-original papers, duplicated papers, reviews and proceedings. Papers from basic and adult nursing fi elds have dealt with bed bath practicum. Only a few papers from home care nursing fi eld focused on it. Some papers reported gaps between basic nursing education and skills in a clinical setting. Tools and ways of providing bed bath at home, the methods and skills in Japan were diff erent from those used in other countries. In many cases nursing staff conduct home bed bath in Japan and nursing students have many opportunities to get bed bath training. However, the method and skills of home bed bath have not been established. It is necessary to identify important points for observing caretakers, choosing methods, implementing and evaluating home bed bath skills. It is also necessary to examine how we conduct home bed bath practicum in comparison with practicum employed in other countries.

Chia-Ling Yang is currently a Doctoral student. She has been working more than 28 years at MacKay Memorial Hospital, a medical center at northern Taiwan. She has expertise in medicine, community, long-term care and elder care also. She is currently the Head Nurse of Internal Medicine, the Review Committee of “Journal of MacKay Nursing” and also New Taipei City Nurse Association Director.

Animal are not only one of the family but also can be part of clinical nursing care activities. Th e previous studies showed animal assisted therapy had been provided widely and also very eff ectiveness as an alternative method in nursing care. However, in Taiwan there were a few studies to discuss and without care model. Th e further nursing research of animal assisted therapy especially in the care model needed to be explored. Th is article used evidence based procedure searched relevant information from Cochrane Library, BMJ Clinical Evidence, Pub Med and CINAHL, appraised literatures and confi rmed the relationships between the theories and practices in long-term care institutions for one year. We had established an animal assisted therapy care model in long-term care institutions by “residents centered model”. First step, the animal assisted therapists help nurses to assess the residents’ physical, cognitive, behavioral and social functions then chose suitable animals and animal assisted staff s based on residents’ need. Second step, the residents, residents’ family, animal assisted therapist and nurses were cooperated to plan, implement and evaluate the eff ectiveness of animal assisted therapy and did feedback periodically. With this care model, it might not only increase the awareness of health care providers to animal assisted therapy but also can provide a more humane care in the long term institution to make residents had more vivid life.

Mygirl Pearl Lowane has completed her MPH from University of Venda. She has completed her Bachelor of Art in Nursing Science and Advance University Diploma in Health Studies from University of South Africa (UNISA), the Diploma in Clinical Nursing Science, Health Assessment, Treatment and Care from North-West University School of Health Sciences and Diploma in Nursing Science (General, Psychiatric, Community and Midwifery) from Limpopo College of Nursing. She is a Clinical Nurse Practitioner (PHC), a HIV/AIDS and sexual transmitted conditions Coordinator, a Trainer and Facilitator of all HIV/STI related programs at the Department of Health, Limpopo province, South Africa.

Under-reporting of notifi able infectious diseases remains a major problem amongst health care professionals globally. Several studies found that lack of knowledge of health care professionals are contributing factors to under-reporting of notifi able infectious diseases. South Africa has a routine notifi cation system of reporting notifi able medical/infectious conditions which is stipulated in the Government Act no. 61 of 2003 and regulations regarding the reporting of specifi c diseases to the local, provincial and national health departments. However, under-reporting of notifi able diseases remains high in the country. Th is study aimed at assessing the knowledge of clinical nurse practitioners regarding notifi cation of infectious diseases. A quantitative, cross sectional, descriptive was used to assess the knowledge of clinical nurse practitioners regarding infectious diseases notifi cation at greater Tzaneen municipality, Mopani district: Limpopo province. Self-administrated questionnaires was used to collect data from the respondents in all Clinics and Health Centers, where a total of 145 clinical nurse practitioners agreed to participate in the study representing a response rate of 70%. Th e mean age of the CNPs was 43.23±9.16 and in males it was 41.04±6.59 and in females 43.65±9.53. Th e study revealed that clinical nurse practitioners lack knowledge regarding notifi cation of notifi able medical conditions. Th e study, therefore, recommend that the employer provide clinical nurse practitioner with training and health care employers should actively promote the importance of notifi able infectious diseases reporting to their clinicians.

Mankuba Jacobeth Ramalepe has completed her PhD in 2014 from the University of Venda Limpopo province, South Africa. She is the Director of a Non-profi t Organization called Community Responsiveness Programs (CRP). She has initiated the organization CRP in 1998. CRP coordinates and facilitates training of lay health and social development workers and the organization also provides care and support of orphans and vulnerable children. She serves in boards of child care initiatives. She has published 4 papers in reputed journals locally and internationally.

The demand for counseling and testing for Human Immune Virus (HIV) services is increasing in South Africa. HIV counseling and testing has been recognized as an important component of HIV and Acquired Immune Defi ciency Syndrome (AIDS) care and support and is an essential part of HIV testing. Th e purpose of the study was to identify the challenges faced by lay counselors in implementing VCT in the health facilities of Mopani district Limpopo province, South Africa. Qualitative research design was used to collect the data. Th e population consisted of 60 lay counselors who were implementing VCT in the Greater- Tzaneen, Greater Letaba and Ba-Phalaborwa municipalities. Data was collected through semi-structured interview guide for focus group discussions. Data was analyzed qualitatively through the open coding. Th e results revealed that lay counselors experienced challenges when implementing the VCT program; namely, that they lacked counseling skills. Th e lay counselors also experienced some challenges with their clients such as denial of their HIV positive status as well as challenges with the environment and the attitude of health professionals. Counseling aspects such as explaining the counseling process, the issue of pre-testing and post-testing, the importance of consent forms and how tests are conducted, are important processes that counselors should eff ectively use for successful counseling sessions. Th e execution of these skills should be improved before lay counselors can be regarded as competent. On the basis of the results there is a need to develop strategies to enhance the competence of the lay counselors.

Mihoko Harada is a lecturer of Kansai University of Nursing and Health Sciences, RN, MSN, Japan.

The body image as a self-concept is influenced by culture. Considering this, a total of 112 studies on body images, conducted in Japan within the period between 1999 and 2012, were reviewed. They were classified based on the theme and 7 attribute-related items, and were systematically analyzed, adopting the content analysis technique. Furthermore, to clarify the process of changing the body image toward its disturbance, a conceptual diagram, entitled: Classification of Studies Examining the Process of Changing the Body Image, was created. Based on this diagram and the process mainly examined, the study papers were classified into the following 10 groups: 1) a general examination of body images, 2) body image changes, 3) consequences of body image changes, 4) body image impairment, 5) body image-related interventions, 6) normal body image functioning, 7) characteristics of body images, 8) body images as a secondary impairment induced by other concepts, 9) other concepts, and 10) disturbed concepts.

In those examining the process of changing the body image, body images as a secondary impairment induced by other concepts were examined the most frequently. Scales to measure body images were examined in 7.

Based on these results, the body image, which has been increasingly focused on since the 1990's, may not have been fully examined. Although the term "body image" is frequently used, it is not likely to be appropriately recognized. In fact, words and concepts were frequently confused, and the point of discussion was unclear in a large number of the study papers.

Phiraya Saimai has completed her Bachelor’s degree of Nursing Science and Master of Science in Public Health from Mahidol University, Thailand. She is currently a Senior Professional Nurse and acting as a Deputy Head of Resuscitation Unit, Emergency Nursing Services Division, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University. She is a Member of Thai Trauma Nurse Society organizes. Areas of her interests are trauma and emergency care, resuscitation, disaster nursing management and environmental health nursing. Her four papers were published in Thai journals. She had been participated in three international conferences (Spain, Australia and England).

Charge nurses usually confront with occupational stress factors. Stress leads to job dissatisfaction, burnout and absenteeism; also, negatively impacts patients and organization. The purpose of this descriptive research is to study the stress levels and the relationship between demographic factors and stress levels among charge nurses at a university hospital in Bangkok. Charge Nurse Stress Questionnaires (CNSQ), Thai version, translated by Krongdai Unhasuta, was used to collect the data. Participants were 360 charge nurses. Data were analyzed by using percentage, mean, standard deviation, Chi-square test and Spearman Rank Correlation. The result revealed that overall stress of charge nurses was at a moderate level. When considered by each dimension, it was also found that all dimensions (Nurse-Patient relationship, Home-work balance, Teamwork, Shift management) were at a moderate level. The study found no association between factors and stress levels among charge nurses. This finding could be used basic data nursing administrator for planning to decrease stress of charge nurses.

Key Words: charge nurse, stress, Charge Nurse Stress Questionnaires

Background: Level of infl ammation markers like C-reactive protein (CRP) is a strong predictor of the risk of heart attack and death but their association with stroke remains controversial.

Aim: To identify the sensitivity of C-reactive protein (CRP) as the prognostic factor of stroke outcome.

Patients & Methods: 473 patients were divided into the 2 group (used NIHSS): Group-1 has 326 patients’ mild-moderate stroke (0-15) in ND and Group-2 has 147 patients with severe (16-38) stroke in NICU. CRP was determined within 24 hour aft er stroke. Short-term functional outcome was measured by Rankin scale (RS) and Barthel index (BI) 14 days and 3 months later. Result: In Group-1, the high CRP was associated with poor short-term functional outcome (RS>3; BI<85; p<0.001) and with higher score of NIHSS. Th e low-CRP was in a strongly correlation with good outcome, low grade of disability according to RS and BI. In Group-2, high CRP was associated with poor short-term functional outcome (RS>4; BI<70; p<0.001) but the low level of CRP also signifi cantly correlated with short-term poor outcome, 3 months mortality and low grade of NIHSS (p<0.001).

Conclusion: A low admission CRP in NICU is strongly associated with severe NIHSS and high short-term mortality visa versa to low level of CRP in ND with the good outcome. It remains to establish if the low level of CRP can be a marker of poor prognosis in severe stroke due to neuro-immunological response failure to the critical condition.

Pisamai Orathai has completed her Doctor of Philosophy Degree from Faculty of Education, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand in 2006. Her fi eld of study was educational research methodology. She is currently the Lecturer at Ramathibodi School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand. She has been serving as a Statistician Consultant of Pacifi c Rim International Journal of Nursing Research since 2013.

Evaluation of the psychometric properties of the ethics in nursing profession indicators is crucial to apply for appraisal and campaign to reduce undesirable moral behaviors for Thai nurses. This research project had principal objective to subject the ethics in nursing profession indicators to construct validity and reliability tests. The sample comprised 1,000 professional nurses working at hospitals in six regions (the central, northern, northeast, east, west, and southern) of Thailand. Proportional quota sampling was applied to recruit the study sample. Data were collected through the Ethics in Nursing Profession Questionnaire. The construct validity and reliability was tested by Lisrel’s second-order confirmatory factor analysis program.

Based on this research project, five primary and thirty-eight secondary indicators were tested. A quality test on all these indicators revealed that the five primary and thirty-eight secondary indicators of the ethics in nursing profession measurement model exhibited construct validity. The five primary and thirty-eight secondary indicators showed a significant factor loading values of p < .01. In addition, The five primary indicators displayed high standardized factor loading values (.80-.92) and also the thirty-eight secondary indicators showed moderate to high construct reliabilities (R2 = 37%-85%).

The primary indicator identified with the highest importance weight was ‘Practice of Maintenance of the Honor and Respectability of the Profession’, followed by ‘Practice of Citizenship and Profession’, ‘Practice of Nursing Care towards Patients’, ‘Practice towards Health Care Professionals’, and ‘Practice of Research’, respectively.

Based on the findings, application of the indicators in this study to the appraisal of maintaining moral behaviors in order to reduce undesirable outcomes in nursing profession.

Pervin GOKAY has completed her master degree at the age of 26 years from Gulhane Military Medical Academy, School of Nursing and She is Ph.D. student at Gulhane Military Medical Academy, School of Nursing. She has not published paper in reputed journals yet. She has been serving as a surgery nursing at Gulhane Military Medical Academy, School of Nursing.

Background: Th e prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is higher for the population that underwent an operation compared to the general population. Aims and Objectives: To compare the effi ciency of the STOP-BANG and the Berlin Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome questionnaires for evaluating the respiratory complications during the perioperative period.
Design: A descriptive and prospective study.

Methods: Th e study included 126 patients above 18 years of age who were ASA classifi cation I-II who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and who accepted to take part in the study. In order to fi nd out the potential obstructive sleep apnea syndrome risk, STOP-BANG and the Berlin Sleep Apnea questionnaires were surveyed. Next, the respiratory complications were observed during the perioperative period.

Results: During intubation and extubation, the study found statistically meaningful diff erences in diffi cult intubation, diffi cult facemask ventilation, and desaturation frequency for the group that had high risk of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome based on the STOP-BANG questionnaire compared to the low risk group. Besides, during extubation statistically meaningful diff erences in coughing, breath-holding, and desaturation frequency were found for the high risk for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome group compared to the low risk group, according to the Berlin questionnaire. In the post-anesthesia care unit, both questionnaires found statistically meaningful diff erences between low- and high-risk groups.

Conclusion: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome screening questionnaires are useful for determining respiratory complications during the preoperative period. STOP-BANG questionnaire may be preferred at fi rst.

Relevance to clinical practice: Questionnaires may be used to determine the risk of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Questionnaires to determine the risk of OSAS should be used regularly for the patients that will undergo an operation, and tests should be used in order to improve clinical protocols on anesthesia and post-anesthesia care for safety anesthesia.

Nor Zehan Ahmad is a Nursing Lecturer in the Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine; University of Malaya, Malaysia. She has received her RN (2000) and BSN (2008) and Master of Nursing Science (2012) from Public University in Malaysia. Her nursing background experience is in Orthopedic, CCU and Adult ICU for more than 10 years. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Nursing and her focus is on pain of ICU patients.

Background: Pain assessment is a vital in providing quality patient care since patient not able to verbalize their pain. Th e Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) is one of the few behavioral pain scales that have been used widely for the purpose of detecting pain in non-verbal critically ill adults. Th erefore this study aimed to evaluate of the implementation of the CPOT on pain assessment for critically ill adults in ICU.

Methodology: A non-randomized controlled study design was used for evaluating the eff ects of interventions in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a Teaching Hospital in Malaysia. Th e critically ill patients who meet the inclusion criteria were participate in this study. Patient were selected if age 18 years and older, staying in ICU for more than 24 hours and hemodynamically stable. Four ICU nurses were trained to use the CPOT and scoring the CPOT to patients.

Conclusion: Th e CPOT was well implemented and seemed to have positive eff ects on pain assessment and management nursing practices in the ICU. Further research is warranted to look at its impact on patient outcomes.

Chae Weon Chung has completed her PhD from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. She is a Professor at the College of Nursing and a Researcher at the Research Institute of Nursing Science at Seoul National University. Her research interest is in women’s health. She has published more than 70 papers in journals and has been serving as an Editorial Board Member and a Reviewer of repute.

Hyojung Kim is a doctoral student and clinical instructor at the College of Nursing, Seoul National University. Her research interest is in maternity health issues based on her clinical experiences.

Weight gain during pregnancy is one of the profound and common changes in women’s body which could cause obesity, metabolic diseases or psychological problems later if not managed properly. Particularly in Korea, trends of marriage and childbirth at late age, cultural custom of Sanhujori (postpartum care) and westernized lifestyles are considered to be threats to weight control. The study aimed to identify the patterns of body weight changes through pregnancy and postpartum and the related characteristics in women who were within 12 months after childbirth. A descriptive study with a cross-sectional design was conducted with 103 Korean women by online survey recruitment. A structured questionnaire for electronic self-administration was formatted to include demographics, obstetrical history, body weights at 6 time points, instruments of International Physical Activity Questionnaire and Eating Habit Measurement. Invitation to the study was distributed by a professional survey agency. Women were 34.1 years old in average, 48% of housewives, highly educated, 73% of primiparas and 82% of breastfed mothers. The BMIs were ranged from 17.3 to 27.8 indicating 21.5% of overweight and obese women. Mean body weight increased during pregnancy was 11.5 kg (±4.79), however 26% showed weight gain more than 13 kg and 3.2 kg (±4.19, range-6~17 kg) was still remained. Women wanted to lose 5.5 kg (range 3~20 kg) more while 45% and 71% women have not tried diet or exercise respectively. Body weight variables were not related to women’s characteristics, scores of physical activity and diet. In addition physical activity and diet did not significantly differ by BMI groups. Prolonged retained body weight, wish to weight loss and poor physical activity require integrative approaches for women to ensure healthy transition to lives after reproductive periods. Excessive weight gain during pregnancy needs careful monitoring in antenatal care considering increasing population with high BMIs. Future longitudinal study is necessary to identify more accurate pictures and related variables of postpartum weight management.

Patricia Munro-Gilbert has completed her BScN from the University of Toronto in 1990 and MN in 2010. She has practiced as a Registered Nurse in Obstetrics for 20 years. She began her nursing education career as a Clinical Instructor in 2005, a Lecturer in 2010 at Durham College (DC) and University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) in the Collaborative BScN program and she is currently a Professor in the DC Practical Nursing program. Her research interests focus on improving intra-professional educational experiences for nursing students resulting in improved and enhance intra-professional understanding, teamwork and collaboration in practice settings for nurses

Dana Chorney has been a Clinical Instructor and Professor in Durham College and University of Ontario Institute of Technology’s collaborative BScN program since 1998. She has graduated from the University of Windsor in 1992 with a BScN and obtained her MN from the University of Toronto in 2004.Throughout her career; she has worked as a Registered Nurse and a Clinical Nurse Specialist. She has a keen desire to enhance and improve nursing education. With over 20 years of clinical experience in a medical-surgical environment, she values, implements and teaches best practice that enhance and improve patient safety and patient outcomes.

Undeniably, the future of healthcare must be built upon interprofessional approaches. Interprofessional practice (IPP) is central to promoting health and providing quality, patient-centred care. Previously, healthcare professionals were educated, and practiced, within a profession-specific model. Nursing education, with no intersection between the learning experiences of BScN and PN nursing students is both flawed and ultimately detrimental to the profession.

With the changes in scope of practice of RPNs in Ontario, many significant areas of commonality in nursing education at both levels are undeniable. It is imperative that we recognize and capitalize on important opportunities for nursing students to learn both with and about each other, promoting greater awareness of each other’s role within the healthcare team leading to advances in intraprofessional practice (IaPP) which will ultimately result in better health care outcomes.

While the value of inter- and intraprofessional education (IPE) in the health professions is commonly highlighted, gaps exist in the evidence related to IPE implementation in nursing education. As the scope of practice for RPNs and RNs has transitioned the demand has increased for graduates to collaborate, demonstrate respect and understanding of each other’s role, and work competently together in order to improve patient outcomes and promote patient safety.

Learning with each other in areas where curricular foci are congruent is a critically important undertaking that has yet to be realized in post-secondary education in Ontario. This project is a first of its kind, innovative pilot PN-BScN shared learning experience in a required Health Assessment course.

Ami Rokach holds a Ph.D. in psychology from Purdue University. He is the Executive Editor of the Journal of Psychology: Interdisciplinary and Applied, and is a clinical psychologist who combines offering individual, couple and sex therapy with teaching and research. Ami is an associate professor and is teaching psychology at The Center for Academic Studies in Israel, and is also a member of the psychology departments at York University in Canada, and Walden University in the USA. His therapeutic and research interests include loneliness, sexuality, couple & sex therapy, anxiety and phobias, traumatic experiences and personal growth, stress management, and palliative care. After 35 years of ‘doing’ psychology he is still intrigued by human nature, people’s suffering, and the real opportunity that we all have to grow, fl ourish, and reinvent ourselves despite obstacles and painful experiences

Illness is a major stressor in one’s life. Various symptoms of the illness put the body into a state of continuous stress, including pain, fatigue, and in more severe cases, immobility and even loss of bodily functions. Hospitalization may, then, follow. Th e experience of illness and hospitalization oft en exerts a great deal of psychological distress, as it is one of the most stressful and possibly frightening events in people’s lives. Th eir daily routines and living environment change, and for the duration of their stay, they need to adapt to the hospital environment as their new home, resign themselves to the care of doctors and nurses, and get used to the unfamiliar surroundings and, oft en, unpleasant experiences associated with the course of treatment. Patients face threat to one’s life, or the uncontrollable nature of one’s condition which bring about a state of apprehension and hopelessness, worry and even a feeling of helplessness. Indeed, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder have been recognized to commonly occur in response to critical illnesses. Since the hospitalized patients’ social contact is so limited, the competency of the medical staff in caring for the patients, the attitude and behavior of the physicians and the nurses towards the patients appears to be a key factor in the patients and their caregivers’ perceived quality of care, and whether the patients can successfully cope with the stress of their hospitalization experience.

Lunic Base Khoza has completed her PhD from the University of South Africa. She is currently serving as Dean, Senior Professor in the School of Health Sciences. Her area of specialty is nursing education, nursing management and health promotion. She has published more than 40 papers in reputed journals and has previously served as an Editorial Board Member of reputed national Journal Curationis and involved in peer review of manuscripts for national and international journals. She is a National Research Foundation C3 rated as established researcher.

The purpose of this study was to obtain the nursing students’ perceptions of clinical learning experiences. Nursing students following the course leading to registration as a nurse general, psychiatric and community and midwife at the University of Venda constituted the target population. Th e study used a qualitative descriptive survey to provide insight into the situation. Th e population was all students studying at the University of Venda and following the four year degree in nursing science. A nonprobability purposive sampling was employed to sample 45 participants variably from each level of study. Data was collected from the students through focus group interviews. Participation was voluntary as the study was not interested in obtaining information about a particular clinical setting where learning experiences occur. Findings indicate that nursing students are aware of the value of the contribution that clinical learning experiences make to their development of professional socialization. Nursing students regard a patient as the central focus of their clinical learning experiences, they are able to identify those factors which could promote and enhance and those which could hinder or be detrimental to their learning in the clinical setting. However, proper guidance and support from their superiors appears to fall short. Th ere appears to be a need to assist both students and clinical nurse practitioners to increase their understanding with regard to their roles and mutual expectations in the clinical fi eld.

Cynae Johnson is currently a Doctor of Nursing Practice Student at Johns Hopkins University. She is a Nurse Practitioner at the Kelly Gynecologic Oncology Service and Director of the Gynecologic Oncology Survivorship Care Program.

The primary intent of cancer treatment is to cure the disease and many patients struggle with signifi cant morbidity in terms of physical and psychosocial distress post treatment. Th e push to address the psychosocial issues of cancer survivors initially stemmed from a published report by the Institute of Medicine [IOM] in 2007. Clinicians are now fi nding ways to ensure they are treating the whole patient which includes psychosocial care. To investigate the sources of distress and evidenced-based recommendations for assessment and management of distress in the gynecologic cancer survivor, PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature [CINAHL] and the Cochrane Library databases were searched. Breast cancer survivors were included in this review due to similar treatment modalities and physical and psychosocial treatment related side eff ects as gynecologic cancer patients. Th e search yielded 1408 articles and 27 articles remained for fi nal analysis. Distress is a consequence of treatment related side eff ects that negatively aff ects quality of life in cancer survivors. Several validated screening tools were documented to assess distress and quality of life. Distress screening programs should be individualized and involve all members from the multidisciplinary care team and tailored to each respective cancer institution. Psycho-education/survivor to survivor programs was among the most common interventions utilized. Oncology nurses are in a position to provide education and support to assist cancer survivors. Th ere is limited data on management techniques for the gynecologic cancer survivor. Th is data will inform a clinical capstone project in the gynecologic cancer survivor.

Sanjita Acharya Pandey has completed her Bachelor of Nursing level at the age of 27 years from Tribhuvan University Nepal. She is now working as senior staff nurse at Human Organ Transplant Center (http://hotc.org.np) under Department of Health Services Nepal. She has more than 7 years of experiences in the sector of nursing healthcare in Nepal.

The objective of this study was to explore the knowledge of AV fistula care among hemodialysis patients .A descriptive research study design was used for the study. This study was conducted at Human Organ Transplant Center Bhaktapur Nepal among 50 respondents. The information was collected by face to face interview technique using semi-structured questionnaire .The data was analyzed by using descriptive statistical techniques i.e. mean, frequency, and percentage. The findings were presented in the form of relevant tables, graphical chart and line diagrams. Majority of the respondent (74%) had adequate knowledge whereas 24% of respondents hade moderate knowledge regarding care of AV fistula. Most of the respondents lacked knowledge on protecting fistula arm from cold environment. This study concludes that there is a need of educational programme for the patients’ attending hemodialysis unit to improve their level of knowledge and prevent complications.