Purpose
This study examined how nurse staffing and parental caregiving burden influence patient experiences in pediatric wards. Methods: The sample included 326 parents of pediatric patients at a tertiary children’s hospital. Nurse staffing was measured using parent-perceived staffing adequacy (4-point scale) and registered nurse hours per patient day (RN HPPD). Parent experiences were evaluated using the Child Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (Child HCAHPS), with items rated on 3-, 4-, or 11-point scales and subsequently converted to scores on a 0–100 scale. Parents also reported their caregiving burden experienced during their child’s hospitalization. Results: Among the Child HCAHPS domains, nurse–parent communication received the highest score, while lower scores were reported in child-specific domains, including teen involvement, quietness, and child comfort. Most parents (80.4%) stayed at the hospital either all or nearly all the time, and 63.5% perceived caregiving as burdensome. Commonly reported burdens included economic and work-related challenges, physical and psychological stressors, and responsibilities related to caring for other children. Higher levels of parent-perceived staffing adequacy and greater RN HPPD were significantly associated with better patient experiences. Conclusion: Improving nurse staffing may alleviate parental caregiving burden and improve patient and parent experiences in pediatric wards.

PURPOSE
The present study was done to provide understanding of how female nurses adapt to male nurses and to derive an entity concept that explains the experience process for female nurses.
METHODS
Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 16 female nurses who had work experience with male nurses. Collected data were analyzed using the grounded theory methodology of Strauss and Corbin.
RESULTS
The core category found in the adjustment experience of female nurses to male nurses was “win-win partnership with male nurses who struggle to keep up in the clinical setting”. The central phenomenon was “unprepared meeting with male nurses who are different from us”. The action/interaction strategies the participants used were “recognition of differences,”, “positive approach,” and “acceptance as a colleague.” CONCLUSION: The results showed that female nurses tried to have a win-win partnership with male nurses by using several strategies. This result broadened the range of understanding of female nurses' adjustment to male nurses and provides new information on their adaptation to practical work.

Citations

• Seroprevalence of measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella-zoster antibodies in new female nurses in the Republic of Korea
  Yeongjae Yoo, Won-Ju Park, Seunghyeon Cho, Dae-Young Lim, Suwhan Kim, Wonyang Kang, Hyeonjun Kim, Jai-Dong Moon
  Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2021;[Epub]     CrossRef