Many researchers have commended the self-care deficit nursing theory (SCDNT) developed by Orem as a means of improving patients' health outcomes through nurses' contributions. However, experimental research has investigated specific aspects of SCDNT, such as self-care agency and self-care requisites, rather than how the construct is practiced and understood as a whole. The current research presents a case study in which an advanced practice nurse (APN) used SCDNT-led practice within a primary healthcare setting that illustrates how the theory is applied to case management. A case study was conducted by observing an APN during her work in the asthma clinic of a public hospital in Hong Kong. A comparison was made between the case management of the APN under observation with the nursing processes stipulated by the SCDNT across four key operations: diagnostic, prescriptive, treatment or regulatory, and case management. During the observed consultation, the APN applied the four key operations. In SCDNT, the role of the APN is to apply practical nursing knowledge by determining how a patient can best undertake self-care within the circumstances of their living arrangements and support facilities. The case study also demonstrated that SCDNT-based nursing practice has strengths and limitations in a primary healthcare setting. The study concluded that Orem's SCDNT serves as an appropriate theoretical framework for nursing practice within primary healthcare settings. One practical consequence of using SCDNT is that it enables APNs to use nurse-sensitive indicators when evaluating their clinical practice. This study offers a practice update to increase the accountability of nursing practice for nurse-led healthcare services.

The lack of gender diversity in the nursing profession has long been recognized as a cause for concern. Female nurses in many practice settings across nations continue to outnumber their male counterparts. Male nursing students may have perceived differences in the way they are treated in clinical practice; however, limited studies have been conducted to determine the unique perspectives of these students in terms of gender bias in their clinical learning. To address this knowledge gap, this study employed a qualitative descriptive approach to explore the experiences of male nursing students in clinical learning in an Asian context. Specifically, we examined the insights emerging from the thoughts and feelings of male nursing students from interactions with their clinical mentors, patients, and peers in their encounters during their clinical placement. From November 2019 to July 2020, data were collected through semi-structured interviews from 22 male participants aged 21–30 years (mean age: 22.7), enrolled in a prelicensure Bachelor of Nursing (honors) program in Hong Kong. Four themes emerged after a qualitative content analysis: (1) while the School of Nursing welcomes men, clinical settings are another story due to pragmatic considerations; (2) you are welcomed because you may be seen as a helper with greater physical strength; (3) male nursing students feel alienated in the obstetrics and gynecology practicum; (4) more male role models are desired in the clinical setting. Our findings indicate the need to promote gender awareness among faculty and clinical mentors, understand the factors hindering and facilitating the clinical practicum for male nursing students, improve the male nursing experience during the maternity practicum, and ensure access to more male role models to boost role socialization and learning.

One of the many challenges public health practitioners have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic is deciding on the optimal allocation of limited healthcare resources. The current paper addresses the normative question of how medical resources can be optimally distributed during the current pandemic. As an article of short communication, an ethical analysis from the moral perspectives of distributive justice was conducted. As multiple moral considerations must be analyzed to construct an ethically grounded and systematic allocation system, conflicting notions regarding efficiency, equity, and distributive justice are considered. Several practical recommendations were derived by leveraging the values of utilitarian, egalitarian, and prioritarian approaches to the proposed normative question. Transparent, equitable, and consistent allocation mechanisms underpinned by the ethical values and recommendations presented in this paper should inform prioritization guidelines when medical resources are stretched.

The rapid spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has put significant pressure on junior nursing staff. The objective of this study was to examine the in-depth experiences of junior nurses in providing care for COVID-19 patients within an acute care setting. This study employed a phenomenological method to understand the situation from a first-person perspective. Purposive sampling was used. Interviews were performed with 40 junior nurses (<4 years of clinical experience) who provided direct care to COVID-19 patients in isolation wards in acute care settings in Hong Kong. The interviews were conducted from 1 January 2021 to 24 May 2021 via virtual conferencing software (Zoom) to maintain social distancing, and the responses were analysed using Colaizzi’s seven-step method. Junior nurses’ psychological experiences of providing direct care to COVID-19 patients were categorised into four main themes. First, there were hurdles in the early stages, in which participants experienced negative emotions, such as fear, anxiety, helplessness, and fatigue. Somatic symptoms, such as headaches and sleep disturbance, were reported. Second, the adoption of self-care coping strategies enabled nurses to confront the hurdles, signifying the start of self-transformation. Third, junior nurses maintained positivity under pressure by appreciating their sources of support (including their families and other important relationships in their lives). Professionalism was also found to reinforce positivity. Fourth, self-transformation resulted in psychological growth, which prepared junior nurses to be resilient and confident in their clinical practice to take up future challenges in the ongoing battle against the pandemic. The hurdles experienced by junior nurses at the early stage of their work in isolation wards provided the foundation upon which self-transformation took place. Being able to employ self-care coping strategies and further sustain positivity characterised the self-transformation process. Eventually, junior nurses became resilient and more capable of understanding both the negativity and positivity of their experiences. The self-transformation process also enabled junior nurses to recognise and appreciate the wider support system from various parties in society.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in 2020 has led to several changes and disturbances in the daily lives of the general public. Particularly for new (first-time) mothers, there has been a significant impact on the practices of raising and feeding their babies. Social distancing measures everywhere have made mothers hesitant to breastfeed their babies anywhere else but at home. Combined with the fear of being infected with COVID-19, the present situation has created unprecedented barriers for breastfeeding mothers to accessing various types of support: emotional, instrumental, informational, and appraisal. There has been no research on the influence of the pandemic on social support regarding breastfeeding in Hong Kong. This study aimed to explore the social support and impact of COVID-19 on mothers breastfeeding their babies. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 currently breastfeeding women in Hong Kong. Colaizzi’s seven-step method was used for data analysis. Two key themes emerged from the interview data: (1) positive influences on breastfeeding support during COVID-19 and (2) negative influences on breastfeeding support during COVID-19. Our findings may help mothers prepare to breastfeed their babies in places other than their homes.

The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted the healthcare system. In the pediatric unit, stress, uncertainty, and many unexpected challenges for many parents were frequently reported. Research has shown that parents had less contact with their children during the pandemic due to hospital restrictions. However, it is unknown how parents perceived their experiences in a pediatric unit. This study aimed to describe the lived experiences of parents who had a child in the pediatric unit during the pandemic. A qualitative descriptive approach was used to investigate parents’ experiences of having children admitted to the pediatric unit during the pandemic in Hong Kong. Eight Chinese parents participated in the interview. Three major themes emerged: (1) parents’ pediatric ward experiences during COVID-19 were emotionally isolating and overwhelming, (2) the family and family-centered care were disrupted, and (3) interactions with pediatric providers intensified or alleviated emotional distress. Integrating the above themes of experiences of emotional distress was the main characteristic of the parents’ experiences during the pandemic. Therefore, policymakers should understand the lived experiences of parents of children diagnosed with COVID-19 and should make prompt decisions to deal with both parental concerns and safety issues.