As health service providers, nurses are at a high risk of COVID-19 infection, as are their family members who live with them. This study aimed to explore nurses’ actions to protect their families from COVID-19 in Indonesia. This qualitative descriptive study included seventeen nurses who were chosen using the snowball sampling technique. The semi structured interviews explored nurses’ actions and behavior, and comparative analysis was performed to analyze the data. The study identified four themes: nurses modified their behavior and environments to protect their families, provided supplements and nutritious food, enhanced their families’ knowledge and awareness of COVID-19, and protected their families from social stigma. Nurses play active roles in the health of their family members. The government should support nurses in their roles so that they can remain healthy while caring for COVID-19 patients, and not transmit COVID-19 to their own families.

Background: The high number of cases of COVID-19 has caused an increase in workload and a shortage of medical personnel in various countries, so volunteers are needed, such as health students. However, becoming a volunteer during a pandemic is influenced by motivational factors and barriers. Purpose: This study aims to identify the motivations and barriers of health students as COVID-19 volunteers. Methods: This study uses a systematic scoping review. A literature review was conducted using CINAHL, PubMed, and ScienceDirect databases. The study was eligible for inclusion if it included articles published from 2020 to 2022, full-text, and primary studies. Studies were excluded if they were not in English. The keywords used in English were “health students OR nursing students OR medical students” AND “motivation OR willingness” AND “Barriers” AND “volunteer OR volunteering OR volunteerism OR voluntary” AND “COVID-19 OR covid-19 OR SARS-CoV-2 OR COVID-19 pandemic”. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) appraisal tool. Results: We found 12 articles showing motivational factors and barriers among health students volunteering to control COVID-19. Motivational factors include domain values, understanding, enhancement, career, incentive, government, social, and demographics. In contrast, barriers include fear, lack of training and knowledge, PPE shortage, unpreparedness and role uncertainty, and lack of interest, support, and protection. Conclusion: Our findings highlight that eight motivational factors and seven barriers influence health students’ involvement in COVID-19 volunteering. However, to optimize the potential of health students, further preparation is essential to ensure that students can volunteer effectively, such as integrating volunteer training programs into the curriculum in preparation for future pandemic mitigation.

The use of technology-based learning methods in nursing education is necessary in the era of digitalization, but these methods are limited, especially in developing countries, including Indonesia. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Virtual Nursing Skills Simulation Lab (VNursLab), a web-based nursing skills simulation using 3D technology, to improve the knowledge of nursing skills for intravenous catheterization, satisfaction, and self-confidence of nursing students in Indonesia. A quasi-experimental design was used. A total of 139 nursing students participated and were divided into intervention and control groups (69 and 70 participants, respectively). The intervention group had access to the VNursLab 3D simulator for three weeks and had three meetings. The control group had traditional learning (lecture and three meetings). The data were analyzed using the paired t-test, Wilcoxon test, and Mann–Whitney U test. The means and standard deviations of the post-test values in the two groups for the three parameters were 12.26 + 4.11 vs. 9.67 + 3.13 for nursing skill knowledge, 23.00 + 2.32 vs. 21.70 + 2.68 for satisfaction, and 36.25 + 3.48 vs. 34.96 + 3.39 for self-confidence. We found significant differences between the intervention and control groups regarding knowledge of nursing skills (p < 0.001), satisfaction (p < 0.001), and self-confidence (p = 0.014). The VNursLab 3D simulator could be an alternative learning medium to improve nursing students’ understanding of nursing skills, satisfaction, and self-confidence. However, this medium cannot replace direct practical experience. A combination of the two learning methods, virtual-based learning and hands-on practical learning, is beneficial in helping nursing students achieve nursing competencies.

Background: The mobilization characteristics of nurses’ work, such as standing, walking, and transferring patients for a long time, can increase the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. Repetitive activities nurses perform can cause foot problems such as discomfort and insecurity, characterized by increased lactic acid levels. Anthropometric shoes are specifically designed to reduce complaints on nurses’ feet. Purpose: This study aimed to determine the effect of individual anthropometric shoes on lactic acid levels in nurses at the hospital. Methods: This study used a mixed-method study design. This study involved 71 nurses in the quantitative study and 15 nurses in the qualitative study. Nurses in Emergency Room, Central Surgical Installation, Inpatient Room, Intensive Care Unit, and Outpatient Installation were randomly selected using a stratified random sampling technique. The instruments used were the Accutrend Lactacyd tool, demographic questionnaire and interview questionnaire. Bivariate data analysis was using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and qualitative data analysis using thematic analysis. Results: This mixed-method study shows that anthropometric shoes can reduce nurses’ lactic acid levels. In the quantitative study; there was a significant difference in lactic acid levels of nurses before and after using anthropometric shoes with the average results of measuring lactic acid levels, namely pre-test (22.48 mg/dL) and post-test (16.27 mg/dL), with a p-value (0.000). The qualitative study data revealed positive results related to increased nurse knowledge, positive views on the effect of shoes on nurse performance, and the impact of using anthropometric shoes in providing comfort and safety, such as decreased muscle fatigue and pain. Conclusion: The findings of this study highlight the effect of individualized anthropometric shoes on lactic acid levels in nurses in Indonesian hospitals. It is essential to conduct further research and evaluate the results in a broader setting to ensure that anthropometric shoes can directly affect lactic acid levels.