Background: Assertiveness in nursing is crucial to improving communication, reducing interpersonal tensions, and improving healthcare outcomes. Objective: The objective of this systematic review was to identify and synthesize the literature on assertiveness in nursing, focusing on nurses’ perspectives regarding its role, influencing factors, challenges, and impact within complex healthcare settings. Methods: This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. An integrated mixed methods approach was used to capture the multifaceted nature of assertiveness in nursing. The evaluation covered both qualitative and quantitative investigations, concentrating on quantitative publications between 2018 and 2024 and qualitative publications without a time limit. Diverse methodologies were incorporated using the SPIDER framework. A comprehensive electronic search was conducted across six databases: PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, PsychInfo, Wiley Online Library, and Web of Science. Ultimately, 15 research papers were included in the review out of 9490 publications that were initially identified. Included studies were critically appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) and the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal checklists. Results: A total of 9490 studies were identified, of which 15 (eight quantitative and seven qualitative) were included in this review. The review and subsequent analysis revealed five major themes: (1) facilitators of assertiveness; (2) barriers to assertiveness; (3) assertiveness training; (4) interaction with other staff; and (5) patient relationships. Conclusions: Assertiveness is essential for proficient nursing practice, especially in complex healthcare environments. It facilitates improved communication, alleviates stress, and augments patient care. Future research should explore the long-term benefits of assertiveness training and its influence across various cultural settings.

The study sought to identify parental trends in children's self-medication, health-seeking behavior, knowledge of self-medication, antibiotic use, and antimicrobial resistance in Asir, Saudi Arabia. A web-based cross-sectional study was carried out by a survey questionnaire. Snow Ball sampling technique was used to select the Eight hundred and sixteen parents with children in the Asir region by WhatsApp and email, and 650 participants who met the inclusion criteria consented to participate in the study. There were 1809 episodes of childhood illnesses reported during the study period. The mean scores are on knowledge at 8.11 ± 2.43, favorable attitude at 17.60 ± 1.17, and practice was 7.72 ± 1.72, and a significant correlation was found between knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) at p = 0.01. Out of 624, the majority of parents showed strong knowledge and proficiency in antibiotics. However, the attitude scores of over 50% towards the usage of antibiotics were subpar. Around 54% of parents were self-medicating their children and 43% were unaware that skipping doses contributes to anti-microbial resistance (AMR). The facilitators for self-medication were male gender (aOR: 2.13; 95% CI: 1.26-3.98, p < 0.05), having more children (aOR: 2.78; 95% CI: 1.27-4.12 p < 0.01), professional qualification (aOR:3.07; 95% CI 1.57- 4.68; p < 0.01), residing in urban area (aOR: 3.17; 95% CI: 2.13-5.61, p < 0.05), working in health care (aOR: 5.99; 95% CI: 1.78-18.2, p < 0.01) and high income (aOR: 3.57; 95% CI: 2.08-6.34, p < 0.05). The findings indicated that the majority of parents had unfavorable views and improper practices of antibiotic usage. Strategic education programs to the targeted population, especially to the parents about side effects of antibiotics, dangerous consequences of self-medication, and crucial AMR concerns must be addressed immediately.

Ferroptosis, characterized by iron dependency and lipid peroxidation, has emerged as a key mechanism underlying neurodegeneration in rare neurological disorders. These conditions, often marked by significant therapeutic gaps and high unmet medical needs, present unique challenges for intervention development. This review examines the involvement of ferroptosis in rare neurological disease pathogenesis, focusing on its role in oxidative damage and neuronal dysfunction. We explore recent pharmacological advancements, including iron chelators, lipid peroxidation blockers, and antioxidant-based strategies, designed to target ferroptosis. While these approaches show promise, challenges such as disease heterogeneity, limited diagnostic tools, and small patient cohorts hinder progress. Furthermore, we discuss the translational and regulatory barriers to implementing ferroptosis-based therapies in clinical practice. By addressing these obstacles and fostering innovative solutions, this review underscores the potential of ferroptosis-targeting strategies to revolutionize treatment paradigms for rare neurological disorders.

The nursing staff is more likely to experience drastic stress, which can compromise their physical and mental health and affect the quality of their work. This study aimed to assess the attachment type and affective temperament in connection to the psychological effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic on psychiatric hospital nurses. We conducted a cross‐sectional online survey utilizing a convenience sample population of 100 nurses who served on the front lines during the COVID‐19 outbreak. The key findings showed that most nurses reported moderate attachment anxiety, moderate affective temperament, and mild psychological distress. It is crucial to offer nurses psychological support during COVID‐19 through various channels.

In higher education, job-related factors significantly influence faculty members’ career development, satisfaction, and institutional commitment. While organizational resilience is critical for academic sustainability, limited evidence exists on how faculty perceptions of their work environment relate to it—especially through a mixed-methods approach. This study aimed to explore the relationship between faculty members’ perceptions of job-related career development factors and organizational resilience using an integrated mixed-methods design. A mixed-methods design was employed, combining a descriptive cross-sectional survey with semi-structured interviews. The quantitative phase included 60 faculty members from a Saudi university using convenience sampling. Data were collected through an online questionnaire assessing demographic characteristics, job-related career development factors, and organizational resilience. The qualitative phase involved semi-structured interviews with 12 faculty members to gain deeper insight into their lived experiences. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. Quantitatively, 71.7% of participants reported high perceptions of job-related career development factors (M = 99.51, SD = 13.6), and 83.3% demonstrated high levels of organizational resilience (M = 71.42, SD = 9.6). Regression analysis revealed that job-related factors are significantly associated with organizational resilience (β = 0.298, p = 0.001), explaining 41% of the variance (R² = 0.41). Qualitative findings produced four themes—Roots of Growth, Autonomy with Anchors, Bouncing Forward, and Disconnected Bridges—that revealed how mentorship, leadership practices, adaptive behavior, and systemic constraints influenced faculty development and institutional resilience. This study reveals significant associations between faculty career development factors—particularly autonomy, mentorship, and supportive leadership—and organizational resilience in academic institutions. Academic leaders and policy-makers may consider implementing structured, inclusive development programs and mentorship pathways to support faculty engagement and institutional adaptability, which relates to institutional capacity. However, the cross-sectional design precludes causal inference.