Background/Objectives: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is increasingly used in intensive care units (ICUs) as a rapid bedside diagnostic tool supporting timely clinical assessment. The impact of nurse-performed POCUS on clinical management, procedural performance, and professional practice in adult ICUs has not yet been systematically synthesized. This review aimed to evaluate the integration of nurse-performed POCUS into nursing care and its effects on technical, decision-making, and professional outcomes. Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 and the JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis. PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and Web of Science were searched without time restrictions. Original studies were included if they involved adult ICU patients and evaluated POCUS performed by nurses, reporting clinical, procedural, or professional outcomes. Methodological quality was assessed using JBI and MMAT checklists according to study design. Results: Eleven studies were included. The results were synthesized into four primary domains: (1) support for the clinical decision-making process, (2) technical performance and procedural outcomes, (3) diagnostic accuracy, and (4) professional autonomy, training, and sustainability of competencies. Nurse-performed POCUS was associated with management changes in 26–67% of assessments and improved first-attempt success in ultrasound-guided peripheral venous access. Diagnostic accuracy was acceptable when supported by structured training, with no reported increase in complications. Conclusions: Nurse-performed POCUS in adult ICUs appears safe and practice-enhancing, supporting decision-making and selected procedural outcomes. Further multi-center controlled studies are required to clarify its impact on major clinical endpoints and long-term outcomes.

Background/Objectives: Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) includes new or worsening physical, cognitive, and mental impairments following intensive care unit (ICU) admission. However, its predictors remain poorly defined. This study aimed to identify the predictors of PICS among ICU survivors 30 days after discharge. Methods: This prospective, monocentric, observational study was conducted from September 2023 to March 2024. Adult ICU survivors were assessed using the Healthy Ageing Brain Care Monitor to evaluate their physical, cognitive, and mental dimensions. The predictors included age, sex, coma, sedation, clinical severity (APACHE score), risk of ICU delirium (PREDELIRIC score), infection, hospital length of stay, and mechanical ventilation duration. Multivariate linear regression was used to identify independent predictors (p < 0.05). Results: A total of 90 ICU survivors were enrolled in the study. Higher clinical severity (B = 0.17, p = 0.001) and high delirium risk (PREDELIRIC score: B = 3.11, p = 0.007) were associated with worse cognitive PICS. Functional PICS was predicted by clinical severity (B = 0.36, p = 0.002) and moderate delirium risk (PREDELIRIC score: B = 7.12, p = 0.009). Behavioural PICS was inversely associated with coma (B = −6.74, p = 0.023) but positively associated with sedation (B = 7.64, p = 0.013) and moderate delirium risk (B = 2.24, p = 0.031). Conclusions: Clinical severity, PREDELIRIC score, sedation, and coma were significant predictors of PICS subdomains. Multidisciplinary teams may be more effective by prioritising targeted screening to identify ICU survivors at elevated risk for PICS using validated predictors such as clinical severity and the PREDELIRIC score, and delivering focused interventions to those most likely to benefit.

Background/Objectives: Nurse retention remains a major global challenge for healthcare systems, intensified by workforce aging, rising care complexity, and the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite extensive research, the evidence on nurse retention remains fragmented and frequently focuses on isolated determinants. This review aimed to synthesize the multifactorial determinants of nurse retention by integrating organizational, relational, and individual perspectives. Methods: An integrative review was conducted following Whittemore and Knafl’s approach and reported according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines where applicable. A systematic search of six databases identified studies published between 2016 and 2026 addressing nurse retention in hospital settings. Included studies underwent methodological quality appraisal using validated tools, and findings were synthesized narratively. Results: Twenty-five articles were included. The analysis revealed differences in perspective between nurse managers and nurses regarding the factors that influence retention. Transformational and participative leadership among nurse managers enhanced staff retention through supportive organizational climates and higher professional commitment. For staff nurses, positive work environments, collegial support, and psychological resources such as self-efficacy and resilience were key predictors of intention to stay. These findings can be interpreted through Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory, Self-Determination Theory and Theory of Planned Behavior, which collectively highlight how recognition, autonomy, and competence satisfaction drive nurses’ intention to remain in their roles. Conclusions: Nurse retention reflects dynamic, multilevel processes rather than the influence of single determinants. Integrated, theory-informed approaches targeting organizational structures, relational climates, and individual psychological resources are required to strengthen workforce sustainability and support high-quality care delivery.

BACKGROUND: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is increasingly used in critical care to support real-time clinical decision-making. Although traditionally performed by physicians, recent advances have enabled nurses to integrate POCUS into their practice. In the intensive care unit (ICU), where timely and accurate assessments are critical, POCUS performed by nurses can improve diagnostic accuracy, guide clinical interventions, and improve patient outcomes. However, the overall impact of this practice has not yet been systematically evaluated. Aim: This systematic review aims in terms of clinical decision-making, diagnostic accuracy, timeliness of care, and patient-related outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The protocol follows the PRISMA-P 2015 guidelines and is registered in PROSPERO (N. CRD420251114795). A comprehensive literature search will be conducted in four databases: PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and Web of Science. The review will include primary peer-reviewed studies involving adult ICU patients and assessing POCUS performed by nurses. The quality of the study will be evaluated using the JBI Critical Appraisal Tools. Data will be synthesized narratively and quantitatively, where possible. EXPECTED RESULTS: This review will provide a structured synthesis of existing evidence on nurse-led POCUS in intensive care. It will explore its clinical utility and influence on decision-making, care quality, and patient outcomes. DISCUSSION: Findings are expected to inform clinical practice, training strategies, and policy development to integrate nurse-performed POCUS into ICU protocols. This review may also identify gaps in the literature to guide future research.

Introduction. Optimizing a self-care approach to support health maintenance in patients with aortic valve stenosis (AVS) who require minimally invasive transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) before and after the procedure could promote faster and more effective recovery. Additionally, this methodology may improve the perceived health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in the patients undergoing treatment, contributing to better overall outcomes through health promotion practices and disease management. This review's primary objective is to investigate self-care's effectiveness in enhancing quality of life. Methods and materials. The literature review protocol follows PRISMA guidelines and uses the PIO framework for search terms. Studies will be identified through significant databases (PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library). Methodological quality and bias risk will be assessed with JBI Critical Appraisal Tools. This review protocol has been registred on PROSPERO (No. CRD420250655531). Results. The emerging findings could potentially contribute to refining current theories on the indications for using self-care interventions to improve the HRQoL of patients undergoing TAVI. Discussion and conclusions. Future implications for research and clinical practice should adopt an increasingly targeted and focused approach in using self-care interventions to enhance the health-related quality of life of patients undergoing TAVI, both in terms of symptom recognition and disease management pre- and post-procedure. This systematic review will comprehensively examine the effects of the implementation of self-care methodologies on improving the quality of life in post-TAVI patients.

Introduction: Pulse oximetry is a technology for monitoring oxygen saturation (SpO2) in various clinical settings. However, measurement of SpO2 value can have different accuracy depending on some factors such as the sensor placement (on the finger or on the head). This narrative review was conducted to synthetize the better evidence to compare finger and forehead pulse oximetry in patients requiring Sp02 monitoring, in order to identify which method was the most effective for nursing practice. Objective: to describe the potential effectiveness of pulse oximetry saturation measurement using finger sensors versus forehead sensors, focusing exclusively on their reliability in various clinical conditions.This analysis aims to identify the most accurate method for SpO2 monitoring in nursing practice, particularly when addressing challenges related to peripheral perfusion and motion artifacts. Materials and Methods: A narrative review was conducted through the PubMed and CINAHL databases, the selected articles had to answer the following research questions: “Which sensor placement, finger or forehead, is most effective for measuring oxygen saturation (SpO2) in patients with compromised peripheral perfusion?”; and “Between finger pulse oximetry and forehead pulse oximetry, which is considered the gold standard for accurate SpO2 measurement? “ Results: Four studies were selected.The selected studies show that forehead sensors provide more reliable and accurate measurements, especially under adverse conditions, due to their resistance to peripheral vasoconstriction and motion artifacts. Finger sensors, while widely used, exhibit limitations in physiologically stressful situations. Conclusions: The finger pulse oximetry remains the standard in most scenarios, but forehead sensors may provide more reliable readings in critically ill patients with compromised peripheral perfusion.