Introduction: Excessive smartphone usage has raised concerns about addiction and its potential detrimental effects on students' mental health and academic performance. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 343 nursing, physiotherapy, and midwifery students at the University of Shkodra using a 10-item online questionnaire to assess smartphone use, dependence, and related behaviors. Data were collected in January and February 2025. Analyses included exploratory factor analysis and hierarchical OLS regression using SPSS 19. Results: All students reported using smartphones; 48.1% used their phones for 4–6 hours daily, consistent with global trends of increasing smartphone addiction. About 50.4% used smartphones primarily for social media, research, news, and entertainment. A strong emotional attachment was evident, with 84.6% experiencing anxiety or distress when without their phones. Physical symptoms were also reported, with 23% experiencing wrist or neck pain due to prolonged use, underscoring the importance of ergonomic awareness. Discussion: The findings reflect global trends in student smartphone overuse, with emotional dependence and physical strain being the most prominent concerns. In Albania, limited student support and digital literacy may intensify reliance on smartphones as coping tools, highlighting the need for targeted interventions. Conclusions: Students at the University of Shkodra exhibit growing smartphone dependence that affects their daily life and well-being. Both mental distress and physical discomfort highlight potential health risks linked to smartphone addiction.

This study aimed to identify key occupational and demographic factors associated with nurse burnout in a major public hospital in Albania. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among nurses in a regional hospital. Nursing management invited all units to participate. Nurses completed the questionnaire voluntarily and anonymously during breaks. The survey included job satisfaction, burnout risk, working conditions, supervisor and colleague support, workload, shift duration, career opportunities, and demographic variables. Cluster analysis was used to categorize nurses, and exploratory factor analysis examined the structure of job satisfaction factors. Data from 345 nurses showed that high workload and long shifts significantly increased burnout risk. Strong supervisor support and greater job satisfaction were associated with reduced burnout. Nurses in rural settings had 1.57 times higher odds of burnout compared to urban nurses. Female nurses had 1.25 times greater odds of burnout than male nurses. Advanced education and better career advancement opportunities were linked to lower burnout levels. Burnout is more prevalent among rural nurses and, to a lesser extent, among female nurses, suggesting the need for context-sensitive and inclusive interventions. Burnout stems from systemic challenges such as excessive workload, insufficient managerial support, and role misalignment. Addressing these issues requires organizational changes including staffing improvements, supportive leadership, and professional development. Future research should apply standardized burnout measures and longitudinal approaches to better understand nurse well-being.

AIM: The aim of this study was to identify the reasons why students that attending nursing study program decide to choose this study program for their future. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study on students at University of Shkodra “Luigj Gurakuqi” in Albania and University of Pristina “Hasan Prishtina,” in Kosovo, during October–November 2021. The students that participated attended the bachelor study program in nursing and program of professional master. Data collection was done using a questionnaire with closed and opened questions. Student’s opinions were collected through a self-administered online questionnaire. The survey was administered using the Google Forms® platform, performed in classroom and was anonymous. To analyze the sample, it was used the exact Fisher’s Test, Pearson’s correlation R and ꭓ² test. RESULTS: The study included 376 students which 259 from Albania and 117 from Kosovo. 335 were female and 41 males. 195 of students were from urban area and 181 from rural area. 130 students were at the 1st year of studies, 98 at the 2nd year, 100 of 3rd year, and 48 students attend professional master’s degree. About 66% of students have chosen nursing program because it is easy to find a job and 81.6% of students think that by choosing the nursing study program, they can make a career. About 82.2% of students have chosen the nursing study program because they can ensure a satisfactory economic level. More than 77% of students think that finding a job as a nurse is easy and for 75% of students nursing program has been the first choice. About 88.3% of students say they have chosen to continue their studies in nursing because they believe they can be employed after completing their studies in European Union countries. About 97.1% of students chose this program because they feel valuable in helping people with health needs. In our study, we have evidenced that 58.8% of all students would like to work in Germany. CONCLUSIONS: Students choose the bachelor study program in nursing mainly to be able to easily secure a job, for a career, to help people with health problems and to secure an employment in the countries of the European Union. The same reasons evidenced in two student’s group from two universities.

Background: Professional practice in the nursing study program was conducted with groups of 10 to 12 students and we have had an excellent experience until 2018. While during the academic year 2019-2020 we were forced to form internship groups of 20 students, which has brought major problems in their progress and management. Methods: The study was conducted with nursing students in second and third year of study, in bachelor’s degree in "General Nursing". Results: There were major changes in reported knowledge of professional practice. There are substantial differences between years of study and between groups of 10 and 20 students in practice. Conclusions: Special attention should be paid to professional practice when designing teaching curricula. It should occupy about 35% of the total curriculum and the practice groups should be as small as possible.

Background: Nursing home care refers to the provision of long-term care services to individuals who are unable to live independently and require assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, eating, and medication management. Objective: To explore the experience of nursing home care in Shkoder during COVID – 19 and to explore the key challenges and concerns associated with nursing home care during the quarantine period. Methods: A qualitative phenomenal approach study was conducted. Data were collected through one in one semi-constructed interviews. In this study were included 30 nurses who offered their service at home of patients during pandemic. Only the nurses who have a bachelor’s degree in nursing and have at least 1 year of experience in providing home care were included in the interview. Those who refused and people who did not offer this service at home were excluded. Out of 37 nurses, 30 agreed to be part of this study. All these people have been invited for an interview via WhatsApp. Then we went to their place of work where the interviews were conducted in a separate room at their place of work. All audio recorded interviews were transcribed into type written text and qualitatively analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis approach. Inductive thematic analysis is a method for identifying, analyzing and reporting patterns or themes independently from existing theoretical frameworks or categories. The period time of this study was January – February 2023. Results: The nurses in Shkodra encountered various challenges while providing home care services during the Covid-19 pandemic. Conclusion: Shkodra’s nurses have exemplified resilience and dedication as they navigate the complexities of providing home care services during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.