Introduction: Work contexts can affect nurses’ work and work outcomes. Work context factors of nurses, patients, or workflow can modulate nurses’ organization of work and determine increased workloads. Aim: The aim of this research was to analyze relationships between factors regarding the patient, the nurse, workflow, and nurses’ work organization, to investigate whether work organization is related to physical, mental, and emotional workloads, and to explore whether one dimension of workload influences the other dimensions. Methods: We used a cross-sectional design based on the Job Demand-Resources theory. We asked registered nurses, working in nine medical-surgical wards across three hospitals in Italy, to self-report on work organization and workloads regarding randomized shifts over three consecutive weeks. Four scales from the QEEW 2.0 questionnaire were used on an online survey for data collection. multivariable linear regressions with structural equation modelling were tested. The study was approved by the three local Ethics Committees. Results: We received 334 questionnaires regarding 125 shifts worked. Patient complexity (β = 0.347), patient specialties (β = 0.127), adequacy of staffing (β = −0.204), collaboration with colleagues (β = −0.155), unscheduled activities (β = 0.213), supply search (β = 0.141), and documentation (β = 0.221) significantly influenced nurses’ work organization. Nurses’ work organization was significantly related to physical, mental, and emotional nursing workloads. Conclusions: the patient, the nurse, and workflow aspects influence nurses’ work organization and workloads. Healthcare organizations, managers, and nurses should explore work settings to identify work turbulences early and implement strategies to improve nursing work conditions and workloads.

Aim: To explore nursing and midwifery managers’ views regarding obstacles to compassion‐giving across country cultures.Background: The benefit of compassionate leadership is being advocated, but despite the fact that health care is invariably conducted within culturally diverse workplaces, the interconnection of culture, compassion and leadership is rarely addressed. Furthermore, evidence on how cultural factors hinder the expression of compassion among nursing and midwifery managers is lacking.Methods: Cross‐sectional, exploratory, international online survey involving 1 217 participants from 17 countries. Managers’ responses on open‐ended questions related to barriers for providing compassion were entered and thematically analysed through NVivo.Results: Three key themes related to compassion‐giving obstacles emerged across countries: 1. related to the managers’ personal characteristics and experiences; 2. system‐related; and 3. staff‐related.Conclusions: Obstacles to compassion‐giving among managers vary across countries. An understanding of the variations across countries and cultures of what impedes compassion to flourish in health care is important.Implications for nursing practice and policy: Nursing mangers should wisely use their power by adopting leadership styles that promote culturally competent and compassionate workplaces with respect for human rights. Policymakers should identify training and mentoring needs to enable the development of managers’ practical wisdom. Appropriate national and international policies should facilitate the establishment of standards and guidelines for compassionate leadership, in the face of distorted organizational cultures and system‐related obstacles to compassion‐giving.

Background: Standard precautions (SPs) are first-line strategies with a dual goal: to protect health care workers from occupational contamination while providing care to infected patients and to prevent/reduce health care-associated infections (HAIs). This study aimed at (1) identifying the instruments currently available for measuring healthcare professionals’ compliance with standard precautions; (2) evaluating their measurement properties; and (3) providing sound evidence for instrument selection for use by researchers, teachers, staff trainers, and clinical tutors. Methods: We carried out a systematic review to examine the psychometric properties of standard precautions self-assessment instruments in conformity with the COSMIN guidelines. The search was conducted on the databases PubMed, CINAHL, and APA PsycInfo. Results: Thirteen instruments were identified. These were classified into four categories of tools assessing: compliance with universal precautions, adherence to standard precautions, compliance with hand hygiene, and adherence to transmission-based guidelines and precautions. The psychometric properties of instruments and methodological approaches of the included studies were often not satisfactory. Only four instruments were classified as high-quality measurements. Conclusions: The available instruments that measure healthcare professionals’ compliance with standard precautions are of low-moderate quality. It is necessary that future research completes the validation processes undertaken for long-established and newly developed instruments, using higher-quality methods and estimating all psychometric properties.

Aim: To assess nursing staff' knowledge and self‐efficacy in vascular access device management before and after a Field Training Course, aligned to the recent Standard of Infusion Therapy Guidelines.Design: Quasi‐experimental study.Method: Nursing staff from a healthcare company in Rome, Italy, participated in a 25‐h Field Training Course, focusing on vascular access management, promoting collaborative learning, reflection and research. Participants filled in the Nurses' knowledge and self‐efficacy on vascular access devices questionnaire pre and post‐course. The course's impact on knowledge and self‐efficacy was assessed using ANOVA or T‐test.Results: A total of 472 nurses completed both questionnaires. Baseline knowledge scores significantly varied by gender, work setting and previous attendance at courses on vascular accesses, reflecting a positive influence from the healthcare facility's vascular team and the culture around PICC/Midline. Male gender and hospital setting were associated with higher self‐efficacy scores, often linked to prior course attendance. Knowledge scores were lowest for short peripheral catheters and ports, intermediate for general knowledge and long peripheral catheters/midline and highest for peripherally inserted central catheter. Self‐efficacy was higher for short peripheral catheters and lower for long peripheral catheters/midline, PICC and Ports. After the course, both knowledge and self‐efficacy significantly improved, except for short peripheral catheter self‐efficacy, which was already high at baseline.Relevance to Clinical Practice: In the constantly evolving healthcare landscape, updated knowledge and strong self‐efficacy in managing vascular access devices are crucial for nurses to deliver high‐quality care. This enables professionals to navigate complexities, make informed decisions and promote a culture of safety.Reporting Method: SQUIRE (Standards for quality improvement reporting excellence) reporting method (EQUATOR guidelines).Patient or Public Contribution: None.