The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created a global long-term education crisis, which has negatively affected the psychological well-being of nursing students. This study aims to determine the effect of academic stress and upward comparison on depression among nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic. A convenience sample of 271 junior and senior nursing students from four universities in South Korea was selected. The SPSS/WIN 28.0 program was employed for the data analysis, and multiple regression analysis was performed to confirm the effect of academic stress and stress from upward comparison on depression. The study results show that the regression model was significant (F = 7.60, p < 0.001). Moreover, age over 25 (β = 0.15, p = 0.006), academic stress (β = 0.31, p < 0.001), and upward comparison (β = 0.18, p = 0.002) explained 19.0% of depression among the participants. Developing and testing the effect of programs that address academic stress and upward comparison may be necessary to control depression in nursing students. Furthermore, in response to COVID-19, efforts must be made to include these interventions in the curriculum for nursing students on a consistent basis.

Background: Mothers and babies with gestational diabetes have an increased risk of diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular complications. Breastfeeding is known to help reduce complications in mothers and babies with gestational diabetes. However, the rate of breastfeeding among mothers with gestational diabetes is still low due to various barriers. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop a mobile application to improve the breastfeeding barrier of pregnant women with gestational diabetes. Methods: The Method of App Selection based on Users’ Needs is a method used in designing app structure and user interface by considering user needs. This method was used to develop the Breastfeeding for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus App, reflecting the needs of target users. Four personas were created based on the experiences of four mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus, and these personas’ needs were assessed and prioritized. Two professors and a clinical instructor in women’s health nursing conducted an expert review and revised the contents. Results: Our “Breastfeeding for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus App” included the following components to promote breastfeeding in mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus: baby growth, breastfeeding records, information about mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus, information about breastfeeding, videos demonstrating breastfeeding methods and breast massage techniques, breastfeeding success stories, a message board, a section for frequently asked questions and answers, and links to breastfeeding education centers. Conclusions: Use of our App is expected to help prevent complications in mothers with diabetes mellitus and their babies and to promote maternal and child health through improved breastfeeding practices, especially in social distancing situations resulting from COVID-19.

GDM=gestational diabetes mellitus

Purpose: This study investigated the prevalence and perceptions of workplace violence against registered nurses (RNs) in hospitals.Methods: One thousand RNs replied to a nationwide survey from November 14 to December 22, 2022. They reported their general characteristics, prevalence of and their responses to different types of workplace violence from patients, family caregivers, physicians, and nurse peers, as well as their perceptions of workplace violence management systems.Results: A total of 71.1% of the RNs reported that they had experienced workplace violence in the last six months. The violence and sexual harassment experienced from patients and family caregivers were 57.3% and 19.1%, respectively. Furthermore, violence, sexual harassment, and workplace harassment from physicians were experienced by 24.6%, 4.0%, and 7.4%, respectively, of the RNs, and those from nurse peers by 21.4%, 3.1%, and 11.3%, respectively. The RNs stated that they often responded to workplace violence with passive and inactive behaviors, which were more serious toward physicians’ workplace violence or sexual harassment from different perpetrators. Only 69.5% were aware of their hospital’s workplace violence management systems, while only 14.7%~27.4%, according to the type of hospital (p=.471), perceived the systems as effective. Multiple important strategies were identified to prevent workplace violence.Conclusion: Critical suggestions are discussed for the prevention of workplace violence, including protecting the human rights of healthcare professionals, inter-organizational collaboration, and a culture of person-centered healthcare, and training nurse managers’ competency in managing workplace violence.

곽은주, et al. J Korean Acad Nurs. 2024 May;54:e4. https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.23098

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify nursing students' level of critical thinking disposition, communication skills, and self-leadership and to identify factors that affect the patient safety competency of nursing students.Methods: This study employs a descriptive research, method and was conducted from April 20 to May 19, 2022, with students from three nursing colleges in Korea. The collected data were analyzed by frequency and percentage, independent t-test, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple regression. All analyzes were conducted using IBM SPSS 22.0.Results: The results of the multiple regression analysis showed that the regression model was significant (F=17.30, p<.001) and that communication skills (β=.22, p=.001), self-leadership (β=.31, p<.001), patient safety education experience (β=.15, p=.009), and subjects for credit (β=.15, p=.006) explained 28.0% of nursing students' patient safety competency.Conclusion: It is necessary to develop a self-leadership and communication skills improvement program and to organize rgular courses safety education subjects to improve the patient safety competency of nursing students.