Background: Pressure ulcers (PUs) are injuries resulting from ischaemia caused by prolonged compression or shear forces on the skin, adjacent tissues and bones. Advanced stages of PUs are associated with infectious complications and constitute a major clinical challenge, with high social and economic impacts in health care.Goals: This study aims to identify and describe the relationship between PU risk factors, stages and anatomical locations, and the relevance of microbial cohabitation and biofilm growth.Methods: The narrative review method to advocating a critical and objective analysis of the current knowledge on the topic was performed. Indexed databases and direct consultation to specialized and high‐impact journals on the subject were used to extract relevant information, guided by co‐authors. The Medical Subject Headings of pressure ulcer (or injury), biofilms, infection and other analogues terms were used.Results: Development of PUs and consequent infection depends on several direct and indirect risk factors, including cutaneous/PU microbiome, microclimate and behavioural factors. Infected PUs are polymicrobial and characterized by biofilm‐associated infection, phenotypic hypervariability of species and inherent resistance to antimicrobials. The different stages and anatomical locations also play an important role in their colonization. The prevention and monitoring of PUs remain crucial for avoiding the emergence of systemic infections and reducing health care–associated costs, improve the quality of life of patients and reduce the mortality‐associated infected PUs.

A significant number of adult oncology patients require at least one peripheral intravenous catheter to fulfill their therapeutic plan. Recent evidence indicates that catheter failure rates are high in this cohort, impacting care outcomes and patient experience during cancer treatment. This reality represents a challenge to nurses worldwide since in most international settings they are responsible for delivering quality care during the insertion and maintenance of such devices. This study aims to explore current nursing practices regarding the insertion, maintenance, and surveillance of peripheral intravenous catheters in oncology patients. A two-phase mix-method study was conducted with the nursing team from the surgical ward of a large oncology hospital in Portugal. In phase one (observational prospective study), nurses’ practices during catheter insertion and maintenance were observed by the research team and recorded using standardized instruments and validated scales. In phase two, three online focus groups were conducted with the nursing team to present the results observed in phase one and explore their perceptions of current practices. All ethical principles were assured throughout the study. Significant divergent practices were observed and identified by the nurses, especially concerning patient involvement, nurses’ adherence to the aseptic, non-touch technique, catheter stabilization and dressing, and catheter flushing and locking. Such practices may partially explain the high complication rate found (26%) and substantiate the need for future intervention in this field.

Bedridden patients usually stay in bed for long periods, presenting several problems caused by immobility, leading to a long recovery process. Thus, identifying physical rehabilitation programs for bedridden patients with prolonged immobility requires urgent research. Therefore, this scoping review aimed to map existing physical rehabilitation programs for bedridden patients with prolonged immobility, the rehabilitation domains, the devices used, the parameters accessed, and the context in which these programs were performed. This scoping review, guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute’s (JBI) methodology and conducted in different databases (including grey literature), identified 475 articles, of which 27 were included in this review. The observed contexts included research institutes, hospitals, rehabilitation units, nursing homes, long-term units, and palliative care units. Most of the programs were directed to the musculoskeletal domain, predominantly toward the lower limbs. The devices used included lower limb mobilization, electrical stimulation, inclined planes, and cycle ergometers. Most of the evaluated parameters were musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory, or vital signs. The variability of the programs, domains, devices and parameters found in this scoping review revealed no uniformity, a consequence of the personalization and individualization of care, which makes the development of a standard intervention program challenging.

Objective: To identify the learning outcomes and skills obtained of undergraduate nursing students involved in research projects. Methods: This was an integrative literature review, based on a research protocol in the CINAHL Complete databases; Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials; Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews; Cochrane Methodology Register; MedicLatina; MEDLINE, Scopus and JBI, including primary and secondary studies, published between 2015 and 2020. Results: A total of five heterogeneous articles were included, which were categorized using Kirkpatrick's (adapted) model. Seventeen learning outcomes acquired through participation in research projects were identified, from the learning of new knowledge and skills to the development of new attitudes and behaviors. Final considerations: The involvement of nursing students in research projects is important to their professional development. Future investment in research on this topic can help cement the potential of this type of student involvement.

In patients with peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs), performing flushing is an essential procedure to maintain catheter patency and prevent complications. These PIVC related complications can lead to premature removal and therapeutics interruption, which implies the need of a new catheterization thus increasing patient discomfort and pain. To identify nursing practices related to the flushing procedure, namely: moment(s) of the flushing; the syringe size used; the flush solution, volume and technique; the knowledge and accomplishment of the recommended standards on flushing by nurses. A cross-sectional study was conducted between July and December 2017, with Brazilian and Portuguese nurses. An online questionnaire was developed based on the international recommendations on flushing procedure. Descriptive analysis was performed. A total of 76 nurses answered the questionnaire. The majority of nurses (84.2%) performed flushing: the most common technique used was continuous syringe pressure (31.2%), with the push-pause technique being performed by 23.4% of the nurses. Despite the majority performs flushing at four distinct moments (after the PIVC insertion, before, between and after drug delivery), there are inconsistencies in flush solution, volume, and syringe size. The most used volume to perform flushing was 5 mL, filled using normal saline. Despite this, they also recognized the omission of this procedure due to time constrains, no familiarity with the procedure and unavailable material. This study identified that flushing procedure isn't always performed by nurses in their clinical practice. Also, several inconsistencies were observed between nurses that performed flushing, reflecting the lack of empirical evidence in this area of research.

Burnout comprises a series of undetermined physical and psychosocial symptoms caused by an excessive energy requirement at work—it is a crisis in relationships with work itself and not necessarily a concern with underlying clinical disorders related to workers. Professions involving human interactions commonly involve emotional engagement, especially when the cared-for person needs assistance and support, as is the primary concern in the nursing profession. To some extent, the acknowledgment of the phenomena of burnout and how it affects people is sometimes addressed from a biomedical perspective. This concept paper aims to describe the burnout concept and reflect on the impact on nurses. Our intention with this reflection, considering the burnout impact on nurses, is to support a paradigm change in the prevention and management of burnout in healthcare contexts, promoting and fostering the well-being of nurses.