To describe the clinical education problems and strategies to improve it from the perspective of nursing students and clinical nursing educators. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted using a descriptive qualitative method in 2017. Participants included 35 baccalaureate nursing students and 5 clinical nursing educators from nursing faculty of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Participants were selected using purposeful sampling method. Data were collected through semi-structured individual interviews and used qualitative content analysis for analysis. RESULTS: The 2 main categories, 7 subcategories, and 19 sub-sub categories extracted from interviews. The two categories were “challenges of clinical education in nursing with four subcategories: fear, insufficient readiness of student, incompetency of clinical educators, unpleasant atmosphere of clinical environment,” and “strategies for improving clinical education of nursing with three subcategories: the use of nursing education models and methods, improvement of communication between faculty and practice, and holding orientation stage at the beginning of training.” CONCLUSIONS: The findings show that clinical strategies, including employing experienced clinical educators, attempting to enhance the learning environment, developing the relationship between faculty and practice, participation of clinical nurses in clinical education, paying attention to entering behavior, and holding orientation stage at the beginning of training, can improve clinical education of nursing....

Nursing, a scientific and practical discipline, faces continuing challenges of finding new direction in order to decipher its core values and develop current ethical codes for nursing practice. In 2009–10, 28 nurses were purposely selected and interviewed using a semi-structured format in focus groups and individually. Thematic Content Analysis helped explore the perception of Iranian nurses on ethical values in patient care. Seven major themes emerged: respect for dignity, professional integrity, professional commitment, developing human relationships, justice, honesty, and promoting individuals and the nursing profession. Iranian nurses revealed a unique and culture-based set of ethical values. This study found that Iranian nurses place a greater emphasis on preserving the dignity of those accompanying the patient and in showing regard for patients' religious beliefs in a gender appropriate environment.

Background: Moral distress has been experienced by about 67% of critical care nurses which causes many complications such as job dissatisfaction, loss of capacity for caring, and turnover for nurses and poor quality of care for patients as well as health system. Objective: The purpose of this research was to provide a moral empowerment program to nursing directors, school of nursing, and the heads of hospitals to reduce moral distress in nurses and improve the quality of care. Methods: This research was a randomized clinical trial conducted in two groups and three stages before, after 2 weeks, and 1 month after the intervention in order to evaluate the changes in moral distress of 60 nurses working in adults’ intensive care unit wards of Al-Zahra teaching hospital of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Data were collected using the standard Hamric’s Moral Distress Scale (2012) and analyzed using SPSS software version 22. Ethical considerations: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Results: Results showed that in the three stages, there was no significant difference between the mean score of moral distress before (4.12 ± 2.70), 2 weeks after (4.23 ± 2.70), and 1 month after the intervention (4.04 ± 2.54) in the control group (p > 0.05), while in the experimental group, there was a significant difference between the three stages (p < 0.05). The mean score of moral distress in the experimental group before intervention (4.05 ± 2.26) and 2 weeks after the intervention (3.38 ± 2.11) was not significant (p > 0.05). However, this score significantly decreased 1 month after the intervention (2.64 ± 2.23; p < 0.05). Conclusion: In this research, it was observed that moral empowerment program has been effective in reducing the mean score of moral distress. Therefore, it is recommended that nursing managers and hospital directors implement empowerment program, in order to reduce the moral distress of nurses and improve the quality of care.

Background and Objectives: Due to the increasing number of elderly and an increase in the number of cases of cancer by age, cancer is a common problem in the elderly. For elderly patients with cancer, the disease and its treatment can have long-term negative effects on their quality of life (QoL). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of progressive muscle relaxation, body image and deep diaphragmatic breathing on the QoL in the elderly with cancer. Materials and Methods: This study was a randomized controlled trial in which 50 elderly patients with breast or prostate cancer were randomized into study and control groups. Progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, and deep diaphragmatic breathing were given to the study group, but not to the control group. The effect of the progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery and deep diaphragmatic breathing was measured at three different time points. European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and QoL Questionnaire-Core questionnaires was completed before, after and 6 weeks after the intervention for the patients in both groups simultaneously. The data were analyzed by SPSS. Results: There was statistically significant improvement in QoL (P < 0.001) and physical functioning (P < 0.001) after progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery and deep diaphragmatic breathing intervention. Conclusions: The findings indicated that concurrent application of progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, and deep diaphragmatic breathing would improve QoL in the elderly with breast or prostate cancer.

A qualitative study was used. Midwifery students from three universities in Iran participated. The study used a convenience sample of eighteen students. Data for this study was collected using semi-structured interviews (N=12) and focus groups (N=6). Data were recorded on a digital audio recorder and then transcribed. The qualitative data were analyzed using a content analysis approach.

Caring role, especially in chronic diseases, has a negative impact on the health of family caregivers and can affect their quality of life. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the care burden and quality of life in family caregivers of hemodialysis patients and their relationship with some characteristics of caregivers and patients. This study was conducted as a descriptive-analytic study in Isfahan from January to February 2017. Sampling was done using census. The number of participants was 254. The data gathering tools consisted of a three-part questionnaire including demographic characteristics, the Zarit questionnaire for caring burden, and SF-36 quality of life questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient test, Spearman's coefficient, ANOVA, and univariate general linear regression. A significant level of 5% was considered. The mean scores of the quality of life and caring burden were 30.54±9.89 and 44.98±6.82, respectively in caregivers. The age of the patient under care (P<0.001), cost of medications (P=0.008), and hours of care in 24 hours (P<0.001) had a significant relationship with care givers' quality of life. Also, univariate general linear regression revealed that care burden had a significant relationship with the quality of life (P=0.003). Family caregivers who experienced more caring burden had a low quality of life. The researchers suggest that supportive and educational programs should be designed and implemented for this group of patients and their caregivers.