Purpose : This study aims to investigate the differences in fatigue, sleepiness, and near-miss according to sleep disturbance among shift nurses in intensive care units (ICUs). Methods : A cross-sectional study in a tertiary hospital was performed. A total of 122 shift nurses working in the six ICUs were recruited. They completed self-reported questionnaires about sleep disturbance, fatigue, sleepiness, and near-miss in the past two weeks. Results : The prevalence of reported sleep disturbance was 30.3% (37 out of 122 subjects). Compared to the non-sleep disturbance group, the sleep disturbance group reported significantly more sleepiness (11.46 vs. 8.86) and higher fatigue (82.62 vs. 69.39). The sleep disturbance group showed higher rates of near-miss (78.4 vs. 57.6%) and a higher frequency of them (4.49 vs. 2.11/2weeks) compared to the non-sleep disturbance group. Medication error was the most common type of near-miss. Conclusions : This study suggests that sleep disturbances could increase fatigue, sleepiness, and near-miss among ICU shift nurses. Personal and organizational programs should be developed to support the sleep of ICU nurses.

Purpose : This study examined factors influencing the attitudes towards nurse-led defibrillation in the emergency department (ED) and intensive care unit (ICU). Methods : This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 212 nurses in the ED and ICU from three general hospitals responded to the survey. Data were collected between September and October 2015 using structured questionnaires. Independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson's correlation coefficient, and hierarchical multiple regression were used to analyze factors affecting nurses' attitudes towards nurse-led defibrillation. Results : The mean score of nurses' attitudes towards nurse-led defibrillation was 61.37 of a possible 91. Hierarchical multiple regression showed that nurses' attitudes towards nurse-led defibrillation were significantly affected by their experiences regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation (p=.003), knowledge regarding electrocardiogram interpretation and defibrillation (p=.007), and tenure in ED or ICU (p=.043). Conclusion : Results indicate that employers should set policies to support nurses in maintaining their careers in the ED or ICU and conduct systematic educational programs for them. This will increase nurses' confidence in performing defibrillation, which will lead to early defibrillation during in-hospital cardiac arrest. Consequently, it can be a strategy to increase the survival rate of cardiac arrest patients.

Purpose : This study aims to develop the Forensic Nursing Competency Scale suitable to South Korea. Methods : The initial items were generated through literature review and interviews. Items were evaluated by experts for content and face validity. By conducting a pilot test, 74 measurement items were developed. In total, 333 copies of the questionnaire were analyzed regarding the validity and reliability of the study. Data were analyzed using SPSS 23.0 program and AMOS 18.0 program. Results : The study selected 53 questions after testing the content, face, and construct validity of the scale. The final 53 questions were composed of 15 sub-components in eight domains. These eight domains encompassed nursing practice, communication, critical thinking, human caring and relationships, evidence management, active information collection, professional development, and knowledge integration. Conclusions : In order to verify the effectiveness of the scale, future studies need to compare the forensic nursing competency in two groups to assess differences in these competency. Moreover, it is necessary to develop a forensic nursing educational program and validate its effectiveness by using this scale.

Purpose : This descriptive research study aimed to identify the factors influencing nursing students' empathy and gender role identity and their effect on communication competence. Methods : Participants were 183 senior nursing students who had completed a clinical practice and simulation-based practical training course. Using the IBM SPSS/WIN 21.0 program, general characteristics were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent variables were compared with t-tests and 𝑥² tests, and influencing factors on each variable and communication underwent multiple linear regression analysis. Results : Communication competence showed significant correlations with empathy (r=.40, p<.001), gender role identity (r=.53, p<.001), major satisfaction (r=.18, p=.013), and peer relationships (r=.24, p<.001). When gender was entered as a covariate, empathy (t=4.41, p<.001) and gender role identity (t=6.97, p<.001) were identified as predictors affecting communication competence with 36% explanation power (R²=.36, p<.001). Conclusion : The findings of this study suggest that course subjects considering the gender identities of students should be developed through various programs to establish students' identity as nurses and improve their empathy and communication.

Purpose : This study aimed to explore and describe good nursing experiences of patients with cancer. Methods : Data were collected using individual in-depth interviews with 15 males and 8 females who were hospitalized in a Korean cancer hospital. The transcribed script was analyzed using Colaizzi's phenomenological method. Results : As a result, three theme clusters and nine themes were identified. The three theme clusters were as follows: "being kind and expert in every step along the cancer care trajectory," "taking an omnipotent mediator role supporting patients' well-being," and "providing professional care touching patients' mind and body." Three themes were assigned to each cluster to illustrate the given phenomena. Conclusion : Cancer patients wanted considerate understanding and sincere care from nurses while they experienced physical and emotional suffering owing to the cancer, treatment trajectory, and hospital system. To improve the quality of nursing care for cancer patients, patient-centered care combined with nurses' expertise in oncology care must be provided based on the insights from our study's findings.

Purpose : This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of mental health problems in patients discharged from the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods : This was a secondary analysis study using data from a multicenter prospective cohort of post-ICU patients. We analyzed data of 311 patients enrolled in the primary cohort study who responded to the mental health questionnaire three months after the discharge. Anxiety and depression were measured on the Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was measured on the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale. Results : The prevalence of anxiety, depression, and PTSD in patients at three months after ICU discharge were 25.7%, 17.4%, and 18.0%, respectively, and 7.7% of them experienced all three problems. Unemployment (OR=1.99, p=.033) and unplanned ICU admission (OR=2.28, p=.017) were risk factors for depression, while women gender (OR=2.34, p=.009), comorbid diseases (OR=2.88, p=.004), non-surgical ICUs (trauma ICU: OR=7.31, p=.002, medical ICU: OR=3.72, p=.007, neurological ICU: OR=2.95, p=.019) and delirium (OR=2.89, p=.009) were risk factors for PTSD. Conclusion : ICU nurses should proactively monitor risk factors for post-ICU mental health problems. In particular, guidelines on the detection and management of delirium in critically ill patients should be observed.

Purpose : This study aimed to identify the prevalence and risk factors of cognitive impairment in survivors discharged from the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods : This secondary analysis study utilized data from a multicenter prospective cohort of post-ICU patients. We analyzed the data of 175 patients enrolled in the primary cohort who completed the cognitive function evaluation three months after ICU discharge. Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale. The cut-off points for cognitive impairment were < 23 for face-to-face evaluation and < 18 for telephone evaluation. Results : The prevalence of cognitive impairment three months after ICU discharge was 32.6%. Significant risk factors for cognitive impairment were age ≥ 60 years (OR=10.52, 95% CI=3.65~30.33, p<.001), education < high school graduation (OR=2.53, 95% CI=1.07~6.01, p=.035), unplanned ICU admission (OR=4.01, 95% CI=1.45-11.14, p=.008), and delirium in the ICU (OR=4.33, 95% CI=1.08-17.23, p=.038). Conclusion : ICU nurses should use preemptive strategies to reduce post-ICU cognitive impairment of patients with risk factors. It is necessary to frequently assess and detect early delirium in critically ill patients, while attempting various non-pharmacological interventions.