Objective. Nurse competence became a relevant topic for discussion among nurse practitioners and nurse researchers. However, the factors connected with nurse competence need deeper exploring. The aim of this study was to explore nurse competence and factors associated with it from the perspective of nurses for predicting the possible ways for upgrading the nursing practice. Materials and Methods. A multicenter, descriptive study was performed in 11 surgical wards of 7 Lithuanian hospitals. Data were collected from November 2007 to January 2008. Lithuanian nurses (n=218) who were working with patients after abdominal surgery participated in this study. The response rate was 91%. Two instruments, both originally developed in Finland, were used: the Nurse Competence Scale and the Good Nursing Care Scale for Nurses. Results. The overall level of nurse competence and the frequency of using the competencies in practice as perceived by nurses were high. Nurses assessed the competencies in managing situations and work role the highest and in teaching-coaching and ensuring quality the lowest. Sociodemographic factors such as nurse education, experience, professional development, independence, and work satisfaction as well as the evaluation of quality of nursing care were identified as factors associated with nurse competence. Conclusions. The findings of study allow us to make the assumption that nurse education, nurse experience, and nurse professional development play a significant role in the evaluation of nurse competence as well as the evaluation of quality of nursing care. It is necessary to upgrade nursing education programs at all levels of nursing education in Lithuania: university, non-university, and professional development courses. The qualities of preconditions for nursing care, cooperation with relatives, caring and supporting initiative are related to nurse competence.

Tigecycline is safe and effective in hospitalized patients with serious infection caused by MRSA. There were too few cases of VRE to draw any conclusions.

The present study discusses how nurse managers' work-related empowerment has been investigated, in order to determine the level and relationships of empowerment among them. A systematic review was carried out, and a literature search was conducted with certain electronic databases for the period 1990-2009, using the main key words in various combinations. Only nine empirical studies in English were selected for review, in accordance with the requirements for the methodological quality and inclusion criteria. The most common type of study design was a descriptive survey (n = 5), and included various questionnaires, scales, and interviews. Nurse managers' structural, psychological, and work empowerment was found to be high or moderately high. The empowerment of nurse managers correlated positively with job satisfaction, perceived organizational support, role satisfaction, and managerial self-efficacy, and correlated negatively with emotional exhaustion and own health outcomes. Different theoretical approaches ensure a clear understanding of empowerment, but difficulties arise when the findings are synthesized across studies and settings because of the different theoretical frameworks used to conceptualize empowerment.

Summary.Objective. This paper reviews the current literature on intervention programs designed

Objective. To investigate the influence of high-salinity geothermal mineral water on stress and fatigue. Method. 180 seamen were randomized into three groups: geothermal (65), music (50), and control (65). The geothermal group was administered 108 g/L salinity geothermal water bath for 2 weeks five times a week. Primary outcome was effect on stress and fatigue. Secondary outcomes were the effect on cognitive function, mood, and pain. Results. The improvements after balneotherapy were a reduction in the number and intensity of stress-related symptoms, a reduction in pain and general, physical, and mental fatigue, and an improvement in stress-related symptoms management, mood, activation, motivation, and cognitive functions with effect size from 0.8 to 2.3. In the music therapy group, there were significant positive changes in the number of stress symptoms, intensity, mood, pain, and activity with the effect size of 0.4 to 1.1. The researchers did not observe any significant positive changes in the control group. The comparison between the groups showed that balneotherapy was superior to music therapy and no treatment group. Conclusions. Balneotherapy is beneficial for stress and fatigue reduction in comparison with music or no therapy group. Geothermal water baths have a potential as an efficient approach to diminish stress caused by working or living conditions.

No abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS) in neonates born through Meconium Stained Amniotic Fluid (MSAF) and to identify the risk factors that can lead to the development of MAS. Method:The study includes all neonates born in 2014 through MSAF. Risk factors associated with pregnancy, delivery and the neonates' condition were identified. Results between groups -the Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS) group, the meconium in the lower vocal cords, but no Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MLVC) group, and the MSAF group -were compared.Results: Out of the 2040 births in 2014, 307 neonates were born through meconium stained amniotic fluid. MAS were confirmed in 17 neonates (5.5%). Statistically significant differences between the MAS and the MSAF groups were found in the following: parity (MAS was more likely in nulliparous women (p-0.024, RR-1.8, 95% CI 1.4-2.3; p-0.045), the BMI of women (28.2±4.1 in the MSAF group and 30.6±4.2 in the MAS group (T-2.24; p-0.027)), and respiratory tract infections and anaemia during pregnancy, which were more common in the MAS group (p-0.02 ; p-0.035). MAS was more likely to occur upon induction of labour, meconium was thick, and the duration of labour was longer in first and second stages (p-0.003, p-0.0022, p-0.022, p-0.000). 60% of neonates who developed MAS were born through cesarean-section, compared to 31% born through cesarean-section in the MSAF group (p-0.043). Pathological changes in CTG were more common in the MAS group (47% compared to 4% in the MSAF group, p-0.035). The likelihood of MAS in neonates was found to increase with lower Apgar scores at minute 1 and minute 5; lower cord blood pH was also a risk factor for MAS (p-0.000, p-0.000, p-0.009). Conclusions:Prolonged labour, lower Apgar scores, induction of labour, thick meconium, nulliparity, respiratory tract infections and anaemia during pregnancy were associated with MAS. Factors such as urinary tract infections, hypertensive disorders, neonate birth weight and sex were not found to be statistically significant in this study.

Surgical nurses feel empowered at their work when they have higher education and have completed the continuing education courses. Nurses should have possibility to continue their studies at the university. Independent at work, satisfied, and motivated nurses have more power at their work in the surgical units in Lithuania. However, further research is needed to explore nurse empowerment in other fields of nursing care nationally and internationally.