Background: Cancer is a disease which affects not only patients but also their families physically and emotionally. The purpose of this study was to determine the needs, challenges and ways of coping of caregivers of cancer patients. Materials and Methods: In the study, a phenomenological approach was used. Data were collected through semi-structured individual interviews. The study sample comprised 16 family members providing care for a cancer patient. Results: The study findings are grouped under four main themes: the impact of caregiving, masking feelings, experienced challenges and expectations, and coping. During the caregiving process, patient relatives are affected physiologically, psychologically and socially. It was determined that patient relatives hid their feelings and avoided talking about the disease for fear that they might upset the patient, and that they had difficulty in coping with the patient's reactions during the treatment process. Family members had difficulties arising from the health system, hospital conditions and treatment in addition to transportation and financial problems. Support is very important in coping, but it was determined that some of the relatives of patients did not receive adequate support. Patient relatives expect that health care professionals should provide them with more information about their patient's condition and the course of the disease that their patients should be dealt with by the physicians specialized in cancer, and that psychological support should be provided both for them and for their patient. Conclusions: During the caregiving process, family members are faced with many difficulties and they exhibit different coping behaviors which health care professionals should take into account.

Study findings suggest that persons with ostomies experience changes in their body image, along with a decrease in sexual desire. Respondents described avoiding sexual intercourse, and abstained from sleeping with their partners. Male respondents described erectile dysfunction, and female respondents reported pain during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia). Participants stated that they did not feel adequately informed about these problems and desired to receive more information and support from ostomy nurses regarding sexual issues. Based on these findings, we recommend that ostomy nurses provide more counseling concerning sexual function and challenges following ostomy surgery.

BackgroundIntensive care units are stressful places where patients experience physical and psychological discomfort. Understanding the experience of these patients regarding nursing care is very important.Aims and objectivesTo determine the intensive care experiences of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery patients and the factors that affect them.DesignThe research consists of two phases: quantitative and qualitative.MethodsThis was a descriptive and cross‐sectional study. Its research sample comprised 100 patients who spent at least one night in an intensive care unit after thoracic or cardiovascular surgery. The Intensive Care Experiences Scale (ICES) and the Numeric Rating Scale were used. Two open‐ended questions were asked to the patients to understand what they felt when they were attached to mechanical ventilation and to describe their intensive care experiences.ResultsThe ICES mean score was 66.35 ± 6.88. Significant negative relationships were found between length of stay and severity of pain and ICES total scores. A significant difference was found between scale scores and being understood by health care professionals when attached to mechanical ventilation. The patients stated that, when they were attached to mechanical ventilation and during their stay in the intensive care unit, they experienced feelings of helplessness, uncertainty, and fear. They also experienced physical discomfort and reported no longer fearing death.ConclusionIt was determined that patients partially positively perceived their experiences. It was found that they focused on coming out of surgery alive. The physical discomfort and negative emotions reported can be reduced or relieved by competent care.Relevance to clinical practiceThe intensive care experiences and emotions of intensive care patients are important. Physical discomfort and negative emotions can be mitigated or alleviated by competent nursing care.

A clinical decision making skill is essential in the implementation of nursing knowledge and reflecting on patient care. The research was planned to measure the reliability and validity of The Clinical Decision Making in Nursing Scale (CDMNSTr) for undergraduate nursing students from Turkey. This study is a methodological design. This study was conducted on 210 undergraduate students of nursing. For validity; Language -Content Validity and Construct Validity (Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis) were examined. For reliability; CDMNS's Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient, item-total score correlation coefficients and stability analysis (test-retest) were examined. Item Content Validity Index and Scale Content Validity Index were calculated as .81 and .83 respectively. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that goodness of fit indexes were acceptable. Cronbach alpha value of the scale was .78. Item-to-total score correlation coefficients ranged from .13 to .56. The correlation coefficient for test-retest was .82. The scale can be used as a valid and reliable measurement tool to determine the perceptions of Turkish undergraduate students of nursing regarding to clinical decision making.