Background:Education about caring for dying patients could be effective in changing nursing students’ attitude toward caring for dying patients.Aim:The aim of the present study was to examine the nursing students’ attitude toward caring for dying patients and effects of education on their attitude.Materials and Methods:The present study enjoys a quasi-experimental method with using one-group pre-test/post-test design conducted in Bam in southeast of Iran. The attitude of nursing students was measured using Frommelt Attitude Toward Care of the Dying (FATCOD) scale before and after an educational intervention. Data were analyzed using non-parametric tests in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 18 software.Results:Of 32 students, 30 participated in this study (response rate of 94%). Only 20% of the students reported previous experience of dying patients in their clinical courses. Students showed moderately negative to neutral attitudes toward caring for dying patients. Education has improved students’ attitude significantly (mean score of FATCOD before study were 3.5 ± 0.43 and after intervention were 4.7 ± 0.33) (P < 0.001).Conclusion:Educational programs about death and caring for dying patients should be added to undergraduate nursing curricula. Further research recommended examining nursing students’ knowledge about caring for dying patients and the effect of education on their knowledge.

ObjectivesVentilated associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most common nosocomial infection and complication occurring in intensive care units (ICUs) worldwide. This study aimed to assess the ICU registered nurses’ perceived barriers towards VAP prevention in southeast Iran.SettingThis was a cross-sectional descriptive–an analytical study to examine the registered nurses’ perceived barriers towards VAP prevention in southeast Iran.ParticipantsThe study population consisted of 242 nurses working in ICU and emergency departments.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe data was collected using demographic characteristics’ questionnaire and a researcher-made ventilator-associated pneumonia barriers prevention questionnaire.ResultsThe mean score of nurses’ perceived barriers towards VAP prevention was 2.82±0.46. The highest mean score of perceived barriers were related to items of ‘lack of staff’, ‘lack of a team-based approach to care and interventions’, and ‘lack of support from management’.ConclusionsThis study indicates most of the barriers are related to organisational factors and lack of teamwork. Further studies are needed to obtain more accurate results.Trial registration numberThe study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Kerman University of Medical Sciences (IR.KMU.REC.1395.908).

Caregivers of individuals with heart failure are at high risk for diminished quality of life because of the energy involved in providing necessary care. Caring for someone with chronic heart failure can affect caregivers' physical, psychological, and social health, collectively referred to as the burden of care , and may also affect family functioning. The current cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the relationship between caregiver burden and family functioning in caregivers of older adults with heart failure in southeastern Iran using the Zarit Burden Inventory and the Family Assessment Device based on the McMaster Model of Family Functioning. The Pearson correlation coefficient, independent t test, and analysis of variance were used to determine relationships among variables. Results showed a significant correlation between burden of care and total score of family functioning. Therefore, it is necessary to take measures to reduce burden of care for caregivers through education and support programs and to improve their family functioning and quality of life. [ Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 46 (6), 25–33.]

Background Stressors in intensive care units (ICUs) are sometimes so severe that they result in Post‐traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in ICU survivors. The memories that survivors have from the ICU may play a role in developing PTSD. Aim This study aimed to determine the prevalence of PTSD‐related symptoms in ICU survivors in Southeast Iran and its relationship with their memories of the ICU. Methods In this descriptive correlational study, 100 people discharged from ICUs in southeastern Iran completed the Impact of Event Scale‐Revised (IES‐R) and ICU memory tool (ICU‐MT). Results Findings indicated that, from 100 participants who, on average, were assessed 3.19 ± 5.37 months after discharge, 13% were suffering from PTSD. The total mean IES‐R score and the scores of “Intrusion,” “Avoidance,” and “Hyperarousal” subscales in patients with delusional memories were higher compared with the patients who did not have such memories. In the patients who were mechanically ventilated at the time of their stay in the ICU, the total mean IES‐R score was 6.86 times higher (P = .03). Conclusion This research provided further evidence of the relationship between delusional memories and PTSD in patients who had been discharged from the ICU. Relevance to clinical practice In the care of patients admitted to the ICU, preventive strategies should be used to minimize delusional memories and PTSD. It is necessary to detect post‐ICU psychiatric morbidities and provide early psychological intervention in post‐discharge follow‐up programmes to improve psychological outcomes after critical illness.