BACKGROUND: COVID-19 infection is transmitted easily and quickly, and nurses constitute the riskiest group of healthcare workers. Therefore, they may experience high levels of stress and sleep problems. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted in order to evaluate the stress levels and sleep quality of nurses working during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted with 316 nurses working in a pandemic hospital in a city center. A descriptive form, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) were used to collect data. RESULTS: A positive, moderately significant correlation was found between the average PSQI score of nurses and the average perceived stress score (p≤0.001). Multiple regressions determined that shift work, stress level, a coworker having COVID-19, being out of home due to the risk of transmission, and having a person older than 65 in the home were effective predictors of sleep quality (R2 = 33.5, p≤0.001). Age, years worked, fear of infecting the family with COVID-19, receiving COVID-19 education, regular nutrition, and sleep quality were effective predictors of stress level (R2 = 32.2, p≤0.001). CONCLUSION: It was determined that nurses have low sleep quality and high stress levels during the pandemic process.

Background The use of smartphones among young people is quite common. However, smartphones are associated with negative effects when used excessively. It has been reported that smartphone use may adversely affect learning in the classroom, cause safety issues, and negatively affect interpersonal communications. Purpose The aims of this study were to determine the level of smartphone addiction among nursing and medical school students and to examine the effect of smartphone addiction level on communication skills. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted with medical school and nursing students at a public university (502 participants). Data were collected using a personal information form, the Smartphone Addiction Scale–Short Version (SAS-SV), and the Communication Skills Assessment Scale. Results All of the participants in the study owned smartphones. Most (70.9%) were female, and 58.2% were in the nursing program. The participants used smartphones for a mean time of 5.07 ± 3.32 hours a day, primarily for messaging. The mean total SAS-SV score for the participants was 31.89 ± 9.90, and a significant difference in SAS-SV mean scores was found with regard to the variables of department, gender, daily smartphone use duration, academic success, status regarding smartphone use in the classroom, participation in sports, easy communication with patients and relatives, preferred mode of communication, health problems tied to phone use, and injury status (p < .05). In addition, a positive weak-to-moderate relationship was found between SAS-SV mean scores and the variables of daily smartphone use duration and years of smartphone use, whereas a negative weak relationship was found between SAS-SV mean scores and Communication Skills Assessment Scale scores. Daily smartphone use duration was found to be the most important predictor of smartphone addiction. Conclusions/Implications for Practice Higher SAS-SV scores have a negative impact on interpersonal communication and social life and reduce learning efficacy in students. Therefore, students and lecturers should be better informed regarding the benefits and risks of smartphone use in education, with precautions provided against excessive and needless use.

Objective: In this hospital-based study, we aimed to determine occupational accident perceptions and occupational accident reasons in sample of Turkish nurses. Method: In the study, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Workload Scale and a Study Questionnaire Form including the employment characteristics of the nurses, their socio demographic characteristics, and the occupational accidents they encountered. Results: 108 nurses (90 females, 18 males; mean age, 26.42±5.5 years) participated in the study. 68.5% of nurses have undergone at least once a occupational accident. Most of the participants were found to have experienced occupational accidents with approximately half evaluating their occupational accidents risk as high. Most of the nurses worked overtime and in shifts. The mean total scores for the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Workload Scale were respectively 9.09±3.33 and 36.94±6.42. Statistically significant differences in occupational accidents were found with regard to Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Workload Scale scores, working in shifts, and working overtime (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was concluded that nurses had very high rates of occupational accidents and that the heavy work conditions affected occupational accidents.

Bu çalışmanın amacı; sağlık yüksekokulu öğrencilerinin evlilik öncesi cinsel ilişki, istemli düşükler ve kontraseptif yöntem kullanımı konusunda görüşlerini belirlemek ve toplumsal değer yargılarını mesleki yaşantılarına yansıtmamaları konusunda farkındalık yaratmaktır. Yöntem: Kesitsel olarak planlanan araştırmaya, Mayıs-2008'de Trakya ve Namık Kemal Üniversitesi sağlık yüksek okullarında öğrenim gören toplam 338 ebelik ve hemşirelik öğrencisinin katılmıştır. Veriler araştırmacılar tarafından hazırlanan 25 maddelik bir soru formu ile toplanmıştır. Bulgular: Araştırmaya katılanların yaş ortalaması 20.9±1.6'dır ve %97'si kadındır. Öğrencilerin %66.9'u "evlenmeden önce cinsel ilişkiye girmek yanlıştır"; %63.6'sı "evlilik dışı ilişkiler bizim ahlaki ve kültürel değerlerimizi tahrip ediyor"; %52.1'i "istemli düşük ahlaksal olarak yanlıştır"; yalnızca %2.1'i ise "kontraseptif yöntemler ile ilgili bilgi yalnızca evli çiftlere verilmelidir" önermesine katıldıklarını belirtmişlerdir. Sonuç: Geleceğin sağlık çalışanları evlilik dışı cinsel ilişki, istemli düşükler ve kontraseptif kullanımı ile ilgili konularda toplumsal değer yargıları ve mesleki yaklaşımları arasında ikilem yaşamaktadırlar. Evlilik dışı cinsel ilişki ve istemli düşükler ahlaksal olarak yanlış bulunurken; planlanmamış bir gebelik durumunda istemli düşüğün kabul edilebileceğini ve evli olmayan genç kadınların istemli düşük hizmetlerinin, kürtajın fiziksel ve psikolojik sonuçlarını da kapsayacak şekilde verilmesi bu ikilemi açıkça göstermektedir. Sağlık alanında toplumsal değer yargılarının mesleki bağımsızlığı ve tıbbi etik yaklaşımları etkilemesi olasılığını en aza indirmek amacıyla müfredat gözden geçirilmelidir.

The present study aimed to determine the depression risk and the management of chronic diseases of individuals over 65 years old under the mandatory mass coronavirus disease 2019 quarantine. Design and Methods:The cross-sectional study was conducted with 185 Turkish elders with chronic diseases.Findings: The majority of the elderly reported that their medication, diet, and exercise programs were not affected, but the regular health controls were negatively affected. Of the participants, 51.9% of them carried the risk of depression.Implications for Nursing Practice: Urgent action plans for elders need to be developed taking into account psychosocial needs for them to pass the pandemic process with minimal damage.