Background: Treatment process experiences of peritoneal dialysis patients in the home environment may affect their daily living activities, social lives, and quality of life.

Aim: This study aimed to reveal the difficulties experienced by peritoneal dialysis patients in their home environment based on their own experiences.

Methods: The universe of this qualitative study consisted of peritoneal dialysis patients receiving services from a research hospital in a province in the Marmara Region. The sample included all patients over the age of 18 who were receiving peritoneal dialysis services between August 27 and October 27, 2023, who agreed to participate in the study. The study was completed with 15 participants. Data were collected using a "Descriptive Characteristics Form" and an "Assessment Form for Difficult Experiences of Peritoneal Dialysis Patients in the Home Environment." Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data.

Results: The majority of participants were women, married, and housewives (66.7%). In the study, the following themes and sub-themes were identified: “daily living activities (freedom of movement, sleep patterns and nighttime routines, time management and daily planning)”; “exhaustion/dependency (physical fatigue, device and program dependency)”; “social life and social activities (vacation and travel barriers, feelings of social isolation, family relationships)”; “peritoneal dialysis complications (physical complications, adaptation issues and transition to the machine, hygiene concerns and risk of infection)”; and “access to treatment and the treatment process (material procurement and economic difficulties, spatial inadequacies, expectations for institutional support and assistance).”

Conclusion: The study demonstrates that the experiences of peritoneal dialysis patients indicate that healthcare should not be limited to the clinical dimension alone; supportive practices targeting the family, social environment, and work life are an integral part of patient care. It may be advisable to reassess and improve existing practices developed to prevent difficulties experienced by peritoneal dialysis patients in their home environment and to enhance protective measures.

Background: Surgical interventions affect patients not only physiologically but also psychologically. Perioperative anxiety and surgical fear are common and may impact postoperative recovery and sleep quality.

Aim: This study aimed to examine the relationship between preoperative surgical fear and anxiety levels and postoperative sleep quality and recovery one month after hip and knee arthroplasty.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between 2022 and 2023 with 83 patients who underwent hip or knee arthroplasty at a training and research hospital in Türkiye. Data were collected using the Surgical Fear Question-naire, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory – State subscale, Postoperative Recovery Index, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The Pearson correlation test, chi-squared test, Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test were used for data analysis.

Results: The mean age and Body Mass Index (BMI) of the patients were 65.66±7.74 and 31.42±4.99, respectively. Of the patients, 75.9% were female and 85.5% were married. The mean Surgical Fear Questionnaire score was 27.80±20.82, and the mean State Anxiety Inventory score was 40.78±10.00. The mean Postoperative Recovery Index score was 1.76±0.73. According to the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, 66.1% of patients had poor sleep quality. A moderate positive correlation was found between surgical fear and anxiety levels, while a low positive correlation was observed between surgical fear and postoperative recovery (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Preoperative surgical fear and anxiety are associated with poorer postoperative recovery and sleep quality among hip and knee arthroplasty patients. These findings emphasize the importance of evaluating and addressing psychological factors before surgery to improve postoperative outcomes.

Background: E-learning plays a critical role in modern nursing education by offering flexibility and access to diverse learning resources. However, excessive smartphone use and behaviors like phubbing—ignoring others to focus on one's phone—may negatively impact learning engagement and communication.

Aim: This study aimed to examine the relationship between nursing students’ attitudes toward e-learning and their phubbing behavior, as well as the influence of demographic and behavioral factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational design was adopted. The sample consisted of 283 undergraduate nursing students from a public university in Türkiye. Data were collected using the Attitudes Toward E-Learning Scale (ATELS) and the Generic Scale of Phubbing (GSP). Descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with post hoc tests, and Pearson correlation analyses were conducted to evaluate the data.

Results: Results showed that students held moderately positive attitudes toward e-learning (mean ATELS: 28.18±7.78) and moderate levels of phubbing (mean GSP: 48.71±15.69). No significant correlation was found between ATELS and GSP scores. Gender and school grade were significantly associated with ATELS scores, with male and second-year students reporting more positive attitudes. Stronger communication skills were also linked to higher ATELS scores (p<0.05). In contrast, higher daily smartphone use, lower communication skills, and low participation in social activities were significantly associated with increased phubbing.

Conclusion: These results suggest that although both behaviors are shaped by digital habits, they are not directly related. Improving students' communication skills and encouraging digital self-regulation may enhance the effectiveness of e-learning. Further research should explore these dynamics across different educational settings.

Background: Type 2 diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder that requires long-term lifestyle changes and continuous self-management. The degree to which individuals accept their illness plays a pivotal role in psychological adaptation, treatment compliance, and disease outcomes.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effect of sociodemographic characteristics on the level of disease acceptance in individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: This descriptive study was conducted with 282 patients with type 2 diabetes receiving treatment in the internal medicine department of a district state hospital between January 5, 2024 and February 15, 2024. Personal information forms and the Illness Acceptance Scale were used by the researchers for data collection. Data were analyzed using the independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests.

Results: The distribution of personal characteristics among type 2 diabetes patients who participated in the study showed a mean age of 58.93±12.40; 62.4% were female, 87.9% were married, 52.4% were primary school graduates, 68.7% were not working, 46% were housewives, and 36.1% had a diagnosis duration ranging from 5 to 10 years. The relationship between the level of disease acceptance and age (p=0.000), gender (p=0.036), educational status (p=0.032), marital status (p=0.003), employment status (p=0.000), occupation (p=0.000), duration of diagnosis (p=0.000), and having another disease (p=0.000) was found to be statistically significant.

Conclusion: It was found that the perceived level of disease acceptance among individuals is influenced by variables such as age, gender, marital status, educational status, employment status, occupation, and duration of diagnosis. These factors should be considered when designing individualized care plans and psychosocial support interventions.

Background: Nurses provide psychosocial care through individualized and recovery-oriented approaches and play a critical role in supporting patients’ mental recovery and promoting adherence to healthy lifestyle behaviors among individuals with kidney disease. Kidney disease affects psychological well-being, yet the concept of mental recovery and its relationship with healthy lifestyle behaviors remains understudied.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate mental recovery and healthy lifestyle behaviors in patients with kidney disease.

Methods: This descriptive and correlational study was conducted between January and September 2023. A total of 138 patients completed a demographic information form, the Mental Recovery Scale (MRS), and the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP II). Data were collected through face-to-face surveys. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and simple and multivariate regression analyses were used to analyze the data.

Results: The mean age of participants was 49.59±12.54 years, 52.9% were male, and the mean duration of diagnosis was 42.74±52.23 months. The mean scores were 85.04±8.14 for the MRS and 135.70±18.43 for the HPLP II. The results indicated a positive and significant relationship between the total MRS score and the HPLP II subscales—Health Responsibility, Nutrition, Spiritual Growth, Interpersonal Relationships, and Stress Management. Mental recovery was significantly predicted by health responsibility, nutrition, spiritual growth, interpersonal relationships, stress management, and overall health-promoting lifestyle behaviors.

Conclusion: Mental recovery was found to be moderately high and closely linked to health-promoting lifestyle behaviors. These findings suggest that promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors may enhance mental recovery in individuals with kidney disease and support more holistic psychosocial care.

Background: Thirst is a distressing yet often overlooked symptom in hospitalized patients, particularly those under fluid or oral intake restrictions. Despite its relevance to patient comfort, its clinical determinants remain insufficiently studied in internal medicine settings. Nurses, as primary providers of symptom management, play a critical role in recognizing and addressing thirst.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the level of thirst distress among patients hospitalized in internal medicine units and to identify demographic and clinical factors associated with thirst.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed in the internal medicine units of a tertiary hospital between July and December 2024. Using the known population formula at a 95% confidence level, 271 patients meeting inclusion criteria were recruited. Data were collected through a Demographic Characteristics Questionnaire and the Thirst Discomfort Scale (TDS). Data were analyzed using independent t-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple linear regression.

Results: According to the results of the study, among the patients, 52.4% were male, and the participants had a mean age of 65.92±14.63 years and a mean Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25.47±4.78 kg/m2. Most patients had no dietary restrictions, with 91.5% reporting no oral restriction, 93.4% no fluid restriction, and 50.6% no salt restriction. The mean total TDS score was 26.36±11.04, reflecting a low-to-moderate level of thirst distress. Higher levels of thirst distress were observed among patients who were female, consumed alcohol, had oral or fluid restrictions, were diagnosed with hypertension, or used opioids (p<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis identified female gender (B=4.75, p=0.004) and oral restriction (B=8.04, p=0.02) as independent predictors of thirst distress.

Conclusion: Although thirst distress was generally low to moderate, certain groups—specifically those with oral or fluid restrictions, alcohol use, hypertension, or opioid therapy—reported significantly higher discomfort. Integrating routine thirst assessment, oral care, and individualized fluid management into nursing protocols may improve patient outcomes and enhance comfort.

Background: Workforce planning and the management of personal protective equipment are important issues in maintaining the quality of care and protecting the healthcare workforce during Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Aim: This study aimed to explore the experiences of nurse managers regarding the management of nursing services during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on their roles in workforce planning, prevention of contamination, communication management, provision of psychosocial support, and leadership practices under crisis conditions.
Methods: A phenomenological research design with purposeful sampling was used among 14 chief nurse officers. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured online interviews and analyzed using context analysis.

Results: According to the results of this study, the mean age of participants was 33.76±5.26 years, the mean professional experience was 11.46±5.90 years, and the mean working experience as a nurse manager was 7.23±3.90 years. The analysis revealed four main themes: workforce planning and management, prevention of contamination, communication and coordination processes, and psychosocial and leadership challenges. Nurse managers described developing strategies to ensure staff safety, maintain service continuity, and support nurses’ well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusion: The study highlights that nurse managers played a crucial role in ensuring the continuity of nursing services during the COVID-19 pandemic through effective workforce management, contamination prevention, and staff support strategies. However, the lack of institutional, psychosocial, and educational support mechanisms for nurse managers created significant challenges in fulfilling their managerial and leadership responsibilities. Strengthening organizational preparedness and targeted support programs for nurse leaders is essential for future health crises.

Background: Intensive care units are settings where life-threatening illnesses are treated and cared for, and complex clinical processes are managed. In the surgical intensive care unit, immobility, hemodynamic changes, nutritional problems, and the use of invasive equipment during and after surgery increase the risk of pressure ulcers. Nurses' knowledge, clinical skills, and attitudes play a decisive role in preventing these injuries.
Aim: This study was conducted to determine the opinions of nurses working in a surgical intensive care unit regarding the prevention and care of pressure ulcers.
Methods: The research was conducted using the phenomenological approach, one of the qualitative research methods. The study included 30 nurses working in the surgical intensive care unit (ICU) of a training and research hospital. A focus group interview was conducted with the participants, who were divided into seven groups based on their interview dates. Data were collected using a "Personal Information Form" containing the sociodemographic characteristics of the nurses and a "Semi-Structured Focus Group Interview Form," then analyzed and coded with the MAXQDA program.
Results: It was determined that 20 of the participants were female, 14 were between the ages of 23 and 29, 20 were married, and 23 had a bachelor's degree. From the interviews with nurses working in the surgical intensive care unit, six code models were developed: "importance of pressure injury," "factors affecting care in pressure injury," "patients at risk of developing pressure injury," "suggestions to improve care in pressure injury," "methods to be followed in preventing pressure injury," and "feelings while providing care to patients with pressure injury."
Conclusion: In conclusion, increasing the number of nurses in surgical intensive care units, ensuring the availability of up-to-date wound care products, promoting the effective use of devices and materials designed to prevent pressure injuries, and strengthening in-service training programs on this issue emerge as fundamental requirements for the prevention of pressure injuries. It is recommended that future studies be conducted using a mixed-method design with larger groups.

Background: Delivering bad news is a critical communication skill for nursing students. It requires sensitivity, empathy, and clarity, yet opportunities to develop this skill in clinical settings may be limited.
Aim: This review aims to explore how nursing students are trained to deliver bad news through simulation-based education.
Methods: A scoping review was conducted in December 2024, searching PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and Google Scholar. The review followed the Arksey and O'Malley framework in accordance with PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. A thematic analysis was applied to identify key themes in the selected articles.
Results: Four major themes were identified across 10 studies through the process of thematic analysis: Benefits of Simulation-Based Learning, the Value of Interprofessional Learning, Innovative Technologies, and Emotional Challenges. Simulation methods were found to be effective in enhancing students' preparedness and communication skills, particularly when used in interprofessional settings.
Conclusion: Simulation-based education is a valuable tool for training nursing students to deliver bad news. Incorporating interprofessional and technology-enhanced approaches can further enrich learning outcomes and better prepare students for challenging clinical communication scenarios.

Breaking bad news is one of the most common and challenging communication processes healthcare professionals encounter in oncology practice. Conveying negative information to patients regarding diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment is not merely a medical briefing but a complex process involving ethical, legal, and psychosocial dimensions. This review discusses the meaning of breaking bad news, the factors affecting this process in oncology, the ethical and legal dimensions involved, and approaches to delivering such news. It concludes that the process of breaking bad news should be treated as a professional skill, that healthcare workers should be supported in this regard, and that they should be empowered through systematic training programs.