NURSEARCHER (Journal of Nursing & Midwifery Sciences)

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Regarding Instrument Handling in Intraoperative Environment among Operation Theatre Staff

2026-01-01T21:36:17+00:00

In the intraoperative setting, proper handling of instruments is essential to maintain surgical efficiency and ensure patient safety. This would heavily rely on the personnel of the operating theatre (OT), such as surgeons, nurses, and technicians. Their knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of working with the instruments could be evaluated, which would help identify the areas that require improvement in the outcomes of the surgery. Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the operating theatre personnel related to the management of instruments during the intraoperative care, to find the gaps in the protocol compliance, and to discuss the factors that impact compliance. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among working staff in specific hospitals operating theatres. They came up with a self-administered questionnaire that assessed their knowledge, attitudes, as well as practices in regard to instrument handling. Results: This study found that 113 (78%) operating theatre staff had a decent theoretical understanding of how to handle the instruments, and 116 (80%) were aware of their responsibility in preventing surgical site infection. Nevertheless, only 87 (60%) of them were adherent to proper handling protocols. In workload, time constraints, and limited resources (20%) were the main obstacles, which showed that there was a knowledge practice gap despite positive attitudes. Conclusions: Despite the fact that the majority of operating theatre staff showed sufficient knowledge and good attitudes to aseptic techniques and infection control, there is still a lot to be desired in decontamination, validation of sterilization, and storage of the instruments.

Critical Care Nurses Knowledge, Practice, and Associated Factors Regarding Non-pharmacological Pain Management in Tertiary Care Hospitals, Pakistan

2026-01-01T21:35:56+00:00

Pain ranks as one of the top three symptoms experienced globally, particularly concerning for patients in critical care units (CCU). It is managed through both pharmacological means (medications) and various non-pharmacological therapies, which help reduce medication side effects. Objectives: To evaluate the knowledge and practices of nurses in critical care regarding non-pharmacological pain management (NPPM) and the factors influencing their practices. Methods: The study design was cross-sectional analytical and was conducted among critical nurses from July to September 2024. The sample size of the participants was 184. They were extracted as strata from the study setting, and then the convenience sampling technique was used for data collection. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire, while data was analyzed through SPSS version 27.0, and informed consent was taken from each participant. The study was approved by the ethical review committee. Results: The total participants of the study were 184, where female were n=98 (53.3%), nurses in the age group 24-29 were 132 (71.1%), and those having the qualification of a 3-year Registered Nurse (RN) diploma were n=115 (62.4%). The results show that a higher number of nurses have poor knowledge (n=91, 49.5%) and average practices (n=80, 43.5%). Factors such as no official policy, no experience in critical care, and no NPPM use affect nurses' knowledge and practices. Conclusions: On the basis of results, the study established that extensive education and intervention are required to implement the NPPM in the regular practices of nurses for better outcomes.

Impact of Rotating Shift on Nurses' Health Outcomes: An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study at MMC Mardan

2026-01-03T21:36:29+00:00

The rotating shift work is widely practiced in healthcare facilities in order to provide 24/7 patient care, which is known to disrupt circadian rhythms and adversely influence the physical, psychological, and general well-being of the nurse. Objectives: The objectives of the study will be to investigate the impact of the rotating shift work system on the physical, mental, and general health of MMC, Mardan, KPK nurses. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 142 RN who worked at least one year on rotating shifts. The convenience sampling was adopted. A validated structured questionnaire with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.70 was used to gather the data. The Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to determine the demographic factors and health outcomes associations; the descriptive statistics summarized demographic and health-related variables. Results: The majority of the participants were aged between 25 and 29 (74.6) and female (72.5). Fatigue, sleep disturbances, emotional exhaustion, and stress were also reported as common characteristics of the issues. Almost 50 percent (45.1%), but above half (54.2%), did not feel disheartened because of rotating shifts. There was no substantial correlation between the health outcomes and gender and work area (p>0.05). Conclusions: The practice of rotating shift work at MMC Mardan has a negative impact on the physical and psychological well-being of nurses and especially on their fatigue levels, sleep quality, emotional distress, and overall well-being

Patient Satisfaction and Determinants of Nursing Care Quality in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study

2026-01-03T21:36:20+00:00

The patient’s satisfaction with the provided care is an indicator of healthcare quality. A significant part of the literature on patient satisfaction in healthcare is focused on the quality of nursing care. Objectives: To assess patients’ satisfaction with nursing care quality and examine its association with sociodemographic factors at a tertiary care hospital in Swat, Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional design was implemented with a tool of Patient Satisfaction with Nursing Care Quality Questionnaire (PSNCQQ) for data collection. A sample size of 225 was taken from the accessible population of medical wards, and questionnaires were included according to the inclusion criteria. All data were collected through interview-based questions for patient convenience. Results: On analysis of data, 136(60%) were male, and 89 (40%) were female participants of the study. A majority of Patients revealed high satisfaction as “Very Good 122 (54%)” and “Excellent 99(44%). The nurses’ response to the patient needs, and their skills and competence, were aligned with the highest patient satisfaction. Conclusions: Patients reported a high level of satisfaction with nursing care quality, largely attributed to nurses’ skills, competence, and responsiveness. Strengthening the nursing workforce and enhancing professional development may further improve patient satisfaction and quality of care.

Factors Associated with Sleep Patterns Among Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Public and Private Colleges

2026-01-07T21:38:28+00:00

Sleep is a worldwide public health concern and a cost to society. Sleep deprivation can affect people of all ages and demographics. Objectives: To analyze the factors associated with sleep patterns among nursing students at a public and private sector nursing college, Karachi. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study design was used to conduct this study in public and private sector nursing schools. A stratified random sampling technique by lottery method was used. The sample size was calculated by using the software “PASS”, Version 2021. The calculated sample size was 264, with 80% of power, and 95% confidence interval, and 5% margin of error. This study involved BS Nursing students because they are representative of the target population. To maintain consistency and focus, post-RN and midwifery students were excluded. The study was completed in three months, from July to October, 2025. The Sleep Hygiene Index was utilized to gather the data. The 13 items are scored on a five-point Likert scale ranging from 0 to 4, with higher scores denoting poor sleep hygiene. Every item represents a certain sleep-related activity. Results: The majority of participants (72.7%) fall into the good category (23.1%). Individuals were categorized as having normal sleep hygiene, indicating a moderate level of adherence to sleep hygiene guidelines. Only (4.2%) reported poor sleep hygiene, which is indicative of inadequate sleep-related practices. Conclusions: There is a difference in sleep patterns in terms of gender and age, and poor sleep affects their academic performance and health quality.

Balancing Work and Motherhood: A Scoping Review on the Experiences and Challenges of Breastfeeding Working Mothers in Pakistan

2026-01-01T21:36:06+00:00

Breastfeeding is an essential public health practice that supports optimal well-being among mothers and infants. Objectives: To map current evidence on working mothers' experiences, challenges, and facilitators related to breastfeeding in Pakistan, and to identify successful workplace interventions and policy gaps. Methods: This systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for studies published between 2019 and 2024. Following the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews), qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method empirical studies were included, while reviews, commentaries, and non-peer-reviewed articles were excluded. Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria after screening 1,727 records. Results: Four major themes were identified: (1) structural and institutional barriers such as short maternity leave, lack of lactation rooms, and rigid work schedules; (2) cultural and social constraints including stigma and awkwardness in the workplace; (3) organizational and supervisory support, including managerial backing, flexible work policies, and child-care facilities; and (4) policy and advocacy gaps caused by weak enforcement of labor laws and limited employer awareness. Only 20–25% of establishments provided lactation support, and most mothers discontinued exclusive breastfeeding within 8 to 12 weeks after returning to work. Conclusions: Institutional, cultural, and policy-level determinants affect breastfeeding continuation among working mothers in Pakistan. Policy enforcement, work accommodations, and organizational support practices are essential. A multi-sectoral effort with policy reform, education, and advocacy can foster breastfeeding-supportive work environments and enhance maternal and child health.

Monkeypox and Nursing in Pakistan: Frontline Guardians Against Emerging Infectious Diseases

2026-01-01T21:35:47+00:00

Monkeypox (mpox) is a re-emerging zoonotic viral infection caused by an Orthopoxvirus, clinically resembling smallpox but generally presenting with lower mortality. In recent years, its unexpected spread beyond endemic regions has raised global public health concerns, particularly for low- and middle-income countries with constrained health systems such as Pakistan [1].

The recent outbreak of Monkeypox has highlighted the fact that nurses have a very important role to play in controlling and preventing new infectious illnesses across the globe, including in Pakistan. Previously being regarded as a geographically constrained zoonotic disease, Monkeypox has now shown itself as a worldwide health hazard, accompanied by global travel, commerce, and altered epidemiological distributions. In Pakistan, where a healthcare system is already challenged by limited resources, population density, and uneven knowledge of overall health, nurses are in a unique position to control the disease spreading, provide maximum care to the patients, and be the forefront of community health education policies [2,3].

Monkeypox is clinically characterized by fever, headache, myalgia, lymphadenopathy, and characteristic papules which develop into vesicles and crusts. Although in most cases self-limiting, the disease may lead to serious complications in the case of immunocompromised people, and that is why it is important to tell and treat the disease in a timely manner. The nurses in Pakistan are also central in timely symptom identification, disease progression, and enabling laboratory testing, such as PCR, serological testing, and other. They have high vigilance which results in the early detection of cases, timely isolation and minimizing the spread of cases in hospital and community [1,2].

Infection control is one of the pillars in nursing practice when it comes to Monkeypox. Strict procedures undertaken by the nurses include the isolation of patients, strict hand hygiene, correct utilization of personal protective equipment (PPE), and the disinfection of the environment. In addition to these technical measures, the nurses train patients and families on prevention of infections, personal hygiene, safe use of contaminated materials and compliance with isolation measures. In Pakistan, the community sensitization of the general population to the emergent infectious diseases might be low, therefore, the outreach of nurses in form of public awareness campaign, school programs, and local health centers is very important in preventing the spread of infection [4].

The other vital nursing care components include symptom management and psychosocial support. Nurses give drugs to manage fever, pain, and secondary infections and provide good skin care to the lesions. They also respond to the emotional and psychological consequences of infection, counsel patients and family members, and alleviate anxiety, stigma, and social isolation. In Pakistan, this empathetic support and education on nurses have been found to help patients significantly improve their outcomes and the society adhere to the public health measures where stigma towards infectious diseases may impede care-seeking behaviour [2,3].

Vaccination is also another example of the role of nursing in disease prevention. Nurses do not just give vaccines but they also follow up on their effects after the vaccination, educate the community on the benefits of vaccination and organize immunization campaigns. Their role plays a central role in the development of herd immunity, outbreak control, and the reinforcement of social trust in preventive health care measures, especially in areas where healthcare is not accessible to all people [2,3].

Nurses have to cope with numerous challenges during the time of outbreaks, such as work-related overload, increased chances of being infected, and mental problems. Additional issues related to ethics concern issues like patient confidentiality and equal allocation of scarce resources. In Pakistan, empowering nurses to cope with these challenges in a way that could be effective is essential through strengthening nursing education, offering psychosocial support, and availability of adequate resources [2,3].

Monkeypox outbreak emphasizes the necessity of nurses in Pakistan to act as caregivers, educators, and promote health. Their experience on how to control infection, care and education to the community is the foundation of controlling outbreaks. Helping the frontline nurses are critical measures of ensuring that the country is prepared in relation to the emerging infectious diseases by incorporating them into the multidisciplinary response teams and ensuring that the effects of infectious diseases are well known to the people. Nurses in Pakistan, as custodians of the population health, remain the protectors of the people, as well as the health system, making it more resilient in confronting the changing global threats.