Browsing by Author "Pais, Nelson"
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- Assessment of Job Satisfaction in Nurses: Contributions to Health ManagementPublication . Costeira, Cristina; Santos-Costa, Paulo; Oliveira-Salgueiro, Anabela; Santos, Cátia; Pais, Nelson; Ventura, FilipaBackground: Evidence reflects that job satisfaction is an indicator of the quality of health care. Health managers and decision-makers cannot neglect its importance and should promote organizational interventions for its assessment and improvement. Objective: This study aims to (i) compare the job satisfaction experienced by nurses with the one desired (ii) identify the lowest areas of current satisfaction and (iii) reflect in areas of lowest and higher job satisfaction. Method: A descriptive study carried out in September 2021 with thirty oncology nurses, who were asked to fill out an electronic questionnaire with the professional life wheel coaching tool. This coaching diagnostic tool assesses the current satisfaction level and the desired satisfaction level from 1 to 10. The inquired areas were: salary, career progression, relationships with managers, relationships with the team, relationships with patients/family, professional environment, feeling of institutional belonging, working conditions, appreciation/recognition, and professional fulfillment. Ethical assumptions were preserved. Results: The results suggest that oncology nurses have important levels of job dissatisfaction. The lowest values of experienced job satisfaction were related to career development, while the highest were related to team relationships. Regarding the desired job satisfaction, the salary was the area presenting the least need for correction. The relationship with patients and families was identified as the area with the greatest desire for improvement. There was a weak correlation between job satisfaction and age, and job satisfaction and professional experience. Discussion and Conclusion: The relationship with the team was one of the areas identified by nurses as significant for their levels of satisfaction, revealing the importance of promoting the development of healthful and effective relationships. Promoting relationships with patients and families is also important as this area was identified as a desire for greater professional development. Health care institutions and nurse managers aiming at the promotion of job satisfaction should plan interventions focusing on the areas of lower job satisfaction and towards younger nurses, who have less experience in clinical environments. Such an approach will likely allow the nurses to feel valued and will reduce the gap between experienced and desired job satisfaction.
- Cancer Patients with Chronic Pain and Their Caregivers during COVID-19: A Descriptive StudyPublication . Costeira, Cristina; Paiva-Santos, Filipe; Pais, Nelson; Sousa, Ana Filipa; Paiva, Ivo; Carvalho, Dulce Helena; Rocha, Ana; Ventura, FilipaBackground: The sanitary measures imposed by COVID-19 intensified challenges in the pain management of cancer patients. Methods: A descriptive study was conducted in a chronic pain unit of an oncological hospital aiming to explore the experiences of cancer patients with chronic pain and their caregivers during the pandemic period, as well as identify strategies to improve care in chronic pain management. An electronic questionnaire was developed containing sociodemographic variables, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21, and open-ended questions exploring the experiences and circumstances of pain management. Results: A total of 30 patients and 13 caregivers filled in the questionnaire. Patients revealed a higher level of depression, anxiety, and stress than caregivers, without statistically significant differences. Both groups mentioned having experienced difficulties in self-care, particularly in relation to sleep, nutrition, and recreation. In total, 83.7% patients needed pain relief medication related to uncontrolled pain. Both mentioned that they would have benefited from a digital application to ease the communication with the healthcare professionals of the chronic pain unit, as well as non-pharmacological interventions, such as therapeutic massage. Conclusions: Recognizing that chronic pain leads to significant limitations, it is essential to implement and anticipate objective and effective responses in pain management.
- Workplace stress in Portuguese oncology nurses delivering palliative care: A pilot studyPublication . Costeira, Cristina; Ventura, Filipa; Pais, Nelson; Santos-Costa, Paulo; Dixe, Maria dos Anjos; Querido, Ana; Laranjeira, CarlosOncology nurses often face complex end-of-life issues, underlining their need for specific training in palliative care. In this context, nurses experience several emotional and psychological dilemmas, which are often difficult to manage and result in high levels of workplace stress. This study aimed to determine the levels and work-related factors of workplace stress among oncology nurses. A descriptive baseline study was performed as part of a large four-phase study based on quantitative data collected from Portuguese oncology nurses. Of the 32 participating nurses, most were women, and the mean age was 42.69 10.04 years. Overall, nurses revealed moderate levels of stress. Younger nurses with less professional experience had difficulties dealing with issues related to death and dying. This pilot study supported the development of a program of six Stress Management Training Workshops (SMTW) to reduce stress and increase adaptative strategies. Assessing workplace stress among oncology nurses should be the focus of intervention by managers and institutional leaders.