Current Issue : July-September Volume : 2026 Issue Number : 3 Articles : 5 Articles
Background: Nurse teletriage has emerged as a component of modern healthcare delivery, utilizing telecommunication technologies to assess patient conditions remotely and guide appropriate care decisions. As healthcare systems face increasing demand and the need for cost-effective care delivery, teletriage services have expanded, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: This narrative review examines the current state of nurse teletriage practice, its effectiveness, safety outcomes, and implementation considerations. A comparative analysis with physician-led teletriage models is provided, and the emerging role of artificial intelligence is explored. Methods: A narrative review of the literature was conducted through searches of multiple databases including PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase,Web of Science, and Google Scholar. This approach was selected due to the heterogeneous nature of the teletriage literature, which spans diverse study designs, populations, and outcomes that are not amenable to formal systematic synthesis. Peer-reviewed articles published between 1970 and 2024 examining safety outcomes, effectiveness, and implementation frameworks were reviewed. Results: The available evidence suggests that nurse-led teletriage systems, particularly when supported by computerized decision support systems, can improve patient access to care while maintaining safety standards. Studies indicate that telephone triage nursing does not increase mortality, hospitalization rates, or emergency department referrals when properly implemented. One well-documented physician-led model in Israel reported diagnosis accuracy rates of 98.5% and decision reasonableness rates of 92%, though generalizability across settings requires caution. Key success factors appear to include the use of evidencebased protocols, staff training, technology infrastructure, and quality assurance programs. While these findings are promising, the heterogeneous nature of the included studies and absence of formal quality assessment warrant cautious interpretation. Conclusions: Nurse teletriage appears to be an effective and safe approach to healthcare delivery that addresses challenges in modern healthcare systems. The choice between nurse-led and physician-led models should consider population complexity, case types, available resources, and economic factors. Artificial intelligence technologies offer potential opportunities to enhance teletriage, though careful validation is essential. Future research should focus on long-term outcomes, comparative effectiveness across healthcare systems, and rigorous evaluation of AI applications. Highlights: Telephone triage services, where nurses or physicians assess patients remotely and guide them to appropriate care, have become increasingly important in modern healthcare. This narrative review examines the evidence on nurse-led telephone triage, comparing it with physician-led models and exploring emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. The available evidence suggests that nurse-led systems, when supported by appropriate protocols and training, can safely improve patient access to care while reducing healthcare costs. Physician-led models may offer advantages for complex cases but at higher costs. While artificial intelligence shows promise for enhancing triage accuracy, current evidence specific to telephone triage remains limited. Healthcare organizations should carefully consider their population needs, available resources, and local context when implementing teletriage services....
Background: Most ICU patients are in the terminal phase and require complex palliative care support and End-of-Life Care (EoLC). Nurses play a central role in symptom management, emotional support, and shared decision-making. However, evidence on nurses’ experiences in providing EoLC remains fragmented and lacks a comprehensive synthesis. Objective: This review aimed to identify, map, and synthesize global evidence on ICU nurses’ experiences in delivering EoLC, including challenges, coping strategies, and implications for critical care nursing practice. Methods: A scoping review was conducted following Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Systematic searches were performed in the PubMed, Scopus, and EBSCOhost databases for studies published between 2015 and 2025. Thematic analysis was applied to the qualitative studies to identify patterns and key issues. Results: Twelve qualitative studies conducted in diverse countries met the inclusion criteria. Five major themes emerged: (1) emotional and moral challenges; (2) cultural and spiritual influences; (3) communication and interprofessional collaboration; (4) professional development and organizational support; and (5) resource constraints. These findings indicate that ICU nurses’ experiences with EoLC are multidimensional and shaped by the cultural context and institutional policies. Conclusions: ICU nurses’ experiences with EoLC reflect complex ethical, emotional, and organizational dimensions. Improving care quality requires structured training, organizational support, and culturally sensitive policies to strengthen critical care nursing practice....
Background: Bibliometrics plays a critical role in supporting decision-making within the scientific community. It is widely used to evaluate the merit of applications for academic positions and to assess the standing of journals and institutions. This bibliometric analysis is aimed at identifying the growth and trends of nasogastric tube (NGT) research in pediatric settings, evaluating source productivity, and examining the scholarly impact of NGT research. Methods: We conducted a bibliometric analysis of pediatric NGT nursing literature indexed (search executed 02 March 2024; updated 10 September 2025). Records were retrieved from Scopus and analyzed with Bibliometrix/Biblioshiny (R). To enhance interpretability with a modest corpus, we reported year-normalized citations, h-/g-/m-indices, and used fractional counting for co-authorship and country analyses. We mapped co-citation, bibliographic coupling, co-word/thematic evolution, and performed robustness checks (parameter thresholds, field restrictions, and time-window trims). Results: Seventy-nine publications were identified. Annual production showed peaks in 2001, 2007, and 2018, with one publication in 2025. The most cited paper was ASPEN Safe Practices for Enteral Nutrition Therapy by Boullata et al., which had 335 citations as of 2025. The United States emerged as the leading contributor, followed by the United Kingdom and Canada. Conclusion: Pediatric NGT research has expanded and diversified over the past 4 decades. The findings highlight the need for sustained investment and stronger international collaboration to improve clinical outcomes and drive innovation in pediatric healthcare. Findings should be interpreted with caution given the niche scope and corpus size, although sensitivity analyses suggested stable high-level patterns....
Burnout among nurses remains a major challenge in South Africa’s public healthcare system, particularly in district hospitals where high workloads, staff shortages, and limited resources are common. In the Eastern Cape, the demands of rural healthcare further exacerbate stress, leading to emotional exhaustion, reduced professional accomplishment, and high turnover rates. This study aims to investigate the factors influencing burnout and its impact on nurse retention at St. Elizabeth Hospital in the Eastern Cape. A quantitative, cross-sectional design will be employed using stratified random sampling, with hospital departments serving as strata. A total of 209 nurses will be selected using Slovin’s formula. Data will be collected through a structured questionnaire incorporating the Burnout Assessment Tool, Maslach Burnout Inventory, Personal Accomplishment Subscale, and a Burnout Knowledge and Response Survey. Descriptive statistics will summarize demographic and burnout characteristics, while chi-square tests, t-tests/ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analyses will identify associations and predictors. The study will generate evidence-based insights to guide the development of targeted interventions, including workload redistribution, enhanced managerial support, and wellness initiatives. Ultimately, improving nurse retention will enhance workforce stability, promote staff well-being, and strengthen the quality of patient care in Eastern Cape district hospitals....
Aim: To explore the factors influencing the Family and Community Nurse (FCN) role implementation within the local health authority (LHA) of Biella, Italy. Design: Qualitative single embedded case study. Methods: Twenty-two participants (18 FCNs and 4 managers) were interviewed using in-depth semistructured interviews and timeline elicitation. Observational data were recorded in field notes. Data were analyzed using the Framework Analysis approach and organized through the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Results: At the outer setting level, alignment with national policy and population needs supported adoption, although public awareness of the role was initially low. Within the inner setting, organizational flexibility enabled role adaptation, especially regarding project participation and time allocation. However, fragmented coordination with existing services and the persistence of task-based workflows limited integration. At the individual level, FCNs expressed strong motivation and professional identification, but also reduced confidence linked to limited preparation for community-based and educational activities. The process was supported by reflective leadership and the progressive tailoring of strategies to local needs and staff competencies. Conclusion: Implementing the FCN role is a dynamic process shaped by structural conditions, professional boundaries, and stakeholder engagement. Sustainability requires system-level support, cross-sector collaboration, and a clearly defined scope of practice. Impact: This study highlights key organizational and contextual conditions required to support the sustainable integration of FCNs. These insights may guide health service managers and policymakers in strengthening community-based care models, improving interprofessional coordination, and investing in role-specific education to meet the needs of aging populations. Reporting Method: The study adhered to the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research. Patient or Public Contribution: None....
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