Objective: This study aimed to investigate nursing practices that explore patient responses in acute care wards for individuals with persistent consciousness disorders and clarify how these practices are constituted. Methods: A phenomenological research design was employed, focusing on the practices of nurses working in neurology and neurosurgery wards. Data collection involved both observations and interviews with a nurse. Results: The analysis identified four themes related to the practice of “exploring response” and three additional background themes. Conclusions: Nursing practices are grounded on patient responses, conditions, and subtle changes. Interactions between the nurse and patient facilitated communication that either elicited direct responses from the patient or involved inquiries into the experiences of other staff members. The findings underscored the importance of sharing nurses’ experiences of patient interactions alongside their objective evaluations.

Objective: This study aimed to develop a self-evaluation scale for assessing the competencies of continuing nursing educators (CNE Competency Scale) and to evaluate its validity and reliability. Methods: Items for the scale were derived from a literature review, and 60 items were selected based on evaluations of content and face validity by nurses experienced in providing continuing nursing education. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted with 501 continuing nursing educators from 214 hospitals in Japan having 400 or more beds. The scale’s validity and reliability were assessed. Results: A total of 301 valid responses were analyzed. Factor analysis identified 34 items grouped into the following six factors: [personal characteristics suitable for educators], [planning and evaluating educational activities], [skills to influence others], [practicing education tailored to learners], [supporting lifelong learning], and [creating and utilizing research results]. The scale demonstrated good model fit, high convergent validity, known group validity, and excellent reliability (α=.95). Conclusions: The CNE Competency Scale is a valid and reliable tool.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the experiences and conflicts of nursing staff caring for patients who voluntarily stop eating and drinking (VSED). Methods: A questionnaire or web survey was conducted among nursing staff at 687 functional enhancement type I and II visiting nursing stations and 452 palliative care units across Japan. Results: After excluding those with missing data, valid responses were obtained from 1,580 nurses (response rate: 33.1%). The survey results revealed that 22.5% of respondents were aware of patients’ VSED decisions and 18.9% had experience caring for such patients. Among those with VSED-related experience, 65.8% reported feelings of conflict. This conflict was associated with environments conducive to mutual communication and certified nursing care. However, no differences were observed in how nurses managed these experiences, despite their different affiliations. Conclusions: In Japan, nursing staff encounter fewer VSED cases compared to home and palliative care doctors. Given the current lack of established guidelines and ethical standards regarding VSED decisions, providing support to address nurses’ emotional conflicts is necessary. Opportunities for attending conferences to express and share emotions and feelings related to these experiences are recommended.