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It may be suggested that taking precautions at units, providing better working conditions, defining the duties of nurses and providing further dialysis education for nurses may decrease burnout rates.

Objective. Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is an entity associated with vascular damage of the brain resulting in cognitive dysfunction of a wide spectrum from mild cognitive impairment to vascular dementia. The quality of life (QL) of patients with VCI is poorly understood especially in patients with mild VCI. The aim of the study was to estimate medical factors influencing QL of patients with mild VCI.Methods. We investigated 90 patients with mild VCI (52 men and 38 women, mean age 67.5 ± 10.6 years) that had score 3 on Riesberg Global Deterioration Scale, a MMSE score of more than 24 and focal or diffuse vascular changes on MRI (0.5 T scan). We used the EQ-5D scale for QL assessment and comprehensive neuropsychological battery for evaluation of several domains of cognitive functions: verbal and visual memory, attention, language, abstraction, visuospatial and executive functions, praxis. For assessment of motor dysfunction we used Tinetti balance and mobility scale (TBMS) and scale of pseudobulbar syndrome and for measure of affective disorders-Beck depression inventory (BDI).Results. EQ-5D values correlated to a degree of cognitive dysfunction measured with digit symbol constitution test (r = 0.34, p < 0.05), Rey-Osterrieth complex figure test (r = 0.68, p < 0.01), block design test (r = 0.33, p < 0,05), grammatical and phonetic associations number in verbal fluency tests (p < 0.05) categories achieved and number of perseverative responses on Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (r = 0.30, p < 0.05, r = − 0.39, p < 0.01). There were no correlations between EQ-5D values and total severity of cognitive dysfunction. We also found that EQ-5D values correlated to TBMS score (r = 0.51, p < 0.05), pseudobulbar scale score (r = − 0.4, p < 0.05) and severity of mood disturbances, assessed with BDI (r = − 0.42, p < 0,001).Conclusion. These results suggest that QL of patients with mild VCI correlates with the severity of executive and visuo-spatial cognitive dysfunction, postural instability and gait disorder, pseudobulbar syndrome and mood disturbances.

Aim: The aim of this paper is to share the initial experiences on a European Union (EU) Lifelong Learning Programme Leonardo Da Vinci Transfer of Innovation Project related to the use of simulation-based learning with nursing students from Turkey. The project started at the end of the 2010 involving 7 partners from 3 different countries including Turkey, England, and Italy. Methods:This project is divided into 7 work packages (WP). In this paper, experiences from the first three WPs (WP1: Preparation and dissemination of the project. WP2: Regulation of the project management. WP3: Development of the evaluation tools used to evaluate the impact of the innovative practice within the coordinating partner's institution) are shared. Results:In the WP1 and WP2: the kick-off meeting was organized in Turkey, the coordinating partner's country. During the meeting project-related events were planned and the steering committee of the project was formed. A strong team spirit within the partnership was established. For the dissemination of the project, a poster and flier of the project were prepared and placed on corporate boards visible to students and teaching staff and put on the partners' institutional websites. Regular bulletins of the project were also prepared and posted on the project website. In the WP3, student data sheet, items for students' satisfaction questionnaire and confidence scale were created based on the literature. Trauma patient scenarios (abdominal trauma, thoracic trauma, pelvic fracture and traumatic amputation) were created to test the target group's knowledge. Ethical approval was obtained from the coordinating partner institution. A pilot study to test the cases was conducted. Following the pilot study, the final version of the student data sheet and scenario cases was created. The second meeting was organized in Italy. In this meeting, the results of the pilot study, the scenario cases, and the Patient Intervention Self Confidence /Competence Scale were evaluated. Conclusion:The work on this EU project is still in progress. Considering that learning from experience is an important part of nursing education, sharing experiences on such a project related to using simulation as an innovative teaching strategy in nursing education in Turkey should provide an example to others who want to develop other EU projects in nursing education.

The study emphasized the importance of nursing education and organizational support in order to accomplish the implementation of evidence-based nursing. The findings indicated that integrating all sources of evidence into practice, and appreciating the use of evidence in clinical practice are crucial in surmounting the challenge of achieving evidence-based practice.