There is a need for healthcare organizations and nurse leaders to develop programmes focusing on building resilience among younger and less experienced nurses. Nurses should also be supported in their pursuits for higher education, which will in turn lead to higher resilience, and consequently, retention of nurses within the profession and institution.

Surgical patients are prone to developing hospital‐acquired pressure ulcers (HAPU). Therefore, a better prediction tool is needed to predict risk using preoperative data. This study aimed to determine, from previously published HAPU risk factors, which factors are significant among our surgical population and to develop a prediction tool that identifies pressure ulcer risk before the operation. A literature review was first performed to elicit all the published HAPU risk factors before conducting a retrospective case‐control study using medical records. The known HAPU risks were compared between patients with HAPU and without HAPU who underwent operations during the same period (July 2015‐December 2016). A total of 80 HAPU cases and 189 controls were analysed. Multivariate logistic regression analyses identified eight significant risk factors: age ≥ 75 years, female gender, American Society of Anaesthesiologists ≥ 3, body mass index < 23, preoperative Braden score ≤ 14, anaemia, respiratory disease, and hypertension. The model had bootstrap‐corrected c‐statistic 0.78 indicating good discrimination. A cut‐off score of ≥6 is strongly predictive, with a positive predictive value of 73.2% (confidence interval [CI]: 59.7%‐84.2%) and a negative predictive value of 80.7% (CI: 74.3%‐86.1%). SPURS contributes to the preoperative identification of pressure ulcer risk that could help nurses implement preventive measures earlier.

Background. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence and extent of burnout among nurses in Singapore and investigate the influence of demographic factors and personal characteristics on the burnout syndrome. Methods. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted. All registered nurses working in Singapore General Hospital were approached to participate. A questionnaire eliciting data on demographics, burnout (measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory, MBI), and personality profile (measured using the NEO Five-Factor Inventory, NEO-FFI) was used. Results. 1830 nurses out of 3588 responded (response rate: 51%). Results from 1826 respondents were available for analysis. The MBI identified 39% to have high emotional exhaustion (EE, cut-off score of >27), 40% having high depersonalization (DP, cut-off score of >10), and 59% having low personal accomplishment (PA, cut-off score of <33). In multivariable analysis, age, job grade, and neuroticism were significantly associated with each of the 3 components of the MBI. Staff nurses less than 30 years with high to very high neuroticism were more likely to experience high EE, high DP, and low PA. Conclusion. Younger nurses in Singapore are at increased risk of burnout. Personality traits also played a significant role in the experience of burnout.

Chronic wounds arise from interruption of normal healing due to many potential pathophysiological factors. Monitoring these multivariate factors can provide personalized diagnostic information for wound management, but current sensing technologies use complex laboratory tests or track a limited number of wound parameters. We report a flexible biosensing platform for multiplexed profiling of the wound microenvironment, inflammation, and infection state at the point of care. This platform integrates a sensor array for measuring inflammatory mediators [tumor necrosis factor–α, interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, and transforming growth factor–β1], microbial burden (Staphylococcus aureus), and physicochemical parameters (temperature and pH) with a microfluidic wound exudate collector and flexible electronics for wireless, smartphone-based data readout. We demonstrate in situ multiplexed monitoring in a mouse wound model and also profile wound exudates from patients with venous leg ulcers. This technology may facilitate more timely and personalized wound management to improve chronic wound healing outcomes.

Introduction:The widespread shortage of nurses has been exacerbated by an ageing workforce. Though skilled and productive, older nurses are more vulnerable to the physical and mental demands of nursing. Hence, this review was performed to determine the existing evidence on challenges faced by older nurses, factors which promote or deter retirement and strategies that could help in their retention. The results of this review would help with the implementation of age-friendly initiatives to enable older nurses to work longer, while simultaneously allowing institutions to maintain highquality nursing care. Methods: A search was done using three databases, namely MEDLINE, the Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and PsycINFO. Primary studies and reviews published between 2004 and 2015 were retrieved. Keywords used were 'older nurses', 'retirement', 're-employment' and 'retention'. Results: Articles retrieved were mainly qualitative studies. A few quantitative surveys and reviews were reported. The definition of older nurses was inconsistent across the literature. Personal health concerns and limitations, computerisation and shift work were common challenges faced by older nurses, while monetary factors, health and workload were consistent themes on early retirement. Financial reasons were also identified as factors associated with retention, along with flexible schedules. Almost all strategies suggested in the literature for retaining older nurses lacked empirical testing. Conclusion:The ageing process may render certain tasks less desirable and more challenging for the older nurses. Employers could pay attention to the needs of an older workforce through improved workplace practices and being familiar with factors associated with early retirement and retention.