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Purpose To assess Italian nurses’ knowledge and attitudes towards gay and lesbian sexual orientation and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) patients, as there is currently no literature exploring the attitudes of nurses in Italy. Methods A multicenter, cross‐sectional study was conducted between May 2015 to January 2016, using a data collection tool composed of three validated questionnaires and a sociodemographic form. Findings Eight hundred twenty‐four nurses filled out the questionnaire. Despite their awareness of homosexuality as a “natural expression of one's sexuality,” Italian nurses showed only moderately positive attitudes towards lesbian and gay patients. A more positive attitude was displayed by women when compared with men (p < .001). Greater knowledge of homosexuality was associated with female gender (p = .042), moderate‐wing political affiliation (p = .014), and more affirmative behaviors (p = .008). Men were found to have greater awareness of being prepared to care for LGBT people (p = .022). Conclusions Although Italian nurses displayed moderately positive attitudes and affirmative behaviors, there is the need to increase their cultural competencies regarding sexual minorities. Clinical Relevance LGBT patients feel some discomfort in approaching physicians or nurses. It is important to know nurses’ attitudes in caring for LGBT patients in order to modify inappropriate and discriminatory behaviors.

Purpose Neonatal palliative care becomes an option for critically ill neonates when death is inevitable. Assessing nurses’ attitudes towards, barriers to, and facilitators of neonatal palliative care is essential to delivering effective nursing care. Methods This study was conducted from January to September 2015 and involved Italian nurses employed in Level III neonatal intensive care units in 14 hospitals in northern, central, and southern Italy. A modified version of the Neonatal Palliative Care Attitudes Scale (NiPCAS) was adopted to assess nurses’ attitudes. Findings A total of 347 neonatal nurses filled out the questionnaire. The majority were female (87.6%), with a mean age of 40.38 (±8.3) years. The mean score in the “organization” factor was 2.71 (±0.96). The “resources” factor had a mean score of 2.44 (±1.00), while the “clinician” factor had a mean score of 3.36 (±0.90), indicating the main barriers to and facilitators of implementing palliative nursing care. Conclusions Italian neonatal nurses may face different obstacles to delivering neonatal palliative care and to improve their attitudes in this field. In the Italian context, no facilitators of, only barriers to, palliative care delivery were identified. Clinical Relevance Nurses’ attitudes towards neonatal palliative care are essential to supporting nurses, who are constantly exposed to the emotional and moral distress connected with this field of end‐of‐life nursing care.

Purpose To assess Italian nurses’ cultural competence, as they are increasingly called upon to care for people of foreign origins. Design A cross‐sectional, multicentric study. Methods From September 2013 to May 2014, a survey was carried out among Italian nurses. Cultural competence was assessed by the Cultural Competence Assessment tool, translated and adapted to the Italian context. Findings Nurses who completed the survey numbered 1,432; 70.6% were female; 42.6% ranged in age from 41 to 50 years; and 50.0% were bachelor's prepared. More than 50% had participated in some kind of cultural diversity training. Overall, cultural competence was moderate, showing a moderately high level of cultural awareness and sensitivity (mean = 5.41; SD = 0.66) and a moderate level of culturally competent behaviors (mean = 4.33; SD = 1.10). Conclusions Although Italian nurses’ cultural competence was acceptable, given the growing diversity of the patient population, nurses should be better prepared to face the changing health requests. Clinical Relevance Providing culturally competent care has been associated with improved provider–client communication, higher satisfaction with care, and health status improvement, as full comprehension of health status, adherence to medications and lifestyle recommendations, and appropriate utilization of the health system. Healthcare providers need to be adequately trained to provide culturally competent care. This research provides, for the first time, a report on Italian nurses’ levels of cultural competence, and strengthens the current literature underlining the need for continuous education to enhance cultural competence among nurses.

Objective: The purpose of this review is to understand the experience of caregivers of patients with left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and to evaluate how health professionals can support them properly. Background: Left ventricular assist device can improve quality of life, enhance functional status, and prolong survival in patients with advanced heart failure. Nonetheless, LVAD can adversely influence quality of life for their family caregivers. Methods: An integrative literature review was conducted using scientific databases between January to March 2015. Results: A total of 15 studies are included in the final review. Three major themes emerged “emotional distress,” “responsibility,” and “coping strategies” that characterize family caregivers’ experiences with care of patients with LVAD. Conclusion: Health care providers should understand the pivotal role of caregivers in promoting and maintaining patients’ well-being and be able to help the caregiver to moderate the impact being overloaded. Research should be addressed to create interventions that motivate the caregivers to engage in activities that promote their health.