Purpose: This study aimed to develop a nursing handoff protocol for intensive care units and test its relevance. Methods: This is a methodological research to develop a protocol. A preliminary protocol was developed by composing items and testing content validity through literature review and experts' review. We revised and complemented the preliminary protocol following practical relevance assessment of 38 intensive care unit nurses at a university hospital to test content validity and to assess practical relevance of the final protocol. Results: On the basis of the content validity test for the final protocol, 40 items were adopted. The scores for the practical relevance of the final protocol increased significantly for items such as accuracy of handoff, reduction of handoff-related errors, convenience in using the protocol, reduction in handoff time, and simplification of handoff. Conclusions: The nursing handoff protocol for intensive care units in this study is expected to improve nursing performance with a standardized handoff in intensive care units, promote patient safety, and improve communication among the medical staff.

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify changes in limb circumferences among patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and related factors. Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study with 27 patients from 3 ICUs at a university hospital located in B city of Korea, from September 1 to October 30, 2015. The circumferences of the left and right upper arms, thighs, and lower legs were measured on the first, third, fifth, and seventh days of ICU admission. Information on the related factors was collected from the medical records. The data were analyzed using a linear mixed model method. Results: The limbs circumferences significantly reduced from day 3, and the changes continued till day 7. These changes were related to the gender of the subjects, restraints application, use of steroids, and continuous renal replacement therapy. Conclusions: Based on the above results, it can be concluded that ICU-acquired weakness begins before the third day of admission. Thus, early mobilization protocols for ICU patients need to be developed and implemented in order to improve long-term outcomes.

Purpose: This study investigated the degree of stress, depression, mindfulness and life satisfaction of elderly patients who had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and identified factors influencing life satisfaction. Methods: Participants were 106 patients over 60 years who had undergone PCI in a university hospital. Results: The mean scores for stress, depression, mindfulness, and life satisfaction were $9.10{\pm}2.53$, $7.77{\pm}3.32$, $88.57{\pm}8.47$, and $17.40{\pm}5.38$ respectively. There were statistically significant differences in life satisfaction by main source of income (F = 4.74, p = .004) and perceived health status as compared with peer (F = 4.80, p = .010). Depression (p < .001) explained 38 % of the total variance of life satisfaction, and the explanatory power increased to 42 % when mindfulness (p = .035) was added. There were significant correlations among stress, depression, mindfulness and life satisfaction of the patients. Conclusions: Depression and mindfulness were significant influencing factors on subjects' satisfaction in life. To enhance the life satisfaction of the elderly patients after PCI, it is necessary to reduce depression and to develop mindfulness-based interventions.

Purpose: The study examined core job characteristics and job preference to explain work performance among critical care nurses. The theoretical model was constructed based on the job characteristics model with core job characteristics as exogenous variables, and work performance and job preference as endogenous variables. Methods: A total of 228 hospital nurses participated in the study from May to September, 2015. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results: The model showed a good fit to the data with $x^2/df=2.90$, goodness of fit index = .91, root mean square residual = .20, comparative fit index = .93, and incremental fit index = .93. The core job characteristics explained 64% of the variance in job preference. The core job characteristics and job preference explained 52% of the variance in work performance. Conclusions: The core job characteristics can explain the work performance among critical care nurses through job preference. Effective strategies to improve the work performance among critical care nurses should focus on the application of the core job characteristic into a productive work environment. Further studies are warranted to explore the role of job preference of critical care nurses in promoting their work performance.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the attributes of the concept, of psychological resistance to antihypertensive medication. Methods: The study was conducted in accordance with Walker and Avant's conceptual analysis process. We reviewed 47 related studies selected from 4 international and Korean databases including Medline, CINAHL, NDSL, and RISS to perform the analytical processes from January 1980 to September 2015. Results: The attributes of psychological resistance to antihypertensive medication include 1) reservation, 2) opposition, 3) denial, 4) refusal, and 5) seeking alternative therapy. The antecedents of the concept can be classified into patient factors such as reactance trait and knowledge deficit, provider factors, interpersonal factors, and environmental factors. The consequences of psychological resistance to antihypertensive medication are non-compliance, deterioration of the disease, developing complications, increased anxiety, and changes in life. Conclusions: The concept of psycho logical resistance to antihypertensive medication can provide guidance for the development of an intervention program that promotes the compliance to medication regimen of hypertensive patients. Further research needs to be done to develop a measurement tool for psychological resistance to antihypertensive medication.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the influences of death perception, terminal care attitude on clinical nurses' terminal care performance for cancer patients. Methods: Data were collected through self-reported questionnaires filled by 526 nurses at a General Hospital in Seoul. Data were analyzed using a multiple regression analysis. Results: Death perception showed a positive correlation with terminal care attitude (r = .45, p < .001), while there was no correlation with terminal care performance. Additionally, terminal care attitude had a positive correlation with terminal care performance (r = .18, p < .001). The explanatory power of nurses' death perception and terminal care attitude toward terminal care performance was 14%. Conclusions: The study results imply that nurses' death perception and terminal care attitude are significant variables affecting terminal care performance.