bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stability and band gaps of InGaAs, BGaAs, and BInGaAs alloys: Density‐functional supercell calculations
Authors: Jenichen Arndt , Engler Cornelia
Published: December 2006

The influence of arrangement and content of substituents (B, In) in BGaAs, InGaAs, and BInGaAs alloys on the stabilities and band gaps is investigated using density‐functional supercell calculations. The stability of ternary alloys decreases from InGaAs over BGaAs to GaAsN. Typical substituent structures show the following stability order: isolated substituents – [110] chains – clusters – twisted [111] chains – (200/211) arrangements (most stable). This is valid for both the In‐ and B‐poor as well as the In‐ and B‐rich alloys. From the fact that grown InGaAs provides a different gap than the most stable arrangement one can conclude that other structures (isolated indium atoms or Inm As clusters) are formed during the growth. Simultaneous substitutions (BInGaAs) of larger (In) and smaller (B) atoms prefer arrangements in larger distances (220) for isovalent boron substitution and in In–B bonds for antisite boron substitution. The high degree boron antisite substitution induces partially occupied acceptor bands which lead to a strong reduction of the band gap in comparison to the isovalent substitution. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
A single law for the activation energies of self‐diffusion of various cubic metals, intermetallic compounds, ionic crystals and oxides
Authors: Siethoff Hans
Published: December 2006

In previous publications the author put forward a relation which, for face‐centred cubic metals and intermetallic compounds with B2 and L12 structures, connected the activation energy of self‐diffusion with lattice constant and shear modulus. It is one aim of the present study to show that this formalism can be extended to intermetallic compounds with C1, D03 and C15 crystal structures. Since the covalently bonded cubic semiconductors and ceramics obey a different law, the question concerning the influence of the chemical bond was additionally investigated. Therefore ionic crystals and oxides with B1, B2 and C1 structures were analysed. It is demonstrated that these materials obey the same law as the metals and intermetallic compounds, for the B1 structure, however, the prefactor of the common rule is different. To be able to evaluate such differences, the proposed relation had to be more quantitatively derived than it was done before. Some cubic transition metals do not fit in the general picture. The deviations are traced back to the binding properties of the electronic d‐bands. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Electronic structure and magnetic properties of Fe3C with 3d and 4d impurities
Authors: Shein I. R. , Medvedeva N. I. , Ivanovskii A. L.
Published: December 2006

We study the electronic structure, formation energies, and magnetic properties of cementite Fe3C doped by 3d and 4d transition metals (TM) by means of first‐principles calculations. All TM elements demonstrate a preference for the substitution of the general iron position in Fe3C. We predict that early elements (Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Zr, and Nb) stabilize the cementite, while the end elements (Ni, Cu, Pd, and Ag) in the TM series sharply destabilize it. The magnetic properties of impurity atoms are found to depend strongly on their atomic numbers and the trends to ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic coupling of impurities with Fe atoms in Fe3C coincide with the magnetic behavior of these impurities in Fe. The physical reason is a similar location of the Fermi level in the pseudogap of spin‐down and almost filled spin‐up Fed states in both Fe3C and Fe. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Raman study of nano‐crystalline Ge under high pressure
Authors: Sapelkin Andrei V. , Karavanskii Vladimir A. , Kartopu Giray , Es‐Souni Mohammed , Luklinska Zofia
Published: December 2006

We investigated high pressure behaviour of nano‐crystalline Ge that is free of substrate up to 17 GPa using Raman scattering. Nano‐crystalline Ge has been prepared by stain‐etching of 100 oriented Ge wafer and then lifted off. Electron diffraction measurements revealed that after etching particles retain diamond structure of original mono‐crystalline wafer. The Raman peak corresponding to zone‐center optical phonons mode was found to be shifted at ambient conditions from 300 cm–1 found in c‐Ge to around 280(1) cm–1 in nano‐crystalline Ge. Particle size was estimated from Raman and TEM measurements to be ∼5 nm. We observed no pressure transformation from the diamond to a high pressure phase as expected for bulk Ge (at around 10 GPa) in our Raman measurements. The pressure dependence of the Raman peak position was found to be highly nonlinear with dω /dP = 3.9(1) cm–1/GPa and d2ω /dP2 = –0.14(2) cm–1/GPa2. We discuss the microscopic origins of observed high pressure behavior of nano‐crystalline Ge. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
GaS and InSe equations of state from single crystal diffraction
Authors: Pellicer‐Porres J. , Machado‐Charry E. , Segura A. , Gilliland S. , Canadell E. , Ordejón P. , Polian A. , Munsch P. , Chevy A. , Guignot N.
Published: December 2006

We have performed single crystal angle dispersive X‐ray diffraction at high pressure in order to investigate the GaS and InSe equations of state. We situate the transition from β‐GaS to GaS‐II at 2.7 ± 0.3 GPa. In the InSe experiment we locate the beginning of the phase transition at 7.6 ± 0.6 GPa. The equations of state of β‐GaS (V 0 = 43.27 ± 0.06 Å3, B = 37 ± 2 GPa, B ′ = 5.2), GaS‐II (V 0 = 42.4 ± 0.2 Å3, B = 50 ± 3 GPa and B ′ = 4.3 ± 0.3) and γ‐InSe (V 0 = 58.4 ± 0.2 Å3, B = 24 ± 3 GPa and B ′ = 8.6 ± 0.8) are discussed and compared with the results of an ab‐initio calculation. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Enhanced phytoremediation: A study of mycorrhizoremediation of heavy metal–contaminated soil
Authors: Giasson Philippe , Jaouich Alfred , Cayer Pierre , Gagné Serge , Moutoglis Peter , Massicotte Luc
Published: December 2006

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are microscopic fungi that occur naturally in soil and form a symbiosis with plant roots. By colonizing the roots, the fungus increases plant growth by making soil essential elements like zinc and phosphorus more accessible. AMF can play a role in the phytoremediation of heavy metal–contaminated soil (mycorrhizoremediation). Two research experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of AMF on the extraction of different heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead, selenium, and zinc) in contaminated soil. A grass mixture composed of Festuca rubra, Festuca eliator, Agropyron repens, and Trifolium repens was used in the experiments, and four different types of AMF were investigated: Glomus intraradices, Glomus mosseae, Glomus etunicatum, and Gigaspora gigantea. The results of the study showed that heavy metal extraction by Glomus intraradices colonized plants was the highest of all four AMF tested and was generally higher than nonmycorrhizal plants, depending on the heavy metal concentration in soil and whether it interacted with other metals in soil. However, metal extraction by AMF colonized grasses reached a plateau after an approximately two‐month period showing no further phytoaccumulation. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Characterization of health‐related quality of life in heart failure patients with preserved versus low ejection fraction in CHARM
Authors: Lewis Eldrin F. , Lamas Gervasio A. , O'Meara Eileen , Granger Christopher B. , Dunlap Mark E. , McKelvie Robert S. , Probstfield Jeffrey L. , Young James B. , Michelson Eric L. , Halling Katarina , Carlsson Jonas , Olofsson Bertil , McMurray John J.V. , Yusuf Salim , Swedberg Karl , Pfeffer Marc A. ,   for the CHARM Investigators
Published: December 2006

Background:

Limited comparative studies assessing the health‐related quality of life (HRQL) in heart failure (HF) patients with preserved vs. low ejection fraction (LVEF) have been disparate.

Aims:

The aims of this study were a) to characterize HRQL in a large population of HF patients with preserved and low LVEF and b) to determine the factors associated with worse HRQL.

Methods:

Patients with symptomatic HF (NYHA Class II—IV) enrolled in the Candesartan in Heart Failure: Assessment of Reduction in Mortality and Morbidity (CHARM) HRQL study completed the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure questionnaire at randomization. Patients were stratified into 2 HF cohorts: preserved LVEF (>40%) and low LVEF (≤40%).

Results:

In 2709 of the eligible 2744 (98.6%) patients, the summary scores ranged from 0 to 105 (mean 40.9). There were no differences in overall responses of HF patients with preserved vs. low LVEF (41.1 vs. 40.8). Independent factors associated with worse HRQL in both populations included female gender, younger age, higher body mass index, lower systolic blood pressure, greater symptom burden, and worse functional status.

Conclusions:

In symptomatic HF patients, HRQL is equally impaired in both preserved and low LVEF populations. Targeting improvement in symptoms and HRQL is an important treatment objective in all HF patients.
Cladonia rei is a chemotype and synonym of Cladonia subulata
Authors: SPIER Leo , APTROOT André
Published: December 2006

A detailed chemical and morphological study has been carried out on West European specimens of Cladonia subulata (L.) F. H. Wigg. and C. rei Schaer. Using thin-layer chromatography (TLC), three different chemotypes were found, which did not show any correlation with distribution, substratum, habitat or any of the morphological characteristics mentioned in recent floras. Moreover, the application of UV (long-wave) proved to be unreliable for detecting homosekikaic acid and thus for distinguishing the two species. It appears that only one species, with three chemotypes, exists in Western Europe. Cladonia subulata is therefore another of the more than ten Cladonia species reported so far that can contain either homosekikaic and/or fumarprotocetraric acid.
Identification of the protein receptor binding site of botulinum neurotoxins B and G proves the double-receptor concept
Authors: Rummel Andreas , Eichner Timo , Weil Tanja , Karnath Tino , Gutcaits Aleksandrs , Mahrhold Stefan , Sandhoff Konrad , Proia Richard L. , Acharya K. Ravi , Bigalke Hans , Binz Thomas
Published: December 2006

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) cause muscle paralysis by selectively cleaving core components of the vesicular fusion machinery within motoneurons. Complex gangliosides initially bind into a pocket that is conserved among the seven BoNTs and tetanus neurotoxin. Productive neurotoxin uptake also requires protein receptors. The interaction site of the protein receptor within the neurotoxin is currently unknown. We report the identification and characterization of the protein receptor binding site of BoNT/B and BoNT/G. Their protein receptors, synaptotagmins I and II, bind to a pocket at the tip of their H
CC
(C-terminal domain of the C-terminal fragment of the heavy chain) that corresponds to the unique second carbohydrate binding site of tetanus neurotoxin, the sialic acid binding site. Substitution of amino acids in this region impaired binding to synaptotagmins and drastically decreased toxicity at mouse phrenic nerve preparations; CD-spectroscopic analyses evidenced that the secondary structure of the mutated neurotoxins was unaltered. Deactivation of the synaptotagmin binding site by single mutations led to virtually inactive BoNT/B and BoNT/G when assayed at phrenic nerve preparations of complex-ganglioside-deficient mice. Analogously, a BoNT B mutant with deactivated ganglioside and synaptotagmin binding sites lacked appreciable activity at wild-type mouse phrenic nerve preparations. Thus, these data exclude relevant contributions of any cell surface molecule other than one ganglioside and one protein receptor to the entry process of BoNTs, which substantiates the double-receptor concept. The molecular characterization of the synaptotagmin binding site provides the basis for designing a novel class of potent binding inhibitors.
Evidence for large inversion polymorphisms in the human genome from HapMap data
Authors: Bansal Vikas , Bashir Ali , Bafna Vineet
Published: December 2006

Knowledge about structural variation in the human genome has grown tremendously in the past few years. However, inversions represent a class of structural variation that remains difficult to detect. We present a statistical method to identify large inversion polymorphisms using unusual Linkage Disequilibrium (LD) patterns from high-density SNP data. The method is designed to detect chromosomal segments that are inverted (in a majority of the chromosomes) in a population with respect to the reference human genome sequence. We demonstrate the power of this method to detect such inversion polymorphisms through simulations done using the HapMap data. Application of this method to the data from the first phase of the International HapMap project resulted in 176 candidate inversions ranging from 200 kb to several megabases in length. Our predicted inversions include an 800-kb polymorphic inversion at 7p22, a 1.1-Mb inversion at 16p12, and a novel 1.2-Mb inversion on chromosome 10 that is supported by the presence of two discordant fosmids. Analysis of the genomic sequence around inversion breakpoints showed that 11 predicted inversions are flanked by pairs of highly homologous repeats in the inverted orientation. In addition, for three candidate inversions, the inverted orientation is represented in the Celera genome assembly. Although the power of our method to detect inversions is restricted because of inherently noisy LD patterns in population data, inversions predicted by our method represent strong candidates for experimental validation and analysis.
Nurses' attitudes towards a patient who has a psychiatric history
Authors: Brady Madeleine M.
Published: December 2006

This study was carried out in a large Metropolitan General Hospital in New York, USA. The aim of the study was to determine the differences in nurses' attitudes towards a general hospital patient who had, or had not, a previous psychiatric illness. One hundred and twenty‐eight graduate (trained) nurses were asked to read the patient's case notes, to view videotapes and to answer questionnaires as part of the research method. Analysis of the data obtained demonstrates the statistically significant finding below the 0·02 level that the nurses' attitudes were generally more negative towards the former psychiatric patient. In several instances, the disturbed behaviour of the patient was more significant than the patient's previous hospitalization: the findings also suggest that the graduate nurses equate mental illness with organic causes.

The study poses many questions for nurse educators, but particularly for those responsible for psychiatric nursing education.
The impressions of a sample of British and overseas student nurses of some social aspects of their training1
Authors: Clarke Margaret , Lee Terence R.
Published: December 2006

As part of a larger study, female student nurses from overseas and Britain in four training schools for the general nursing register were interviewed to obtain their perceptions of their reception at the hospital, their later welfare, and some of their general reactions to their training. Differences between the British and overseas student nurses were mainly related to experience before training and their reception at the hospital. Many similarities between the two groups were also found with respect to their later experiences and attitudes toward nursing. A proportion of the overseas students had experienced expressions of racial prejudice from patients.
Midwife or obstetric nurse? Some perceptions of midwives and obstetricians of the role of the midwife
Authors: Walker Jean F.
Published: December 2006

Accepted defintions of the midwife suggest that she is a woman trained to care for other women during the normal childbirth process; a complementary role to that of the obstetrician who is concerned primarily with the application of scientific knowledge to ensure as far as possible the physical wellbeing of mother and infant. In this paper the relationship between midwives and the medical profession is examined, with particular reference to their perception of the role of the midwife and her responsibility in maternity care. It is argued that the claim of midwives to be practitioners in their own right within a limited field is rarely recognized in practice and some implications of this finding are discussed.
The violent patient
Authors: Coffey Michael P.
Published: December 2006

This paper is based on a keynote address delivered at the diamond jubilee congress of the Royal College of Nursing at Harrogate, England, on 5 April 1976. After discussing the functional and dysfunctional aspects of aggression in society, the author reviews the recent literature, citing British and American studies conducted in psychiatric, mental handicap and general hospitals. The effects of environment and disease processes are identified and the implications of violence in patients are discussed, particularly the implications for trained nurses and nursing students. The author contends that it is violence rather than aggression that needs to be eradicated from society and pleads for more research‐based knowledge about violence, arguing that ‘knowledge must come before treatment’.
Nursing at the crossroads. Which way to turn? A look at the model of a nurse practitioner
Authors: Ferguson Marion C.
Published: December 2006

The paper develops the theme that cues for appropriate changes in nursing care and organization can be detected from the immediate socio‐political environment. Taking an historical perspective, changes in nursing care and organization are traced and the split between technology and care is discussed. A return to the model of hippocratic medicine is suggested by the introduction of a new role, that of the nurse practitioner. This model is considered in the light of nursing redefining its role vis‐à‐vis present day social needs of health care delivery systems.
‘Mental illness’, ‘mental handicap’ and the nursing service establishment–an alternative approach*
Authors: Walsh P.A.
Published: December 2006

The necessity to calculate nursing needs in terms of staff numbers is recognized as a longstanding one, and attempts to do this scientifically are not new. It is noted that the majority of studies have been carried out in the acute nursing field and the model used has invariably been a medical one, by orientation if not by design. Some of the problems and longterm consequences of former approaches are discussed. Lack of suitable measures in mental handicap and mental illness have led to the imposition of arbitrary staffing levels. To make any meaningful assessment of nursing needs in these fields it is suggested that an alternative to a medical model should be used. It is proposed that a behavioural model is the most logical choice. Comparisons between the medical and behavioural models are made. The application of a behavioural framework to the problem is described, and the advantages of the model in terms of practical application, the generation of quantifiable data and the ease with which the problem can be operationalized, are discussed. Methods of assessing outcome of nursing practice in relation to the institutional function (as defined) are described. The appropriateness of using nurses in the proposed role is considered as are the implications for nurse training.
Anorexia nervosa: aspects of care and treatment
Authors: Armstrong‐Esther C. A.
Published: December 2006

The literature concerned with anorexia nervosa is reviewed. The picture of a distinct, psychogenic syndrome emerges with a phobia about weight gain and preoccupation with eating. The illness occurs in young people and may take an obsessional or hysterical form. Treatment, in the first instance, consists of restoring calorific deficiency and body weight and attempting to prevent relapses. In this the nurse has a major role to play in supportive psychotherapy.
Integrating theory and practice in modular schemes for basic nurse education
Authors: Harrison Janet , Saunders Margaret E. , Sims Alan
Published: December 2006

The report describes factors influencing integration of theory and practice in modular schemes of nurse education. It examines the possibility of identifying learners who are more able to see relationships between classroom teaching and a practical experience, the types of experience where integration is more easily achieved, and the ability of hospitals to create and maintain an integrated system whilst still meeting patient demands.

Evidence suggested that some students were more able to identify and follow basic principles when working in the practical situation and that tutors were able to identify these students early in their training (after two practical experiences). As might be expected, both students and teachers reacted more favourably to ‘special’ wards when asked how far integration could be and had been achieved. Interviews with ward staff and studies of ward staffing levels and structures again showed how the need to move trained staff, to create stable numbers on wards, militated against the formation of a stable relationship between a learner and a given trained member of staff. Some suggestions for improving integration are made and the need to prepare detailed plans before introducing a modular scheme is stressed.
Nursing management audit: the reaction of users
Authors: Huczynski Andrzej
Published: December 2006

This paper describes the results of an evaluation research project into the Doncaster Nursing Management Audit scheme. The scheme, in line with similar ‘nursing audits’ in Europe and North America, has the objective of improving the quality of nursing care. This quality is dependent on both clinical and administrative procedures working correctly. At Doncaster there exists the nursing care audit (for nursing staff below the supervisory grade) and the nursing management audit (for staff at and above the supervisory grade). The Doncaster Nursing Management Audit distinguishes itself from other types of nursing audit in two main ways. Firstly, it focuses on the management aspects of a nurse's responsibilities and secondly, the scheme allows the nurse to self‐assess her own performance. The findings of the evaluation suggest that nurses see the audit as particularly valuable in developing them as managers and making them aware of their own potential. The single most unfavourable outcome of using audit was found to be the frustration created amongst nursing staff by their inability to change some nursing practices. The study showed that nursing staff who were occupationally mobile, whose supervisors had a strong interest in the use of audit and who were receiving a large amount of feedback on their performance were benefiting more from audit than their colleagues. Certain factors connected with the introduction and conduct of audit were found to have an important effect on its success. These included the manner in which audit was introduced into the organization, the way it was linked up with staff appraisal and the frequency with which it was conducted. The results indicate that audit has a great potential contribution to make to the improvement of the quality of nursing management provided it is used flexibly and adapted to the needs of the organization to which it is applied.
Some structural considerations in moduiar education for basic nursing students
Authors: Harrison Janet , Saunders Margaret E. , Sims Alan
Published: December 2006

The report is concerned with some of the structural factors influencing modular schemes of nurse education. Based on interviews with students, teachers and ward staff, in addition to examination of ward staffing levels and structures, the report describes streaming of students, the possible effects of modular education on staffing and some changes introduced or proposed by four hospitals running such schemes.

For the most part streaming was seen as being feasible but without any real advantages. Small drawbacks associated with streaming were, however, evident. The research suggested that many of the staffing difficulties associated with modular education were not created by the scheme of training but perhaps highlighted by it. Improvements which would both increase the effectiveness of the schemes and reduce some of these difficulties included movement towards more frequent intakes, a reduction in the length of classroom based element of the introductory course and abandonment of streaming and changes in the length/location of certain modules.
The patient care team in the hospital ward: the place of the nursing student
Authors: Evers Helen K.
Published: December 2006

Patient care can be regarded as a complex activity, which is the outcome of negotiation amongst a large number of different health care professionals who may, at times, hold conflicting views on goals and priorities. If a high standard of care is to be achieved and limited staff resources are to be used efficiently, a strategy of ‘integrated team working’ should be adopted. For the nurse to play her part in the patient care team, in coordinating ward work, carrying out nursing care, monitoring patients' conditions, helping the patient to make sense of what is happening to him, making the most of the ward's opportunities for learning, and so on, she needs to understand the part played in patient care by other health professionals. The study reported here found that amongst the 46 nursing staff of three wards of different specialties, the majority of trained staff did see themselves as having regular working links with other health care professionals‐specifically doctors, physiotherapists and social workers. Only a tiny minority of the 31 student and nursing auxiliaries felt that they had any working links with other health professionals. Most students believed that for the sake of good patient care and effective learning, they should be part of a multidisciplinary team rather than an exclusively nursing team. Whilst the ward manager can do much to foster the development of a multidisciplinary perspective, it is suggested that structuring the workflow along the lines of patient‐centred rather than task‐centred allocation, automatically builds in face‐to‐face interactions between nurses of all levels and other health professionals. This facilitates the development of mutual role knowledge and effective integrated team working. The ward manager is in the best position to initiate change in work organization, but, if she is to succeed in this complex endeavour, the active cooperation of others is imperative. In particular, medical staff, nursing management and schools of nursing.
Evaluation research: the need for multiple criteria
Authors: House Vivienne G.
Published: December 2006

Evaluation research: the need for multiple criteria The Research Unit was established in 1968 and one of its primary functions since then has been an attempt to evaluate experimental schemes of nurse training. Two of the explicit objectives of the research were to establish whether students could be attracted to such schemes of training and, if so, whether they could be successfully prepared by them to pass State finals examinations. The author is concerned that courses are‘evaluated’too readily in terms of single criterion measures such as pass rates, which may in fact be misleading. The paper argues that evaluation of a training course should involve the question‘Is it worth it?’and this implies a need for the use of multiple criteria.
Self‐image and job satisfaction of the Nigerian nurse: a comparative study
Authors: Ugwuegbu D. C. E. , Ogundeyin Winifred M.
Published: December 2006

Self‐image and job satisfaction of the Nigerian nurse: a comparative study Congruity or lack of it between the perception of student and professional nurses about the self‐image and job satisfaction of the Nigerian nurse was examined. The expectation was that as a result of the socialization processes involved in nursing education, the student nurse and the senior nursing professionals (who are the socializing agents) should not differ significantly on their ratings on the self‐image and job satisfaction of the Nigerian nurse. The subjects were 30 male and female student nurses and 23 male and female professional nurses who scored the Self‐image of the Nurse Scale (SINS) and the Job Satisfaction Scale (JSS). The results showed that the student and the professional nurses were minimally differentiated in their perception of the self‐image of the Nigerian nurse. On the whole the student nurses were more dissatisfied with nursing than the professional nurses. The occupational position of the student nurse was said to have been partially responsible for the differences.
Concepts of professionalism
Authors: Chapman Christine M.
Published: December 2006

Concepts of professionalism The claim by many occupations to professional status has resulted from lack of precision of definition. The characteristics discussed are those which most writers agree are possessed by professionals and include knowledge, authority for action, community sanction, control and the development of a sub‐culture. Nursing as an occupation is viewed in the light of these characteristics and found wanting. However, one equally important measurement may be that of the attitudes displayed by the members of an occupation and, if these are considered, nursing may be seen to be nearer to the ideal type. The main problem may be that the term‘nurse’in the United Kingdom includes a wide range of practitioners.
Nursing authority*
Authors: Labelle Huguette
Published: December 2006

Four factors associated with authority, namely, (1) extensive knowledge of one's field, along with a good understanding of related area, (2) accountability, (3) interpersonal relationships, and (4) power, are identified and applied to the field of nursing. The author argues that nursing authority is a vital tool for individual nurses and for the nursing collective and that the capacity of nurses to influence is enormous if only they can develop the confidence to mobilize their own individual and collective potential.
The extending role of the British occupational health nurse. Doctor? Safetyworker? Nurse?
Authors: Jarman Betty M.
Published: December 2006

In this paper the author, who is an experienced and qualified occupational health nurse, defines occupational health and describes the development of occupational health nursing in the United Kingdom. The extended role of the occupational health nurse is discussed and some comments made about the future. At the same time, the author highlights the difficulties which have been and still are being encountered.
A systems approach to the nursing process
Authors: AItschul Annie T.
Published: December 2006

This paper makes the point that for psychiatric patients the nursing process based on a systems approach may be more useful than that based on problem‐solving or activities of daily living.

Some of the key concepts used in this approach are (i) listing component parts of a system

(2) defming the inside and outside of systems, the outside being described as environment

(3) changing the boundaries or the interface of various systems, as appropriate, (4) observing the impact of the environment and especially of the nurse herself as a part of the system or the environment, (5) tracing input, output and throughput, and (6) drawing distinctions between open and closed systems and accounting for a steady state in the system.
The need for a comprehensive counselling service for nursing students
Authors: Jones David
Published: December 2006

The responses to ‘given situations’ in a questionnaire administered to 50 nursing students indicate that they are conscious of high stress factors in nursing. Role conflict is created when they are given instructions in the wards contrary to what they are taught in the schools of nursing. Some of the responses also indicated that learners may be developing attitudes which are contrary to good nursing practice as a protection from external pressures.

The majority of the respondents had opportunities for discussion of their problems, but 28% were unsure about available facilities. The author argues that the counselling needs of nursing students must be met by the provision of a comprehensive counselling service.
The rights of nurses*
Authors: Patten Mary E.
Published: December 2006

The rights of nurses are those of all individuals in society. This paper examines some of the fundamental issues imderlying the ‘rights of nurses’ in the context of the declaration of a belief in the inalienable rights of all members of society.
Educating teachers of nursing: the contribution of educationai studies
Authors: Sheahan John
Published: December 2006

In this paper, the nature of educational studies is considered and discussed. Following some introductory comments, the paper deals with philosophy, psychology and sociology in relation to education. This is followed by a section on social psychology and the paper ends with a section on the history of education.
Perspectives and problems on quality of nursing care: an overview of contributions from North America and recent developments in Europe
Authors: van Maanen Hanneke M. Th.
Published: December 2006

The author focuses on the quality of nursing care and discusses the major problems inherent in control of the quality of nursing care.

The concept of quality is analysed and the approaches of health care professionals to the concept are discussed. An overview of the American contribution to the relevant research is presented together with ongoing developments in Europe.
Reality and expectation of the British National Health Service Consumer*
Authors: Rayner Claire
Published: December 2006

On the analysis of some 40 000 letters received each year, the author, a medical journalist, has identified nine main categories of queries about health care problems which are not adequately dealt with by the British National Health Services.

The problems are concerned with anatomy and physiology, illness, pregnancy and childbirth, contraception, child care, mental health, the old and plastic surgery.

By focusing on these unmet needs, a plea is made to rectify the matter.
Criteria to be used in the selection of clinical areas for basic nurse training
Authors: Skeath W. Alan , Deadman M. E. , Gousy S. , Harvey M. , Tyrrel S. , Yorston S.
Published: December 2006

The problem of establishing criteria to be considered when selecting clinical areas for basic nurse training was investigated by the Teaching team from Bexley Hospital Nurse Education Centre, Kent.

Establishments involved in training personnel in occupations other than nursing were examined and evaluated in order to see if comparisons could be made. Unfortunately the establishments chosen provided little information in respect of learner placement in nursing. Contributions to the nursing literature in respect of the subject being considered were sparse, but articles by Martin (1976), Roper (1976), Schröck (1973) and Strohmann (1977) were interesting and of considerable value.

Whilst the project at Bexley involved examination of the more obvious criteria used in the selection of training areas, considerable attention was paid to the attitudes of clinical nursing personnel towards nurse education and training.

Replies to an educational questionnaire devised by the team revealed many significant differences between the attitudes of those nurses involved in basic nurse training in the hospital's wards and departments when compared with those of other teaching and service personnel. A checklist of criteria was ultimately compiled and it was suggested that a further comparative study emphasizing the attitude component of this project should be made in 12 months time.
The role of the nurse in support of breast feeding
Authors: Auerbach Kathleen G.
Published: December 2006

The nurse can provide information about, and support of, breast feeding. The prenatal nurse can inform the mother of the advantages of breast feeding to herself and her baby. The labour and delivery nurse can aid the mother in her first contact with the baby and reassure the mother who has a Caesarean birth, or a premature or sick infant, that she too can nurse. The postpartum nurse can help breast feeding to continue by providing frequent maternal‐infant contact during the mother's hospital stay. The nursery nurse supports breast feeding by refraining from giving the baby other fluids. The paediatric nurse continues the helping pattern by reinforcing the statements and actions of others which will further impress the mother with the appropriateness of her infant feeding method.

Mothers need to be informed about infant feeding options in order to make a knowledgeable choice based on awareness of alternatives. The nurse's role in support of breast feeding varies with the time and place where patient care is provided. In each setting, however, the nurse plays a significant role in helping the mother to begin breast feeding and to enjoy it, at the same time providing her infant with optimum nutrition for his early growth and development.
Manipulation: a negative element in care
Authors: Hughes Jill
Published: December 2006

Manipulation is an integral factor in interaction. It can take either a positive or negative, constructive or destructive form. It can be either a conscious factor in the relationship or the external outcome of an unconscious need on the part of either person in the relationship. This compulsion to care can become very destructive and non‐fulfilling for those involved. This compulsive need to care leads to stereotyped care, which, therefore, makes no allowance for the fact that, despite similarities, all men are different and individual, to be treated and cared for as such. Compulsive caring is no longer considering care as a partnership, a learning creative encounter, but a grasping, selfish act of a domineering, over‐anxious person. The characteristics of ‘the helping personality’ are identified and their relevance to the discussion. It is argued that both carer and patient can manipulate or be manipulated, depending upon the extent of conformity to ‘strong’ and ‘weak’ positions within the patient‐carer relationship, and personality characteristics of those involved. The importance of being aware of manipulative behaviour, its positive potential, and negative consequences is stressed: gaining awareness by considering the caring relationship in which one is involved.
Constructs of relationships and issues of authority in nursing
Authors: Shaw Monica , Heyman Bob
Published: December 2006

The research on which this paper is based was designed to investigate nurses’ perceptions of relationships in their work. The most important issue to emerge from their descriptions of relationships was that of the nature of authority. From their own accounts; examples of which are included in this paper; it can be seen that views of authority in the hospital setting are both complex and varied. We have identified four different types of authority as seen by nurses: parental, reciprocal, political and arbitrary. Our research suggests that any analysis of authority relationships based purely on structural arrangements would be too simplistic. One possible implication of the findings we present might be that more explicit discussion of the nature of authority in nursing relationships should be encouraged both in training and subsequently.
The nurse as health educator: the prevention and early detection of Cancer
Authors: Elkind Andrea Knopf
Published: December 2006

To assess their potential as health educators 785 female hospital nurses (trained nurses, learners, auxiliaries and nursery nurses) were asked, by means of a postal questionnaire, to give their opinion of three measures of cancer control–the cervical smear test, breast self‐examination (BSE) and not smoking. Eighty‐four % thought the cervical smear test of definite value, 68% had this opinion of BSE, but only 59% thought that it was of definite value not to smoke. Most nurses saw all three measures as having some degree of benefit as few rejected any measure as being of no value. Factors related to whether they regarded a particular measure as being of definite, rather than a lesser degree of value, included (but not necessarily always for all measures) grade, training, age, professional experience of cancer nursing, acceptance of the curability of cancer, knowledge of survival rates, likelihood of reading an article about cancer, and smoking behaviour. It is suggested that nurses’ relative assessment of the measures is not based on the intrinsic value of the measures themselves, but on the nurses’ personal health behaviour and on the perceived difficulty in undertaking a measure. Furthermore, additional barriers to nurses’ likelihood of recommending such measures to others include: lack of understanding of, and skills in health education and an inadequate knowledge base. Thus, simply exhorting nurses to engage in health education is unlikely to succeed. The barriers described have to be taken into account and in particular nurses need to be taught health education skills.
Overseas nurses–effective therapeutic agents?
Authors: Shanley Eamon
Published: December 2006

Factors affecting the effectiveness of overseas people employed as psychiatric nurses are discussed. Basic cultural influences, especially different value systems between the immigrant and the host population, are seen as unlikely to be greatly altered by the environment in which the immigrant nurses find themselves. In fact a greater divergence would seem more likely to occur. The different experiences of immigrant nurses compared with nurses recruited in Britain are considered under the following headings: expectations of the immigrants on entering nursing, their contact with the host culture, the reaction of the indigenous population to the immigrant, language difficulties, and the insecurity of employment. The conclusion drawn is that the cultural differences, recruitment methods, the immigrants' experiences in employment and lack of contact with the culture of the indigenous population (apart from their deviant members) are likely to adversely affect his/her ability to function as a therapeutic agent. This is particularly important where the form of treatment is based on the social model.
Assessing the outcomes of a home nursing programme: previousiy hospitalized versus non‐hospitalized patients
Authors: Legge Jerome S. , Reilly Bernard J.
Published: December 2006

This study utilizes four outcome measures to compare the success of a home nursing programme on a group of patients previously hospitalized and a non‐hospitalized group. The outcome measures are: mortality, stabilization, hospitalization and nursing home confinement at discharge from the programme. No significant differences were found between the groups, except for nursing home confinement which was higher for the non‐hospitalized group. The relationships remained the same even when age and functional status were considered as alternative hypotheses. Implications of this study suggest that home nursing programmes are likely to be as successful with previously hospitalized, as they are with non‐hospitalized, patients. Secondly, in evaluating the impact of home nursing programmes on patients, the potential stabilizing influence of the hospital must be taken into account before examining the programme in isolation.
Objectively toward curriculum improvement in nursing education in England and Wales
Authors: Greaves Fred
Published: December 2006

The General Nursing Council (G.N.C.) for England and Wales (circular 77/I9/4) is currently influencing schools of nursing to use behavioural objectives, which means immediate implications for the basic training of nurses. As the majority of nurse teachers seek to influence their students' behaviour, there appears to be good grounds for stating clearly what it is they hope their students will achieve. Operationalizing objectives in realistic learning environments will rest on two fundamental assumptions. First, there must be a clear foundation of integrated theory and practice. Secondly, nurse teachers must be using objectives in the light of clear understanding of objective approaches which are based in a conceptual framework of curriculum theory.
Preserving the essence of nursing in a technological age*
Authors: Henderson Virginia A.
Published: December 2006

The author examines what the essence of nursing is. Then she goes on to seek the kind of administrators that will help preserve this essence. And the kind of research that will facilitate it as well as the practice manifested by it. She concludes that the essence of nursing —‐basic nursing care is essential to human welfare.
Philosophy and nursing
Authors: Griffin Anne P.
Published: December 2006

It is claimed that philosophy has a distinctive contribution to make to the education of nurses and their teachers, as well as to the development of nursing theory and research. After a brief characterization of philosophy and philosophy of education, stressing its relationship with thinking processes, and the development of personal values, the above claim is supported in the body of the article by discussion of four central concerns in nursing. First the concept of caring where cognitive, moral and attitudinal aspects are examined and secondly, the importance of gaining a moral and political consciousness of assumptions underlying a nurse's work. Thirdly, a discussion of some ethical and other implications in adopting a systems approach to the nursing process. Finally an analysis of nursing theory and research which draws attention to the value of non‐empirical work, and reiterates criticisms of the objectives approach as a research tool.
Towards rational midwifery service planning
Authors: Moores Brian
Published: December 2006

Although the work reported here began at health district level, even a casual perusal of published statistics reveals a quite bizarre situation when viewed from a manpower planning perspective. The quite considerable effort involved in producing state‐certified midwives seems, on the surface at least, to be excessive given the number gainfully employed in that profession. The national situation with respect to trends in the birth rate is examined and a somewhat surprising seasonal effect identified. This material is then used to estimate the likely situation to be encountered at local level and in particular the effect at different levels of bed provision. In an attempt to translate these estimated births into workload figures recourse was made to regression analysis. Data from 417 maternity units relating both to outputs and inputs were secured, but the subsequent analysis proved abortive due to the high correlation which exists between the variables. Estimates were therefore derived from the work of other authors.