bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Motivation and drug dependency: a preliminary evaluation of an assessment tool
Authors: Harper David J
Published: December 2006

This paper describes a pilot project examining whether two research‐based assessment instruments following a conflict model of dependency are of any clinical use It is argued that the information they provide about client motivation towards treatment and about supporting and hindering influences during withdrawal is important for clinicians of any profession involved in a service to drug users
Self‐reflection in nursing teacher education
Authors: Leino‐Kilpi Helena
Published: December 2006

The reality of health care is continuously changing Therefore, nursing teachers have to encourage and promote a critical, inquiry‐oriented approach to work This demands self‐reflection during the teacher education Teaching training crystallizes the objectives of teacher education, the process of self‐reflection should be seen especially there
Study of the effects of education on patients’ knowledge and acceptance of their indwelling urethral catheters
Authors: Roe Brenda H
Published: December 2006

A randomized controlled trial was undertaken to test the effects of an education programme, which included an information booklet, on patients’ knowledge and acceptance of their indwelling urethral catheters A total of 45 patients participated, all of whom were either established or new catheter users Data were collected at pretest, test and follow‐up visits The information booklet and researcher were found to significantly influence patients’ knowledge and acceptance of their catheters The findings are discussed with a number of conclusions drawn and recommendations for current practice
Programme evaluation in nursing education: the state of the art
Authors: Watson Joan E , Herbener Debra
Published: December 2006

Programme evaluation is a complex but integral component of a nursing education programme It is an ongoing process of collecting and describing data which provides the basis for decision making Specifically, evaluative data can be used to prepare for accreditation visits, account for budgetary expenditures, answer requests for information, develop faculty and staff, and examine the planned and actual effects of the programme within the community and make changes accordingly There are several programme evaluation models available to guide the evaluation process, but no single model is best and nurse educators must consider a variety of variables Ideally, the selection of a model should be based on the purpose of the evaluation, programme needs, material and spatial resources, and personnel time, as well as the needs and desires of key interest groups Several considerations are also required before the model is implemented These include determining specific priorities for evaluation since all aspects of a programme (conceptual framework, philosophy, programme goals, student characteristics, graduates’ performance, faculty and administrative expertise, as well as adequacy of resources) usually cannot be evaluated simultaneously, how the evaluation shouldproceed, time frames for specific evaluation projects, and personnel responsible for the evaluative activities
Can knowledge be promoted and values ignored? Implications for nursing education
Authors: Raya Afroditi
Published: December 2006

This paper aims to reflect upon the educational task of the university, to consider whether knowledge can be promoted and values ignored, and thus to explore the implications for nursing education The university is the cradle which nurtures intellectuals, professionals and scientists as whole human beings Paced by the spirit and the ideals of paideia, it cannot be limited merely to developing the student's mind It should also inspire the student with a belief in the higher values of life, as a compass in his profession (Paideia is an ancient Greek conception of the ideal human education It includes modern notions such as civilization, culture, tradition, literature, philosophy and education It means formation of the human being of any age, as an independent, free and virtuous whole person) Values, when transmitted by all teachers of all subjects within the educational structures of the university, can increase the student's respect for truth, for the worth and the rights of other persons, his appreciation of his own worth, assets and limitations, his love of wisdom and desire to serve humanity, his outlook about man's position in the world and his inquiring mind in order to discover higher perspectives of life Only in this way does university become a worthy centre of paideia for educating nurses committed and aspiring to provide holistic, personalized, quality nursing care to people, as well as to determine and shape the future of nursing education in the midst of our technological, computerized, and some would say dehumanized era, propelling itself into the twenty‐first century
Erosion of individuality in care of elderly people in hospital — an alternative approach
Authors: Kenny Thomas
Published: December 2006

This paper will identify and analyse those factors which contribute to the erosion of individuality and identity for those elderly people who are admitted to hospital for care on ‘elderly wards’ There is a need to focus attention on and consider the effects of the present system of care provided for the elderly while in hospital as this care can perpetuate the development of dependency and iatrogenesis among the elderly and in the process erodes their self esteem, identity and individuality The contention of this essay will be that the proposition and usage of King's model of nursing, which advocates greater patient participation through mutual goal setting, keener awareness of the patient's perception and the establishment of an equal, reciprocal and collaborative relationship between nurse and client, can help ameliorate or prevent the development of iatrogenic problems
Effect of cerumen removal on the hearing ability of geriatric patients
Authors: Lewis‐Cullinan Carol , Janken Janice K
Published: December 2006

The purposes of this study were to estimate the prevalence of impacted cerumen in a population of hospitalized elderly patients, and to evaluate the effect of cerumen removal in reversing hearing impairment The design was a pre‐test/post‐test static‐group comparison Over a 1‐year period, a random sample (n = 226) was drawn every third day from daily admission lists of English‐speaking patients aged 65 or older, admitted to non‐intensive care units of one hospital On either the second or third day of hospital stay, subjects were given a hearing test using an AudioScope and then their ear canals were examined for impacted cerumen Ear canal irrigations were performed on those subjects with impacted cerumen All subjects received a second hearing test Results indicate that impacted cerumen is a common condition in the hospitalized elderly Thirtyfive per cent of the sample had impacted cerumen, 19 9% bilaterally and 15 0% unilaterally Furthermore, removal of cerumen significantly improved hearing ability Improved hearing scores were obtained in 75.0% of the ears after the impacted cerumen was removed, with subjects hearing from one to three more tones per ear on the second hearing test An analysis of variance for repeated measures on hearing was computed to test for the effect of removing cerumen from individuals who had neither, one or both ears occluded A significant interaction (F = 146 83, d f = 2/223, P < 0.0001) between hearing tests and cerumen removal was found indicating that those with no occlusion had no change in hearing whereas both occluded groups increased with the greatest change for the bilateral group The findings of this study suggest that the hearing health of the elderly can be promoted if nurses working in the acute care setting routinely conduct otoscopic examinations as a part of their assessment and perform ear canal irrigations when impacted cerumen is found
The effect of education on nurses' perception of AIDS
Authors: Armstrong‐Esther Chris , Hewitt W E
Published: December 2006

This paper examines changes in health care workers’ perceptions of AIDSaccruing from attempts at professional enlightenment Based upon a 4‐month study of 60 registered nurses enrolled in a bachelor of nursing programme, it investigates alterations in knowledge and attitudes resulting from intense instruction on AIDS and AIDS patient care as part of a class in epidemiology Contrary to what much of the literature has suggested to this point regarding knowledge enhancement and attitudinal transformation, the research reveals a number of positive changes to have occurred over the period of thestudy Not only were the nurses better informed about AIDS than previously, but their attitudes towards the disease and patient care had become considerably more liberal
Nursing models in a special hospital: a critical analysis of efficacity
Authors: Mason Tom , Chandley M
Published: December 2006

Models of care from the general field of nursing applied in special hospitals appears to be unworkable in this type of environment in terms of their inability to affect patient care It is argued that these external models, adopted due to a crisis of confidence in special hospitals, fail because their fundamental constructs clash with that of the institution's particular sociology A historical analysis of the development of special hospitals and nursing models reveals a dichotomy of emergent values, highly complex in nature, which conflict from the notion of Parsonian role‐adoption From this position, it is suggested that the strength of value systems are such that this leads to a non‐negotiable stalemate of forensic elements of client and institution, and the ‘treatment’ ethic as prescribed by the medicalization of criminology This article critically analyses the six most commonly‐used nursing models in special hospitals and pinpoints the areas of breakdown within this type of environment from a sociological perspective Finally, it argues for a new direction away from ‘generalist’ ideals of nursing towards a theoretical construction of ‘specialism’ in forensic care
An examination of nurses’ feelings about patients with specific feeding needs
Authors: Elizabeth Barnes K
Published: December 2006

Repertory grid technique was used to study nurses’ feelings about longstay patients, with specific reference to the patients’ feeding needs Interviews and direct observation were used to supplement the data It was found that, although nurses claimed a high degree of satisfaction from caring for all patients, there were some people who were viewed less positively Overall, those patients who were easier to feed came closer to the nurses’ conceptions of the ‘ideal’ Possible reasons for this are discussed, and some of the implications for practice are outlined
The parents' perspective: ethical decision‐making in neonatal intensive care
Authors: Pinch Winifred J , Spielman Margaret L
Published: December 2006

Ethical debate abounds in the literature relative to treatment decisions for the high risk neonate in the intensive care nursery A systematic examination of the parents’ perspective is missing To fill this existing gap, the ethical dimension of care was explored with 32 families of high nsk newborns from a Level III nursery, using a moral conflict interview guide in order to describe their perspective A concept of the medicalization of parenting appears to best reflect the parents’ view of ethical decision‐making responsibility This concept evolved through the parents’ reflection on conflict naming, content of decision‐making, context of decision‐making, information sharing and perception of infant status These concerns differ profoundly from those of health professionals, philosophers, theologians and others active in this debate who ate lower limits of viability, iatrogenic effects of treatment, use of multiple invasive procedures, and the role of paternalism as ethical issues
Creative international networking towards academic nursing education and research in The Netherlands
Authors: Diepeveen‐Speekenbrink Johanna C M H
Published: December 2006

This article describes the changes occurring in nursing education in The Netherlands The key factors influencing this process are addressed Nurse education in The Netherlands still takes place mainly in hospital schools of nursing In 1972 an important innovation was realized when the first two undergraduate nursing education programmes were started within institutions for higher educahon Today there are 18 such programmes in the country and since 1980 there is also one graduate programme at the University of Maastricht Another major event occurred in 1986 when the University of Utrecht and the local School for Higher Education together initiated the development of a graduate programme in nursing education A collaborative master's degree course was created with the University of Wales, United Kingdom Meanwhile, three Dutch universities have joined efforts and are presently working together with regional schools for higher professional education on a national plan The aims are to establish (part‐time) master and doctoral degree programmes in nursing and academic nursing research within the next few years
The role of the family in relation to chronic pain: review of the literature
Authors: Snelling Jannice
Published: December 2006

As families maintain the primary responsibility for the care of the chronic painsufferer, this paper examines the family's aetiological role in chronic pain, the ways in which the family influences and maintains pain, and the impact that chronic pain has on the family unit Although some of the research is contentious, it can be concluded that, (a) there is a tendency for patients to come from families which include another member suffering from pain or illness, (b) that it is conceivable that spouses reinforce pain behaviours in their partners, and (c) that it is possible that the chronic pain sufferer may significantly subscribe to poor marital relationships, poor sexual adjustment and high levels of emotional distress
The ageing family in crisis: assessment and decision‐making models
Authors: Beckingham Ann C , Baumann Andrea
Published: December 2006

The purpose of this paper is to present a multidisciplmary model for use with elderly families in crisis and decision making The application of systems in family assessement theory is outlined in order to understand the complexities of family assessment and decision making A schematic family assessment and decision‐making model is discussed These models identify what the problem is, the family structure and supports, and possible interventions and evaluation Ineffective processing strategies such as regression and premature closure are reviewed, and strategies for effective decision making are outlined
The hospital ward sister: professional gatekeeper
Authors: Lewis Tom
Published: December 2006

This study is a shortened report of research exploring ward sisters/charge nurses’ perceptions of their responsibilities (Throughout the study, the title ‘ward sister’ is used to refer to ward sister/charge nurse) Using semi‐structured interview technique, 10 hospital sisters from two large hospitals in the south of England were interviewed The emergent data were analysed using grounded theory method From the analysis, the substantive theory was developed that ward sisters act to gatekeep the professional function of the nurse Many previous British studies have explored the role of the ward sister, reporting the powerful influence that the ward sister exerts over her environment This study suggests that one of the reasons the ward sister is able to exert such power is because of her professional gatekeeper role The shift in emphasis from the clinical to the managerial function of ward sister could therefore have important implications for the professional nursing function Some possible implications are discussed and recommendations are made
Investigating change in a nursing context
Authors: Sheehan John
Published: December 2006

This paper focuses on ‘why’, ‘what’ and How issues as they relate to the investigation of change in a nursing context The why issues revolve around the need for change, and evolutionary and revolutionary change are discussed Next the what issues are discussed and some variables involved in the change process are identified, and the role of change agents is outlined Change strategies such as the power‐coersive, the rational‐empirical and the normative—re‐education are discussed Finally, the potential of action research in the context of bringing about change is advanced
Student nurse attitudes to teaching/learning methods
Authors: Vaughan James A
Published: December 2006

This article outlines the findings of a study which investigated the attitudes of 203 general and psychiatric student nurses from rune schools of nursing towards a defined number of teaching/learning methodologies All students were at the end of their first year or the beginning of their second year of a 3‐year first‐level training Data were collected using an instrument based on a semantic differential scale The findings, when compared against certain vanables, for example, gender, showed that there were very few significant differences in relation to the defined and tested methodologies Students generally showed themselves to be a homogeneous group and the findings indicate that students were more positively predisposed towards student‐centred teaching/learning methodologies
Quantitative measurement of anxiety in patients undergoing surgery for renal calculus disease
Authors: Brown Sarah M
Published: December 2006

The anxiety experienced by patients undergoing surgical procedures is well documented and may affect the outcome of any operation This has not been considered in modern urological surgery which is moving away from highly‐invasive techniques towards minimal and even non‐invasive procedures Little work has been earried out to examine the patient's reaction to this new technology This work has two aims to assess patient anxiety before and after different procedures for renal calculus removal and to identify, where possible, factors that contribute to pre‐ and post‐operative anxiety The main method of quantifying stress was the measurement of palmar sweat by means of an evaporimeter Other measurements used were a bi‐polar visual analogue scale and the Spielberger State Anxiety Questionnaire. The results of the study demonstrated a highly significant reduction in the palmar sweat production (P < 0.0001) and score obtained for the analogue scale (P < 0.05) following open surgery, but no changes before and after treatment in any of the variables in patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy or lithotripsy Analysis of the data in relation to the surgery demonstrated a significantly higher pre‐operative analogue score in patients undergoing open surgery compared with lithoripsy (P < 0.05) Post‐operatively, pahents undergoing hthotnpsy had a significantly higher palmar sweat response compared with patients undergoing open surgery (P < 0.01) Pre‐operatively, fear of a general anaesthetic was identified as a factor contributing to anxiety and post‐operahvely, pain was the most commonly identified stressor The implications of these results to the patient and to both nursing and medical staff in terms of practice are discussed This must include a careful pre‐operative explanation
In‐hospital counselling for first‐time myocardial infarction patients and spouses: effects on satisfaction
Authors: Thompson David R , Webster Rosemary A , Meddis Ray
Published: December 2006

Self‐ratings of satisfaction were studied over 6 months in 60 male first‐time myocardial infarction patients and their wives Couples were randomly assigned to either a treatment group, where they received a simple programme of education and psychological support in addition to routine care, or to a control group, where they received routine care only All patients completed visual analogue scales measuring satisfaction regarding their general health, life in general, care and information received All wives completed visual analogue scales measuring satisfaction regarding information received and care the patient received Pahents and wives in the treatment group reported statistically significantly more satisfaction than those in the control group This effect was sustained for 6 months after counselling
How to bridge the gap between hospital and home?*
Authors: Kersten Diederik , Hackenitz Ed
Published: December 2006

Many countries have separate organizations for delivering nursing care to patients in the hospital and to patients at home in the community This separation creates extra difficulties in organizing continuous care for patients discharged from hospital who need nursing aftercare (in The Netherlands, at a rough estimate, 10% of all hospital patients) Special arrangements have to be made to prevent these patients missing out completely By means of a questionnaire sent to all Dutch regional community nursing organizations, this study makes an inventory of the organizational measures that have been taken in this field in The Netherlands and analyses a model of the effects these measures (and also the effects on contextual factors) have on the number of problems reported by the community in respect of continuity of care In The Netherlands, the initiative in arranging continuity of care is taken by the regional community nursing organizations or by their operational teams In most cases, they have been able to make arrangements with the hospitals about the selection of aftercare patients and the transfer of information by transfer forms Sometimes special continuity nurses are appointed by the community, among other things to organize regular consultation with the hospitals An eight‐item Likert scale was developed to measure the extent of continuity problems Analysis of the effect of several factors in the model by a stepwise multiple regression analysis, revealed that the consistent use of transfer forms by hospitals was an important tool in reducing the problems Furthermore, regional community nursing organizations themselves had fewer problems compared with the operational teams to whom arranging continuity is sometimes delegated Increased personnel capacity within the community is also beneficial The effect of these last two factors (organizational level and personnel capacity) is, however, overruled, by the negative effect of the size of the regional community nursing organization the more inhabitants, the more problems there are
Interpersonal communication between nurses and elderly patients: refinement of an observation schedule
Authors: Oliver Sarah , Redfern Sally J
Published: December 2006

The aim of the study was to refine and improve the inter‐observer reliability of an observation schedule, developed by Le May & Redfern, designed to record the amount and type of nurse‐patient interpersonal communication The new technique involved observation of non‐verbal interactions using a portable computer programed as an event recorder and a tape recorder to record conversation The observation schedule was employed m an acute/rehabilitation care of the elderly ward and inter‐observer reliability was tested on two occasions The second observer used a handwritten version of the schedule Reliability coefficients were acceptable (≥ 0.60 or ≥ 70% agreement) for all the schedule components although the recording of non‐verbal response was inadequate. Use of the portable computer produced no additional benefits over the handwritten schedule The observation confirmed previous research which found that relatively little expressive touch takes place between nurses and elderly patients A simplified version of the handwritten schedule together with tape‐recording of verbal communication is likely to increase reliability.
Maintaining competence for first‐line nurse managers: an evaluation of the use of the literature
Authors: Duffield Christine
Published: December 2006

The use of nursing literature is frequently advocated as a means of maintaining competence The purpose of this study was to compare the frequency of references to competencies in the literature with those retained for the role of first‐line nurse managers by an expert panel involved in the Delphi technique In this way, the use of literature in maintaining managerial competence for first‐line nurse managers was evaluated When the 20 most frequently mentioned competencies in the literature were compared with the highest mean scores and those ranked as most important by the expert panel only two competencies appeared on all three lists Fifteen competencies were frequently mentioned in the literature but were not identified by the expert panel as important to the role of first‐line nurse managers A further three competencies identified in the literature were excluded by the expert panel, indicating they were not perceived to be a function of first‐line nurse managers
A theoretical framework for psychiatric nursing practice
Authors: Onega Lisa L.
Published: December 2006

Traditionally, specific theoretical frameworks which are congruent with psychiatric nursing practice have been poorly articulated The purpose of this paper is to identify and discuss a philosophical base, a theoretical framework, application to psychiatric nursing, and issues related to psychiatric nursing knowledge development and practice A philosophical framework that is likely to be congruent with psychiatric nursing, which is based on the nature of human beings, health, psychiatric nursing and reality, is identified Aaron Antonovsky's Salutogenic Model is discussed and applied to psychiatric nursing This model provides a helpful way for psychiatric nurses to organize their thinking processes and ultimately improve the health care services that they offer to their clients Goal setting and nursing interventions using this model are discussed Additionally, application of the use of Antonovsky's model is made to nursing research areas such as hardiness, uncertainty, suffering, empathy and literary works Finally, specific issues related to psychiatric nursing are addressed.
A collaborative model for the clinical education of baccalaureate nursing students
Authors: Kirkpatrick H , Byrne C , Martin M‐L. , Roth M L
Published: December 2006

Quality clinical supervision is fundamental for the consolidation of knowledge and the development of a professional identity for baccalaureate nursing students Problems in providing high‐quality clinical supervision range from a lack of practitioner role models to madequate or unsupportive learning environments Collaboration between the education and service sectors allows for the development of ennched clinical learning expenences for students This paper describes an innovative collaborative educational process developed by McMaster University School of Nursing and the Nursing and Education Departments at Hamilton Psychiatric Hospital, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Front‐line nursing staff are the clinical supervisors, with support from clinical nurse specialists, the hospital educator and the university faculty member When compared to more traditional approaches, this model ensures that the students receive more variety in placements and access to expert human resources
Nurses as role models and health educators
Authors: Clarke Anne C
Published: December 2006

This paper focuses on the role of the nurse as both a role model and as a health educator and examines some key areas where tension between these two appear to exist The context is the changing British National Health Service and the expectations of both the providers of the care and the consumers The concept of the nurse as a role model for health is explored the use of the term ‘role’ and its implications for nurses, what being a role model might mean for nurses and some of the stresses which living up to these role models might impose, the extra burden of an implied healthy role model and the expectations which are placed on nurses from both within and outwith the profession Communication theory and the view of the nurse as a ‘credible source’ may add to these pressures and this paper tries to offer to nurses an alternative standpoint from which they may begin to tackle their health promotion/education activities The traditional role of the nurse as a health educator is examined and a variety of options are offered to encourage nurses to consider their approach to dealing with clients within the context of health education Some different models of education which are more suitable for the flexible approach which is required for health education are outlined The paper closes with some discussion points which suggest that self‐awareness and personal developments may be among the most important qualities which nurses need to be effective health educators
Nurses' hands as vectors of hospital‐acquired infection: a review
Authors: Gould Dinah
Published: December 2006

Hospital‐acquired infections (HAI) are notorious for the manner in which they complicate the course of the original illness, increase costs of hospital stay and delay recovery This review will briefly outline the problems presented by HAI in developed countries and present evidence that Staphylococcus aureus and gram negative bacilli, the main causative agents, reach susceptible patients via the contact rather than airborne route, predominantly on the hands of hospital staff Good hand hygiene could help reduce the economic burden and patient distress caused by HAI, but there is evidence that it is infrequently and poorly performed by nurses, the health care staff most frequently in continuous contact with patients Possible reasons are explored in an attempt to identify strategies to improve hand hygiene
Continuing nursing education: some issues
Authors: Yuen Felix
Published: December 2006

In nursing, a commitment to continuing education appears to be a relatively new concept There have always been nurses who are continuing learners throughout their professional lives Too often, this is incidental, rather than planned There appears to be a need to re‐examine current approach in continuing nursing education
The conflict management style of staff nurses and nurse managers
Authors: Cavanagh Stephen J
Published: December 2006

Conflict is recognized as being a common occurrence in both everyday personal and professional nursing life, and it is now generally agreed that conflict can be both problematic and potentially beneficial to both individuals and organizations There is a large amount of anecdotal and narrative literature about the nature and sources of conflict which fails to reflect upon the complexities and theoretical perspectives that exist There are also few research studies which examine the nature of nursing conflict and how conflict is managed by nurses in the workplace This study presents a review of some aspects of conflict and its management and specifically investigates the conflict management style of staff nurses and nurse managers in the hospital setting The results suggest that avoidance is the most commonly used conflict management strategy, with competition being the least favoured
An analysis of the concept of comfort
Authors: Kolcaba Katharine Y , Kolcaba Raymond J
Published: December 2006

Comfort is a term that has a significant historical and contemporary association with nursing Since the time of Nightingale, it is cited as designating a desirable outcome of nursing care Comfort is found in nursing science, for example in diagnostic taxonomies, and in references to the art of nursing, as when practice is described Roy, Orlando, Watson, Paterson and others use comfort in major nursing theories The term can signify both physical and mental phenomena and it can be used as a verb and a noun However, because comfort has many different meanings, the reader has had the burden of deciding if the term is meant in one of its ordinary language senses or if its context reveals some special nursing sense The purpose of this paper is to analyse the semantics and extension of the term ‘comfort’ in order to clarify its use in nursing practice, theory and research The semantic analysis begins with ordinary language because the common meanings of the term are the primary ones used in nursing practice and are the origin of technical nursing usages Comfort is discussed as the term is found in nursing, including texts, standards of care, diagnoses and theory An account of patient needs assessment is used to cull three technical senses of the term from its ordinary language meanings After contrasting these senses in order to justify their separateness, they are shown to reflect differing aspects of therapeutic contexts Defining attributes of the three senses are then explicated and presented in table format The last section of the paper addresses some of the ways that the extensions of the senses can be measured
Health promotion of older adults: perceived barriers
Authors: Whetstone William R , Reid John C
Published: December 2006

The purpose of this descriptive study was to examine the perceptions of rural men and women, ages 50 to 70 years, regarding barriers to health promotion in the treatment of a chronic disease entity – hypertension Orem's constructs of self‐care provided the theoretical framework for the study Specific study aims were to (a) identify health belief/values, (b) assess perceptions of self‐care abilities, (c) determine relative risk through health appraisal, and (d) describe phenomenological perceived barriers to health promotion as a lived experience Major findings indicated no relationship between health beliefs/values and self‐care The health value scores of females for all four subscales were somewhat higher than the scores for males Average, appraised and achievable ages for relative risk of dying from all causes were significant for men Phenomenological themes revealed diet, weight and medication usage to be two factors associated with perceived barriers Small sample size and voluntary participation limited generalization Nursing implications included the need for (a) greater assessment of the influence of perceived barriers, (b) better approaches to health teaching, and (c) more appropriate design of educative–supportive nursing interventions for facilitating client self‐care
Issues in measuring outcomes of nursing
Authors: Bond Senga , Thomas Lois H
Published: December 2006

The upsurge in interest in measuring patient outcomes of nursing, it is argued, has been occasioned firstly by management changes and secondly by the professionalizing thrust of the nursing profession Within this overall context, however, the objectives of individual patient outcome studies vary considerably The current status of outcome measurement in nursing is outlined through a description of the use of different outcome measures to suit different purposes Ascertaining whether nursing care makes a difference by using outcome measures raises methodological as well as professional issues, for example that of separating nursing from the inputs of other professional groups and incorporating individual patients' perspectives While these challenges are complex and measuring the effectiveness of nursing in terms of patient outcomes is in its infancy, it is argued that, in this, nursing is no different from other professional groups The paper goes on to suggest ways of moving forward in the measurement of outcomes of nursing for patients
‘Not for resuscitation’: the student nurses' viewpoint
Authors: Candy Christine E
Published: December 2006

A variable proportion of hospital in‐patients were deemed ‘not for resuscitation’ Using a qualitative methodology, this phenomenon was investigated, placing particular emphasis upon the effect on nursing care A total of 71 student nurses from two district general hospitals were interviewed and from transcriptions of tape recordings of the interviews, utilizing a grounded theory approach, the following conceptual categories were identified the patients, decision making, changes in nursing care? are patients and/or their relatives consulted? the unsuccessful resuscitation, the right to die, and dying and death. Up to 40% of patients on medical wards, and up to 100% of patients on geriatric and psychiatric wards, were deemed ‘not for resuscitation’ The most junior members of the medical team had the power to make this decision without consultation with the nursing staff, patients or relatives Nurses spent more time attending to patients ‘not for resuscitation’, but physiotherapists and medical staff withdrew Informants felt that subjecting patients to cardiopulmonary resuscitation was incompatiable with a dignified death Senior members of the nursing staff were felt to be unfeeling in dealing with the distress of their juniors when laying out deceased patients More discussion and joint decision making between health care professionals would alleviate some of the student nurses' distress concerning patients who are ‘not for resuscitation’
Approaching models of nursing from a postmodernist perspective
Authors: Lister Philip
Published: December 2006

This paper explores some questions about the use of models of nursing These questions make various assumptions about the nature of models of nursing, in general and in particular Underlying these assumptions are various philosophical positions which are explored through an introduction to postmodernist approaches in philosophical criticism To illustrate these approaches, a critique of the Roper et al model is developed, and more general attitudes towards models of nursing are examined It is suggested that postmodernism offers a challenge to many of the assumptions implicit in models of nursing, and that a greater awareness of these assumptions should lead to nursing care being better informed where such models are in use
Perceptions and attitudes of registered nurses to research: a comparison with a previous study
Authors: Ehrenfeld M , Eckerling S
Published: December 2006

Registered nurses' perceptions of research activities were examined and compared to those of academic nursing students at Tel‐Aviv University in a previous paper The study concentrated on attitudes, role perception, ability and intention to perform those activities in the future The research activities were ‘read research’, ‘encourage colleagues to read research’, ‘apply research findings’ and ‘initiate research’ It was found that RNs viewed all research activities favourably, but slightly lower, sometimes significantly so, than the academic nursing students RNs with Masters degrees scored significantly higher than RNs without academic degrees The multiple regression analysis in both studies showed an interplay between ability to perform research activities and attitudes toward them; where ‘ability’ was higher,‘attitudes' towards research activities were more posihve, and vice versa.
A scale for the functional status of the elderly living at home
Authors: Frederiks Carla MA , te Wierik Margreet J M , Visser Adriaan Ph , Sturmans Ferd
Published: December 2006

Many scales have been developed to describe the functional status of geriatric patients These scales are of limited use for describing the functional status of elderly people living at home, because of their poor capacity for differentiation This article reports the results of a postal questionnaire among elderly people living at home The findings will be analysed to see whether the inventory on performance of household and daily living activities describes the functional status of elderly people in a useful manner A combined scale was constructed, which has satisfactory Guttman coefficients when applied to elderly people living at home In addition, the scale is informative for those providing home care with regard to the elderly person's quantitative and qualitative needs for assistance. As such, it could be an instrument to be applied in community nursing The applicability of the scale to institutionalized elderly people remains to be investigated
The relationships between physical activity and health‐promoting behaviours in mid‐life women
Authors: GilliS Angela , Perry Anne
Published: December 2006

The purpose of this study is to examine the inter‐relationships among participation between physical activity, perceived well‐being, self‐esteem, health status, health locus of control and health‐promoting lifestyle activities of middle‐aged women in a rural context Since women comprise the largest (living) segment of the older population, it is extremely important to study the predictors of health promoting activities in this age group prior to old age Recent research has noted that participation in physical activity acts as an entry point to reflect on health behaviour practices, creating a ripple effect to other areas of lifestyle behaviours The research queshons were framed within the Health Promotion Model The study utilized a longitudinal experimental design. The findings of this study contribute to the small, but growing, research base on physical activity as a health‐promoting lifestyle behaviour and physical activity as a lifestyle practice of women in the mid‐life years Findings also provide a base for the development of community physical‐activity programmes and other intervention strategies to enhance the health and well‐being of women, particularly those residing in a rural setting
Job satisfaction of community psychiatric nurses in Northern Ireland
Authors: Parahoo Kader
Published: December 2006

The shift towards community care has created the need for data, amongst other things, on the job facets of community nurses There is a lack of studies on the job satisfaction of these nurses, in particular of community psychiatric nurses (CPNs) in the United Kingdom This paper reports on part of a general survey of CPNs in Northern Ireland It deals with the CPNs' perception of their level of job satisfaction and the factors which they identified as contributing to their satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the job
A concept analysis of empowerment
Authors: Gibson Cheryl H.
Published: December 2006

In this paper, an objective concept analysis was undertaken to examine the attributes, characteristics and uses of the concept of empowerment A review of the literature and selected empirical referents indicated that empowerment is a complex and multi‐dimensional concept Within a nursing context, empowerment can be conceptualized as a composite of (a) attributes that relate to the client, (b) attributes that relate to the nurse, and (c) attributes that belong to both the client and the nurse In a broad sense, empowerment is a process of helping people to assert control over the factors which affect their lives This process encompasses both the individual responsibility in health care and the broader institutional, organizational or societal responsibilities in enabling people to assume responsibility for their own health. Antecedents to and consequences of empowerment, from a nursing perspective, are presented. To adopt truly an empowerment model in nursing, a radical paradigm shift is needed. The final conclusion is that this concept has great utility for nursing practice, education, administration and research
Research in practice: an ‘experiment’ in researcher–practitioner collaboration
Authors: Tierney Alison J , Taylor Jean
Published: December 2006

There are signs that researchers and practitioners are seriously attempting to work more closely together to bring research and practice into closer alliance This paper describes one such attempt in the form of an ‘experiment’ in collaboration between academic researchers and practising nurses in the undertaking of a practice‐based research project Positive benefits of collaborative research became evident and are highlighted in this paper No attempt was made to evaluate the ‘experiment’ objectively and so this is a subjective account, aimed at encouraging other efforts towards closer collaboration between researchers and practitioners in nursing
Comparison of selected college students' and sexually transmitted disease clinic patients' knowledge about AIDS, risk behaviours and beliefs about condom use
Authors: Strader Marlene K , Beaman Margaret L
Published: December 2006

Selected college students and sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic patients of the same age were compared for knowledge about AIDS, use of condoms, sexual behaviours and intentions to engage in various sexual practices The Theory of Reasoned Action model was used to elicit beliefs about condom use and significant referents who influence condom‐use decision making Eighty‐seven per cent of college students were sexually active. College students had significantly fewer sexual partners in a 30‐day period than STD patients, but in a 6‐month period the mean number of sexual partners was the same for both groups Significant difference was found in frequency of condom use for subjects with more than one partner Of the college student sample, 60% did not use condoms compared with 32% of STD patients Eighteen per cent of college students reported intention to engage in anal intercourse No STD patients reported such intention No statistical difference was found between groups on overall knowledge about AIDS both groups manifested adequate knowledge of basic AIDS‐related facts Significant differences between groups were found in rank order of beliefs about using condoms as well as those referents who influenced decision making Beliefs about disease, pregnancy, worry and normative influences of sexual partner and friends had the strongest impact on college students Sexual partner and mother had a strong influence on STD patients' decision making while ‘disease’, ‘pregnancy’, ‘decreases feeling’ and ‘decreases partner's pleasure’ were among the beliefs influencing condom use
A caring‐based AIDS educational model for pre‐adolescents: global health human caring perspective
Authors: Jones Sandra Bonner
Published: December 2006

With the prolific messages shown to children today through the media and other sources about acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), what sexual questions are on the minds of the fifth and sixth grade students as a result of this exposure? What is the role and responsibility of nurses with regard to this problem? This descriptive study focused on fifth and sixth graders' questions about AIDS and provides some directions for theory‐based nursing interventions related to AIDS and children This paper proposed a theory‐based model of caring as a teaching intervention programme about AIDS for pre‐adolescents The model resulted from a sex education programme for fifth and sixth graders in an international school setting in Japan The nature of the students' questions about AIDS revealed transcultural concerns which suggested that a model of human caring was needed to develop a systematic approach to AIDS education for pre‐adolescents The model proposed has global implications for nurses and other health professionals in schools and primary health‐care settings in various parts of the world
Preventive home visits to elderly people by community nurses in The Netherlands
Authors: Kerkstra Ada , Castelein Elsbeth , Philipsen Hans
Published: December 2006

This study aims at a description of the current position of preventive home visits to the elderly by community nurses in The Netherlands Over a period of 8 weeks, a representative sample of 108 community nurses and 49 community nursing auxiliaries at 47 different locations paid a total number of 215 preventive home visits to elderly people Clients' characteristics, the nature of care delivered by the nurse, and the length of the home visit were recorded for each home visit The results suggested that community nurses and nursing auxiliaries spent very little time on preventive home visits During the home visits, both types of nurses tried to increase the self‐care agency of the elderly by giving education or advice Furthermore, community nurses often paid more attention to the assessment and examination of existing or emerging self‐care deficits of the elderly people visited than nursing auxiliaries In spite of the fact that the importance of preventive care for the elderly is recognized, resources are scarce It is therefore recommended that more research be earned out on the cost effectiveness of preventive home visits