bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Staff turnover among hospital nurses
Authors: Cavanagh Stephen J , Coffin Douglas A
Published: December 2006

Nursing staff turnover remains a financial concern to public as well as private institutions, and it has an impact on staff morale and working practices Evidence suggests that staff turnover could also have a detrimental effect on patient care Numerous studies have examined the reasons why staff leave their jobs, but these have often produced conflicting findings and have frequently relied upon bivariate correlation or multiple regression techniques The availability of analytical techniques such as structural modelling provides an opportunity to examine several aspects of turnover behaviour simultaneously, and overcome some of the methodological difficulties encountered by prior research This study involved 221 female nurses working full‐time in hospitals to examine aspects of the Nursing turnover model Using modelling techniques, this current study found job satisfaction and participation at work to be important variables in the turnover process This is in keeping with other models of Nursing turnover
Differences in ethical decision‐making processes among nurses and doctors
Authors: Grundstem‐Amado Rivka
Published: December 2006

The study reports results of an inquiry into the different patterns of ethical decision making used by doctors and nurses The findings of the study are that nurses and doctors act out of different values, motivations and expectations and that there is a communication gap between them Nurses place the highest value on the ‘caring’ perspective, which entails responsiveness and sensitivity to the patients’ wishes In contrast, the doctors value above all the patients’ rights and the scientific approach that implies a major concern with disease and its cure The study suggests that there is a need for the development of a new foundation, based on common professional attributes of the two groups, to which both groups are committed This would provide a joint point of reference from which the two professions can solve shared ethical problems and would remove communication barriers
Health education in nursing: perceptions of practice in acute settings
Authors: Latter Sue , Wilson‐Barnett Jerufer , Maben Jill , Clark Jill Maben
Published: December 2006

A postal questionnaire survey design was utilized to establish a national overview of perceptions of health education practice in general acute ward settings Questionnaires were sent to individuals identified as the most senior nurse within each district health authority in England (n= 195) Respondents were asked to specify — with the help of their nursing teams — the progress made on wards within their respective district health authorities in relation to a range of health education activities A response rate of 73% (n= 142) was achieved The majority of responses reflected the perceptions of senior nurse managers or their deputies The data showed that respondents felt health education activities generally are a feature of nursing practice on acute wards However, on the majority of wards, they were seen as only partially included into some areas of nursing practice On only a small proportion (4%) of wards was health education of any type reported not to be a feature of practice Of the five specific health education areas explored in the questionnaire, ‘patient education’ and ‘information‐giving’ were felt to be occurring on a significantly greater number of wards and significantly more frequently than ‘encouraging patients and their families to participate in care’ Data analysis also showed that all the activities specified — that is, patient education, information‐giving, healthy lifestyle advice and encouraging patient and family participation in care — were positively correlated
The change process in alcoholics: client motivation and denial in the treatment of alcoholism within the context of contemporary nursing
Authors: McMahon John , Jones Barry T
Published: December 2006

Despite being constantly cited as a critical intervening variable in the recovery from alcohol problems, there is a paucity of literature on client motivation This paper reviews the current literature which impacts on motivation and its importance in treatment and develops in a stepwise manner the revised expectancy/motivation hypothesis, tentatively explaining both motivation and denial as a natural process in behavioural change Because of the revised expectancy/motivation hypothesis’ distinctly denned stages which closely relate to the process of nursing and the qualitative and quantitative measurement it entails which the nursing process demands, it offers a particularly appropriate model for treatment within nurse practice
Conceptual models and nursing practice: the reciprocal relationship*
Authors: Fawcett Jacqueline
Published: December 2006

There is a reciprocal relationship between conceptual models of nursing and nursing practice Conceptual models influence clinical nursing practice by specifying standards for and purposes of practice, identifying relevant clinical problems, settings for practice, legitimate recipients of nursing care, and the content for the nursing process, suggesting methods for delivery of nursing services, and by providing frameworks for clinical information systems, patient classifications systems and quality assurance programmes Nursing practice, in turn, provides data that can be used to determine the credibility of the conceptual models Sources of data from clinical practice for credibility determination include evaluations of nursing interventions, the recipient's perspective of nursing care and quality assurance reviews
Learning styles of Chinese nursing faculty and career choice preferences
Authors: Duff Viola , Johnston Nancy , Laschinger Heather
Published: December 2006

Chinese nurse educators’learning styles were examined using Kolb's experiential learning theory Although many Chinese nurses are not able to select a profession for its fit to their personal learning orientation, they exhibit a learning style very similar to Canadian nurses
Controversial hypotheses on the relationship between researcher and informant in qualitative research*
Authors: Wilde Verina
Published: December 2006

This paper addresses methodological issues that emerged unexpectedly during a qualitative study set up to explore nurses’ descriptions of difficult, challenging and satisfying experiences at work. The purpose of the study had been to look for critical factors influencing nurses’ perceptions of their performance in specific situations, and their labelling of each event Ten nurses were asked to describe in detail three events, a difficult situation in which they had coped well, a difficult situation in which they would like to have coped better, and a satisfying or rewarding situation The critical incident technique was used Rich descriptions were obtained, tape recorded, transcribed verbatum, and analysed by constant comparative analysis, following the principles of grounded theory Some suprising hypotheses emerged regarding the methodology of the informal interview in qualitative research This paper addresses these hypotheses, which focus on the interaction between the researcher and informant, the role conflict facing the nurse researcher, the effect of the reseacher's past experience on the interaction, the use of counselling strategies and the principle of self‐disclosure. These hypotheses were incidental to the original area of study and were more exciting in their emergence because of this
Issues in the delivery of midwifery care*
Authors: Hillan Edith M
Published: December 2006

The current study was designed to further knowledge of the immediate, short and long‐term effects of Caesarean delivery for both the woman and her baby A study group of 50 low‐risk primigravidae of normal stature delivered by emergency Caesarean section were compared with a closely matched control group of 50 primigravidae delivered vaginally The study generated a large amount of both quantitative and qualitative data From the analysis of the comments made by the women in both the study and control groups at the time of both the hospital and home interviews, it was apparent that there were a number of deficiencies in the care received This paper examines some of the issues related to the delivery of midwifery care round the themes of lack of realistic preparation for labour, delivery and parenthood, lack of support and conflicting advice from midwives, especially in the postnatal wards, failure of communication between women and staff, and it was apparent that this occurred in all areas from antenatal care to the postnatal wards
Effectiveness of a preoperative teaching programme for cataract patients
Authors: Allen Marion , Knight Cheryl , Falk Coleen , Strang Vicki
Published: December 2006

Shortened hospital stays have necessitated examination of alternative approaches for pre and postoperative teaching An investigation of one alternative became a study in which a home care preoperative teaching programme for older adults undergoing cataract extractions with lens implants was implemented and evaluated The findings indicated that the teaching programme was effective and resulted in positive benefits
Matching patient need for pressure sore prevention with the supply of pressure redistributing mattresses
Authors: Clark Michael , Cullum Nicola
Published: December 2006

The authors have conducted a series of pressure sore prevalence surveys within one health district over a 4‐year period Additional surveys of the availability and deployment of pressure redistributing (PR) bed mattresses have also been made within the same district The prevalence of pressure sores increased from 6 8% (1986) to 14 2% (1989) while the available stocks of PR mattresses increased from 69 (1987) to 186 (1989) Our results appear to question the common assumption that successful pressure sore prevention can be achieved through expanding the stocks of PR mattresses Five possible reasons why the increase m mattress provision was matched with an increased prevalence of pressure sores are forwarded The use of measures of prevalence rather than incidence rates to monitor the effects of clinical initiatives is discussed
Journal keeping as an educational strategy in teaching psychiatric nursing
Authors: Landeen Janet , Byrne Carolyn , Brown Barbara
Published: December 2006

Personal attitudes and self‐awareness are key issues of which the psychiatric nursing student must be aware when establishing a therapeutic relationship Facilitating awareness and growth in these areas are fundamental challenges for the nurse educator One potential teaching strategy with which to address this issue is journal keeping This paper describes a study evaluating the impact of journal keeping on student nurses’ attitudes toward psychiatric clients and self‐awareness in relations with others Third‐year nursing students completing a psychiatric rotation kept journals which were used to reflect on thoughts and feelings engendered by their clinical experience Two student control groups were used one completing a psychiatric rotation without keeping journals and the second completing a medical‐surgical rotation All students completed the Opinions About Mental Illness, the Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation‐Behaviour, and Comfort in Working with Psychiatric Clients Scales prior to and at the end of their clinical experience Findings support the use of journals to assist students in exploring and changing their attitudes but not necessarily in changing their interpersonal style
Qualified nurse and nursing auxiliary perceptions of their work environment in primary, team and functional nursing wards
Authors: Thomas Lois H
Published: December 2006

The way in which nursing work is organized has major implications for the role of different staff grades This paper describes how qualified nurses and nursing auxiliaries perceived their work in primary, team and functional nursing wards The Work Environment Scale was distributed to 12 qualified nurses and 12 nursing auxiliaries within each organizational mode, and a response rate of 97% was achieved While differences were found between organizational modes, there was no difference in work perceptions between qualified nurses and nursing auxiliaries within organizational mode It is argued that this is due to cultures existing within organizational types which transcend staff grade
An experimental course of lectures on moral treatment for mentally ill people
Authors: Weir Rosemary I
Published: December 2006

By the mid 19th century, a more humanitarian approach towards the care of the mentally ill had been implemented in reforming institutions in France and Britain This was known as ‘moral treatment’ and amongst its chief exponents were Pinel (Paris), Tuke (York) and Browne (Dumfries) Dr Browne perceived that the asylum attendants required education about this modality of treatment, and to this end he initiated a ‘one off’ course of lectures for staff at the Crichton Royal Hospital It is considered that this experiment in nursing education is of relevance to the evolution of the role of the psychiatric nurse
Patient‐controlled analgesia: can client education improve outcomes?
Authors: Shade Philip
Published: December 2006

This literature review considers research which would answer the questions would preoperative information, by the nurse to the patient, about the use and purpose of a patient‐controlled analgesia device (PCA) (a) reduce the amount of analgesic that the patient demanded from the device in the postoperative period, and (b) reduce the patient's overall experience of pain? The studies demonstrate wide variations in analgesic demand by patients using PCA, with high demand rates immediately postoperatively In comparative PCA vs intermittent intramuscular analgesic regimes, PCA users demonstrate higher overall drug usage The hypothesis is not supported that, given free access to analgesic via a PCA, patients will administer sufficient analgesic to maintain a minimum effective analgesic concentration Understanding how to use the PCA devices and what is expected of the patient is crucial to obtaining the optimum benefit from PCA There is little mention of preparatory information given to patients in any of the studies No studies addressed the question posted There is a growing demand by patients for PCA The question invites urgent investigation The consequences for improving patient outcomes are considerable
Patterns and trends in referrals to a palliative nursing service
Authors: Nash Ann
Published: December 2006

This is an analysis of patterns and trends in referrals and deaths in a palliative nursing service Comparisons are made over a 10‐year period and with national and district statistics. Results show numerical increases in patients referred, a trend towards medical referrals, small numbers of referrals from other professional groups and from hospitals, and death trends which are not significantly different from national statistics Possible reasons for these patterns and trends are explored in the context of the developing Macmillan Nurse role
An exploratory study of the sources of influence on the clinical decisions of community nurses
Authors: Luker Karen A , Kenrick Maria
Published: December 2006

This paper reports a small exploratory study which identifies what community nurses consider to be the scope of their practice and the sources of influence on their clinical decisions The study was stimulated by the emergence of the nurse prescribing initiative, which is likely to bring clinical decision making to the centre of professional debate The study was earned out over a 5‐month period and data were collected from 47 community nurses in four district health authorities A qualitative method was employed and field work involved observation of 40 home visits and five nurse‐run clinics, individual interviews and group discussions with the nurses, and scrutiny of nursing records The data were content analysed and classified, and the categories were validated by practitioners Findings suggest that although community nurses consider that a large proportion of their work requires a scientific basis, their practice is largely founded on experiential knowledge, and on the whole they are not positively disposed to research knowledge The findings are discussed in the context of nurse prescribing Questions are raised about the nature of a ‘professional’ knowledge base and the reclassification of scientific knowledge as nursing or experiential knowledge once it has diffused into practice
Staff strain and social support in a psychiatric hospital following assault by a patient
Authors: Whittington R. , Wykes T
Published: December 2006

Attacks by patients are acknowledged as an important source of stress for psychiatric staff which has ramifications for patients and the nurses’ employers as well Twenty‐three psychiatric nurses and one doctor who had been assaulted by a patient at work were interviewed within 72 hours of the incident and twice more within 2 weeks The levels of strain they experienced and the amount of support provided for them in the time between interviews were measured and correlated Some subjects reported high levels of strain which persisted well beyond the incident Support was usually provided on an informal basis and was concentrated in the period immediately after the incident
Striving for safety: experiences of nurses in a hospital under siege
Authors: Hibberd Judith M , Norris Judy
Published: December 2006

The hospital in which this study took place served as a centre for emergencies, critically ill patients and maternity cases during a nurses’ strike in 98 hospitals in Alberta, Canada Nurses at this hospital were not members of the striking union, they belonged to their own independent union and they worked throughout the 19‐day siege Thirty‐two nurses at the hospital responded to posters seeking volunteers for telephone interviews The objective of the research was to discover the perceptions and experiences of nurses coping with extraordinarily heavy workloads arising out of a labour dispute Interview data were gathered and analysed according to the conventions of grounded theory Nurses voiced many concerns about the care patients received and they coped as best they could in a process described as 'striving for safety’ Fearing they would make mistakes that would harm their patients, they engaged in two subordinate processes of ‘assessing competence’ and ‘preserving integrity’ Several organizational factors were identified that, if present, contributed to nurses’ ability to continue or ‘hang in’ but if absent, contributed to despair or ‘feeling demoralized’ The study was exploratory in nature and thus limited, but several implications for supporting nurses and managing such crises were discussed
The nurse‐patient relationship: theme and variations
Authors: Carol Ramos Mary
Published: December 2006

The nurse–patient relationship traditionally has been thought central to professional practice For several decades, nurse theorists have explored the communication processes which mediate clinical practice and the variously described outcomes of these processes Yet while interpersonal skills and personal attributes have been considered integral to professional bonding, and while outcomes of the process are widely discussed, clinically based validation of theorized process components has not been definitively accomplished To this end, 67 critical incidents concerning experienced clinicians’ perceptions of their closest professional relationships were analysed The perceived professional bond was demonstrated to be a cumulative process of attachment with three qualitatively different levels of involvement and two impasse states The most intense levels of attachment were perceived to be the most beneficial by the nurses who described relationships characterized by mutuality and reciprocity This level was not, however, achieved by all nurses in the sample Implications of the perceived outcomes of the most intimate professional relationships were discussed
The colposcopy experience: what do women know?
Authors: Nugent Linda S , Tamlyn‐Leaman Karen
Published: December 2006

A study of 149 first‐time colposcopy women was undertaken to determine their level of knowledge about female anatomy, abnormal pap results, and the colposcopy procedure Factors which influenced their knowledge were also explored Results suggest that women are missing fundamental knowledge about the experience, for example, location of the cervix (39 6%), site of pap smear (44 3%), meaning of pap result (38 9%), and the purpose of colposcopy (32 4%) Older women with a university education knew more Women's perception of information gained through personal contacts and this information combined with that obtained through written material had a significant impact on what they knew Women identified the type, source and preferred timing of additional information that would be helpful The data provide valuable insights for nurses who practise in ambulatory settings and doctors’ offices
The care of patients undergoing surgery for gynaecological cancer: the need for information, emotional support and counselling
Authors: Corney Roslyn , Everett Hilary , Howells Anna , Crowther Mary
Published: December 2006

This study was undertaken by interviewing 105 patients who had undergone major gynaecological surgery for carcinoma of the cervix or vulva in the previous 5 years A high proportion of the women was still found to be depressed and anxious when interviewed and the majority reported chronic sexual problems The women were asked if they had received enough information regarding their illness and its treatment, and a high proportion would have liked to have had more information on the after‐effects of the operation, including physical, sexual and emotional aspects Many of the younger women would have liked their partner to have been included in the discussions and 25% of the 40 partners who responded to the questionnaire would have liked more information on the illness and its treatment The women also indicated their needs for emotional support, discussion and counselling
Learning from experience in the community: an ethnographic study of district nurse students
Authors: Mackenzie Ann E
Published: December 2006

This study seeks to gain an understanding of the learning experiences of district nurse students in the learning environment of the community, and to examine learning in the practice setting from the perspective of the student Since the research depends upon the changing and differing interpretations of the individuals involved in the natural setting of the community, an ethnographic approach has been adopted The experiences of students are monitored throughout the taught practice element of the district nurse course in both inner city and rural/urban locations Data, collected through interview and observations, are analysed in the context of theory relating to adult learning and learning from experience Three major categories are identified Examples from these categories are identified and discussed The categories are sequential and represent the learning process experienced by the students in the practice setting as they learn to fit into a new environment, test out their own ideas and compare the unreality of college with the reality of practice Attention is drawn to the difficulties for students of fitting into new settings and trying out change, to the detrimental effect on learning of rigid practice routines and to the powerlessness of community practice teachers to exert a major influence on the learning environment These issues are discussed in the context of changes in nurse education and evaluation of the community learning environment
Measuring the professional self‐concept of nurses: a critical review
Authors: Arthur David
Published: December 2006

Nursing literature strongly suggests that the self‐concept of nurses is an important concept for academics, administrators and clinicians to consider in the development of the profession Many valuable research projects have added to the data base on the subject, yet there still remain some questions to be answered This paper explores the notion of self‐concept as it relates to the professional working in nursing In particular, the paper examines nursing research relating to the professional self‐concept of nursing, arguing that the ‘professional’ self‐concept of nurses is unique and different from that of the self‐concept (while inextricably linked), and that there is room for a new instrument which measures the dimensions of the professional self‐concept of nurses Suggestions for future research include replication and further validation and reliability studies of a new instrument, a cross‐cultural study using samples from different countries, testing with various samples from different branches of nursing and further exploring the differences between self‐concept and professional self‐concept
The poverty of professionalization: a critical analysis of strategies for the occupational advancement of nursing
Authors: Porter Sam
Published: December 2006

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate critically the strategies of occupational advancement used by nurses It is noted that these are frequently framed within the paradigm of professionalization However, despite the ubiquity of its use, it is argued that this model is inappropriate Specific strategies are examined Attempts to appropriate the title of profession by demonstrating that nursing possesses the relevant attributes are dismissed as rhetorical exercises The rise of managerialism, despite being cloaked in the guise of professionalism, is seen as anti‐professional because it restricts the autonomy of individual practitioners Clinical ‘professionalization’ is also regarded as problematic because it does not fit with the definition of a professional as an autonomous practitioner Examination of patient advocacy, and of attempts to validate nursing diagnosis, demonstrate that the occupational advancement of clinical nurses is increasingly dependent upon the co‐operation of health care consumers This dependence is incompatible with the prescriptive powers and exclusive knowledge that are claimed by traditional professions It is concluded that nurses should abandon the ideology of professionalization and concentrate on the more pertinent issue of maximizing the efficacy of the occupation
A preliminary description of the United Kingdom community psychiatric nursing literature, 1960‐1990
Authors: Bowers Len
Published: December 2006

Five hundred and two items about community psychiatric nursing have been located and classified The data indicate a continuing rising trend in the number of publications on this subject The majority of the literature is about the clinical role of the community psychiatric nurse (CPN) and is descriptive/analytical in nature The second largest proportion is research, the third largest topic is management and administration and the fourth largest is CPN education The amount of ‘clinical’ literature as a proportion of the whole has been in decline since the mid‐1970s The majority of papers cannot be classified by the specialism of community psychiatric nursing to which they relate, but a small and significant number have been written about the care of the elderly mentally ill Overall, the practising CPNs have been the most prolific writers, followed by academic nurses and then nurse managers Contributions from other professions are miniscule Over recent years the contribution of nurse managers has declined, and that of academic nurses has risen The contribution of practising CPNs remains robust Research publications also continue to rise, the majority being produced by academics, but large contributions are also being made by nurse managers and practising CPNs In the early years nearly all publications of articles were in populist nursing magazines In recent years the spread of journals in which items about community psychiatric nursing appear has widened considerably
A review of nursing quality assurance
Authors: Koch Tina
Published: December 2006

This paper presents an overview of frameworks used in nursing quality assurance, an outline of the quality assurance movement in nursing, and its current concerns It is argued that quality assurance activity appears to be propelled by market forces, regulation, coercion and professionalism The concern with measurement places quality assurance activity within the quantitative paradigm The problems associated with measurement are discussed and the writer presents qualitative research as a complementary approach to quality assurance and improving care
Quality of life: conceptual and measurement issues
Authors: Zhan Lin
Published: December 2006

Nursing as a human science is concerned with the experiences of human beings in relation to health and illness matters Human experiences are shaped by history, relationships, politics, social structures, gender and culture Nurses are concerned with how these perspectives shape the actions and reactions of human beings Nursing seeks to maximize clients’ strengths, assets and potential, and to contribute to their quality of life The concept of quality of life will be discussed in this paper The first section will present a historical perspective of the concept The second part synthesizes conceptual and measurement issues from a review of the literature Finally, dimensions of this concept are denned and approaches to operationalize this concept are suggested
Development of professional practice based on the McGill model of nursing in an ambulatory care setting
Authors: Feeley Nancy , Gerez‐Lirette Teresa
Published: December 2006

This paper describes the efforts of nurses to explore, develop and implement professional nursing practice, based on the McGill model of nursing, within an existing ambulatory paediatric setting The model facilitated the development of a unique role for nurses in a multidisciplinary team, as it served as the framework for the conceptualization of the nursing role, assessment of families’ needs, and the development of a nursing knowledge base Strategies utilized to develop a ‘complemental role’ and its inherent professional practice are described The issues and obstacles which arose as nurses developed their practice are discussed and the outcomes of this development for clients, nurses and the profession are highlighted
Stereotypes of emotional caregivers and their capacity to absorb information: the views of nurses, stroke carers and the general public
Authors: McGown Anne , Braithwaite Valerie
Published: December 2006

This study examines the phenomenon of stereotyping informal caregivers’ capacity to learn about the condition of stroke victims Forty‐rune nurses, 55 carers and 39 members of the general public gave their opinions on how emotional they considered six hypothetical wives of stroke patients to be and how much information they thought each wife would be able to absorb Results indicated that nurses were more pessimistic than caregivers in their assessment of how much information could be absorbed, even though these two groups did not differ m their assessment of the emotionality of the wives Nurses and the general public responded m accordance with the expected stereotype those rated as being high in emotionality were less likely to absorb information No such association emerged from the ratings of caregivers The existence of the stereotype, particularly among health professionals, has serious implications for rehabilitation programmes and caregiver well‐being, and provides an explanation for why caregivers sometimes feel neglected m medical settings
The consumer's views of health
Authors: Kenney Janet W
Published: December 2006

Reviews of the literature indicate a shift in the way consumers and health care providers define health If these groups hold different views of health, consumers may not adhere to medical regimens or follow health promotion advice This pilot study was designed to compare consumer's views of health with two current conceptual models Sixty‐five adults completed a questionnaire with 34 definitions of health in 12 categories The analyses revealed that adults rated the self‐concept, fitness and role performance categories as the strongest indicators of health Also, there were significant gender and educational differences Women were more likely than men to view social involvement and harmony as health indicators Three categories, namely body image, fitness and self‐actualization, were significantly different between educational groups The findings are discussed in relation to two models of health and implications for nursing practice and research
Experiences of informal carers providing nursing support for disabled dependants
Authors: Atkinson F Ian
Published: December 2006

This paper provides an account of the experiences of a group of informal carers who provided nursing support for their physically disabled dependants The project was designed to establish the extent to which carers are equipped to fulfil their role in terms of equipment, facilities, skills, levels of personal health and the extent of support available to them from agencies outside the home The carers were found to be providing the majority of nursing support required by their dependants This mainly involved carrying out tasks of personal care although, for some, more technical procedures were involved The findings indicate there is scope for professional nurses to make a greater contribution to the support of informal carers, particularly by regular review of the nature and level of assistance which carers provide and by giving training in the skills which carers require
What are the differences in body image between patients with a conventional stoma compared with those who have had a conventional stoma followed by a continent pouch?
Authors: Salter Mave J
Published: December 2006

This paper describes a qualitative study of seven patients which explored the perceptions of body image in patients with a conventional stoma, compared with those who have had a conventional stoma followed by a continent pouch The operation of choice for patients with ulcerative colitis (the group of patients in the study) who wish to avoid permanent ileostomy is restorative proctocolectomy with ileal reservoir, more commonly known as the ‘pouch’ procedure The outcome of this study, using a phenomonenological approach, reflects the problems faced by patients undergoing stoma surgery, that is, patients with a stoma, on the whole, expressed difficulties in coming to terms with an ostomy, with perceived negative feelings of body image In contrast, patients with a continent pouch, provided they were not experiencing difficulties with the pouch, were of the opinion that such a procedure enhanced their lives over that of an ileostomy However, in examining these patients’ feelings, it was found that the majority still considered their experience traumatic This implies that the benefits of a continent pouch were not so obvious, as body image changes of stoma surgery still had a perceived negative effect on the patients This affected the outcome of the study so that the differences of the two groups of patients were not as significant as perceived by the writer
Reminiscence and life review: analysing each concept
Authors: Burnside Irene , Haight Barbara K
Published: December 2006

Gerontological nurses are currently using life review and reminiscence with clients The terms are used interchangeably in practice and in the literature as though both were the same modality Much confusion has resulted from lack of definitions of the modalities Therefore, potentially effective nursing interventions are neither clearly understood nor correctly operationalized This paper presents an analysis of each modality in an effort to clarify differences and further elucidate the current usage of them as concepts in nursing practice

The purpose of this paper was to shed further light on the two concepts — reminiscence and life review It was slanted towards nursing interventions, although, as stated in the beginning of the paper, both authors are aware of the wide application of both modalities among a variety of disciplines However, the authors believe that each requires concept analysis so that ‘those who use it in practice will be able to clearly understand what is meant by the concepts’ (Walker & Avant 1988) Wilson (1980) wrote the classic book on concept analysis, and stated

Conceptual analysis gives framework and purposiveness to thinking that might otherwise meander indefinitely and purposelessly among the vast marshes of intellect and culture

To increase our understanding further, the authors believe these two modalities need both qualitative and quantitative research by nurses Nurses are in ideal positions to improve the quality of life for elderly people and promote health by understanding both concepts in depth, and knowing which one is more appropriate to implement with the elderly client(s)
Middle‐Eastern immigrant parents’ social networks and help‐seeking for child health care
Authors: May Kathleen M
Published: December 2006

The purpose of this research was to describe (a) Arab‐American immigrant parents’ perceptions of their social networks, including social support, and (b) Arab–American immigrant parents’ perceptions of their help‐seeking related to child health care Seventy‐three immigrant parents who were Egyptian‐American (n= 17), Palestinian–American (n= 44) and Yemeni–American (n= 12) completed the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire, four Supplementary Social Support Questions, a Support System Map and a Child Health Interview Guide Family and relatives were perceived as the major source of support and comprised the highest percentage of social network members Compared with published scores of a normative American sample, the immigrant parents’ scores were lower (P < 0 01) on all social network and social support variables There was a moderate negative correlation (r=0 47) between parents’ number of years of residence in the USA and percentage of network members living outside the USA (P < 0 01) and a weak positive correlation (r=0 36) between number of years in the USA and percentage of network members living close to the parent (P < 0 01) Parents’ help‐seeking for child health care involved use of a variety of resources, with reliance on some long‐distance support from family in the Middle‐East This descriptive research provides a basis for further research on patterns of support and help‐seeking in immigrant parents

In summary, networks reflect immigrants’ sense of identity and may be used as a source of information Ethnic composition of the network corresponds with density of the network and the immigrant's level of acculturation and level of education Sources of support for immigrants change over time, and there are limited data on immigrants’ perceptions of social support Help‐seeking is related to the composition of the network and involves use of various resources There has been little research reported on immigrant parents’ social networks and help‐seeking related to child health care
Suffering: a relatively unexplored phenomenon among family caregivers of non‐institutionalized patients with cancer
Authors: Hinds Cora
Published: December 2006

Suffering is a phenomenon with physical and emotional components Although several studies have drawn attention to the needs of, and demands placed on families who provide care for patients with a diagnosis of cancer at home, few have discussed the suffering which many of these caregivers experience This paper will illustrate the phenomenon of suffering as seen in the responses made by family caregivers of patients with cancer Eighty‐three family caregivers drawn from a probability sample of patients with a diagnosis of cancer were interviewed in their homes to determine needs they encountered in their caregiving roles The caregivers consisted of 43 males and 40 females, with mean ages of 53 and 54 years respectively Families not only identified their needs, they also indicated several areas which were for them sources of suffering The findings revealed that family suffering often stemmed from fear of loneliness, uncertainty about the future (their own and that of the patients), lifestyle disruption, communication breakdown, lack of support, and their sense of helplessness These findings suggest that health professionals, particularly nurses, who work with families in their homes, must be alert and sensitive to cues and circumstances which could indicate suffering, and in so doing, take the necessary steps to ameliorate their situation
Effectiveness and cost efficiency of interventions in health promotion
Authors: Pruitt Rosanne Harkey
Published: December 2006

The effect of a stress management programme as a component of an overall fitness programme was evaluated Psychological, physiological and economic parameters were examined in relation to stress management activities in an experimental study Subjects were stratified by life stressors and then randomly assigned to groups Stress‐related physical symptoms decreased significantly (P < 0 05) in the treatment group Those who practised the relaxation techniques regularly had significantly lower systolic blood pressure (P < 0 05) Results of cost evaluation demonstrate the benefits from a programme with relatively low overall costs
Labelling students in nursing
Authors: Baxter Rosario C S
Published: December 2006

This paper is concerned with the factors which can lead to the labelling of students in nursing It commences with some of the considerations involved when one elects to enter a profession This is examined in the light of changing ideologies about the ways in which it is believed that nurses should be taught and whether teaching aims to train or educate nurses This analysis is applied to the issues that arise in terms of labelling students, and the possible subsequent effects on the students’ capacity to succeed The continuing dissonance inside the educational environment and between education and clinical practice are proposed as contributory factors in the processes that can lead to student frustration and disenchantment Finally, some suggestions are made to attempt to address these issues
The relationship between locus of control, instrumental and expressive traits among nurses
Authors: Napholz Linda
Published: December 2006

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between locus of control and sex role orientation among nurses Ninety‐eight participants, working female registered nurses between the ages of 30 and 59, were placed into one of four sex type groups using scores on the Personal Attributes Questionnaire The groups were then compared to each other using Rotter's Locus of Control Scale Previous research findings had indicated that women in a traditional female occupation would be sex typed in role orientation and externally locused The subjects in this study exhibited variability in locus of control and sex role orientation Locus of control orientation was not related to sex role orientation The implications of the results were discussed and directions for future research were considered
Using a manpower database to analyse the nurse limbo stock
Authors: McClean Sally , Reid Norma , Devine Colum , Gribbin Owen , Thompson Kate
Published: December 2006

A manpower database for nurses employed by the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) in Northern Ireland is used to identify the qualified nurses not currently employed by the DHSS, i e the limbo stock, and describe this stock in terms of age, sex, length of previous service, grade and location This information is invaluable for manpower planners who must decide on how many vacancies can be filled by recruitment from the limbo stock, as opposed to training new nurses Such a methodology provides a valuable tool for the nurse manpower planner
Career patterns and job satisfaction of Canadian nurse educators
Authors: Barrett M Celeste , Goldenberg Dolly , Faux Sandra
Published: December 2006

The purpose of this study was to describe the career patterns and job satisfaction of Ontario university and college nurse educators A descriptive survey design was employed using mailed questionnaires The sample comprised 60 nurse educators, 30 from three universities and 30 from three colleges Forty‐four returned the completed questionnaire, giving a response rate of 73% The variables about the career patterns and goals of the nurse educators included their past and present job satisfaction Career patterns were described as stable, double‐track, interrupted and unstable Similarities and differences were compared and described in relation to these factors Significant differences in job satisfaction were found between university and college faculty on nine of the 36 job characteristics (for example, leadership style, independence, autonomy and salary) There were no significant differences in job satisfaction for each of the career patterns and the selected demographic variables of age, years in nursing education, educational level and salary between the university and college faculty
Controversies in nursing ethics: a historical review
Authors: Olsen Douglas P
Published: December 2006

The author critiques the dialectic between justice‐based ethics and an ethic of caring from a historical perspective (by analogy with the dialectic between agape and friendship) Justice‐based ethics have been problematic for nursing because of the decontextualized approach The ethic of caring is problematic because caring, being contextual, is particularistic and therefore can be based on morally irrelevant factors, such as liking There is a tradition of writing which seeks to reconcile the particularistic obligations of friendship with the moral duty to all others equally Ideas from the following authors are reviewed for relevance to nursing Aristotle, Aelred of Rievaulx, Augustine, John Cassian, Cicero, George Berkeley, Immanuel Kant, Michel de Montaigne, Jeremy Taylor and Max Weber The author concludes by noting that both sides of the dialectic are synthesized in the lived experience of individuals A synthesis in thought is called for on this basis
Ethical reasoning in nurses’ and physicians’ stories about care episodes
Authors: Udén Giggi , Norberg Astrid , Lindseth Anders , Marhaug Venke
Published: December 2006

Twenty‐three registered nurses and nine physicians reported 43 stones about ethically difficult care situations Themes in nurses’ and physicians’ stones were described by means of narrative ethical theory It turned out that nurses and physicians related different kinds of stones They also seemed to use different kinds of ethical reasoning This result was interpreted as mainly connected to the fact that the two professions have different tasks to accomplish and are trained in disciplines with different foci, nursing and medicine The need to find a common frame story covering the two professional stones was stressed
Reducing distress during abortion: a test of sensory information
Authors: Wells Nancy
Published: December 2006

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of providing sensory information on distress during first‐trimester abortion using a 2 × 2 factorial design. The factors were type of information given and type of anaesthesia used Eighty‐four women completed pre‐abortion measures of state anxiety, and subjective pain and distress Post‐abortion measures included behavioural distress, subjective distress, pain and state anxiety No significant differences were found for type of information (sensory vs general) received on subjective or behavioural distress measures Women receiving intravenous sedation together with local cervical block reported less subjective distress and pain than women receiving local anaesthesia alone Sensory information was not effective in reducing distress during abortion