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The Effect Of A Semester Unit Of Study On Ethical Issues In Nursing On A Group Of Practising Registered Nurses, E. C. Ambrose Jan 1993

The Effect Of A Semester Unit Of Study On Ethical Issues In Nursing On A Group Of Practising Registered Nurses, E. C. Ambrose

Theses : Honours

This study explored the effect an educational unit on ethical issues in nursing had on the ethical reasoning of practising registered nurses. The educational unit was conducted at a university school of nursing as part of a baccalaureate degree programme for already registered and practising nurses. A quasi-experimental posttest design utilising stratified random samples compared subjects from one group who had undertaken the unit (n=53) with subjects from another group who had not (n=61). Ethical reasoning was measured using Grisham's Nursing Dilemma Test and a researcher designed demographic data sheet provided information on additional variables for analysis.The group which had …


Comparison Of Primiparous Women's Expected And Experienced Pain In Labour, Shelagh Lawrence Jan 1993

Comparison Of Primiparous Women's Expected And Experienced Pain In Labour, Shelagh Lawrence

Theses : Honours

Pain is a subjective phenomenon and is, in varying degrees, an inherent part of the childbirth experience. However, most Western societies view suffering as unacceptable and as such, regard analgesia as a necessity. Many women do not anticipate the intensity of pain experienced in childbirth and are, therefore, not ready to manage this amount of pain when it occurs. This prospective study compared the expected and experienced labour pain of 99 primiparous women, aged 17-40 years. The relationship between expected and experienced pain and acceptance of pregnancy; identification with the motherhood role; relationship with mother; relationship with husband/partner; preparation for …


Needs Of Terminally Ill Cancer Patients In An In-Patient Hospice Unit, Marylynn C. Oldham Jan 1993

Needs Of Terminally Ill Cancer Patients In An In-Patient Hospice Unit, Marylynn C. Oldham

Theses : Honours

In Western Australia, in-patient hospice/palliative care units are caring for increasing numbers of terminally ill cancer patients. Hospice philosophy is based on the belief that the terminally ill patient in individual needs are of paramount importance. The needs of advanced cancer patients have been researched in the home, for patients continuing or having completed curative treatment, and for patients receiving palliative care. However, there is a lack of literature about the needs of terminally ill cancer patients in in-patient hospices. Using a descriptive approach, this study investigated the needs of six terminally ill cancer patients in a 26 bed in-patient …


St. Juan De Dios, 1495-1550 The Patron Saint Of Nurses, Christopher Churchouse Jan 1993

St. Juan De Dios, 1495-1550 The Patron Saint Of Nurses, Christopher Churchouse

Theses : Honours

For any profession to develop, grow and plan for the future, it is imperative that all members know from whence they have come. Nurses', however, do not generally consider this to be an important aspect to their professional development, and hence have focused more on empirical or experimental research. Whilst much literature has been written on nursing history, it has focused primarily on its founding women and its inception from the mid nineteenth century when a more structured training evolved. This study, therefore, goes beyond this period of time and examines a man who played an equally important role in …


A Comparison Of Axillary And Tympanic Temperature Measurement In The Preterm Infant, Susan Elizabeth Bearsby Jan 1993

A Comparison Of Axillary And Tympanic Temperature Measurement In The Preterm Infant, Susan Elizabeth Bearsby

Theses : Honours

The transition of the newborn to extrauterine life, especially the preterm infant, necessitates adaptation to environmental changes in temperature (Levene, Tudehope & Thearle, 1987). The need for a method of measuring an infant's temperature rapidly and with minimal disturbance is critical and accurate temperature measurement in a preterm infant is a vitally important nursing procedure. However, the literature is inconclusive regarding the optimum placement time required to achieve an accurate temperature measurement and few studies bad been conducted to ascertain the reliability and usefulness of tympanic thermometers in preterm infants. The study of 81 hospitalised preterm infants, compared axillary mercury, …


Effects Of A Topical Application Of Chlorhexidine 1 % Cream On Clinical Signs Of Infection In Newborn Infants, Fiona Christine Bottin Jan 1993

Effects Of A Topical Application Of Chlorhexidine 1 % Cream On Clinical Signs Of Infection In Newborn Infants, Fiona Christine Bottin

Theses : Honours

For the past 40 years midwives and neonatal nurses have been applying antistaphylococcal cream to newborns, to reduce the risk of Staphylocccus aureus (Staph. aureus) infections. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was any· difference in the incidence of clinical signs of infection in newborns, untreated or treated with a topical application of the currently used antistaphylococcal cream chlorhexidine 1%. The experimental design compared two groups of randomly assigned newborns, using an observation chart based on indicators of infection. Observations were recorded twice ~ day for four days. Any specific or nonspecific signs of infection …


Urinary Bladder Assessment Skills Used By Hospital Nurses Before A Decision Is Made To Institute Intermittent Catheterization, Marion L. Burke Jan 1993

Urinary Bladder Assessment Skills Used By Hospital Nurses Before A Decision Is Made To Institute Intermittent Catheterization, Marion L. Burke

Theses : Honours

Intermittent Catheterization is an invasive technique in which a hollow tube (catheter) is inserted into the bladder to drain urine at regular intervals when a patient does not void. Catheterization is a technique frequently performed by nurses. The skills of assessment by nurses of a patient's urinary bladder prior to instituting intermittent catherization (IC) have been neglected in the field of nursing research. The purpose of this descriptive-correlational study is to identify bladder assessment skills (BAS) among hospital nurses prior to instituting intermittent catheterization. The study asks the questions: To what extent do nurses utilize BAS, and what is the …


The Effect Of 'Environmental Manipulation' On Agitation And 24-Hour Sleep In Dementia Sufferers In An Institutional Setting, Ernest A. Matthews Jan 1993

The Effect Of 'Environmental Manipulation' On Agitation And 24-Hour Sleep In Dementia Sufferers In An Institutional Setting, Ernest A. Matthews

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Living in an institutional setting places on residents certain constraints in relation to freedom of choice as to when, where, and how they conduct activities of daily living, such as, sleeping eating, attending to hygiene needs. Studies indicate this loss of control over the environment contributes to loss of self-esteem, leads to stress, and at times precipitates agitation among nursing home residents. Cognitive impairment may render dementia sufferers more vulnerable to loss of control over their control over their environment and result in agitation, which may in turn influence sleep. The study therefore, investigated if ‘environmental manipulation’ as in introducing …


Does An Individualized Back Education Programme Change Nurses' Knowledge And Practice About Back Injury Prevention, Diane K. Riley Jan 1993

Does An Individualized Back Education Programme Change Nurses' Knowledge And Practice About Back Injury Prevention, Diane K. Riley

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Back injury has predominantly been a problem which has affected a large cross-section of nursing staff involved with direct patient care. While back injury prevention has been instituted in hospitals for sometime, the percentage of nurses with back injury remains high. Within a major teaching hospital, a ward in which nurses suffered a high rate of back injuries was identified. Through an action research approach the researcher (who worked in the same area as the participants) developed and implemented an individualized back injury prevention programme. The 4 criteria by which the study was measured included, a reduction of back injuries, …


Preoperative Predictors Of Postoperative Pain, Robyn A. Paterson Jan 1993

Preoperative Predictors Of Postoperative Pain, Robyn A. Paterson

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The purpose of this study was to investigate five factors, which have been identified in the literature as having influence on the experience of postoperative pain. (1) Patient satisfaction with preoperative information, (2) Anticipated postoperative pain, (3) General self-efficacy, (4) Age, (5) Gender. These variables were examined to determine their relationship, if any with postoperative pain. Any relationship between these variables was also examined. Review of the literature revealed considerable research on pain, and that much of that research has been directed at the treatment of, rather than prediction of postoperative pain. Also, these studies have focused on patients who …


A Comparison Of Three Midwifery Interventions On The Continuity And Knowledge Of Breast Feeding, Athalie Johnston Jan 1993

A Comparison Of Three Midwifery Interventions On The Continuity And Knowledge Of Breast Feeding, Athalie Johnston

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Although it is widely recognised that breast milk is biologically perfect to provide nutrition for the newborn infant many new mothers do not continue to breast feed throughout the postpartum period. A possible influencing factor is the decreased length of hospital stay, whereby new mothers are discharged home away from the supportive-educative role of the midwife before they are ready to learn the art of breast feeding. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of three midwifery interventions on the continuity and knowledge of first time breast feeding mothers at 6 weeks postpartum. A convenience sample of …


An Evaluation Of A Workshop On Pain Assessment And Management For Nurses, Beverley Bradshaw Jan 1993

An Evaluation Of A Workshop On Pain Assessment And Management For Nurses, Beverley Bradshaw

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The purpose of this study was to assess nurses’ knowledge of pain assessment and management, examine what change occurred immediately following a pain assessment and management workshop and examine whether any changes were retained one month later. Chin and Benne’s theory of change provided the theoretical framework for this study. Their approach to planned change involves assessing the existing structure, formulating and implementing a plan to change that structure, then evaluating the change. The following hypothesis was formulated for investigation: That nurses’ knowledge of pain assessment and management would increase after a workshop on the subject and be retained over …