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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences
Becoming A Registered Nurse: The Nurse Extern Experience, K. Starr, Virginia Conley
Becoming A Registered Nurse: The Nurse Extern Experience, K. Starr, Virginia Conley
Virginia M. Conley
Little is known about the perceptions of nursing students externing in newly developed hospital-based programs that focus on socialization and transition to the registered nurse (RN) role rather than on institutional recruitment and retention goals. This qualitative study explored student nurse externs' expectations, experiences, and benefits of participation in a student-focused externship program. Externs wanted to gain experience with skills and learn what it was like to be an RN. Goals were met or exceeded by becoming comfortable in the externship role, growing in skill performance and confidence, and becoming members of the healthcare team. The experience fostered growth from …
Informational Needs Of Caregivers Of Terminal Patients In A Rural State, Virginia Conley, M. Burman
Informational Needs Of Caregivers Of Terminal Patients In A Rural State, Virginia Conley, M. Burman
Virginia M. Conley
Home care of a terminally ill family member is stressful, especially in rural areas. This qualitative study sought to determine informational needs of rural caregivers and how that information is obtained. Although most caregivers stated satisfaction with available information, mostly obtained from physicians and nurses, their behavior belied their satisfaction. Assertive and self-reliant, they used informal communications rather than written information to meet most of their needs. Approaches home care nurses can use to help caregivers obtain important information are presented.
Patient And Parent/Guardian Perspectives On The Health Care Of Adults With Mental Retardation, Sarah Voss Horrell, William Maclean, Virginia Conley
Patient And Parent/Guardian Perspectives On The Health Care Of Adults With Mental Retardation, Sarah Voss Horrell, William Maclean, Virginia Conley
Virginia M. Conley
Individuals with mental retardation and their parents/guardians have long been neglected in health care research. In this study we used a qualitative methodology to describe the experiences adults with mental retardation and their parents/guardians have with the delivery of primary care services. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 adults who had mental retardation and 9 parents/guardians. The grounded theory approach was utilized to guide data collection and analysis. Findings suggest an overall positive experience with primary care services. Unique themes were identified that distinguished parent/guardian experiences from those of adults with mental retardation, who focused on immediate, concrete issues …
Case Managers' Roles And Functions: Commission For Case Manager Certification's 2004 Research, Part Ii, H. Tahan, W. Downey, Diane Huber
Case Managers' Roles And Functions: Commission For Case Manager Certification's 2004 Research, Part Ii, H. Tahan, W. Downey, Diane Huber
Diane Huber
The Commission for Case Manager Certification (CCMC) conducted its third case managers' role and functions study in 2004 for the purpose of validating the currency and relevancy of the certified case manager examination. The results of this study are shared in an article of 2 parts. Part I, which was published in the previous issue of this journal, discussed the process the CCMC used for the development of the Case Managers' Role and Functions Survey Instrument and the identification of new 6 essential functions and 6 knowledge areas that describe case management practice. These findings were based on the survey …
Patient Preferences And Discharge Planning Transitions, Diane Huber, E. Mcclelland
Patient Preferences And Discharge Planning Transitions, Diane Huber, E. Mcclelland
Diane Huber
Discharge planning is an urgently needed nursing intervention. The purpose of this article is to investigate the importance of patient and family preferences and participation for discharge planning and to describe the pilot testing of an instrument to measure patient preferences for discharge planning. The results identified a lack of congruence between patients' and caregivers' preferences, suggesting the need to assess both patients' and families' preferences early and incorporate this in discharge planning that begins at admission to a hospital. The instrument, Patient Participation Preferences Assessment (PPPA), is shown to be a useful, reliable, and valid instrument that can be …
Case Management Workforce In The United States, E. Park, Diane Huber
Case Management Workforce In The United States, E. Park, Diane Huber
Diane Huber
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare characteristics of the case management (CM) workforce in the US by age, years of experience, and original profession. DESIGN: This study was an exploratory, descriptive secondary analysis of demographic and job characteristics of 24,085 certified case managers (CCMs). METHODS: Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and correlation coefficients were calculated. FINDINGS: The majority of the case-management workforce is made up of RNs (93.3%). The CCMs were older, with a mean age of 55.0 years, than were those in their original profession and started to work as CCMs late in their careers. …
Case Managers' Roles And Functions: Commission For Case Manager Certification's 2004 Research, Part I, H. Tahan, Diane Huber, W. Downey
Case Managers' Roles And Functions: Commission For Case Manager Certification's 2004 Research, Part I, H. Tahan, Diane Huber, W. Downey
Diane Huber
The Commission for Case Manager Certification (CCMC) conducted its third case managers' role and functions study in 2004. The purpose of this research was to validate the currency and relevancy of the certified case manager examination. The results of this study are shared in 2 parts of an article. Part I discusses the process the CCMC used for the development of the Case Manager's Role and Functions Survey Instrument (CMRFSI). The research leads to the identification of 6 new essential functions and 6 new knowledge areas, which describe case management practice. These findings were based on the survey of a …
Client Satisfaction With Rural Substance Abuse Case Management Services, T. Kopelman, Diane Huber, B. Kopelman, M. Sarrazin, J. Hall
Client Satisfaction With Rural Substance Abuse Case Management Services, T. Kopelman, Diane Huber, B. Kopelman, M. Sarrazin, J. Hall
Diane Huber
Although many substance abuse organizations offer case management services, little is known about clients' satisfaction as consumers of case management services. The purpose of this study was to evaluate consumer preferences regarding the delivery of case management services in a rural substance abuse treatment program. For this study, 120 clients (30 in each of four research conditions) were interviewed about their experiences in the Iowa Case Management Project (ICMP), a field-based clinical trial evaluating a strengths-based model of case management for rural clients in drug abuse treatment. A mixed-method approach evaluated clients' responses from a semistructured interview. Most clients preferred …
Alzheimer's Residents' Cognitive And Functional Measures: Special And Traditional Care Unit Comparison, Elizabeth Swanson, Meridean Maas, Kathleen Buckwalter
Alzheimer's Residents' Cognitive And Functional Measures: Special And Traditional Care Unit Comparison, Elizabeth Swanson, Meridean Maas, Kathleen Buckwalter
Elizabeth A. Swanson
The aim of this field experiment was to compare the effects of a special care unit (SCU) on residents with Alzheimer's disease (AD) who lived on the SCU and on traditional (integrated) nursing home units. Twenty-two subjects, 13 on the SCU and 9 on traditional integrated units were compared. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to assess differences between the two groups and within the groups over two bimonthly pretests and two bimonthly posttests. No significant differences on cognitive or functional abilities scores were evident for the groups and no significant differences were found over time. However, consistent with the prediction …
Most Frequent Nursing Diagnoses, Nursing Interventions, And Nursing-Sensitive Patient Outcomes Of Hospitalized Older Adults With Heart Failure: Part 1, C. Scherb, B. Head, Meridean Maas, Elizabeth Swanson, Sue Moorhead, D. Reed, D. Conley, M. Kozel
Most Frequent Nursing Diagnoses, Nursing Interventions, And Nursing-Sensitive Patient Outcomes Of Hospitalized Older Adults With Heart Failure: Part 1, C. Scherb, B. Head, Meridean Maas, Elizabeth Swanson, Sue Moorhead, D. Reed, D. Conley, M. Kozel
Elizabeth A. Swanson
PURPOSE: Rank and compare the 10 most frequently documented nursing diagnoses, interventions, and patient outcomes using NANDA International, Nursing Interventions Classification, and Nursing Outcomes Classification for care of patients with heart failure (HF). METHODS: A descriptive comparative multisite study of documented care for 302 older adults with HF. FINDINGS: There were four common nursing diagnoses, two interventions, and only three common outcomes across three sites. CONCLUSIONS: This and similar analyses of clinical nursing data can be used by nursing administrators and clinicians to monitor the quality and effectiveness of nursing care. IMPLICATIONS: Similar analyses may be used for continuing education, …
Sensitivity Of Detection Of Radiofrequency Surgical Sponges: A Prospective, Cross-Over Study, Victoria Steelman
Sensitivity Of Detection Of Radiofrequency Surgical Sponges: A Prospective, Cross-Over Study, Victoria Steelman
Victoria J. Steelman
BACKGROUND: A retained surgical sponge is a serious medical error that results in negative patient outcomes. Radiofrequency (RF) technology has recently been introduced to evaluate for the presence of a retained sponge. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the detection of surgical sponges embedded with an RF chip through the torsos of subjects of varying body habitus, including the morbidly obese. METHODS: A prospective, crossover, and observer blinded study design was used. Subjects served as their own controls. With the subject supine, 4 surgical sponges were sequentially placed behind the subject's torso in …
Measuring Organizational Attributes Of Primary Care Practices: Development Of A New Instrument, P. Ohman-Strickland, A. Orzano, P. Nutting, W. Perry Dickinson, Jill Scott-Cawiezell, K. Hahn, M. Gibel, B. Crabtree
Measuring Organizational Attributes Of Primary Care Practices: Development Of A New Instrument, P. Ohman-Strickland, A. Orzano, P. Nutting, W. Perry Dickinson, Jill Scott-Cawiezell, K. Hahn, M. Gibel, B. Crabtree
Jill Scott-Cawiezell
OBJECTIVE: To develop an instrument to measure organizational attributes relevant for family practices using the perspectives of clinicians, nurses, and staff. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING: Clinicians, nurses, and office staff (n=640) from 51 community family medicine practices. DESIGN: A survey, designed to measure a practices' internal resources for change, for use in family medicine practices was created by a multidisciplinary panel of experts in primary care research and health care organizational performance. This survey was administered in a cross-sectional study to a sample of diverse practices participating in an intervention trial. A factor analysis identified groups of questions relating to latent …
The Willingness Of Family Members Of Critically Ill Adults To Learn The Coping Technique Of Imagery, D. Schweer, L. Hart, O. Glick, Paula Mobily
The Willingness Of Family Members Of Critically Ill Adults To Learn The Coping Technique Of Imagery, D. Schweer, L. Hart, O. Glick, Paula Mobily
Paula Mobily
Critical care nurses face the challenge of helping anxious families cope with the critical illness of one of their members. The purposes of this exploratory descriptive pilot study were to identify whether adult family members of surgical intensive care unit (SICU) patients were willing and able to learn imagery during the time of their family member's critical illness, and which factors facilitate the learning. Of the 139 persons invited, 26 (18.7%) indicated willingness to participate, but only 10 participants completed both learning sessions. All 10 subjects achieved increased relaxation with the imaging. Facilitators of their learning were the quiet environment, …
Infant And Preschool Well-Child Care: Master's- And Nonmaster's-Prepared Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, J. Glascock, C. Webster-Stratton, Ann Mccarthy
Infant And Preschool Well-Child Care: Master's- And Nonmaster's-Prepared Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, J. Glascock, C. Webster-Stratton, Ann Mccarthy
Ann Marie McCarthy
The nursing and medical literature reveals considerable debate over whether graduate or continuing education is the appropriate level for nurse practitioner preparation. These arguments have been rhetorical since the research literature lacks data on the scope of practice of master's- and nonmaster's-prepared nurse practitioners. The purpose of this study was to examine possible differences between the two types of practitioners in one area--well-child care provided by pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs). A total of 236 master's- and nonmaster's-prepared PNPs completed a background questionnaire and checklists of nursing activities involving infant and preschool well-child care. Analysis of study results showed that master's …
The Early Bird Does Not Get The Worm: Time-Of-Day Effects On College Students' Basic Cognitive Processing, P. Allen, J. Grabbe, Ann Mccarthy, A. Bush, B. Wallace
The Early Bird Does Not Get The Worm: Time-Of-Day Effects On College Students' Basic Cognitive Processing, P. Allen, J. Grabbe, Ann Mccarthy, A. Bush, B. Wallace
Ann Marie McCarthy
We conducted a neuropsychological and cognitive assessment study to determine whether time of day affects cognitive performance. We measured executive control (fluency), processing speed, semantic memory, and episodic memory performance. We followed 56 students across 3 different times of day, testing performance on vocabulary, fluency, processing speed, and episodic memory. Results showed an advantage for fluency and digit symbol task performance in the afternoon and evening testing times relative to morning testing (regardless of testing order), but that time of day did not affect semantic or episodic memory performance. These results suggest that optimal executive functioning and processing speed may …
School Nurses' Experiences, Concerns, And Knowledge Of Growth Disorders In Children: Development Of A Monograph, Janet Williams, Ann Mccarthy, H. Bragadottir, D. Reed
School Nurses' Experiences, Concerns, And Knowledge Of Growth Disorders In Children: Development Of A Monograph, Janet Williams, Ann Mccarthy, H. Bragadottir, D. Reed
Ann Marie McCarthy
Growth disorders may be associated with difficult psychosocial adjustment, learning problems, and specific health risks. Appropriate school health programming relies on school nurses who are skilled in growth assessment, management of psychosocial and behavioral problems, and effective communication with school personnel, children, families, and health care resources. A monograph and model individualized healthcare plans were developed for growth disorders in school-age children as an educational resource for school nurses. Knowledge of growth disorders among nurses receiving the monograph was evaluated in a random sample of 336 school nurses, members of the National Association of School Nurses. Knowledge of growth assessment …
School Nurses' Experiences With Medication Administration, M. Kelly, Ann Mccarthy, M. Mordhorst
School Nurses' Experiences With Medication Administration, M. Kelly, Ann Mccarthy, M. Mordhorst
Ann Marie McCarthy
This article reports school nurses' experiences with medication administration through qualitative analyses of a written survey and focus groups. From a random sample of 1000 members of the National Association of School Nurses, 649 (64.9%) school nurses completed the survey. The quantitative data from the survey were presented previously. However, 470 respondents provided written comments on the survey. Comments on the eight items that had the most written comments were qualitatively analyzed. In addition, to clarify information obtained from the surveys, two focus groups with local school nurses were conducted. A constant comparative method of analysis was used, and results …
Communication, Encouragement, And Cancer Screening In Families With And Without Mutations For Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer: A Pilot Study, Anne Ersig, Janet Williams, D. Hadley, L. Koehly
Communication, Encouragement, And Cancer Screening In Families With And Without Mutations For Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer: A Pilot Study, Anne Ersig, Janet Williams, D. Hadley, L. Koehly
Anne L. Ersig
PURPOSE: Known and suspected mutation carriers for hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer are advised to have colonoscopies every 1 to 2 years to detect colorectal cancer. Little is known about colonoscopy completion in families suspected of having hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer but without identified mutations. METHODS: This study examined the effect of communication and encouragement on colonoscopy in families with and without known mutations. Twenty-three respondents from 11 families with indeterminate genetic test results were matched with 23 respondents from 11 families with mutation-positive results. Hierarchical modeling examined the effects of relational characteristics on time since last colonoscopy in index cases …
Renal Osteodystrophy In Older Adults With End-Stage Renal Disease, C. Roth, Kennith Culp
Renal Osteodystrophy In Older Adults With End-Stage Renal Disease, C. Roth, Kennith Culp
Kennith R. Culp
No abstract provided.
Thematic Analysis Of The Experience Of Making A Decision To Place A Family Member With Alzheimer's Disease In A Special Care Unit, Howard Butcher, P. Holkup, M. Park, Meridean Maas
Thematic Analysis Of The Experience Of Making A Decision To Place A Family Member With Alzheimer's Disease In A Special Care Unit, Howard Butcher, P. Holkup, M. Park, Meridean Maas
Howard K. Butcher
The purpose of this study was to provide an in-depth description of the experience of making the decision to place a family member in a special care unit among a diverse sample of family caregivers. To achieve purposive maximum variation of the sample, the sample of 30 family caregivers was chosen from an original study of 256 family caregivers. The sample was randomly stratified according to ethnicity, gender, and relationship to the care receiver. Three independent researchers used Luborsky's method of thematic analysis to analyze the interviews. After mutual consensus, 1565 themes (descriptive statements) were identified and synthesized into 21 …
Portraits Of Caregivers Of End-Stage Dementia Patients Receiving Hospice Care, S. Sanders, Howard Butcher, P. Swails, J. Power
Portraits Of Caregivers Of End-Stage Dementia Patients Receiving Hospice Care, S. Sanders, Howard Butcher, P. Swails, J. Power
Howard K. Butcher
The purpose of this study was to investigate how caregivers respond to the end stages of dementia with the assistance from hospice. Data were collected from 27 family caregivers over the course of 10 months, with each caregiver being interviewed up to 4 times during the time that the patient received hospice care. Chart review data were also collected. Four distinct caregiver portraits emerged: (a) disengaged; (b) questioning; (c) all-consumed; and (d) reconciled. Caregivers in each portrait differed in how they responded to the impending death of the care recipient, the disease progression, and hospice care. Recognizing the differences in …
Living In The Doldrums: The Lived Experience Of Dispiritedness In Later Life, Howard Butcher, M. Mcgonigal-Kenney
Living In The Doldrums: The Lived Experience Of Dispiritedness In Later Life, Howard Butcher, M. Mcgonigal-Kenney
Howard K. Butcher
This phenomenological investigation sought to enhance understanding of the experience of dispiritedness by providing a rich and vivid description of the essential structure of the experience in later life. van Manen's hermeneutic-phenomenological method was used to analyze the transcribed texts of 11 individuals who identified themselves as being in "later life" (mean age = 73, age range = 52 to 93) and who participated in phenomenological interviews focusing on describing the experience of dispiritedness. Statements describing the experience of dispiritedness were sorted into 21 thematic categories that were synthesized into 7 essential themes that described the structure of the lived …
Commentary On "Mystical Experience In The Context Of Health Care", Howard Butcher
Commentary On "Mystical Experience In The Context Of Health Care", Howard Butcher
Howard K. Butcher
No abstract provided.