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Informational Needs Of Caregivers Of Terminal Patients In A Rural State, Virginia Conley, M. Burman Nov 2011

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.


Never Did I Know: Iowa Nurses Association Resolution 2010 #2, Virginia Conley Nov 2011

Never Did I Know: Iowa Nurses Association Resolution 2010 #2, Virginia Conley

Virginia M. Conley

No abstract provided.


Conflict And Retention Of New Graduate Nurses, Diane Gardner Nov 2011

Conflict And Retention Of New Graduate Nurses, Diane Gardner

Diane Huber

No abstract provided.


Career Commitment In Nursing, Diane Gardner Nov 2011

Career Commitment In Nursing, Diane Gardner

Diane Huber

There are different patterns and styles to careers in nursing. The concept of career commitment in nursing is explored, and the results of some research are discussed for their implications for nursing careers. A longitudinal, repeated-measures descriptive survey was used to measure career commitment and explore its relationship to turnover and work performance in 320 newly employed registered nurses at one hospital. Career commitment scores dropped significantly over the first year. Although career commitment does correlate with turnover, and there is a relationship with job performance, the direct association is weak. Career commitment is not a stable phenomenon in the …


Patient Preferences And Discharge Planning Transitions, Diane Huber, E. Mcclelland Nov 2011

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 …


Psychometric Evaluation Of The Structured Clinical Interview For Dsm-Iv Childhood Diagnoses (Kid-Scid), D. Smith, Diane Huber, J. Hall Nov 2011

Psychometric Evaluation Of The Structured Clinical Interview For Dsm-Iv Childhood Diagnoses (Kid-Scid), D. Smith, Diane Huber, J. Hall

Diane Huber

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of selected modules of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IV (KID-SCID, Version 1.0). The Disruptive Behavior Disorders (i.e., ADHD, ODD, CD) and Substance Related Disorders modules of the KID-SCID were administered to 50 adolescents receiving residential treatment for substance abuse and severe behavioral problems. This study examined available evidence for inter-rater reliability and convergent validity. Convergent validity was demonstrated for the Disruptive Behavior Disorders module, however, the Substance Abuse Disorders module failed to converge with frequency of use for most substances. Inter-rater reliability was generally high. This …


Evaluating The Impact Of Case Management Dosage, Diane Huber, M. Sarrazin, T. Vaughn, J. Hall Nov 2011

Evaluating The Impact Of Case Management Dosage, Diane Huber, M. Sarrazin, T. Vaughn, J. Hall

Diane Huber

BACKGROUND: Because of the broad range of activities involved and high variance in clients' needs, it is challenging to measure the actual dose of case management in order to assess quality and manage outcomes. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this research is to evaluate the impact of intervention dosage on client outcomes in different case management models within substance abuse treatment. METHOD: A descriptive and repeated measures analysis from a clinical trials data set measured the dosage of case management and evaluated impact on client outcomes. A sample of 598 clients from a substance abuse treatment facility was randomized into one …


Telephone Nursing Interventions In Ambulatory Care, Diane Huber, K. Blanchfield Nov 2011

Telephone Nursing Interventions In Ambulatory Care, Diane Huber, K. Blanchfield

Diane Huber

Telephone nursing practice is becoming a major nursing activity in ambulatory care settings, yet little is known about the type and extent of nursing interventions that occur during telephone interactions. A pilot study was conducted in two sites to see whether nursing diagnoses and interventions could be captured and related to nursing care during telephone consultation. This initial pilot demonstrated that nurses have an appropriate role in telephone interactions and that standardized nursing language can be used in telephone nursing to document nursing care despite the many challenges in its use in the field.


Client Satisfaction With Rural Substance Abuse Case Management Services, T. Kopelman, Diane Huber, B. Kopelman, M. Sarrazin, J. Hall Nov 2011

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 …


Catastrophic Reactions And Other Behaviors Of Alzheimer's Residents: Special Unit Compared With Traditional Units, Elizabeth Swanson, Meridean Maas, Kathleen Buckwalter Nov 2011

Catastrophic Reactions And Other Behaviors Of Alzheimer's Residents: Special Unit Compared With Traditional Units, Elizabeth Swanson, Meridean Maas, Kathleen Buckwalter

Elizabeth A. Swanson

Using a quasi-experimental pretest/posttest design, the effects of a Special Care Unit (SCU) on the incidence of catastrophic reactions and other behaviors of nursing home residents with Alzheimer's disease (AD) were examined. Findings indicate significantly fewer catastrophic reactions and other selected behavior changes occurred during the posttest period for subjects in the experimental group compared with the subjects in the control group. Implications for psychiatric consultation/liaison nurses (PCLNs) working with this vulnerable population are discussed.


Outcomes Of Family Involvement In Care Intervention For Caregivers Of Individuals With Dementia, Meridean Maas, D. Reed, M. Park, Janet Specht, D. Schutte, Lisa Skemp Kelley, Elizabeth Swanson, Toni Tripp-Reimer, Kathleen Buckwalter Nov 2011

Outcomes Of Family Involvement In Care Intervention For Caregivers Of Individuals With Dementia, Meridean Maas, D. Reed, M. Park, Janet Specht, D. Schutte, Lisa Skemp Kelley, Elizabeth Swanson, Toni Tripp-Reimer, Kathleen Buckwalter

Elizabeth A. Swanson

BACKGROUND: Despite the increasing number of individuals with dementia relocated from caregiving at home to a nursing home, there is only a small body of literature examining the influence of institutional family-oriented practices on family member perceptions of care and family-staff relationships. OBJECTIVE: The study tested the effects of the Family Involvement in Care partnership intervention on family members' perceptions of their caregiving role, relationships with staff, and satisfaction with the care of relatives with dementia residing in special care units as well as the effects on staff attitudes toward families and staff satisfaction with a caregiving role. METHODS: A …


Alzheimer's Residents' Cognitive And Functional Measures: Special And Traditional Care Unit Comparison, Elizabeth Swanson, Meridean Maas, Kathleen Buckwalter Nov 2011

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 …


Family Visitation On Special Care Units, Lisa Skemp Kelley, Elizabeth Swanson, Meridean Maas, Toni Tripp-Reimer Nov 2011

Family Visitation On Special Care Units, Lisa Skemp Kelley, Elizabeth Swanson, Meridean Maas, Toni Tripp-Reimer

Elizabeth A. Swanson

With placement of a family member with Alzheimer's disease on a SCU, the family does not relinquish the caregiving role, rather they take on different roles in relation to the residents. Family visitation of the residents on the SCU is an integral part of family involvement in care of individuals with Alzheimer's disease, as well as SCU functioning. Within the context of changing relationships with the residents, family members visited the residents as a sense of duty to "be faithful," to monitor care by "being their eyes and ears," and to foster a sense of family through ongoing relationships and …


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 Nov 2011

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, …


Russian Citizens' Trusted Sources Of Health Promotion Information, C. Goody, Elizabeth Swanson, A. Bossen, E. Frolova, O. Kuznetsova, S. Plavinski Nov 2011

Russian Citizens' Trusted Sources Of Health Promotion Information, C. Goody, Elizabeth Swanson, A. Bossen, E. Frolova, O. Kuznetsova, S. Plavinski

Elizabeth A. Swanson

This study examined Russian citizens' trusted sources of health information. A random sample of 906 people, from two villages in St. Petersburg, Russia, responded to a health needs assessment questionnaire. Results suggest that medical professionals and special books, such as informational pamphlets about treating a myriad of illnesses, are significant trusted sources of health information for people in Russia. Further, these data suggest differences between trusted sources of health information exist between villages rather than by gender or age group. This work has implications for health care practitioners in Russia, who are advancing the discipline of family practice, as well …


Medication Management By Recently Hospitalized Older Adults, V. Conn, S. Taylor, Anita Stineman Nov 2011

Medication Management By Recently Hospitalized Older Adults, V. Conn, S. Taylor, Anita Stineman

Anita Stineman

Community-dwelling older adults often manage numerous prescriptive medications. The purpose of this study was to describe prescriptive medication management by older adults recently discharged from hospitals. The sample (N = 179) included adults, 65 to 101 years old, who managed a total of 950 prescriptive medications. Overall, subjects reported high confidence in their ability to manage medications. The lowest confidence levels were reported for recognizing unwanted side effects of medications. Although "forgetting" was the most commonly given reason for missed doses, one fourth of the reasons for missed doses indicated deliberate omission. Almost half of the subjects received assistance from …


Sensitivity Of Detection Of Radiofrequency Surgical Sponges: A Prospective, Cross-Over Study, Victoria Steelman Nov 2011

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 …


Clinical Significance Of Positive Cranial Bone Flap Cultures And Associated Risk Of Surgical Site Infection After Craniotomies Or Craniectomies, H. Chiang, Victoria Steelman, J. Pottinger, A. Schlueter, D. Diekema, J. Greenlee, M. Howard, L. Herwaldt Nov 2011

Clinical Significance Of Positive Cranial Bone Flap Cultures And Associated Risk Of Surgical Site Infection After Craniotomies Or Craniectomies, H. Chiang, Victoria Steelman, J. Pottinger, A. Schlueter, D. Diekema, J. Greenlee, M. Howard, L. Herwaldt

Victoria J. Steelman

OBJECT: The risk of surgical site infection (SSI) after craniotomies or craniectomies in patients in whom contaminated bone flaps have been reimplanted has not been determined. The objectives of this study were to identify the prevalence of bone flaps with positive cultures--especially those contaminated with Propionibacterium acnes--to assess the risk of SSI after reimplanting (either during the initial operation or subsequently) bone flaps with positive cultures, and to identify risk factors for SSI following the initial craniotomies or craniectomies. METHODS: The authors conducted a retrospective review of cases in which patients underwent craniotomy/craniectomy procedures between January and October 2007 in …


Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease: Recommendations For Infection Control, Victoria Steelman Nov 2011

Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease: Recommendations For Infection Control, Victoria Steelman

Victoria J. Steelman

Creutzfeld-Jakob disease, an infectious, progressive, degenerative neurologic disorder, has a presumably long incubation period but a rapid, fatal course. Brain tissue at autopsy resembles that seen in spongioform encephalopathies of other species. Creutzfeld-Jakob disease is transmitted by a proteinaceous infectious agent, or "prion." Epidemiologic patterns remain uncertain; various studies have reported conflicting risk factors in different populations, and genetic susceptibility may be involved. Although natural transmission routes are still unclear, both iatrogenic and nosocomial transmissions have been identified. Transmission has occurred through contaminated electrodes, contaminated biologic products from cadaveric brains, and infected donor tissues, including dura mater and corneas. Because …


Early- And Late-Onset Group B Streptococcal Infections: Overview And Case Studies, Rebecca Siewert, D. Holida Nov 2011

Early- And Late-Onset Group B Streptococcal Infections: Overview And Case Studies, Rebecca Siewert, D. Holida

Rebecca Siewert

Infants that are admitted and cared for in the neonatal intensive care unit are at risk for sepsis. Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is the most common cause of neonatal sepsis and meningitis. Group B Streptococcus is classified into early- and late-onset sepsis. With early onset, infants develop symptoms within 7 days of birth. With late onset, they develop symptoms between 7 days and 3 months of life. Prompt identification and treatment of suspected septic infants are crucial. Infants who develop early- or late-onset GBS sepsis are at risk for sequelae ranging from normal physiologic outcome to devastating long-term conditions and …


Breastfeeding Success With Preterm Quadruplets, L. Mead, Rebecca Chuffo, P. Lawlor-Klean, P. Meier Nov 2011

Breastfeeding Success With Preterm Quadruplets, L. Mead, Rebecca Chuffo, P. Lawlor-Klean, P. Meier

Rebecca Siewert

Although the incidence of triplet and quadruplet birth has increased in the United States, few research-based guidelines are available for assisting mothers of these multiple births with breastfeeding. The purpose of this case study is to report a successful breastfeeding experience of a mother with preterm quadruplets. The quadruplets were born by cesarean delivery at 34 weeks' gestation and weighed from 1,820 g to 2,240 g. In-hospital breastfeeding experiences were managed by the authors, according to research-based guidelines for breastfeeding preterm neonates and infants. During the first month after discharge of the four newborns, the mother breastfed 12-34 times daily. …


Psychogeriatric Outreach To Rural Families: The Iowa And Virginia Models, I. L. Abraham, Kathleen C. Buckwalter, D. G. Snustad, D. E. Smullen, A. A. Thompson-Heisterman, J. B. Neese, Marianne Smith Nov 2011

Psychogeriatric Outreach To Rural Families: The Iowa And Virginia Models, I. L. Abraham, Kathleen C. Buckwalter, D. G. Snustad, D. E. Smullen, A. A. Thompson-Heisterman, J. B. Neese, Marianne Smith

Marianne Smith

Elderly residents of rural areas are at significant risk for mental health problems, yet have less access to mental health services. Thus, most mental health problems among rural elderly remain either undiagnosed or untreated. We describe two models of mental health outreach programs to rural elderly in Iowa and Virginia, serving demographically, culturally, and epidemiologically different populations in geographically and economically dissimilar regions. Programs are compared on the basis of initiation, community partnerships, target population, target region, clinical disciplines involved, coordinating discipline, referral sources, operational model, initial home assessment, care planning, sustainability, cost, patient demographics, and primary and secondary diagnosed. …


Measuring Pain Intensity In Nursing Home Residents, K. Jones, R. Fink, E. Hutt, C. Vojir, G. Pepper, Jill Scott-Cawiezell, B. Mellis Nov 2011

Measuring Pain Intensity In Nursing Home Residents, K. Jones, R. Fink, E. Hutt, C. Vojir, G. Pepper, Jill Scott-Cawiezell, B. Mellis

Jill Scott-Cawiezell

Assessing pain intensity in nursing home residents remains a challenge. As part of a multifaceted intervention study to improve pain practices in nursing homes, quarterly pain assessments were conducted in 12 Colorado nursing homes. Residents who reported pain or discomfort of any kind in the past 24 hours were asked to choose one of three pain intensity scales to quantify their current and highest level of pain intensity. They were also observed for pain behaviors using Feldt's Checklist of Nonverbal Pain Indicators. Residents preferred the Verbal Descriptor Scale almost 2:1 over the 11-point Verbal Numeric Rating Scale and the Faces …


Nursing Home Culture: A Critical Component In Sustained Improvement, Jill Scott-Cawiezell, K. Jones, L. Moore, C. Vojir Nov 2011

Nursing Home Culture: A Critical Component In Sustained Improvement, Jill Scott-Cawiezell, K. Jones, L. Moore, C. Vojir

Jill Scott-Cawiezell

In the third in a series of articles exploring working conditions and quality improvement in nursing homes, 31 nursing homes were surveyed using an adaptation of the Competing Values Framework (CVF) Organizational Assessment. The CVF provides information about the organizational culture through describing dominant perceived values, distribution of values across organizational characteristics, and orientation of values toward flexibility. Staff reported a dominant group culture, reflecting a family and team orientation within their settings. Leaders, however, were more often reported to reflect a hierarchy value orientation, emphasizing efficiency of operations and following rules and procedures.


Exploring Nursing Home Staff's Perceptions Of Communication And Leadership To Facilitate Quality Improvement, Jill Scott-Cawiezell, M. Schenkman, L. Moore, C. Vojir, R. Connoly, M. Pratt, L. Palmer Nov 2011

Exploring Nursing Home Staff's Perceptions Of Communication And Leadership To Facilitate Quality Improvement, Jill Scott-Cawiezell, M. Schenkman, L. Moore, C. Vojir, R. Connoly, M. Pratt, L. Palmer

Jill Scott-Cawiezell

Leadership and clinical staff were surveyed to explore communication and leadership in nursing homes. Registered nurses and other professionals perceived communication as better than their nursing colleagues did. Overall, results suggest all factors of communication could improve. In terms of leadership, licensed practical nurses perceived less clarity of expectations, encouragement of initiative, and support than other groups. The study provides insight into what is organizationally necessary to improve quality of care in nursing homes.


Milwaukee Police Department Retirees: Cardiovascular Disease Risk And Morbidity Among Aging Law Enforcement Officers, Sandra L. Ramey, Nancy R. Downing, W. D. Franke Nov 2011

Milwaukee Police Department Retirees: Cardiovascular Disease Risk And Morbidity Among Aging Law Enforcement Officers, Sandra L. Ramey, Nancy R. Downing, W. D. Franke

Sandra L. Ramey

This study explored the self-reported prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and accompanying risk factors among 165 male retirees 43 years and older (M = 56.2, SD = 7.1) from the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) compared to 671 individuals of similar age and income who responded to the 2005 Wisconsin Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). CVD and other risk factors were more prevalent in the MPD retirees than the general population (CVD 15.2% vs. 9.5%, p = .036; hypertension 51.5% vs. 36.2%, p = .001; hypercholesterolemia 62.4% vs. 44.4%, p = .001; overweight and obesity 85.1% vs. 74.7%, p = …


Excessive Weight Loss In Breastfed Infants During The Postpartum Hospitalization, Pamela Mulder, T. Johnson, L. Baker Oct 2011

Excessive Weight Loss In Breastfed Infants During The Postpartum Hospitalization, Pamela Mulder, T. Johnson, L. Baker

Pamela J. Mulder

OBJECTIVE: To examine differences in breastfeeding frequency, voids, and stools in infants with weight losses or =7% during the postpartum hospitalization. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of data from a primary psychometric study examining the Mother Infant Breastfeeding Progress Tool (MIBPT). Setting: A midwestern community hospital in a multicultural racially diverse community. PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of 53 breastfeeding women and infants hospitalized after birth. METHODS: Data were collected during a chart review; infants were divided into or =7% weight loss groups at 2 days postpartum, and breastfeeding frequency, voiding, and stooling were examined between groups and used to predict a > or =7% …


An Epidemiologic Analysis Of Pain In The Elderly: The Iowa 65+ Rural Health Study, Paula Mobily, Keela Herr, M. Clark, R. Wallace Oct 2011

An Epidemiologic Analysis Of Pain In The Elderly: The Iowa 65+ Rural Health Study, Paula Mobily, Keela Herr, M. Clark, R. Wallace

Paula Mobily

No abstract provided.


The Willingness Of Family Members Of Critically Ill Adults To Learn The Coping Technique Of Imagery, D. Schweer, L. Hart, O. Glick, Paula Mobily Oct 2011

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, …


Reliability Of The 60+ Functional Fitness Test Battery For Older Adults, K. E. Mobily, Paula R. Mobily Oct 2011

Reliability Of The 60+ Functional Fitness Test Battery For Older Adults, K. E. Mobily, Paula R. Mobily

Paula Mobily

The primary purpose of this investigation was to determine the internal consistency of the 60+ functional fitness test battery for older adults. A secondary purpose was to determine whether the number of trials recommended in the testing manual was optimal. Subjects were used from an ongoing study of a fitness program for community-dwelling older adults. Internal consistency coefficients for subtests of flexibility, agility, coordination, and strength were excellent. Post hoc analysis across trials indicated significant differences in means between early trials and later trials. Mean scores stabilized after two or three trials, depending on the subtest of interest. Data provided …