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Aims To outline the way the culture of austerity arising from the Global Financial Crisis has been used by Australian and New Zealand governments to maintain and extend healthcare budget cuts, through new public management strategies leading to missed nursing care. Background Ten years on the cost of the Global Financial Crisis continues to be borne by tax payers and those employed by the welfare state, yet analysis shows clearly that it was caused by a failure to adequately regulate markets, particularly the banks and multinational corporations. In health care, one of the impacts is increased workload for nurses leading to missed care. Design/Methods Registered Nurses and midwives ( n = 7,302) completed the MISSCARE surveys between 2012 - 2015, in four Australian states and New Zealand providing quantitative and qualitative responses. The qualitative comments were analysed using a template analysis approach based on key features of New Public Management. Findings Sixty-two qualitative responses identified measures in place directly linked to austerity and new public management strategies that impacted on the quality of patient care and nursing work, as well as contributing to missed care. Conclusion Opportunities for resistance may lie outside public and private health organizations in civil society, in the nurse union movements and other health and nursing professional associations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To examine the relationship of the pain severity scores with demographic variables (age, gender, and ethnicity) and with the frequency of falls, fatigue, and depression in a very large New Zealand sample of people over 65 years assessed using the Home Care International Residential Assessment Instrument. Background Pain is reported to be highly prevalent in older people yet it is poorly correlated with tissue damage. There is convincing evidence that it is related to depression and some evidence of its relationship with fatigue and falls. Design This is a cross-sectional study examining a national cohort assessed on referral for a needs assessment for access to publicly funded service provision or support. Method Participants were 45,418 adults aged over 65 years referred for a mandatory needs assessment between 2012-2014. All variables analysed were drawn from the Home Care International Residential Assessment Instrument. Univariate descriptive statistics were used to characterize the sample in relation to the association of severe pain with age, gender, and ethnicity and with the key variables of interest: falls, fatigue, and depression. Logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship of the presence or not of severe pain with the other key health-related variables: falls, fatigue, and depression, respectively, after controlling for the presence of age, gender, and ethnicity. Odds ratios are reported to quantify the difference in risk with increasing severity of falls, fatigue, and depression. Results The mean age of the cohort was 82.48 years ( SD 7.48) and 48.5% of the sample reported experiencing daily pain. The rates of severe daily pain were 12%-18% with those in the 65-74 years group having the highest reported rate of severe pain (18%) and a gradual decrease in severe pain with age. After co-varying for age, ethnicity, and gender, the presence of severe daily pain was predicted by increasing frequency of falls and fatigue and having current depression. While two-thirds reported their pain control was adequate, a third reported that their pain control was not adequate despite adhering to a therapeutic regime. Conclusion The study highlights how pervasive pain is in this group and its correlation with falls, fatigue, and depression. While the effect sizes were relatively small the results may be clinically significant and it may be clinically important that the presence of pain in older people could indicate the need for further nursing assessment in relation to falls, fatigue, and depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The transition shock or Imposter Phenomena sometimes associated with moving from student to Registered Nurse can lead to feelings of self-doubt and insecurity especially with the increased expectations and responsibilities that registration brings. Aim The aim of this study was to examine the extent at which imposter phenomenon is evident in four final year nursing student cohorts in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Design A survey design. Settings The study took place at four higher education institutes - two metropolitan campuses and two regional campuses between October 2014 - February 2015 in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. A sample of 223 final year nursing students undertaking nationally accredited nursing programmes were approached. Results Each cohort exhibited mild to moderate feelings of Imposter Phenomena. A positive weak correlation between imposter phenomena and preparedness for practice was found. The New Zealand cohort scored higher than both the Australian and UK cohorts on both feelings of imposterism and preparedness for practice. Conclusions Nursing students possess internalized feelings which suggest their performance and competence once qualified could be compromised. There is some speculation that the respective curriculums may have some bearing on preparing students for registration and beyond. It is recommended that educational programmes designed for this student cohort should be mindful of this internal conflict and potential external hostility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The aim of this study was to determine the effect of low-dose aspirin on venous leg ulcer healing when used in addition to compression. Background The mainstay of treatment for venous leg ulcers is compression therapy and there are few adjuvant treatments to accelerate healing. Design Pragmatic, community-based, double-blind, randomized trial. Methods Participants with venous leg ulcers will receive either 150 mg aspirin or placebo daily for up to 24 weeks. Participants will receive background treatment with compression therapy (system of choice guided by participant and/or clinical preference) delivered through district nursing services. The primary outcome will be time-to-healing. Secondary outcomes will include proportion healed at 24 weeks, change in ulcer area, change in health-related quality of life, adherence, efficacy of blinding and adverse events. The trial was funded in June 2014. Discussion The trial commenced in March 2015 and is successfully recruiting. The trial is one of three trials that will contribute to an individual participant data meta-analysis to be undertaken at the York Trials Centre. Trial registration Registered 5 June 2014 ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02158806. Protocol version 1·1, 14 April 2015. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To examine the effects of two factors on the transmission of clinical information at nursing handover. These factors were: (i) an affective statement expressing concern about the information; and (ii) verbal reference to a written summary of the information. Background Quality of communication at patient handover is inconsistent, compromising patient safety. Little is known about the nuances of communication that lead to effective handovers. Furthermore, effective information transmission during handovers is seldom evaluated using experimental research designs. Design A randomized, single-blind, controlled experiment. Methods Postanaesthesia care unit or surgical ward nurses and final-year nursing students were randomly assigned to watch one of four versions of a video-recorded handover. In each version, one piece of information was presented as either a simple statement (control), with an affective qualifier, with a written summary of the information, or with both an affective qualifier and a written summary. Primary outcome was assessed by questionnaire following a task directing attention away from the handover. Data were collected July-October, 2013 and analysed using 2 × 2 anova. Results A total of 157 nurses participated. Successful transmission of the clinical information did not significantly differ across the experimental conditions. Subgroup analysis revealed significantly higher transmission success among more experienced nurses when the affective statement was present compared to when it was absent (Kruskal-Wallis P = 0·002). Conclusions Expressing concern about information or directing attention to written notes may not improve information transfer at handover. However, affective qualifiers may have differential receiver-specific influences on information retention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To describe temporary and permanent separation patterns and changes in nursing practice over 5 years, for the 2006 cohort of nurses aged ≥50 years in New Zealand. Background As ageing populations increase demand on nursing services, workforce projections need better information on work and retirement decision-making of large 'baby-boomer' cohorts. Design Retrospective cohort analysis using the Nursing Council of New Zealand administrative dataset. Methods A cohort of all nurses aged ≥50 years on the register and practising in 2006 ( n = 12,606) was tracked until 2011. Results After 5 years, a quarter ( n = 3161) of the cohort (equivalent to 8·4% of all 2006 practising nurses) was no longer practising. There were no significant differences in permanent separation rates between the ages of 50-58; between 18-54% of annual separations re-entered the workforce. On re-entry, 56% returned to the same clinical area. Annual separations from the workforce declined sharply during the global financial crisis and more of those leaving re-entered the workforce. In 2006, half the cohort worked in hospitals. After 5 years, the number of cohort nurses working in hospitals fell by 45%, while those in community settings increased by 12%. Over 5 years, weekly nursing practice hours declined significantly for every age-band. Conclusions To retain the experience of older nurses for longer, workforce strategies need to take account of patterns of leaving and re-entering the workforce, preferences for work hours and the differences between the sub-groups across employment settings and practice areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

gilmour j.a., huntington a., broadbent r., strong a. & hawkins m. (2012) Nurses' use of online health information in medical wards. Journal of Advanced Nursing 68(6), 1349-1358. Abstract Aim. This paper is a report of a study of nurses' access, use and evaluation of online health information in medical wards. Background. Online health information is commonly used by patients with chronic illness to support their education needs. Nurses have a critical role in assisting patients to access and use this information. Method. This descriptive cross-sectional survey of a random sample of 540 nurses employed in medical wards was carried out in 2009. The response rate was 58·7% (293). The analytical approach included descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests of correlation and differences between groups. A content analysis was performed on the qualitative data. Results. Most respondents (78·6%) were satisfied with work Internet access and 58·2% believed that the use of online information improved care delivery. Nearly half the group was aware of patient misconceptions about their illness due to incorrect interpretations of online information, but only 24·4% checked if patients used online information. There was a significant association between assessing patients use and awareness of patient misconceptions. Conclusion. The findings of this study highlight that while online resources add to education opportunities, the ongoing nursing assessment required to determine online information needs is not always incorporated into nursing practice. Patient misunderstandings of online material were also identified; developing patient competency in evaluating open access health information should now be recognized as an integral aspect of illness management education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]