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Aim. This paper is a critique of the use of critical incident technique in nursing and a demonstration of how its development has resulted in inconsistency and confusion. Background. Critical incident technique is used globally by nurse researchers to explore a plethora of nursing issues. Its main strengths are flexibility and adaptability, but its popularity has resulted in ambiguity and confusion. Data sources. A search of the CINAHL database for the period 1956-2007 was performed using the search terms critical incident technique and nursing. Together with hand searching, this produced a total of 59 papers. The papers were analysed according to country of origin, research topic, sample size, data collection method, inclusion/exclusion criteria, data analysis and terminology. We then categorized the results of this analysis depending on similarities and differences in the papers. Discussion. We focus on two areas: methodology and terminology. From a methodological perspective critical incident technique has become inconsistent and in relation to terminology, the diverse language associated with the technique has created confusion. Moreover, issues of rigour may be compromised as a result of this inconsistency. A great deal of inconsistency has been created by nurse researchers' attempts to advance critical incident technique. This has led to confusion, which is not helpful for advancing nursing knowledge. Conclusion. While embracing the continued development of critical incident technique, we advocate a standardized approach to its use. Unless nurse researchers are alert to the methodological and terminological inconsistencies in use of the critical incident technique, it risks becoming an interminable quagmire through which navigation will be impossible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the evaluation of a workshop for teachers of nursing devoted to an individualized teaching and learning strategy. The paper gives a brief account of the history of such workshops and continues by defining individualized teaching. Following this the characteristics of the Keller Plan strategy are outlined. This is followed by details of the course organization; its aims and objectives, and the characteristics of the course members. Finally, the method of evaluation is described and results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proposition of this paper is principally that if the term 'reassurance' is used by nurses its meaning should be clearly stated and the methods by which it may be achieved should be clearly identified. The author begins by attempting to identify a workable definition of the term and by arguing a case for taking the approach that it is a nursing interpersonal skill rather than a nursing psychotherapy. Using this as the basis for the rest of the discussion he then suggests that as an interpersonal skill it is open to analysis and behaviours can be identified which help to achieve a restoration of the patient's confidence. Further to this, learning objectives are stated in the hope that the concept of reassurance can be seen as a skill which can be enhanced by educational processes. Full competence in the use of interpersonal skills is not a stable feature in all human beings; in every individual nurse there is scope for the development and training of interpersonal skills. Finally, the author attempts to achieve the major aim of the paper--stating nursing actions which may be employed in order to achieve this reassurance of the patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Title. The essence of nursing care: Polish nurses’ perspectives Aim. This paper is a report of a study to identify Polish nurses’ definition of the concept of nursing care. Background. Polish nursing currently is in a period of scientific research focusing on development of precise definitions of concepts. Definitions of nursing are influenced by culture, social expectations and healthcare systems. Accepted scientific definitions of concepts should be based on empirical verification that takes theoretical and practical perspectives into account. Methods. A survey questionnaire was constructed from analysis of a random sample of 27 essays about nursing care that had been completed by 300 Polish nurses. The survey questionnaire, which was designed to measure the essence of nursing care, was completed by 324 Polish nurses during 2004 and 2005. Findings. Analysis of survey questionnaire responses revealed that the essence of nursing care encompasses providing care, communicating, supporting, helping, assisting, accompanying and managing. Participants indicated that nursing care recipients include healthy persons, ill persons and persons at risk for disease. Conclusion. The concept of nursing care encompasses several traits or characteristics that can be applied to both well and ill people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

gudmundsdottir e., delaney c., thoroddsen a. & karlsson t. (2004) Journal of Advanced Nursing 46(3), 292–302 Translation and validation of the Nursing Outcomes Classification labels and definitions for acute care nursing in Iceland The Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC), second edition, consists of 260 patient outcomes with definitions. This has been translated into five languages, but has not been clinically validated outside the United States of America (USA). The aim of this paper is to describe the translation of the labels and definitions from the NOC, second edition from English to Icelandic and validation for acute-care nursing in Iceland. A survey that has been designed to identify nurses’ perception of the percentage of patients’ for whom each NOC outcome is relevant in clinical nursing practice was used for clinical validation in this study. The translation procedure involved source to target language translation, parallel comparison, pilot test and field test. Validation included test–retest to measure the reliability for each of the 260 outcome variables. Data collected from 140 clinical nurses from 54 departments within 13 nursing specialties at Landspitali University-Hospital in Iceland, in November 2001, were analysed to establish construct validity by confirmatory factor analysis. Internal consistency was calculated. Translation was successful. Test–retest showed that 181 of the 260 NOC outcomes were significant ( P < 0·05) and moderately or highly correlated ( r > 0·50) (Pearson's correlation). The confirmatory factor analysis showed that 22 of the 29 NOC classes had only one factor at the loading criteria ≥0·30. Of the 260 outcomes, 244 had loading on one factor (≥0·30) within its class. Internal consistency was >0·80 (Cronbach's alpha). Low response rate was a limitation. The indicators of each NOC outcome were not addressed. The Icelandic version of the NOC survey is a comprehensive tool that can be applied to nursing in acute-care for research purposes as well as to prepare for the implementation of NOC in clinical information systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper makes the point that for psychiatric patients the nursing process based on a systems approach may be more useful than that based on problem-solving or activities of daily living. Some of the key concepts used in this approach are (i) listing component parts of a system, (2) defining the inside and outside of systems, the outside being described as environment, (3) changing the boundaries or the interface of various systems, as appropriate, (4) observing the impact of the environment and especially of the nurse herself as a part of the system or the environment, (5) tracing input, output and throughput, and (6) drawing distinctions between open and closed systems and accounting for a steady state in the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]