Search

Introduction There are limited data regarding the international travel history and preparation, as well as glycaemic control practices, risk behaviours and experiences of people with type 1 diabetes during travel. Our review aimed to address the research question: 'What are the health practices, behaviours and experiences of people with type 1 diabetes when travelling?' Methods We conducted a mixed-methods narrative review using adapted review methods from the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination and standards developed by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis. MEDLINE, Scopus, PubMed and CINAHL, and the reference lists of all eligible studies were searched. Results Nine records comprising of 11 studies were included, with data heralding from various countries, published between 1990 and 2022. We identified three main themes: travel preparation (type of travel, planning and advice seeking); issues related to air travel (airports and airport security, hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia, and insulin) and general travel-related issues (illness and medical treatment, type 1 diabetes management, and major concerns and barriers). Conclusions Our findings highlighted the lack of quality data regarding type 1 diabetes and travel within the extant literature, as well a pressing need for empirical studies to be undertaken and consensus guidelines developed to improve the travel experiences of people with type 1 diabetes. Unless change is made, people with type 1 diabetes will continue to experience preventable risk and harm while travelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The satellite university campus is becoming more prominent in Australia, and may consist of a large proportion of students of low socio-economic status (SES). Concurrently, there is a governmental target to increase the proportion of low SES students at university. However, there are concerns that students of low SES may be less successful at university, and accordingly, this study aimed to identify whether SES impacted on student success. Retrospective analysis was undertaken of satellite campus students to relate their SES and university entry rank to their academic results. There was no strong relationship between students' entry rank and their results, nor was there a significant effect of SES on results. This demonstrates that students of low SES, and those of lower entry ranks, were successful in their first year. These results indicate that universities can recruit low SES students to meet governmental policy, without the concerns of increased failure rates.

There is a great deal of literature surrounding the needs of regional Australia. This integrative review of the literature focuses on the experience of nursing academics teaching on a satellite campus, many of which are located in regional Australia. Four themes were identified: (1) challenges specific to regional satellite campuses, (2) student characteristics, (3) student experiences and (4) the academics' experiences. These themes identified not only significant benefits but also considerable challenges to the provision of higher education on regional university campuses. The experience of nursing academics and indeed their students is remarkably different from the experience of their metropolitan counterparts, and therefore the local context needs to be considered in regional education provision. Australian regional nursing academics need to be multi-skilled to address the workload and social inequity in support service provision.

Background: Type 1 and 2 diabetes care, especially within primary health‐care settings, has traditionally involved doctor‐led clinics. However, with increasing chronic disease burden, there is scope for nurses to expand their role in assisting diabetes self‐management. Aims: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of nurse‐led care in reducing glycated haemoglobin in adults with Type 1 or 2 diabetes. Methods: Methodology from the Joanna Briggs Institute Method for Systematic Review Research and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed, including identifying publications, assessing study quality, summarizing evidence and interpreting findings. The search strategy involved using the Medical Subject Headings and keyword variations when searching MEDLINE (Ovid), Scopus, PubMed and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases. Inclusion criteria were samples with Type 1 or 2 diabetes, mean age of ≥18 years, English language studies and publication date of January 2011–December 2021. Results: Overall, 34 articles from 16 countries met inclusion criteria. Though not always clinically significant, results indicated that nurse‐led care had beneficial impacts on glycated haemoglobin values, with reductions from 0.03% to 2.0%. This was evident when nurses received formal training, used treatment algorithms, had limited medical support, utilized technology and offered defined culturally sensitive and appropriate diabetes care. Conclusions: Findings support nurse‐led Type 1 and 2 diabetes care. Although further research is required, changes may necessitate increased recognition of nurse‐led care and funding. Nurse‐led care models should differ according to health‐care settings. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Diabetes is the world's fastest growing chronic condition and is widely recognized as a leading global challenge to the health and well‐being of individuals, families and societies.What this paper adds? Findings highlight the effectiveness of nurse‐led care in reducing glycated haemoglobin values in patients with Type 1 or 2 diabetes. This was evident when nurses received formal training, used treatment algorithms, had limited medical support, utilized technology and offered defined culturally sensitive and appropriate diabetes care. The implications of this paper: There is scope for nurses to expand their role and assist diabetes self‐management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation in non‐critical care hospital wards is a stressful event for the registered nurse; stress may negatively affect performance. Delays in initiating basic life support and following current basic life support algorithms have been reported globally. Aim: The aim of this review was to investigate factors that can affect registered nurses' experiences of performing basic life support. Methods: Using the five‐step integrative literature review method from Whittemore and Knafl, this review searched articles published between January 2000 and June 2022 for qualitative and quantitative primary studies from the databases CINAHL Complete (EBSCO), Medline (Web of Science), Scopus and PubMed. Results: Nine studies from eight countries met the inclusion criteria and were appraised here. Five themes relating to factors affecting the performance of basic life support were found during this review: staff interaction issues, confidence concerns, fear of harm and potential litigation, defibrillation concerns and basic life support training issues. Conclusions: This review revealed several concerns experienced by registered nurses in performing basic life support and highlights a lack of research. Factors affecting nurses' experiences need to be understood. This will allow education to focus on consideration of human factors, or non‐technical skills during basic life support training, as well as technical skills, to improve outcomes for patients experiencing an in‐hospital cardiopulmonary arrest. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? In‐hospital basic life support is not always performed at expected levels.There is very little information on factors affecting registered nurses' experiences in performing basic life support, especially in non‐critical areas.Although human factors, such as teamwork, have recently been added to cardiopulmonary resuscitation education, these are poorly understood regarding ward nurses' real‐life experiences. What this paper adds? Factors impacting registered nurses' performance of basic life support in non‐critical care wards included staff interaction issues, confidence concerns, fear of harm and potential litigation, defibrillation concerns and basic life support training issues. The implications of this paper: Factors affecting nurses in performing basic life support need to be understood in order to improve performance.The identification of barriers from the literature allows educators to include targeted discussion and education within basic life support training to improve patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Devising authentic assessments for subjects with large enrolments is a challenge. This study describes an electronic role-play assessment for approximately 600 first-year nursing students to learn and apply pathophysiology (bioscience) concepts to nursing practice. Students used Microsoft Office PowerPoint[R] to prepare electronic role-plays both between a nurse and patient, and between two nurses, thus simulating workplace scenarios. Student feedback demonstrated that respondents found this assessment useful for learning pathophysiology, and for applying pathophysiology to a nursing clinical setting. This electronic presentation circumvented issues associated with a traditional oral presentation such as embarrassment and logistics of scheduling groups, and rated well with students of non-English speaking background. The electronic role-play assessment initiative encouraged students to apply their bioscience knowledge to a clinical setting, and allowed students to conceptualise the importance of bioscience within both the nursing degree and the profession.

Aims and objectives: This integrative review aimed to draw conclusions from evidence on how registered nurses are measuring respiratory rates for acute care patients. Background: Despite the growing research supporting respiratory rate as an early indicator for clinical deterioration, respiratory rate has consistently been the least frequently measured and accurately documented vital sign. Design: An integrative review. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in June 2022 in four databases: CINAHL, PubMed, Medline and Scopus. Quality appraisal was undertaken using the Joanna Briggs Institute's Checklist. PRISMA guidelines were followed to ensure explicit reporting and reported in the PRISMA checklist. Results: Overall, 9915 records were identified, and 19 met the inclusion criteria. Of these 19 articles, seven themes emerged: estimation and digit preference, lack of understanding and knowledge, not valuing the clinical significance of respiratory rate, oxygen saturation substitute, interobserver agreement, subjective concern and count duration. A high prevalence of bias, estimation and incorrect technique was evident. A total of 15 articles reported specifically on how registered nurses are measuring respiratory rates on general medical and surgical wards. Conclusions: Despite its importance, this integrative review has determined that respiratory rates are not being assessed correctly by nursing staff in the acute care environment. Evidence of using estimation, value bias or quick count and multiply techniques are emerging themes which urgently require further research. No patient or public contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When it comes to determining what constitutes nursing workload, there are a number of approaches that represent and characterise the work of nursing across the three traditional shift patterns (morning/day, afternoon/evening and night). These are observational, self-reporting and work-sampling techniques. A review of the quantitative and qualitative literature to examine workload distributions between the three nursing shifts was undertaken. Using data sourced from the CINAHL, Scopus and Medline databases, the findings suggest that there is an inadequacy in establishing nursing productivity that is perhaps representative of the methods used to decipher nursing workload. This may contribute to poor quality care, and the high cost of excess nursing time contributes to the increasingly high costs of care. Linked to this is the nurse's job satisfaction. Quality of care and job satisfaction are important factors for the sustainability of the nursing workforce. There are few high-quality nursing articles that detail the workload distributions across the three nursing shifts and this is a potential area for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paucity of up-to-date recommendations and evidence-based models, whether it is physician-initiated or initiated by other healthcare professionals, for humidified high flow oxygen therapy among children. The inclusion criteria included the following: 1) use of high flow oxygen therapy (≥15 L/min); 2) published studies from the year 2000 and onwards; 3) research article in a peer-reviewed journal; 4) studies conducted in a hospital setting involving paediatric patients <18 years old; 5) availability of full article online. From March to April 2018, electronic databases such as PubMed, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Excerpta Medica Database, Cochrane Library, Joanna Briggs Institute Library of Systematic Reviews, SCOPUS, Ovid, Informit, and Google Scholar were accessed. The systematic search initially yielded 41 studies. Eventually, three eligible studies were reviewed and appraised. Overarching themes were identified: 1) the lack of weaning standards; 2) the limited focus on young population in intensive care settings; and 3) the paucity of weaning models. The lack of studies suggested that this is a fertile area for research. In this light, this paper challenged researchers, clinicians, and experts to develop evidence-based standards and models of weaning towards efficient and better quality of care. This review may lead to the development of nurse-led or nurse-initiated weaning protocols to enable timely weaning intervention for children and thus reduce the need for prolonged oxygen use. Furthermore, this may also instigate an economic evaluation of a nurse-lead weaning against current models of medically lead weaning. • This is the first integrative review about high flow oxygen weaning among children. • There is a paucity of evidence on high flow oxygen weaning among children. • Despite efforts to standardise, there is no internationally agreed weaning standards. • Non-physician led weaning models are lacking. • This review may lead to the development of nurse-led or initiated weaning protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presentations to the emergency department with a diagnosis of hypocalcaemia‐induced tetany secondary to total thyroidectomy are rare. A patient presented to the emergency department of a regional Australian hospital with hypocalcaemia‐induced tetany. A case study was employed to reflect on the care provided and identify knowledge practice deficits within this unusual patient presentation. Calcium plays a central role within the nervous system and is vital for both cardiac and muscular contraction. The clinical manifestations of electrolyte disturbances such as hypocalcaemia can be life threatening, and therefore, appropriate assessment, monitoring and management are essential to ensure positive patient outcomes. Understanding the importance of calcium imbalance for the emergency and critical care nurse is paramount in preventing complications associated with cardiac conduction and muscle tone, especially the potential for airway compromise. Education is central to this and may include clinical case reviews, the application of pathophysiological presentations of electrolyte imbalance and a review of electrolyte administration guidelines. Understanding the role of calcium within the body will assist emergency and critical care nurses to assess, monitor and intervene appropriately, thereby preventing the life‐threatening manifestations of hypocalcaemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The satellite university campus is becoming more prominent in Australia, and may consist of a large proportion of students of low socio-economic status (SES). Concurrently, there is a governmental target to increase the proportion of low SES students at university. However, there are concerns that students of low SES may be less successful at university, and accordingly, this study aimed to identify whether SES impacted on student success. Retrospective analysis was undertaken of satellite campus students to relate their SES and university entry rank to their academic results. There was no strong relationship between students' entry rank and their results, nor was there a significant effect of SES on results. This demonstrates that students of low SES, and those of lower entry ranks, were successful in their first year. These results indicate that universities can recruit low SES students to meet governmental policy, without the concerns of increased failure rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medication errors can have deleterious effects on patient safety and care. Interruptions, patient acuity and time pressures have all been cited as contributing factors in the incidence of medication errors. Yet, despite the number of different strategies that can be taken to reduce the incidence of medication errors, they still occur. The strategies often focus on refining systems and processes, depending on the root cause of the error. However, less recognised as contributory elements are human factors such as anger, hunger or tiredness. The aim of this quality improvement initiative was to reduce medication errors by 25% on a medical ward, through the introduction of the hunger, angry, lonely, tired (HALT) model to address the human factors associated with medication errors. Post-implementation, the HALT model appeared to have resulted in a total reduction in medication errors over a 2-month period by 31%. Mistakes related to human error were reduced by 25%, and those linked to communication and documentation errors by 22%. While this was a small-scale study, this is a significant reduction in medication errors. However, caution should be used when addressing other contributing factors associated with medication errors as using HALT alone will not address these. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cholecystectomy is a common surgical procedure performed for gallbladder disease, with symptomatic cholelithiasis being the main reason for cholecystectomies in developed nations; dietary intake and obesity constitute significant modifiable risk factors. Post-cholecystectomy, patients may experience various gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhoea, and higher risk of developing co-morbidities, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This nursing practice review found that risk is decreased when significant dietary changes are made, including a reduced intake of total energy, fat, protein, refined grains and fructose-rich beverages, and an increased consumption of vegetables, fruit, fish rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, dietary fibre and whole grains. Such approaches should be maintained for at least three months post-cholecystectomy. Patient education regarding dietary recommendations postoperatively is partly a nursing responsibility, particularly to support education provided by dietitians; however, this is often neglected or inadequate. Establishment of clear nursing practice guidelines may contribute to improved patient education and outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Phenomenology is a useful methodological approach in qualitative nursing research. It enables researchers to put aside their perceptions of a phenomenon and give meaning to a participant's experiences. Exploring the experiences of others enables previously unavailable insights to be discovered. Aim To delineate the implementation of Colaizzi's (1978) method of data analysis in descriptive phenomenological nursing research. Discussion The use of Colaizzi's method of data analysis enabled new knowledge to be revealed and provided insights into the experiences of nurse academics teaching on satellite campuses. Local adaptation of the nursing curriculum and additional unnoticed responsibilities had not been identified previously and warrant further research. Conclusion Colaizzi's (1978) method of data analysis is rigorous and robust, and therefore a qualitative method that ensures the credibility and reliability of its results. It allows researchers to reveal emergent themes and their interwoven relationships. Researchers using a descriptive phenomenological approach should consider using this method as a clear and logical process through which the fundamental structure of an experience can be explored. Implications for research Colaizzi's phenomenological methodology can be used reliably to understand people's experiences. This may prove beneficial in the development of therapeutic policy and the provision of patient-centred care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and context: Implementation of current research in practice is challenging for ward-based nursing staff. However, university-based nursing academics are seen as the research experts and are perhaps well placed to support clinical nursing research. The problem lies with the divide between practice and academia; universities often use the clinical environment as the place to conduct research but this is often not translated effectively into practice. The development of a nursing professorial unit for acute and critical care was undertaken to meet this challenge. The unit's key aim is to develop, mentor and support a nursing research culture that is wholly situated within and driven by the requirements of the clinical environment. Aim: The aim of this article is to offer some insights as to how staff set about engaging with and developing the nursing professorial unit to support nursing research in our local hospital. Conclusions: The article highlights how an effective and coordinated approach to supporting clinical nursing research is possible. The nursing professorial unit has been successful in bridging the divide between academia and practice by using a non-university approach to supporting nursing research. Instead we have adopted the philosophy that practice is the sole driver for research and as academics our role is to support that position. Implications for practice: • The adoption of the nursing professorial unit model for supporting clinical nursing research is beneficial in closing the divide between clinical practice and the university • The continual presence of the academics in the clinical environment has had a positive impact on research development and implementation in practice • The nursing professorial unit has become an integral part of the nursing culture in the hospital environment [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Managing sickness and absenteeism in the workplace is challenging, and nurse managers must consider their various causes so they can implement effective management strategies. It is also vital to consider the factors that influence absenteeism and turnover among newly graduated registered nurses (RNs), whose retention can help to address staff shortages. This article describes a literature review that aimed to identify the potential causes of sickness absence in newly graduated RNs. It also discusses strategies that nurse managers can use to retain and maintain their workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]