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Purpose: This article describes the planning, implementation, and evaluation of a program that introduced children into a nursing home., Method: A qualitative descriptive design was employed to measure the responses of children to the program. The sample consisted of 61 children, including preschoolers and adolescents. Data were collected from children who participated in the activities (n = 33), and from children who had not participated (n = 28). Content analysis was used to analyze the data., Results: There were no differences in perceptions of preschoolers who participated or did not participate in the nursing home visitation program. In contrast, adolescents who had not participated in the activities with elders described physical infirmities and negative experiences with elders, and talked about smells and boredom. However, adolescent participants in the program demonstrated positive perceptions and descriptions of elders. A favorite activity for all ages was hearing the residents' stories and memories. Adolescent participants reported that their experiences and activities in the program had altered their opinions and beliefs, and they expressed the intent to include elders in their lives in the future., Clinical Implications: Because adolescent children exposed to these visits expressed positive perceptions of elders it is prudent to plan larger scale studies with these populations, and also to evaluate the effects of the visits on nursing home residents.

Immunohistochemical analysis of bone marrow trephine (BMT) biopsies with monoclonal antibodies for the analysis of hemopoietic disorders has been hindered by the fixation and decalcification regimens which mask or destroy tissue antigens. This study evaluated the effect of microwave oven treatment on the quality of immunostaining of fixed decalcified trephine biopsies. The aim was to establish whether this method of pre-treatment would enable additional antigens to be detected. Fifty-eight monoclonal and 4 polyclonal antibodies to hemopoietic antigens were assessed to compare no tissue pre-treatment, proteolytic (trypsin) enzyme digestion and microwave oven heating. The microwave heating of the sections was performed by placing them in a boiling solution of 0.01M tri-sodium citrate for a total of 10 mins. Following microwave heating 14 antibodies that previously showed no reactivity in BMT biopsies gave positive staining and 9 antibodies previously known to detect antigens in the absence of pre-treatment gave enhanced staining. Other antibodies showed no staining improvement with microwave heating and some failed to give a positive reaction by any of the pre-treatment methods. Antigen retrieval utilizing microwave oven heating can expose antigenic sites for antibody binding in bone marrow trephine sections. However not all antigens are retrieved and there is variation between epitopes on the one molecule and their ability to be exposed by microwave heating. Utilizing antigen retrieval methods, the range of antibodies applicable to BMT sections is greatly expanded enabling the immunophenotypic analysis of the majority of hemopoietic disorders.

Carpenito's bifocal clinical nursing model enables the clinician to address the spectrum of clinical possibilities and problems associated with patients receiving thrombolytic and anticoagulant agents. Through correct application of nursing diagnoses, collaborative problems, and referrals, a global and multidisciplinary approach to patient care is achieved.