Search

Presents several papers on nursing outcomes. "Nursing-Sensitive Outcome Implementation and Reliability Testing in a Tertiary Care Setting," by Julia G. Behrenbeck; "Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) Implementation and Testing in a Cardiac Surgery ICU," by Kathy Demmer; "Validity Surveys: Selected Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) Physiologic Outcomes," by Cindy A. Scherb and Sandra L. Bellinger.

The section introduces several papers which deal with issues and innovations in nursing practice.

When concepts and the `paper and pencil' tests used to measure these concepts are developed in fields other than nursing and subsequently arc used for nursing purposes. the perspective mismatch heralds a validity issue. This paper presents a case for clinical construct validity as one method of evaluating whether the substantive meaning of a test captures the nursing meaning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: I will argue that overseas nurse recruitment is the consequence of a care gap, which arose from several policy shifts in the 1990s and in part from the rhetoric of a normative moral discourse in the UK which claims that caring is the moral essence of nursing. I will suggest that this discourse has masked the uncoupling of caring from nursing practice and that this uncoupling places the overseas nurses in a contradictory position. BACKGROUND: In an increasingly competitive global labour market, the UK is faced with a nursing shortage and has been recruiting trained nurses from abroad (NMC 1993-2002). DESIGN AND METHODS: This paper is based on two related, qualitative studies using semi-structured focus groups and individual interviews. The first explored the experiences of overseas nurses in the UK and the second investigated the equal opportunities and career progression of overseas nurses in the UK. RESULTS: The data from these studies challenge the normative UK value that caring is at the heart of nursing. These data are the lens through which we see this contradiction explicitly played out. Overseas nurses observe that caring (as undertaken by health care assistants in care homes) is not nursing yet caring is being passed down the line as a process that marginalizes the overseas nurses and at the same time devalues their skills. I do not argue that overseas nurses care at a higher standard (although this may be the case) just that they care differently, that they expected UK nurses to deliver basic care and, instead, experience UK nursing practice as less autonomous and of a lower standard than they expected. CONCLUSIONS: I argue that the overseas nurses' views help us understand the processes by which the uncoupling of caring from nursing has come about. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This paper discusses a workforce issue which is directly relevant to clinical practice because it focuses on the meaning of care; what is caring, what are caring activities and how are these represented in the discourse on caring in the literature? This paper also reveals significant worries among nursing managers about how to staff the nursing workforce and what nurses should be doing in the clinical areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provides an overview of articles on issues and innovations in nursing practice.

arbon p. (2004) Journal of Clinical Nursing 13, 150–157 Understanding experience in nursing This paper reviews research that considered the life stories of experienced nurses and the relationships between life experience, the way in which people find meaning in their experience(s), the development of nursing knowledge, and the influence of these events and understandings on the characteristics and clinical practice of experienced nurses. The dominant perspectives in nursing about the place of experience in the development of nurses’ practice are considered and the paper argues for a broader understanding of experience; placing experience within the context of nurses’ lives, connection with others and their individual understandings about nursing care. The place of experience in the development of nurses has not been well understood although the nursing discourse continues to value clinical experience highly. Becoming experienced as a nurse is described as a progressive and continuous interaction between experience, meaning and the lived world resulting in a personal and unique understanding of practice. The culture and discourse of nursing have tended to exclude or dampen individual difference and the paper considers a more expansive understanding of the place of experience and individual difference in nursing and the relevance of this perspective for the education of nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper the constructs `stress' and `coping' as defined in an earlier paper (Clarke 1984) are used as a perspective for the interpretation of disease processes. The second half of the paper is devoted to an examination of the nurse's role which is seen as concerned with helping patients in the reduction or avoidance of stress and the strengthening of coping. General hospital nursing and district nursing is analyzed in greater depth than other types of nursing. [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]

Presents information on the "Journal of Advance Nursing." International relevance of the journal; Overview of its establishment; Subscribers and readers of the journal.

Comments on the article "Violence in the Care of Adult Persons With Intellectual Disabilities," previously published in the "Journal of Clinical Nursing." Failure of the study to offer any new understanding of abuse towards people with intellectual disabilities; Poor operationalization of the term violence; Opinion that the research paper deals superficially with both the validity and reliability of the questionnaire.

Aims. This paper reports on organizational influences on nurse consultant post holders. The influence of individual characteristics has been the subject of another paper. Background. Nurse consultant posts were set up in the United Kingdom from the late 1990s onwards and, therefore, there has been little opportunity to report on evaluations of these innovative initiatives. Design. A cross-sectional design, using a convenience sample, was adopted. Methods. Ten nurse consultants working in a variety of settings and specialties participated in in-depth, tape-recorded interviews. The data were analysed using the Framework approach. Findings. Support systems were important influences on nurse consultants' role achievement levels. These took the form of internal trust networks, nurse consultant forums and links with higher education institutions. Post holders both gave and received support and acted to empower other nurses. Thus, relationships were vital to successful role integration. The culture and structures of the National Health System were also a powerful influence in terms of local and national modernization policies, and participants had to be careful in their choice of strategies to deal with the traditional medically dominated culture. Conclusions. The new nurse consultant role is challenging and innovative, but a major area of contention is how much post holders are expected to take on work previously done by doctors rather than developing their nursing role. Organizational support and commitment are needed if nurse consultants are to maximize the benefits of this innovation. Relevance to clinical practice. The findings show that new nursing roles are not always easily accepted in multidisciplinary settings and that holders of such post need to have the appropriate previous knowledge, skills and personal characteristics, as well as the ability to negotiate their way through organizational influences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents an introduction to a series of articles about issues and innovations in nursing practice.

Introduces a series of articles focusing on nursing.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This paper aims to explore the critical elements of advanced nursing practice in relation to policy, education and role development in order to highlight an optimal structure for clinical practice. BACKGROUND: The evolution of advanced nursing practice has been influenced by changes in healthcare delivery, financial constraints and consumer demand. However, there has been wide divergence and variations in the emergence of the advanced nurse practitioner role. For the successful development and implementation of the role, policy, educational and regulatory standards are required. CONCLUSION: The paper highlights the value of a policy to guide the development of advanced nursing practice. Educational curricula need to be flexible and visionary to prepare the advanced nurse practitioner for practice. The core concepts for the advanced nursing practice role are: autonomy in clinical practice, pioneering professional and clinical leadership, expert practitioner and researcher. To achieve these core concepts the advanced nurse practitioner must develop advanced theoretical and clinical skills, meet the needs of the client, family and the community. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: In a rapidly changing people-centred healthcare environment the advanced nurse practitioner can make an important contribution to healthcare delivery. The challenges ahead are many, as the advanced nurse practitioner requires policy and appropriate educational preparation to practice at advanced level. This will enable the advanced practitioner articulate the role, to provide expert client care and to quantify their contribution to health care in outcomes research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives. This review aims to explore the research available relating to three commonly used pain rating scales, the Visual Analogue Scale, the Verbal Rating Scale and the Numerical Rating Scale. The review provides information needed to understand the main properties of the scales. Background. Data generated from pain-rating scales can be easily misunderstood. This review can help clinicians to understand the main features of these tools and thus use them effectively. Method. A MedLine review via PubMed was carried out with no restriction of age of papers retrieved. Papers were examined for methodological soundness before being included. The search terms initially included pain rating scales, pain measurement, Visual Analogue Scale, VAS, Verbal Rating Scale, VRS, Numerical/numeric Rating Scale, NRS. The reference lists of retrieved articles were used to generate more papers and search terms. Only English Language papers were examined. Conclusions. All three pain-rating scales are valid, reliable and appropriate for use in clinical practice, although the Visual Analogue Scale has more practical difficulties than the Verbal Rating Scale or the Numerical Rating Scale. For general purposes the Numerical Rating Scale has good sensitivity and generates data that can be statistically analysed for audit purposes. Patients who seek a sensitive pain-rating scale would probably choose this one. For simplicity patients prefer the Verbal Rating Scale, but it lacks sensitivity and the data it produces can be misunderstood. Relevance to clinical practice. In order to use pain-rating scales well clinicians need to appreciate the potential for error within the tools, and the potential they have to provide the required information. Interpretation of the data from a pain-rating scale is not as straightforward as it might first appear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a list of articles on nursing and health care management issues, published in January 2003.

This article presents consultation papers of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting. Consultation papers prepared by the working groups are now being given a wide distribution throughout the professions of nursing, midwifery and health visiting. The task of the working groups, in considering comments will be greatly assisted if views on the recommendations and proposals in the consultation paper are channelled back through an appropriate professional organization or trade union. The Council has set up seven working groups. Each working group is looking at a particular aspect of the 1979 Act and the related future responsibilities which the Council will inherit.

Introduces a series of articles on advanced nursing.

GAVIN J.N. (1997) Journal of Advanced Nursing 26, 692-697 Nursing ideology and the 'generic carer' A review of the concept of ideology in a nursing context is presented. The meaning of a nursing ideology is explored and that meaning compared to the proposals for the future of nursing contained in the 1996 report on The Future Healthcare Workforce published by the University of Manchester, England. The paper suggests a number of core beliefs and values that are generally supported in nursing and their implications for the future development of the profession. These include a commitment to the role of science in nursing, the concept of caring in nursing practice and the continued pursuit of the professional project. The paper will demonstrate the extent to which the proposals contained within the report for a 'generic carer' compliment or conflict with the suggested ideology of nursing. It concludes with a reference to the policy-making process at local and national levels and the opportunities available to nurses to influence the direction of change. The paper reflects the volatility of the current political climate in health care and the extent to which nurses operating in that climate feel empowered or disenfranchised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the phenomenon of human suffering and is an attempt to justify and begin theoretical development of this phenomenon for nursing science. The paper is divided into three sections. The first section describes the interest of nursing science in the phenomenon and critically examines relevant literature in order to further conceptualize development and clarification. This section concludes with a theoretical definition of suffering derived from this critique. Suffering is defined as an individual's experience of threat to self and is a meaning given to events such as pain or loss. The second section elaborates on this definition and examines how it can inform theoretical discussion in two areas with import for nursing -- the patient's experience of suffering and the nurse's experience of patient suffering. The final section briefly considers some implications for clinical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the place, position and potential of what is characterized as the `Learning Resources Movement' in nurse education. It is based on experiences drawn from 10 years viewing resource use in general and nursing education, and, more recently, on observations arising from a research project looking at the growth within the school of nursing, of organizational structures for their development. It dims that the true potential of the movement has nowhere been fully realized It sees the present position as indeterminate and misconceived It claims that further development of such resources as are and will be available is intricately tied up with the professional development of nursing in a `chicken-and-egg' situation. It argues that the stage has now been reached where the successful development of the one cannot proceed without the successful development of the other. Drawing on a fairy-tale analogy the paper views the Learning Resources Movement as a powerful tool for seeing through the shining surfaces of what to many are new curricular clothes and dealing with the basic truths of the situation underneath. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the development of practice with respect to end-of-life issues in long-term care. Papers published in the 2006 issue of the "International Journal of Older People's Nursing"; Call for addressing the lack of definitive evidence to support the development of particular interventions in the area of geriatric nursing.

PURPOSE. This paper aims to provide insight into nursing classifications and to report the effects of nursing diagnostics implementation. This paper summarizes the results of six studies. METHODS. Two systematic reviews, instrument development and testing, a pre–post intervention study, and a cluster-randomized trial were performed. FINDINGS. The NANDA International classification met most of the literature-based classification criteria, and results showed the Quality of Nursing Diagnoses, Interventions and Outcomes (Q-DIO) to be a reliable instrument to measure the documented quality of nursing diagnoses, interventions, and outcomes. Implementation of standardized nursing language significantly improved the quality of documented nursing diagnoses, related interventions, and patient outcomes. As a follow-up measure, Guided Clinical Reasoning (GCR) was effective in supporting nurses’ clinical reasoning skills. CONCLUSIONS. Carefully implementing classifications led to enhanced, accurately stated nursing diagnoses, more effective nursing interventions, and better patient outcomes. IMPLICATIONS. Rethinking implementation methods for standardized language and using GCR is recommended. Based on the results of this study, the inclusion of NANDA International diagnoses with related interventions and outcomes in electronic health records is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. This paper draws together the personal thoughts and critical reflections of key people involved in the establishment of a ‘virtual’ practice development unit of clinical nurse specialists in the south of England. Background. This practice development unit is ‘virtual’ in that it is not constrained by physical or specialty boundaries. It became the first group of Trust-wide clinical nurse specialists to be accredited in the UK as a practice development unit in 2004. Design and methods. The local university was asked to facilitate the accreditation process via 11 two-hour audio-recorded learning sessions. Critical reflections from practice development unit members, leaders and university staff were written 12 months after successful accreditation, and the framework of their content analysed. Findings and discussion. Practice development was seen as a way for the clinical nurse specialists to realize their potential for improving patient care by transforming care practice in a collaborative, interprofessional and evolutionary manner. The practice development unit provided a means for these nurses to analyse their role and function within the Trust. Roberts’ identity development model for nursing serves as a useful theoretical underpinning for the reflections contained in this paper. Conclusions. These narratives provide another example of nurses making the effort to shape and contribute to patient care through organizational redesign. This group of nurses began to realize that the structure of the practice development unit process provided them with the means to analyse their role and function within the organization and, as they reflected on this structure, their behaviour began to change. Relevance to clinical practice. Evidence from these reflections supports the view that practice development unit participants have secured a positive and professional identity and are, therefore, better able to improve the patient experience. [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]

Aims and objectives. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the theoretical basis and application of psychological interventions used in the management of chronic pain. In doing this, psychological factors mediating pain and disability will also be reviewed. Background. A biopsychosocial model of chronic pain is widely purported and pain management is often based upon cognitive-behavioural principles as psychological factors meditating pain and disability have been found to include emotional, cognitive and behavioural components. Conclusions. This paper provides support for a biopsychosocial model of and for the effectiveness and efficacy of psychological interventions for the management of chronic pain conditions. Relevance to clinical practice. The application of psychological approaches to chronic pain management is reviewed and discussed. The way in which psychological approaches may be integrated specifically into nursing management of chronic pain is discussed in a later paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. This paper reports one aspect of a larger study of nursing research strategies in one English region, focusing particularly on nurse consultants' characteristics and achievements in the role. Background. Nurse consultant posts have only been established in the United Kingdom since 1999 and, although much comment has appeared in the professional literature, there is very little research-based evidence of how the roles are developing. The role is intended to integrate four domains: expert practice; professional leadership and consultancy; education, training and development; and practice and service development. Design. A cross-sectional design, using a convenience sample, was adopted. Methods. Ten nurse consultants working in a variety of settings and specialties participated in in-depth, tape-recorded interviews. The data were analysed using the Framework approach. Results. Four themes were identified from the data: characteristics of the postholder, role achievement, support systems and National Health Service influences. The first two themes are discussed in this paper and the data show that the nurse consultants varied in terms of their academic background and previous experience. Not all had the recommended minimum of Master's degree level preparation and some had limited research experience. These background characteristics seemed to influence the degree to which they were able to achieve the four domains of the role, with those with lower qualifications and from a mental health background appearing to struggle most. Conclusions. New appointments to these roles should only be made when candidates possess the recommended levels of educational preparation and professional experience of change management. It is also important that there is clarity about the scope of the role, which should not include management responsibilities. On-going research is essential to evaluate how the roles develop for postholders, the extent to which they fulfil policymakers' expectations and what difference they make to patient care from a patient perspective. Relevance to clinical practice. The findings show that holders of such posts need to have appropriate previous knowledge, skills and personal characteristics, as these seem to influence their ability to integrate the four domains of the role and thus achieve the requirements of the post. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GOBBI M. Nursing Inquiry 2005; 12: 117 –125 Nursing practice as bricoleur activity: a concept explored The debates concerning the nature of nursing practice are often rooted in tensions between artistic, scientific and magical/mythical practice. It is within this context that the case is argued for considering that nursing practice involves bricoleur activity. This stance, which is derived from the work of Levi-Strauss, conceives elements of nursing practice as an embodied, bricoleur practice where practitioners draw on the‘shards and fragments’ of the situation-at-hand to resolve the needs of the individual patient for whom they care. This conceptualisation of nursing practice will be analysed with a particular emphasis on its implication for nursing epistemology, pedagogy and praxis. The evidence to support this argument is drawn from empirical work that investigated nurses’ use of intuition, the work of Levi-Strauss, and issues in nursing epistemology and ontology. The paper itself is written from the perspective of a bricoleur who uses‘bits and pieces’ from the domains of nursing, philosophy, psychology, education, sociology and anthropology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

bonner a. & walker a. (2004) Journal of Clinical Nursing 13, 210–218 Nephrology nursing: blurring the boundaries: the reality of expert practice Expertise in nursing has been widely studied; there have been no previous studies into what constitute expertise in nephrology (renal) nursing. This paper describes a ‘real-world’ characteristic of expert nephrology nursing practice. This paper, which is abstracted from a larger study into the acquisition and exercise of nephrology nursing expertise, aims to explore the concept blurring the boundaries. The study utilized grounded theory methodology and symbolic interactionism. The study took place in one renal unit in New South Wales. Sampling was purposive then theoretical; the sample consisting of six non-expert and eleven expert nurses. Simultaneous data collection and analysis using participant observation, review of nursing documentation and semi-structured interviews was undertaken. The study revealed that only expert nephrology nurses ‘blurred the boundaries’ of professional nursing practice. They did this by moving intermittently and purposefully, for the benefit of particular patients, into medical domains in the areas of prescribing, dispensing and ordering of pathology tests. Non-expert nurses did not cross these professional boundaries. Blurring the boundaries was a significant feature of expert nursing practice, and this study was the first to describe explicitly nursing boundaries as two distinct entities; that is, formal and informal. There are some nephrology nurses who have sufficient knowledge and experience to prescribe some medications and to order certain investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores a night nursing sub-culture which is struggling to survive. The context is the NHS in the UK. This exclusively female group within an organization numerically dominated by women evokes hostile reactions from other cultural groups within the NHS, based on its perceived espousal of 'female' ways of being. Increasingly threatened by the new managerialism of the NHS, the permanent night shift faces extinction as a group. This paper describes the night nurse culture as it exists in a general hospital and offers some insights into the way that gender relations evolve to sustain male power in an organization where women are numerically dominant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How can we achieve evidence-based practice if we have a theory–practice gap in nursing today? ¶The purpose of this paper is to discuss how nursing can achieve evidence-based practice when a theory–practice gap exists in nursing today. The paper commences with an introduction to the concept of evidence-based practice and a discussion of the relationships between theory, practice and the theory–practice gap. An analysis of the two concepts will then be presented from within the four pillars of nursing, namely management, practice, research and education. The paper will conclude with a discussion of whether evidence-based practice can be achieved in view of the theory–practice gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper gives a brief account of the development of individualized nursing care, from the introduction of the nursing process to the more recent interest in primary nursing. Individualized care would appear to have been adopted as an ideal by the nursing profession, with little debate about some of the possible implications of such an approach. The paper outlines some other perspectives on patient care, and discusses the limitations of an individualistic framework which fails to acknowledge the communal and societal aspects of patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although using research to guide nursing practice has been a long-standing goal for the nursing discipline, the actual merger of research and practice is not yet widespread. There are many possible explanations for the limited progress that has been made in this arena. In this paper, it is suggested that the multiple identities taken on by nurses may stifle actualizing a merger between research and practice. Diverging responsibilities and orientations among identities are depicted by considering the nurse as researcher, clinician, educator and administrator. In addition to elucidating differences among these various nurse identities, the paper addresses their commonalities, the most obvious and important of which is that of nurse. If individuals retain the identity of nurse as the generic and salient characteristic, the multiple nurse identities have the potential to become a complementary array of diverse resources that can empower rather than thwart merging research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the relevance of research to practice under two headings using a policy analysis perspective. Firstly, the relationship of knowledge to action is considered within the context of a piece of longitudinal research into the welfare of children in hospital. The general difficulties of research application are discussed in terms of the different problem perceptions and time scales held by the policy makers who commission research, and the researchers themselves. The example cited demonstrates a useful compromise. The practical consequences arising from the distinct epistemological premises which underpin research into the natural and social worlds of nursing care are considered. Secondly, the constraints on achieving research-based action are described briefly in terms of the resources of time, manpower and funding. It is concluded that an awareness of both conceptual and practical issues is essential in order to comprehend fully the complexity of, and the necessity for, a range of research approaches to nursing issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the issue of nursing science. Nursing, as an art, has long been accepted as integral to nursing. Nursing, as a science, however, is a more recent concept. Nursing science is viewed as a threat to the profession by its opponents, while the proponents of nursing science see it as a promise for advancement of the discipline. This paper examines the issue of nursing science by looking at its history and development, the definition of science, and five factors critical to the nursing science issue. The author concludes that nursing science is, in varying respects, both a threat and a promise. It is clear that the preponderance of evidence favours the promise nursing science holds for the profession of nursing. It is not a matter of choosing either art or science, but rather skillfully blending both for the betterment of nursing. Both art and science are necessary in nursing -- neither, however, is sufficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on various developments related to nursing. The National League for Nursing has issued an official call for papers for its 1983 biennial convention, the first such call ever to be made by the League in connection with this national meeting. Deadline for abstracts is October 15, 1982, for presentations during the June 1983 convention. A Western Kentucky University junior has received the highest award in Kentucky which goes to a student nurse. Jeana Keating of 520 Cajjewood Drive in Louisville, Kentucky, has been chosen Ideal Nursing Student in Kentucky for 1982 by the Kentucky Association for Nursing Students at its meeting in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky.

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]

This paper offers an ideal type process which considers any patient, his intimates and hospital chaplain in the wider setting of personal care. It calls attention to an important aspect of patient care which offers a starting point from which to begin assessing the needs of any patient from a complementary perspective. The paper reveals two important consequences of the features of any patient situation for the structuring of whole patient care. The first is that the ill person can be susceptible to certain fundamental characteristics which bring him face-to-face with situations in which established practices display an insufficiency for providing mechanisms of adjustment. The second is that spiritual support can be a most important mechanism of adjustment to the aleatory and frustrating facts of these basic characteristics of the patient's existence. Also, it is not only that the ill person may have a need to be helped in this way, but that the appropriate general pattern of action in regard to the source of help is often related to evaluation by nursing and other health service personnel--who are inexpert in this field of care--of the general requirements of any patient situation. This evaluation may have important consequences regarding the completeness of patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nurses' performance in written examinations often bears little relationship to their level of clinical proficiency in the ward. This paper describes a method of making written exatninations more relevant to the clinical situation. It describes the development of a case history test which confronts students with the kind of information they have to interpret and act upon in the ward, and which requires them to recall the principles of nursing care and apply them in a way similar to real life. Evidence is presented that tests of this type are more closely linked to clinical performance than are conventional written examinations, and guidehnes are given for constructing case history tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents information related to nursing. At a reception given by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother at St James's Palace, London to mark the thirtieth birthday of The British Commonwealth Nurses War Memorial Fund, future plans were announced. The Council of the Royal College of Nursing of Great Britain has decided to create fellows from amongst its members of at least five years' standing who have made exceptional contributions to the advancement of the science and art of nursing. Fellows will be expected to have completed a course in post-basic nursing education where appropriate, and to present a paper or thesis and/or demonstrate innovation or exceptional competence in advancing nursing.

Special issue Nursing science: knowledge development for the good of persons and society Guest editors: Pamela J Grace and Danny G Willis [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comments on the publication of the "Journal of Clinical Nursing." Impression of the nurses about the journal; Index of the quality of a journal; Efforts on the editorial team to review the journal.

Aims. This paper reports findings from a large-scale quasi-experimental study that used a measure of caring as a means of evaluating person-centred nursing and aims to illustrate the synergy between the concepts of caring and person-centredness. Background. Evidence would suggest that effective person-centred nursing requires the formation of therapeutic relationships between professionals, patients and others significant to them in their lives and that these relationships are built on mutual trust, understanding and a sharing of collective knowledge. This correlates with the conceptualisation of caring that is underpinned by humanistic nursing theories. Design. A pretest post-test design was used in this study to evaluate the effect of person-centred nursing on a range of outcomes, one of which was nurses' and patients' perception of caring. Methods. The Person-Centred Nursing Index was the main data collection tool. The Caring Dimension Inventory and Nursing Dimensions Inventory, were component parts of the Person-Centred Nursing Index and were used to measure nurses' and patients' perceptions of caring. The Person-Centred Nursing Index was administered at five points in time over a two-year intervention period. Results. Nurses had a clear idea of what constituted caring in nursing, identifying statements that were reflective of person-centredness, which was consistent over time. This was in contrast to patients, whose perceptions were more variable, highlighting incongruencies that have important implications for developing person-centred practice. Conclusion. The findings confirm the Caring Dimension Inventory/Nursing Dimensions Inventory as an instrument that can be used as an indicator of person-centred practice. Furthermore, the findings highlight the potential of such instruments to generate data on aspects of nursing practice that are traditionally hard to measure. Relevance to clinical practice. The findings would suggest that nurses need to be aware of patients' perceptions of caring and use this to influence changes in practice, where the prime goal is to promote person-centredness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identity, difference, and the associated subject of cultural diversity pose challenges for nursing. As the demographics of the world change, demands are rising for nurses to provide sensitive, individualized care to people living in our ever-changing global community. Issues concerning gender, sexuality, disability, age, language, economic and occupational status, multiculturalism, and ethnicity are made more complex because many of these topics strike a personal chord for individual nurses. In order for nursing to provide appropriate care to the world's people and to meet future challenges, nursing must define itself in new ways. Kikuchi and Simmons have stated that the best way for nursing to approach this task is through the development of a ‘sound’ philosophy of nursing that will ‘accommodate diversity in nursing thought’. They contend that before we can establish a philosophy of nursing, nurses will have to agree upon the nature of reality, human beings, truth, and knowledge. This paper will suggest that neopragmatism, as described by Richard Rorty, is a way to assure diversity of thought in nursing. However, I will argue against the requirement for this philosophy to be ‘sound’ in the sense that Kikuchi and Simmons use this term. In place of their call for ‘truth and unity in nursing thought’. I will attempt to demonstrate how neopragmatic ideas relate to the construction of what Rorty called a unifying ‘plausible narrative of progress’. This change will allow nursing to abandon the dead end debate over epistemologies and instead focus on more important issues related to improving nursing practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM: This paper is a report of a study to illuminate the meaning of caring for people with malodorous exuding ulcers. BACKGROUND: Managing ulcers is complicated and consensus on assessment and treatment difficult to reach. Nurses need knowledge and skills to provide good care. They must stay close and be exposed to contamination and suffering. They must provide care without violating patients and we need to further explore this challenge. METHOD: A convenience sample of ten participants was recruited. Participants had experience of caring for people with malodorous exuding ulcers and were employed in primary health or hospital care in Sweden. Narrative interviews were conducted during late 2002 to early 2005 and interpreted using a phenomenological-hermeneutic method. FINDINGS: Themes were formulated: 'Facing the wound' when nurses reveal what is meant to be concealed and perceive patients' vulnerability; 'Facing one's own defencelessness' when feeling invaded, helpless and ashamed; 'Struggling to shield one's own defencelessness' was achieved by striving to be in control, striving to endure and seeking a way out. 'Struggling to shield patients' vulnerability' was about alleviating patients' additional suffering by striving to spare patients, pushing boundaries, making uncomfortable decisions and sharing togetherness. When failing to shield their own defencelessness and patients' vulnerability, nurses run the risk of experiencing desolation. CONCLUSION: Physical proximity and bodily suffering affect nurses. Caring for people with ulcers calls for improved interprofessional cooperation in order to provide the best treatments and care. Further education for these nurses is needed, as well as support from managements and organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore, describe and develop a greater understanding of the experiences of overseas black and minority ethnic nurses in the National Health Service (NHS) in the south of England. BACKGROUND: For the past five decades, the NHS has been recruiting overseas black and minority ethnic nurses from several former British colonies to alleviate the manpower shortages. More recently there has been a shortage of nurses in the labour force and as a result the NHS has once again recruited overseas nurses. Despite this recruitment drive there are limited studies outlining how overseas black and minority nurses have fared in the NHS. METHODS: This qualitative phenomenological study used four purposeful focus groups and all participants involved were interviewed at a place convenient for them. These all non-white participants originated from Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. Each focus group contained six participants with an overall total of 24 participants involved in the study. RESULTS: Following thematic analysis, the findings revealed six themes such as, the devaluation process, concept of self-blame, discrimination/lack of equal opportunity, concept of invisibility, experiencing fear and benefits of being here. Several overseas nurses felt devalued and indicated that white UK nurses appeared to have placed little trust in them. They stated that both discrimination and lack of equal opportunity were present in the workplace and they also revealed that some white UK nurses were sometimes abusive. As a result they tolerated such behaviour for fear of being thrown out with their families. Despite such negative experiences participants indicated that the experiences gained whilst working in the NHS were useful. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for overseas nurses to be treated fairly and with respect particularly in the light of an acute labour shortage of nurses in the NHS. The findings suggest that overseas minority ethnic nurses' experiences have been mixed, with some positive as well as negative experiences, within a process that devalues them as workers. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This paper highlights a need for a re-evaluation of equal opportunity policies and proposes more diversity training so as to prepare nurses to cope with an increasingly complex and diverse workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This article aims to analyse the part played by successive waves of nurse migration in changing patterns of division and disadvantage within nursing. We argue that migration has in part acted to reinforce disadvantage based on class and gender, race and ethnicity and identify the influence of changes in nursing structure and commercialization of care in these processes. BACKGROUND, DESIGN AND METHODS: The historical analysis of division within nursing and the impact of migration are based on secondary sources (literature review) and primary research undertaken by ourselves and colleagues. The paper develops a concept of 'remaking' disadvantage drawing on analysis in social history of the interplay between agency and economic position in the 'making' of class. It uses the extended case method to focus on the residential care sector, showing how global and national influences operate at the frontline of service delivery. RESULTS: We show how social class and gender, race and ethnicity have interacted and are reflected in the division of labour within nursing. We demonstrate how the employment conditions of nurse migrants have reinforced patterns of disadvantage. The case study of the residential care home sector deepens our analysis of intersecting sources of professional disadvantage including aspects of commercialization, in a sector where they have severe effects for vulnerable staff and patients. CONCLUSIONS: In the UK, migrant professional nurses have repeatedly acted both as a highly valued labour force on whom patients and clients rely and as involuntary contributors to remaking disadvantage. This situation is sustained by the current international labour market and rising commercialization which facilitate nurse migration and the segmentation of care work based on a 'pecking order' of specialties that reinforce existing divisions of social class, gender and race within nursing. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Migrant nurses play a key role in the delivery of 'frontline' care to patients. The role many currently play reinforces disadvantage within nursing in ways that are problematic for the profession, patients and clients. The recognition and valuing of their skills is critical to the promotion of their own morale which in turn has an impact on their relationship with colleagues and the delivery of patient and client care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE. This paper aims to illustrate the process of theory-based nursing practice by presenting a case study of a clinical nurse specialist's assessment and care of a woman with type 2 diabetes. DESIGN. Orem's self-care deficit theory and standardized nursing language, NANDA, NIC (Nursing Interventions Classification), and NOC (Nursing Outcomes Classification), guided assessment and the identification of outcomes and interventions related to the client's management of diabetes. FINDINGS. Theory-based nursing care and standardized nursing language enhanced the client's ability to self-manage the chronic illness: diabetes. CONCLUSION. Nursing theory and standardized nursing language enhance communication among nurses and support a client's ability to self-manage a chronic illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family carers of people with a severe mental illness play a vital, yet often unrecognized and undervalued role in Australian society. Respite care services can assist these family carers in their role; however, little is known about their access to these services. The paper addresses this knowledge gap. An exploratory field study was conducted throughout the eastern suburbs of Sydney, Australia, to identify and examine the factors influencing the use and provision of respite services for older carers of people with a mental illness. Semistructured, in-depth interviews, and structured self-completed questionnaires were conducted with older family carers, mental health care professionals, and respite care service providers. Additionally, relevant documents (local policies, strategic plans and reports on respite care) were reviewed. It was found that current respite services are problematic for older family carers of Australians with a mental illness, signalling the need for concerted efforts by carers, health professionals, and service providers to improve access. Changes to respite provision and utilization are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the first phase of a four-phase collaborative action research study which aimed to facilitate family-focused nursing in the intensive care environment. The purpose of phase one was to determine intensive care nurses' perceptions of family-focused critical care nursing and the appropriateness of family-focused nursing in the intensive care unit. A collaborative action research group was established with six registered nurses working in the intensive care unit of a metropolitan tertiary referral hospital. Data were collected through group discussions and analysed using open coding. Findings revealed two categories related to perceptions of family-focused intensive care nursing: partnership in care and maintaining a balance. The group unanimously agreed that family-focused nursing was appropriate in the intensive care environment. The three subsequent action research phases of this study are reported elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]