MCN. The American journal of maternal child nursing
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MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs · May 2008
Review Case ReportsA case study of postpartum depression & altered maternal-newborn attachment.
This article presents a case study of a new mother experiencing postpartum depression and altered attachment with her newborn. Theories related to postpartum depression and maternal-newborn attachment are reviewed, and evidenced-based strategies for care are discussed in the context of the case.
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MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs · Sep 2007
ReviewEnd-of-life nursing education consortium for pediatric palliative care (ELNEC-PPC).
Pediatric nurses must often care for children with life-threatening illness. Although the child may be a neonate with multiple organ failure, a young adolescent diagnosed with HIV, or a 7-year-old child involved in a serious bicycle accident, pediatric nurses are an essential part of the interdisciplinary team that plans, organizes, implements, and manages the care of these children and their families. To date, more than 600 pediatric nurses have attended a national End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium-Pediatric Palliative Care (ELNEC-PPC) training program. ⋯ Because pediatric palliative care education is so important, many trainers have incorporated ELNEC-PPC into their nursing orientation, annual competencies, and undergraduate and graduate nursing education. They are developing standards of care and serve on key hospital/hospice committees, such as policy, education, clinical care, and ethics committees. This article showcases various activities of ELNEC-PPC trainers and demonstrates their commitment to improve pediatric palliative care not only in their institutions but also on local, state, national, and international levels.
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MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs · Sep 2006
ReviewProposed guidelines for skin-to-skin treatment of neonatal hypothermia.
Hypothermia is not uncommon in full-term, low-risk newborns during the first days of life. Standard care for treating hypothermia often involves the separation of the mother and the newborn while the infant is placed under a warmer and observed in the nursery. Because one important role of the postpartum nurse is to promote mother-infant attachment by encouraging the mother to spend time "getting to know" her infant, this separation can be problematic. ⋯ The literature review here provides an analysis of the available evidence and the author's conclusion that the research supports the use of STS care as an alternative to traditional rewarming. The evidence was graded and organized into an evidence-based practice guideline for the use of STS care in the treatment of mild hypothermia in the low-risk infant. Suggestions for further research and outcomes measurement are included.
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MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs · Nov 2005
ReviewEvidence for healing interventions with perinatal bereavement.
The purpose of this article is to explore the concept of perinatal grief and evidence-based healing interventions for it. The loss of a pregnancy or death of an infant causes profound grief, yet society has long minimized or ignored this grief, which is among the most painful of bereavement experiences. Throughout the last century, research on grief and the special needs of bereaved parents has changed the context of professional intervention from protective to supportive. ⋯ While children's understanding of loss and grief differs with developmental age, they should also be given the opportunity to participate in grief rituals and practices. Professionals who care for bereaved parents have a unique opportunity to offer support by validating their grief, facilitating rituals, providing mementos, and letting the bereaved tell their stories. While no intervention can bring back their beloved children, appropriate intervention can promote healing.
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MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs · Nov 2005
ReviewWhere is the evidence for teaching methods used in nursing education?
Twenty-first century maternal-child faculty members are now being encouraged to base their teaching practice on sound evidence. Finding that evidence, however, can be challenging. This article discusses not only the current state of research on teaching in nursing, but also how and where educators can access information about teaching that is based on research. ⋯ Topics included in this discussion include recommended literature resources in nursing and education, bibliographic database search techniques, guides for appraisal of quantitative and qualitative research, and relevant nursing education and general education professional organizations. In addition, an evidence hierarchy from the field of education is introduced to rank educational studies in nursing. If nurse educators are to apply the evidence-based process used in clinical practice to the practice of nursing education, more research is needed in this field.