Journal of advanced nursing
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of aquatic exercise on flexibility, strength and aerobic fitness in adults with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee.
This paper reports a study of the effects of aquatic exercise on physical fitness (flexibility, strength and aerobic fitness), self-reported physical functioning and pain in adults with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee. ⋯ Beneficial short-term effects of aquatic exercise were found in adults with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee. Although the programme may not offer pain relief or self-reported improvements in physical functioning, results suggest that aquatic exercise does not worsen the joint condition or result in injury. Nurses engaging in disease management and health promotion for these patients should consider recommending or implementing aquatic classes for patients.
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This paper reports on structures and processes of hospital care influencing 30-day mortality for acute medical patients. ⋯ Just as hospitals and clinicians caring for patients focus carefully on completing accurate diagnosis and appropriate and effective interventions, so too should hospitals carefully plan and manage structures and processes of care such as the proportion of Registered Nurses in the staff mix, percentage of baccalaureate-prepared nurses, and routine use of care maps to minimize unnecessary patient death.
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This paper reports a grounded theory study of the influence of gender on older people's perceptions of their risk of falling and their actions to prevent future falls. ⋯ Nurses and other healthcare professionals need to take account of the gendered meanings attached to falling by older men and women when carrying out risk assessments and giving advice on fall prevention.
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Multicenter Study
Work-related fatigue and recovery: the contribution of age, domestic responsibilities and shiftwork.
This paper reports a study of the relationship between age, domestic responsibilities (being partnered and having dependents), recovery from shiftwork-related fatigue and the evolution of maladaptive health outcomes among full-time working female nurses. ⋯ Unpredictable internal shift rotations, including night duty, which are traditional and typical in nursing, are inimical to maintaining nurses' health. More creative approaches to rostering for nurses working multiple shifts are a necessary step towards reducing wastage from the profession due to chronic work-related fatigue. Younger nurses in particular, may need more support than is currently recognized if they are to be retained within the profession.
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This paper is a report of a study of nurses' perceptions of caring for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. ⋯ The type of care depended on who the patient met: either a task-oriented nurse or an individual-oriented nurse. Therefore, nursing programmes should pay special attention to the support and guidance of new and inexperienced and task-oriented nurses. Healthcare planners should take into consideration the need for individualized care when organizing care and allocating resources for chronically ill people.