Curationis
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The purpose of this study was firstly to explore and describe the experiences of mothers who are looking after their teenage daughters' young children. Secondly, to formulate guidelines (based on the results obtained) for psychiatric nurses in assisting these mothers to mobilise resources in order to promote, maintain and restore their mental health as an integral part of health. An exploratory, descriptive, contextual and qualitative design was used and Guba's model for ensuring trustworthiness in qualitative research was applied. ⋯ Their experiences in looking after these babies, although sometimes fulfilling and meaningful, are most of the time stressful. This has implications on their mental health. Guidelines are recommended in order to facilitate these mothers to mobilise their resources for mental health.
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This research forms part of a larger interdisciplinary research project on the termination of pregnancies. The focus of this part of the project is on the ethical issues related to termination of pregnancies. The practice of the professional nurse is confronted with ethical dilemmas and disputes. ⋯ The measures of Lincoln and Guba (1985) and Morse (1994) related to secondary data analysis were employed to ensure trustworthiness. Based on these findings the researcher concluded that nurses are not thinking critically when making ethical decisions concerning the termination of pregnancies. Recommendations are made as a possible solution for this problem.
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This study was conducted in the trauma unit of a large academic hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa. The study aimed at describing the nature of care that patients with blunt chest injuries received during the first 48 hours after injury. A descriptive survey was chosen using retrospective and prospective record review to obtain data. ⋯ Descriptive statistics were used to present and analyse data. The study showed that: (i) Blunt chest trauma victims received a thorough initial assessment and care. No missed injuries were identified on subsequent assessment; (ii) More than half of the patients spent over one hour in the accident/emergency department before admission to the trauma ward or intensive care unit (ICU); (iii) Motor vehicle accidents (MVA) were the commonest cause of injury while pedestrian vehicle accidents (PVA) were often fatal; (iv) Nurses are good providers of care but poor in prescribing and documenting care; (v) Pain assessment and psychosocial care was often neglected; (vi) Less than half the patients developed complications during the first 48 hours; pain and pneumonia being the most common complications encountered.
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Indications are that job satisfaction of nurses in South Africa is at a low level. The need to determine factors related to this situation prompted a study in which an attempt was made to determine whether self-concept (measured by Vrey's self-concept Scale) and career orientation scores (determined by means of the Career Orientation Inventory (COI) developed by Schein) could predict the level of job satisfaction of nurses (measured by means of the Minnesota Job Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ)). The instruments were applied to 86 professional nurses employed in an academic (teaching) hospital. ⋯ Results indicated that the two groups differed on several self-concept scales and on one career orientation scale. Eighteen per cent of the variance in job satisfaction could be explained by means of career orientation and self-concept scores. Sixty seven per cent of the respondents were placed in the correct group (in terms of their job satisfaction level) using self-concept and career orientation scores.