Applied nursing research : ANR
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Comparative Study
Nurses' perception of single-occupancy versus multioccupancy rooms in acute care environments: an exploratory comparative assessment.
Health care design professionals, planners, and administrators cite the advantages of private patient rooms, including reduction of hospital-acquired infections, reduction of patient stress levels, and facilitation of nurses' and health care workers' efficiency [e.g., Ulrich, R. (2003). Creating a healing environment with evidence-based design. Paper presented at the American Institute of Architects, Academy of Architecture for Health virtual seminar-Healing environments; Ulrich, R., Quan, X., Zimring, C., Joseph, A., & Choudhary, R. (2004). ⋯ This pilot study focused on nurses' perception of the advantages and disadvantages of single-occupancy versus multioccupancy patient rooms in medical-surgical units in four hospitals in the northwest. A majority of respondents in the four hospitals favored single rooms over double-occupancy rooms for the majority of the 15 categories, including the following: appropriateness for patient examination, interaction with or accommodation of family members, and lower probability of dietary mix-ups. Future studies need to carefully examine the objective measures of patient care variables (e.g., incidents of medication errors, opportunities for surveillance), patient outcomes (e.g., recovery rate, falls), and implications of room occupancy on operating costs.
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The purpose of this research was to assess home health nurses' (HHNs) knowledge, comfort levels, barriers, and personal participation in advanced care planning (ACP), a practice that recognizes patient preferences for health care treatment. Licensed nurses who identified home care as their primary area of practice (N = 519) were surveyed about their knowledge of laws governing ACP and their perceptions of patients' preferences for ACP. Most respondents were women (97%), and the average age of the respondents was 54 years. ⋯ A greater knowledge base concerning ACP would facilitate HHN discussions with patients and families. Recognition of patient preferences can be enhanced by understanding and overcoming barriers that hinder discussions of ACP. Educational opportunities focusing on ACP are encouraged for all health care providers.
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The purpose of this study was to gain insight into how nurses recover medical errors in the emergency department (ED) setting. ⋯ The results of this study provide preliminary evidence of the strategies used by ED nurses in the recovery of medical error. Further research is needed to generalize these findings to other ED settings. Knowledge of effective recovery strategies can ultimately be used to develop interventions for reducing medical error and improving patient safety.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A brief mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention for nurses and nurse aides.
Whereas the causes and negative consequences of stress among nurses are well known, less is known about effective ways to reduce or prevent this growing problem. Mindfulness-based stress reduction programs are proving to be effective in reducing stress and improving health in a variety of clinical populations. ⋯ In comparison with 14 wait-list control participants, 16 participants in the mindfulness intervention experienced significant improvements in burnout symptoms, relaxation, and life satisfaction. The results of this pilot study, together with a natural fit between mindfulness philosophy and nursing practice theory, suggest that mindfulness training is a promising method for helping those in the nursing profession manage stress, even when provided in a brief format.
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The aim of this study was to develop a modified Braden scale, to evaluate its predictive validity, and to identify a more valid pressure ulcer risk calculator for application in acute care hospitals in Mainland China among the modified Braden, Braden, and Norton scales. The initial modified Braden scale, with the addition of skin type and body build for height, was proposed in this study. Four hundred twenty-nine subjects who were admitted to two acute care hospitals in Mainland China within 24 hr and free of pressure ulcers upon admission were assessed with the initial modified Braden, Braden, and Norton scales by three nurse assessors. ⋯ The predictive validity test reported that the modified Braden scale demonstrated a better balance of sensitivity (89%) and specificity (75%) at a cutoff score of 16, with a higher positive predictive value (7%), than the Braden and Norton scales. This finding revealed that for this sample, the modified Braden scale is more effective in pressure ulcer risk prediction than the other two scales. Because the modified Braden scale is not 100% sensitive and specific, to increase clinical efficacy in the prevention of pressure ulcer, it is recommended that it be adopted combined with nursing judgment to predict pressure ulcer development in acute care settings in Mainland China.