Contemp Nurse
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Nurses' role in the early defibrillation of cardiac patients: implications for nursing in Hong Kong.
The time taken to initiate early defibrillation is crucial to improve survival, prevent neurological deficit and improve the quality of life of patients suffering from sudden cardiac arrest. Despite the extension of training and the authorization of nurses to perform early defibrillation (advocated by the American Heart Association), such practice has not been widely adopted in hospitals. Inadequate knowledge, lack of skill retention, insufficient organizational support and the passive culture of nurses are barriers preventing the move towards nurse-led defibrillation. ⋯ Current nursing practice in emergency resuscitation care and the hurdles constraining early defibrillation will be discussed. Recommendations to facilitate the future development of nurse-led defibrillation will also be provided. The successful extension of the registered nurses' role in early defibrillation will enable them to possess broader knowledge to be clinically competent in providing efficient patient care.
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The Australian government and aged care industry uphold the standard of care for persons who require high care and reside in residential aged care facilities. The residential aged care system is extremely complex and through research conducted at the micro level it is argued that the macro level of policy can be exposed for the effects on the ground. A case study methodology in the qualitative paradigm used a discourse analysis of the nursing care for three highly dependent residents in one accredited aged care facility. ⋯ The autonomy of the residents and advocacy by relatives were misinterpreted and unethical discourses were apparent with relatives having to be constantly vigilant. The nursing care provided by nurses (and non-nurses) failed to meet professional nursing standards and competencies, which adversely affected the residents' health compromising their safety. This situation is attributed to residential aged care policies, whereby nurses and nursing practice have been silenced and made invisible resulting in a substandard level of nursing care provision in this accredited facility that may be transferable to other facilities.
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Research involving people with dementia has been flagged as a key priority by Alzheimer's International. Dementia has been an Australian National Health Priority since 2005, yet there are no clear guidelines for seeking and obtaining informed consent from people with dementia to participate in observational research. ⋯ Although many people with dementia are able to express a desire to be involved in research, the insidious progression of the disease reduces a person's ability to understand and appreciate the consequences of involvement. This paper explores the author's journey of seeking and obtaining informed consent for a mixed methods study which involved the observation of older people with dementia.
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Most clinical nurses, particularly those working in mental health areas, have to deal on a regular basis with offensive language including swearing. Despite its prevalence, there has been little academic research concerning the extent of verbal aggression within health care settings, and none about the legal aspects of swearing in a nursing context. This paper is intended to give nurses practising in Australia a better understanding of definitional aspects of swearing and offensive language, the relevant law, and the basis of policy. This will then be followed by a critical examination of the management of offensive language in health care settings.
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Alcohol and drug dependency is a widespread health and social issue encountered by registered nurses in contemporary practice. A study aiming to describe the experiences of registered nurses working in an alcohol and drug unit in South East Queensland was implemented. ⋯ Resultantly, findings concluded registered nurses' working in this field need to become advocates for their clients, ensuring professional conduct is upheld at all times. This paper recommends that stigma could be addressed by incorporating alcohol and other drug dependency subjects and clinical placements into the curriculum of the Bachelor of Nursing degrees, and in-services for all practising registered nurses.