Online journal of issues in nursing
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Online J Issues Nurs · Jan 2013
Subjective experiences of coping among caregivers in palliative care.
Several research studies have sought to quantify the effects of formal caregiving on the caregivers; however, limited research has described the experiences of caregiving using a qualitative research design. In this study, we used an interpretative, phenomenological method to explore how coping operates as a central resource for trained caregivers and professional nurses in a palliative care setting. ⋯ Our findings identified seven themes related to the different dimensions of coping and the implications of these responses on individual caregivers. In this article, we discuss the cumulative effect of caregiver exposure to stressors, consider future directions to enhance caregiving, and conclude that effective caregiver coping plays a substantial role in caregiver and patient wellbeing and should therefore be a central component of enhancing palliative care interventions.
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Historically, Macao, a Special Administrative Region (SAR) in the People's Republic of China, has been troubled by a shortage of nurses. This shortage became especially severe during the period immediately after the handover of Macao from Portugal to the People's Republic of China in 1999. A fast-growing population, an aging population, the risk of epidemics, and competition for personnel with other industries have all contributed to this shortage. ⋯ Strong government support and collaboration among all stakeholders have also served to enhance the nursing work force. In this article, the authors describe the nursing shortage in Macao SAR, discuss factors contributing to the shortage, and present strategies used to manage the shortage. They conclude by emphasizing the importance of increasing salary and professional status and providing transition programs for new graduates.
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Online J Issues Nurs · Sep 2012
Communication technology and social media: opportunities and implications for healthcare systems.
Electronic patient education and communications, such as email, text messaging, and social media, are on the rise in healthcare today. This article explores potential uses of technology to seek solutions in healthcare for such challenges as modifying behaviors related to chronic conditions, improving efficiency, and decreasing costs. ⋯ Effectiveness of e-communication in healthcare is explored, including recent and emerging applications designed to improve patient-provider connections and review of current evidence supporting positive outcomes. The conclusion addresses the vision of nurses' place in the vanguard of these developments.
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Online J Issues Nurs · Jan 2012
Biography Historical ArticleThe voice of Florence Nightingale on advocacy.
Modern nursing is complex, ever changing, and multi focused. Since the time of Florence Nightingale, however, the goal of nursing has remained unchanged, namely to provide a safe and caring environment that promotes patient health and well being. Effective use of an interpersonal tool, such as advocacy, enhances the care-giving environment. ⋯ Specifically, Nightingale valued egalitarian human rights and developed leadership principles and practices that provide useful advocacy techniques for nurses practicing in the 21st century. In this article we will review the accomplishments of Florence Nightingale, discuss advocacy in nursing and show how Nightingale used advocacy through promoting both egalitarian human rights and leadership activities. We will conclude by exploring how Nightingale's advocacy is as relevant for the 21st century as it was for the 19th century.
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Although patient safety initiatives in the clinical environment have focused primarily on medication errors to date, medical devices also contribute significantly to patient injuries and deaths. This article addresses the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) efforts to promote safe use of medical devices by nurses at the point of care. ⋯ We believe that professional nurses, individually and through their professional associations, can help address these concerns by becoming aware of how to share their observations with the FDA and by working with their professional associations to develop position statements that focus on achieving safe and desired patient outcomes. In this article we will identify factors contributing to adverse events related to medical devices, address the need for more medical device adverse-event reporting, describe position statements that have already been made by some professional associations, and share insights regarding future directions along with ideas for educating staff to use medical devices safely.