Journal of advanced nursing
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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.
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This paper describes a study of the kinds of ethical difficulties nurses face in the process of care in surgical units. ⋯ Interventions and investments are needed to improve the work environment of nurses, especially modifying the job constraints of the work environment. The moral responsibility for upholding the quality of care in surgical services and hospital performance should be more equally distributed between nurses, doctors and hospital managers. Discussions and collaboration between and within healthcare disciplines and managers should be initiated to establish shared moral understanding of the standards of care in hospitals.
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This paper reports a study of how family members caring for people living with motor neurone disease managed the deteriorating body, their own bodywork and the associated emotional labour. ⋯ The demands of bodywork for family caregivers are increased by the continual presence of emotional labour as they seek to implement the best way to support their relative with motor neurone disease. Nurses and allied healthcare workers need to assess each family situation, asking appropriate questions to establish the most appropriate interventions to facilitate supportive care.
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This paper reports a study of the experiences of older adults with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with the aim of gaining an understanding of how the disease had affected their lives. ⋯ People with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have had extensive experience of managing their disease and are familiar with techniques that have helped them integrate the illness and symptoms into their lives. Nurses can synthesize patient knowledge with nursing knowledge to assist patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to achieve their maximum quality of life.
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This paper reports a study of workplace aggression among nurses in Tasmania, Australia. There is international concern about a perceived rise in occupational violence as a major worldwide public health problem, with associated financial costs. ⋯ Future research should try to determine the specific factors, including staff characteristics and environment, associated with the high levels of aggression reported in 'hot spots' where, on the basis of the present results, many staff experience high levels of verbal and physical abuse. Unless managers take steps to improve the situation, attrition from the profession for this reason will continue.