Geriatric nursing
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Examining the feasibility of implementing specific nursing interventions to promote sleep in hospitalized elderly patients.
Sleep deprivation and subsequent effects on health restoration have been documented in the literature. The purpose of this experimental pilot study was to examine the feasibility of implementing specific nursing interventions to promote sleep in hospitalized older adults. The experimental group received a sleep protocol intervention while the control group received usual nighttime care. ⋯ In addition, those taking sleep medications experienced more awakenings and fewer sleep hours. Experimental group patients identified preferences such as personal hygiene, awareness of normal bedtime, receiving a back rub, straightening bed linens, and receiving a bedtime snack. This pilot provides initial support for the feasibility and utility of implementing a sleep protocol in an acute care setting.
-
The aging of the U. S. population has profound implications for acute care nursing practice. NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for HealthSystem Elders) is the only national nursing program that addresses the needs of the hospitalized older adult. ⋯ Results were compared in a sample of 821 and 942 direct care nurses, respectively. Controlling for hospital and nurse characteristics, both nurse perceptions of the geriatric nursing practice environment (P < .0001) and quality of geriatric care (P =.0004) increased, but not geriatric nursing knowledge (P =.1462), following NICHE implementation. NICHE tools and principles can exert an important influence over the care provided to older adult patients by increasing the organizational support for geriatric nursing.