Journal of professional nursing : official journal of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing
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Delirium is a common cause of acute mental status change in hospitalized elderly people, yet the literature and the author's clinical experience suggest that clinical nurses are often unaware of how the syndrome can present, how it differs from other types of mental status changes seen in the elderly, and what interventions are most appropriate in affected individuals. This article discusses these areas, presents original data from a study at Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, MA, concerning nursing assessment of patients with delirium, and outlines a new educational module that nurse specialists, educators, and others can use to teach clinical nurses about delirium in elderly patients.
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This article summarizes standards relating to sampling methodology, identifies deviations from these standards in research studies reported in selected clinical nursing journals, and provides suggestions for improving sampling methods to enhance the applicability of research for nursing practice. A random sample of 30 research reports published in 1986 in five clinical nursing journals was examined. Nearly 97 per cent of the published studies contained at least one major deficiency in sampling methodology. ⋯ Sample sizes were small, and statistical power to detect significant differences was low. These deficiencies in sampling procedures could detract from the value of the research that nurses are encouraged to use as a basis for practice. This article provides specific recommendations for remedying these deficiencies to help ensure the scientific merit of the research published for nursing practice.
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Patient-controlled analgesia is an innovative method of pain control that is being used with increasing frequency in postoperative patients. Besides affording patients a sense of control over their pain, the method seems to offer superior pain relief with less sedation compared with traditional methods. Nurses report that valuable patient care time is saved when complicated negotiations among nurses, patients, and physicians regarding pain management are eliminated, and tasks such as signing out and preparing analgesic injections are no longer necessary. A review of the method is presented.