Scandinavian journal of caring sciences
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The caring component of nursing practice has become an increasingly visible activity of nursing. Consequently, a growing amount of research has explored the role caring plays in nurse practice. Research often explores the activities of caring or its moral agenda, rather than motivation. ⋯ Four categories of themes emerged as different aspects of the caring practices of nurses. Three fit within the professional development of nursing: physical caring, negotiative caring and relational caring. A fourth, motivated caring, however, provides an additional aspect of caring located within and beyond professional development.
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The aim of this study was to determine the quantitative meaning nursing students ascribe to the pain terms hurt (ont), ache (värk) and pain (smärta). In total, 549 nursing students filled in a questionnaire including questions about age, gender, and health care work experience. The students were also requested to rate response using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) rating for different statements about hurt, ache and pain. ⋯ There was no significant correlation between previous experience of health care work and rated intensity of hurt, ache and pain. In conclusion, this study shows that there exist significant differences between the pain terms hurt, ache and pain according to a rating on a VAS. However, the results also demonstrate that there are large individual variations in how the students quantify the fictitious patient statements of hurt, ache and pain.
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The purpose of this study was to describe family care routines and to explore environmental factors when patients die in Swedish intensive care units (ICUs). The main research questions were: what are the physical environmental circumstances and facilities when caring for patients in end-of-life and are there any routines or guidelines when caring for dying patients and their families? A questionnaire was sent to 79 eligible Swedish ICUs in December 2003, addressed to the unit managers. The response rate was 94% (n = 74 units). ⋯ Many units reported (51%) that they often or almost always offer a follow-up visit, although in most cases the bereaved family had to initiate the follow-up by contacting the ICU. Guidelines in the area of end-of-life care were used by 25% of the ICUs. Further research is necessary to acquire a deeper knowledge of the circumstances under which patients die in ICUs and what impact the ICU environment has on bereaved families.
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As a follow-up to a recent study which highlighted the existence of medical dominance in multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meetings, this paper presents research findings from an Australian study which shows that medico-centrism is a key cause of tension within MDTs. The findings are from a 1-year qualitative study in a regional hospital that explored the ethical decision-making of health professionals within an acute care medical unit. This exploration was conducted through an iterative, phenomenological, qualitative research methodology that consisted of open-ended interviews with a multi-disciplinary representation of health professionals and a sample of consumers for whom they care. ⋯ Nurses reported that the limited amount of time spent by doctors in patient consultation translated into the need for advocacy. Professional and clinical confidence and experience are noted as necessary to successfully engage in the process of advocacy. The findings of this article indicate that the adoption of an advocacy role by nurses represents an important means through which MDT operation can be enhanced, medico-centrism limited and patient-centred care improved.
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Addressing pain and suffering are critical issues for home-care nurses. Pain is frequently experienced by people living at home with chronic illnesses, as well as acutely ill people discharged early from hospitals. The purpose of this qualitative ethology study was to explore and describe the interactions and experiences expressing and responding to pain in home-care nurse-patient interactions. ⋯ The methodology of this study allows an in-depth view of typical nurse-patient interactions. It explores the subtle communicative expertise of nurses by investigating the types of communication used in nursing encounters and by explicating behavioural patterns of expressing and responding to suffering. Observational research of interaction-as-it-occurs must continue to better understand how nurses and patients co-construct personal identities of suffering and stoicism.