Clinical nursing research
-
A convenience sample of 24 more experienced, 20 less experienced, and 20 novice nurses assessed videotaped infants in varying degrees of pain (none, mild, moderate, and severe), as determined by an expert panel. Participants identified all information they used in making an assessment (All cues) and that subset they deemed most important (Key cues). Data were analyzed using a two-level analysis of variance (level of assessed pain and pediatric nursing experience). ⋯ Eleven All cues and 11 Key cues differed between infants in pain and not in pain, suggesting that these cues may be potentially useful as predictors of the presence/absence of pain. Three All cues differed both between pain and no pain as well as between levels of pain, which suggests that participants' awareness of subtle leveling might be used in the discrimination of a wider range of pain levels. Differences in cue utilization among the more experienced, less experienced, and novice participants are discussed.
-
Cues that 46 pediatric nurses with a BS in Nursing reported as key to their pain assessments of 88 videotaped infants, ages 0 to 12 months, are identified. Frequencies with which these cues were used for infants of different ages and the relationships between key cues and assessed levels of pain are described. Greater pain was strongly associated with tears, stiff posture, guarding, and fisting. ⋯ Internurse variability in cue use was sizable. Most of the often-used cues had weak or no association with assessed pain level. Only consolability, pain cry, grimace, and stiff posture were frequently used and correlated > .51 with assessed level of pain.
-
Facial, body, and cry behaviors, heart rate, palmar sweating, and acoustic cry measures were compared across differing levels of infant pain. Eighty-eight infants were placed in a 16-cell matrix of 4 ages (0 to 3 mo., 4 to 6 mo., 7 to 9 mo., and 10 to 12 mo.) and levels of pain (LOP) (none, mild, moderate, severe) with 5 to 6 infants occupying each cell. Matrix placement was determined by agreement of > 75% among five pediatric clinical nurse specialists who viewed videotapes and read information about the infant's history, diagnosis, medical and/or surgical status, medications, and nutritional/fluid status. ⋯ Facial expressions were clinically useful LOP indicators only for 0- to 3-month-old infants. Facial and body behaviors and cry measures that differed across LOP in younger infants did not differ in older infants due to the development of intentionality. Cry orientation and consolability may be useful clinical indicators of pain with older infants.
-
The purpose of this study was to explore the cultural practices and beliefs of the Hmong in the postpartum period. Using the qualitative research method of in-depth interviewing, data were collected through semistructured interviews. ⋯ Data analysis revealed cultural practices and beliefs categories related to diet, rest period, appropriate clothing, breast feeding, and sex practices in the postpartum period. Implications for nursing include both cultural sensitivity and an understanding of such traditional practices, before suggesting or implementing any health-promotion activities.
-
Clinical nursing research · May 1995
Pain in the postoperative coronary artery bypass graft patient.
The purpose of this study was to assess and describe the multidimensional postoperative pain experience of patients (N = 194) undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) using the McGill Pain Questionnaire. Postoperative pain significantly decreased from postoperative day 2 to postoperative day 3 for all components of the McGill Pain Questionnaire. Sensory words chosen from the McGill Pain Questionnaire on postoperative day 2 included sharp, sore, aching, and tender. ⋯ The evaluative word annoying was chosen for both postoperative days 2 and 3. The present pain intensity (PPI) rating completed on a scale from no pain = 0 to excruciating pain = 5, showed a mean intensity rating of 1.08 for postoperative day 2 and 0.67 for postoperative day 3. These findings describing the typical pattern of postoperative pain are clinically significant in the differentiation of "normal" postoperative pain from pain experienced with postoperative complications from CABG surgery.