International journal of nursing practice
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A case study of six wards in two hospitals was undertaken to describe the structures, processes and perceptions of outcomes of bedside handover in nursing. A total of 532 bedside handovers were observed and 34 interviews with nurses were conducted. Important structural elements related to the staff, patients, the handover sheet and the bedside chart. ⋯ The situation, background, assessment and recommendations approach was used only in specific circumstances. Perceived outcomes were categorized as improving accuracy and service delivery, and promoting patient-centred care. Although the move to bedside handover is not the norm, it reflects a patient-centred approach.
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Caregivers of people living with HIV (PLH) in Thailand face tremendous caregiver burden. This study examines complex ways in which caregivers' mental health affects their levels of caregiver burden. This study uses data from 409 caregivers of PLH in northern and north-eastern Thailand. ⋯ Social support had direct positive association with caregiver's quality of life (P < 0.0001). Our findings underscore the complex relationship between caregiver burden, depression and HIV-status. Interventions that address the caregiver burden are urgently needed.
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Hourly rounding in the acute hospital setting has been proposed as an intervention to increase patient satisfaction and safety, and improve the nursing practice environment, but the innovation has not been adequately tested. A quasi-experimental pretest post-test non-randomized parallel group trial design was used to test the effect of hourly patient comfort rounds on patient satisfaction and nursing perceptions of the practice environment, and to evaluate research processes and instruments for a proposed larger study. ⋯ Significant changes were found for three of the five practice environment subscales. Consistent with the aim of a pilot study, this research has provided important information related to design, instruments and process that will inform a larger sufficiently powered study.
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The definition of normal body temperature as 37 degrees C still is considered the norm worldwide, but in practice there is a widespread confusion of the evaluation of body temperature, especially in elderly individuals. In this paper, we discuss the relevance of normal body temperature as 37 degrees C and consequences in clinical practice. ⋯ In addition, what should be regarded as fever is closely related to what is considered as normal body temperature. That is, as normal body temperature shows individual variations, it is reasonable that the same should hold true for the febrile range.
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The Emergency Nurse Practitioner role was introduced to an Emergency Department, Melbourne in 2004 as an alternative health-care model to provide accessible and efficient patient care. The aim of the study was to explore patient satisfaction using a questionnaire from their emergency department experience comparing Emergency Nurse Practitioners and emergency department doctors. Patients who received care from either Emergency Nurse Practitioners or emergency department doctors were given a self-administered questionnaire to complete. ⋯ A total of 202 patients completed the survey with 103 seen by the Emergency Nurse Practitioners and 99 seen by emergency department doctors. Significant differences were reported in 12 of the 16 questions comparing patient satisfaction with either Emergency Nurse Practitioners or emergency department doctors with greater patient satisfaction demonstrated with the Emergency Nurse Practitioners. The Emergency Nurse Practitioner model demonstrates consistent levels of patient satisfaction with patients reporting more favourable satisfaction with the Emergency Nurse Practitioners compared with emergency department doctors.