International journal of nursing practice
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The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between women knowing the fetal gender and their newborns' birthweight. Four-hundred and eighty-four post-partum mothers before discharge from the maternity unit participated in this study. We collected our data from the women by using two sources: a demographic data questionnaire and reviews of hospital records. ⋯ Also knowledge of fetal gender was found to increase the probability of low birthweight among female newborns compared with male newborns. Identifying sociocultural factors that might be linked to the gender preference could improve mothers' and their newborns' well-beings. Nurses have to be aware of the consequences of gender preference such as low birthweight.
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Qualitative methodology based on action research identified challenges when caring for persons with advanced dementia, as perceived by key professional providers. Data collection was via five focus groups (total n = 24) and 20 follow-up individual interviews. Participants included palliative care, aged care and dementia specialist nurses, medical specialists from an area health service, residential aged care staff and general medical practitioners. ⋯ Assessment, managing physical and behavioural symptoms, and communicating with family presented as further challenges. Conclusions are that the need for a palliative approach to care in advanced dementia should be recognized. Aged care staff can deliver palliative care to people with advanced dementia only if the staff receive relevant education and training beyond their generalist competencies.
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Delirium occurs as a consequence of physiological imbalances resulting in alterations in consciousness and cognitive impairment. It is a serious cognitive disorder and one prevalent in older people. This paper presents a significant finding from a study that critically examined the major discourses circulating on delirium and the subject positions offered to older people who had been delirious. ⋯ Consequently, older people who had been delirious were offered the subject positions of 'being old doesn't matter' and 'a second childhood'. However, results from this study identified times when people who had been delirious resisted the ageist discourse. Resistance to the dominant discourse, although subtle and occurring on a micro level, acted to destabilize and challenge ageist and discriminatory health practices.
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Comparative Study
A comparison of patients' and nurses' assessments of pain intensity in patients with coronary artery disease.
Self-report of pain is the single most reliable indicator of pain intensity. The purpose of this study was to compare patients' and nurses' ratings of patients' pain. The sample comprised 76 patients and 65 nurses in coronary care units that rated the patient's pain intensity on a 0-10 numeric rating scale. ⋯ In addition, there were positive, moderate and significant correlations between patients' and nurses' ratings (r = 0.41, P < 0.001). Underestimation of patient's pain can have negative effects if appropriate treatment is withheld. This emphasizes the importance of a systematic assessment and acceptance of the patient's self-reported of pain.
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The purpose of this study undertaken in an acute care hospital was to evaluate sensitivity and specificity of the documentation of nurse-reported delirium symptoms in medical charts. This is a descriptive study based on the clinical assessments of a study nurse and nursing notes in the medical charts of 226 delirious older patients newly admitted to an acute care hospital. The results of this prospective validation study indicated that documentation of delirium symptoms is poor. ⋯ Univariate analysis suggested that higher comorbidity level, more severe symptoms of delirium and the use of physical restraints were associated with more valid documentation of delirium symptoms in medical charts. Lastly, this study corroborates results of previous studies, indicating that documentation of delirium symptoms in medical charts can be improved. Future study should target improving nurse documentation of delirium symptoms in medical charts.