Nursing research
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Researchers have used various methods to describe and quantify the work of nurses. Many of these studies were focused on nursing in general care settings; therefore, less is known about the unique work nurses perform in intensive care units (ICUs). ⋯ This study provides useful information about how nurses spend their time in various ICUs. The methodology can be used in future research to examine changes in work related to, for example, implementation of health information technology.
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For over 100 years, nurses' particular work conditions have been anecdotally associated with increases in substance abuse. Reasons include job-related stress and easy access to medications. Current research has suggested that prevalence of nurses with substance use problems is actually similar to, if not less than, that seen in the general population. However, given nurses' proximity to critical patient care, the potential threat to public health, as well as the current shortage of practitioners and problems related to retention, the lack of research on the effectiveness of the two existing treatment protocols (disciplinary and alternative-to-discipline [ATD]) is a pressing issue of concern to the nursing profession. ⋯ The ATD programs potentially have a greater impact on protecting the public than disciplinary programs because ATD programs identify and/or enroll more nurses with substance use problems, thereby initially removing more nurses with substance use problems from direct patient care.
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Smokers who make a quit attempt during hospitalization have improved long-term abstinence if they receive follow-up support, including via a telephone quitline, a free resource in the United States. Smokers are referred infrequently to this resource by healthcare providers. ⋯ After 6 months, nurses in the intervention group had significant improvement in the frequency of interventions and consistency of referral of smokers to the quitline. The improvement of nurses' referral to the quitline among the control group who only received printed materials demonstrates that both are effective strategies in increasing awareness of this resource.
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Capecitabine and oxaliplatin (XELOX) chemotherapy causes nausea and vomiting, despite adequate administration of antiemetics. Furthermore, specific risk factors that increase this risk are not elucidated. ⋯ An unacceptably high proportion of patients receiving XELOX were identified as being unable to attain adequate control of nausea because of inadequate usage of delayed antiemetic prophylaxis. Clinicians should be aware of the chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting patterns in this subgroup of patients on XELOX and tailor appropriate management plans. Incorporation of delayed antiemetics to existing institutional guidelines for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting management may improve patients' tolerance of XELOX.
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Multicenter Study
Home-based care for special healthcare needs: community children's nursing services.
Community children's nursing services (CCNS) provides nursing and supportive care, ranging from relatively simple to highly technological interventions, to children and young people (0-18 years) within the family home. ⋯ Care at home reduces the disruption to children's and families' lives and can empower them to make decisions and control routines and practices. Having CCNS situated within larger teams with strong interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary practices seems to offer the best benefits for children and families. Findings from this study have directly influenced government policy and practice. Further research is needed to determine efficacy of particular models and practices.