Contemp Nurse
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This paper reports results of tests of Orem's Self-Care Agency and Basic Conditioning Factors in a Chinese community undergoing haemodialysis measured by the modified Chinese version of the ASA scale. Eighty-six patients from one major city of China, Tianjin, all of whom had end stage renal disease and were undergoing haemodialysis formed the sample of the study. ⋯ The levels of self-care agency of the patients were identified with respect to the findings of the study. The relationships between the self-care agency and basic conditioning factors were investigated by the use of Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficients and the relationships were statistically supported by the findings of this research.
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Nurses are the people most consistently and intensely involved in the care of people who present to emergency departments because of self-harm, yet most have received no training or support to provide strategic care. This paper will explore unique features of the emergency context for care and provide practical instruction on how nurses working in the area can respond effectively. As this paper argues there is much that the emergency nurse can provide for the client who self-harms and it describes important steps toward recovery--a respectful human encounter, understanding, support for the person's efforts in coping, optimism and hope that pain will lessen and recovery will take place.
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The Australasian Triage Scale (ATS) is used in Australian emergency departments (ED) to describe patient priority on arrival. This study aimed to determine the level of inter-rater consistency with which the scale is applied to paediatric presentations. Additionally, it sought to document the level of certainty with which nurses apply the scale. ⋯ Inconsistent allocation of ATS category implies variable patient waiting times, which may have detrimental effects on patient condition. Hence, efforts must be made to address the inconsistency that exists in paediatric triage decision-making.
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This paper highlights the inadequacy of existing research for the purposes of evidence-based prn (Latin, pro re nata or 'as needed') medication practice in psychiatric settings and notes the absence of relevant evidence-based clinical practice guidelines and policies, both nationally and internationally. The professional, ethical and legal importance of PRN medication practices is also discussed, and shown to add to the urgency of developing a research agenda which will serve as an adequate basis for good clinical practice. This paper summarises the relevant research and identifies problems that can arise for clinicians involved in the administration of prn medications in mental health settings. It concludes by highlighting key issues which urgently require empirical investigation.
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This paper describes a four-month preparatory training program for mental health nurses to provide an Emergency Mental Health Triage and Consultancy Service in the emergency department. The emergency department is an important gateway for patients presenting with psychiatric/psychosocial problems and mental health professionals need to provide prompt and effective care to this group of patients. Prior to the implementation of the service, it was acknowledged that occupational stress and burnout could affect the turnover of mental health nurses in the department. ⋯ The results demonstrated that providing mental health nurses with a structured program was instrumental in facilitating their movement to an advanced practitioner level. The nurses were able to apply advanced knowledge and skills to assess and manage clients with complex mental health /psychosocial problems. Furthermore, on leaving the emergency department these nurses were able to utilise the advanced skills in other areas of mental health nursing practice.