Contemp Nurse
-
Review
'Sorry, were you sleeping? Nurses' role in the promotion of sleep for critically ill patients.
During critical illness sleep is important for immune function and restorative processes. Despite theoretical evidence and scientific understanding of the effects of sleep deprivation in the critically ill, research is yet to be entirely translated into institutional practices and department cultural norms. ⋯ A paradigm shift in nursing and institutional culture is required to implement sleep promotion research and strategies to minimise adverse outcomes for patients.
-
Users' participation in care has been acknowledged as a key factor to improve health services. ⋯ The choice for users' participation in care is a right defended in health policies around the world. The Theory of Goal Attainment is an appropriate guide to nurses in defense of users' participation in nursing care.
-
Historical Article
A game of snakes and ladders: negotiating the 'ups and downs' of endorsement as a nurse practitioner in Australia.
Australian legislation supporting the nurse practitioner (NP) role was enacted in 1998. Since then, NPs have played an important advanced practice role within the interdisciplinary healthcare team. However, the literature suggests that transition to the NP role can be challenging. ⋯ This study raises awareness of the transition experiences of Australian NPs and their challenges and barriers during this time.
-
Although the use of humour in health care has been well investigated, the humorous interactions between nurse and patient are not. This research project investigated the humorous interaction between patient and nurse. ⋯ The study indicated gender differences in the way humour is used by patients. For female patients, humour is often instant and situation bound and used as a reassuring discourse for others, whereas male patients' humour through stories and anecdotes is designed to establish a sense of equalising power between the patient and nurse.
-
Medical Records Reviews (MRR) are commonly used in research and quality activities in health care, however, there is a paucity of literature offering a step by step guide to devising a reliable, user-friendly tool. ⋯ When well-planned and appropriately used, MRR provides an excellent means for examining patient outcomes in addition to safety and quality of care.