NursingConnections
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Too often, assessment of pain in the cognitively impaired population is not conducted as well as it could be. Pain assessment in impaired elderly patients is a complicated clinical challenge. ⋯ The authors identify selected behaviors that demonstrate the presence of pain in cognitively impaired persons. Nurses must be aware of these behavioral indicators and their value in assessing for and treating pain in this special population.
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The quality of care that nurses provide to patients is strongly influenced by the nurses' ability to think critically and to solve problems. In response to the dynamic changes in healthcare and rapid technological advancements, nursing educators must prepare nursing students to meet the challenges. ⋯ Nursing students who use critical thinking skills will provide high quality and efficient patient care in the acute care and community settings. During the simulated laboratory experience, incorporating creative teaching strategies to promote critical thinking and enhance problem-solving skills can enable nursing graduates to enter the workforce feeling confident and competent.
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Schizophrenia is a chronic, disabling disease of mind and behavior. Since some schizophrenics are prone to violence, nursing students devised a safety risk assessment tool to help health care personnel screen clients in acute care settings who may be at risk for violent behavior. ⋯ The results obtained from the assessment tool guide nurses and other health care team members in implementing appropriate interventions. Future research and pilot studies are warranted to increase the reliability and validity of this tool.
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This study investigated the relationships among role conflict, role ambiguity, organizational commitment, and job satisfaction experienced by clinical team members in a hospital undergoing reengineering. The sample consisted of 409 registered nurses (RNs) and 278 non-RNs. ⋯ No significant differences in role conflict and role ambiguity, organizational commitment, and job satisfaction were observed between RNs working on medical-surgical units and those on specialty units. Strategies that reduce role conflict and role ambiguity to increase organizational commitment and job satisfaction are discussed.