Nursing & health sciences
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Nursing & health sciences · Mar 2014
What we can learn about recovery: lessons from the Fukushima survivors.
Recovery from disaster can take a lifetime, and people looking in from outside might not appreciate the stages of recovery. Little talked about is the stigma, which might attach to the survivors of a disaster, especially if it is a man-made disaster. This paper documents the account of a Japanese nursing student who visited the area 18 months after the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami, talked to the people there, and shared her reflections. The experiences of the Fukushima survivors are linked to those of victims of other disasters, whose recovery was impeded by being discriminated against and stigmatized.
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Nursing & health sciences · Mar 2014
Comparative StudyCompassion fatigue and satisfaction: a cross-sectional survey among US healthcare workers.
Professional quality of life among healthcare providers can impact the quality and safety of patient care. The purpose of this research was to investigate compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue levels as measured by the Professional Quality of Life Scale self-report instrument in a community hospital in the United States. A cross-sectional survey study examined differences among 139 RNs, physicians, and nursing assistants. ⋯ Caregivers for critical patients scored significantly lower on the Professional Quality of Life subscale of burnout when compared with those working in a noncritical care unit. Linear regression results indicate that high sleep levels and employment in critical care areas are associated with less burnout. Identification of predictors can be used to design interventions that address modifiable risks.
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Nursing & health sciences · Mar 2014
ReviewDisaster preparedness and response: challenges for Australian public health nurses - a literature review.
To date, Australia has not had to respond to a nationwide catastrophic event. However, over the past decade, heat waves, bushfires, cyclones, and floods have significantly challenged Australia's disaster preparedness and the surge capacity of local and regional health systems. Given that disaster events are predicted to increase in impact and frequency, the health workforce needs to be prepared for and able to respond effectively to a disaster. ⋯ Since almost all disasters will exert some impact on public health, it is expedient to prepare the public health nursing workforce within Australia. This paper highlights issues currently facing disaster nursing and focuses on the challenges for Australian public health nurses responding to and preparing for disasters within Australia. The paper specifically addresses public health nurses' awareness regarding their roles in disaster preparation and response, given their unique skills and central position in public health.
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Nursing & health sciences · Mar 2014
ReviewNurses' experiences of ethical preparedness for public health emergencies and healthcare disasters: a systematic review of qualitative evidence.
Little is known about nurses' direct experiences of ethical preparedness for dealing with catastrophic public health emergencies and healthcare disasters or the ethical quandaries that may arise during such events. A systematic literature review was undertaken to explore and synthesize qualitative research literature reporting nurses' direct experiences of being prepared for and managing the ethical challenges posed by catastrophic public health emergencies and healthcare disasters. ⋯ The review confirmed there is a significant gap in the literature on nurses' experiences of ethical preparedness for managing public health emergencies and healthcare disasters, and the ethical quandaries they encounter during such events. This finding highlights the need for ethical considerations in emergency planning, preparedness, and response by nurses to be given more focused attention in the interests of better informing the ethical basis of emergency disaster management.
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Nursing & health sciences · Mar 2014
Comparative StudyPerceived breathlessness and psychological distress among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and their spouses.
The purpose of this study was to describe the impact of breathlessness on Jordanian patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and their spouses' perception of the patients' breathlessness. A cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational design was used with a sample of 67 Jordanian patients with COPD related breathlessness and their spouses. The Dyspnoea 12 Scale (D-12) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were administered to both patients and spouses. ⋯ Both patients and spouses reported clinically significant levels of anxiety and depression. There was no statistical difference in total D-12 and HADS scores between COPD patients and their spouses. The finding of this study indicates the importance of healthcare providers in supporting both patients with breathlessness and their spouses and the need to develop family-centred services.