The Experiential World of the Oncology Nurse

In her1 experiential world; the oncology nurse experiences unique; challenging and rewarding relationships in a multidimensional; dynamic way. The aim of this study was to describe; from her viewpoint and perspective; how she experiences and reacts to this world. Through this study the researcher wants the oncology nurse's voice to be heard; the richness of her story acknowledged and the derived data to be applied to the benefit of the field of oncology. In-depth; unstructured phenomenological interviews provided the saturated data from which the uniqueness of the world of the oncology nurse unfolded as the uniqueness of the oncology patients and their world emerged clearly. Findings show that the oncology nurse; attending to the cancer patients and their family; experiences many different relationships. The uniqueness of the oncology nurse-patient relation-ship is described as unlike any other nurse-patient relationship. The challenging interpersonal relationships with management and other members of the multiprofessional team; as experienced from the perspective of the oncology nurse; are also highlighted. Furthermore; a unifying intrapersonal relationship with the self was identified. This enables the oncology nurse to be both on the giving and receiving end of the intensely emotional environment she works in; explaining; at least partly; the high job satisfaction that permeated the interviews in this study. Recommendations for nursing practice; education and research were formulated

Guidelines to Facilitate the Nursing Accompaniment of Mothers with in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

To be the mother of a premature infant in a neonatal intensive care unit can sometimes be overwhelming. The hospital environment and the sound made by the life support apparatus in the unit may be terrifying for persons who are unfamiliar with this environment. An observation of the researcher; who practises in a neonatal intensive care unit; was that mothers were often very distressed after the admission of their infants. It also appeared as if health care practitioners were failing to provide for the needs of these mothers. The objectives of the research on which this article is based were: firstly; to acknowledge and describe the experiences of the mothers with regard to the hospitali- sation of their infants in the neonatal intensive care unit and secondly; to utilise the information obtained to develop guidelines to assist registered nurses accompanying mothers throughout their infants' stay in the neonatal intensive care unit. The conclusion was reached that mothers whose infants are admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit have a need for compassionate accompaniment by registered nurses during the period of hospitalisation of their infants