ABSTRACT
Gerontological care in nursing homes receives little interest from students and newly qualified nurses alike. Yet, this population does have ever-more complex needs that call for a wide array of nursing competencies. This article highlights the essential contributions of registered nurses in the context of nursing homes and is part of a research study aimed at grasping the nature of caring for elders. The researchers used the methodology inspired from activity analysis using focus groups. Situations identified by the respondents as being disruptive have been looked at in cross-perspective. The results show that the work carried out by the registered nurses constitutes the linchpin of institutional functioning. Their contribution consists of coordinating all the activities that take place, while striving to make them relevant to the caretakers, residents, and their relatives. This key role comprises three fields of activities: organizational and innovative activities; autonomous, person-centered activities; and ethical tension management activities. By helping to meet the daily challenges pertaining to the care and monitoring of very old people and by dealing with situations that are often tragic, they carry out tasks that are stimulating on human, intellectual, and relational levels.
Subject(s)
Geriatric Nursing , Nurse's Role , Nursing Homes , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Attitude of Health Personnel , Clinical Competence , Empathy , Female , Humans , Interprofessional Relations , Male , Nursing Methodology ResearchABSTRACT
In recent years the incidence of bloodstream infections due to Candida species has progressively increased, partly due to the more critical conditions of hospitalized patients. There has been a significant increase in immune-compromised, diabetic and/or elderly patients, also with venous access, with a subsequent increase in Candida species isolated from bloodstream infections. In 2009-2010 in the hospitals of Mestre and Venice we isolated 123 Candida species from bloodstream infections: 59 Candida albicans, 28 Candida parapsilosis, 12 Candida glabrata, 9 Candida tropicalis, and 4 Geotrichum capitatum, while the 11 others belong to 8 different species. We calculated MIC for the following antifungal agents: fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, 5-flucytosine, amphotericin B and caspofungin.