ABSTRACT
Oncology nurses have repeated confrontations with death. To suggest that oncology nurses have emotional needs in response to the demands of caring for cancer patients has not been popular even among the nurses themselves. Indeed, there is little written in the professional literature describing the grief experiences of nurses caring for dying patients. To study the grief of oncology nurses, the Grief Experience Inventory (GEI), a multi-dimensional measure of grief that is sensitive to the longitudinal evolution of the process of bereavement, was selected. In addition, a demographic questionnaire to identify professional, personal, and supportive influences that might affect nurses' grief experiences was developed. Data were collected from June 1991 through May 1992, from a total of 50 professional nurses (termed Stayers and Leavers) on adult oncology units in a comprehensive cancer center and in an urban medical center. The findings indicated that both Stayers and Leavers are above the norms in despair, social isolation, and somatization. Implications for education and practice as well as suggestions for education and practice as well as suggestions for further research are discussed.
Subject(s)
Death , Grief , Nursing Staff, Hospital/psychology , Oncology Nursing , Personnel Turnover , Attitude of Health Personnel , Career Choice , Female , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Nursing Methodology Research , Nursing Staff, Hospital/supply & distribution , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Nurses who care for oncology patients are in a unique position to observe and assess how the family is managing this stressful experience. Families under stress can create obstacles to delivering optimal nursing care, resulting in feelings of powerlessness on the part of the nurse. This article proposes a family life-cycle framework for assessing families. The concept of centripetal and centrifugal modes constructively links the illness life cycle to the individual and family life cycles. Recommended psychosocial interventions using this model are addressed.
Subject(s)
Family/psychology , Nursing Assessment/methods , Oncology Nursing/methods , Stress, Psychological/nursing , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Female , Humans , Life Change Events , Models, Psychological , Stress, Psychological/diagnosis , Stress, Psychological/psychology , Systems TheoryABSTRACT
The effect of respiratory constraint on heart rate control was assessed in a biofeedback situation with feedback consisting of changes in both illumination level and intensity of pre-recorded baby's cry. Subjects were reinforced for alternately increasing and decreasing heart rate on each of seven days during which respiration was unconstrained (Phase 1). This phase was followed by eight days when respiration was constrained during training sessions with a control respirator (Phase 2). Seven additional days of training followed in the unconstrained situation (Phase 3). Results indicate that the control of heart rate in biofeedback situations is very closely related to respiratory and other somatic activity. The implication of these findings for the field of visceral control is discussed.
