ABSTRACT
This article describes ways to engage children in clinical research through a carefully planned assent process. When assent is handled well, children may gain a sense of control over their choice to participate in research, which may in turn enhance their cooperation in the process. Ways to engage children in the assent process, the historical development of consent and assent, and discussion of the issues surrounding parental consent and child assent are presented. Practical suggestions are provided to make research participation a positive and appealing process for children.
Subject(s)
Child Advocacy , Patient Compliance , Pediatric Nursing , Research/standards , Third-Party Consent , Child , Humans , Informed Consent , United StatesABSTRACT
STUDY QUESTION: What barriers related to limitations of space or facilities do nurse practitioners (NPs) describe in association with their current practice? METHOD: This was a descriptive quantitative/qualitative study of 81 NPs in one Midwestern state with a survey instrument previously developed under the auspices of the Division of Nursing and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing regarding advanced practice nursing. RESULTS: Of 641 questionnaires mailed to the total number of prescribing NPs in the state, 372 (58%) were returned. Of that number, 81 (22%) indicated that space limitations were a barrier to practice. Seven themes emerged in qualitative analysis of their narrative descriptions of this barrier. DISCUSSION: Results of this study can assist NPs to articulate their space requirements and enhance existing spaces to better meet patient and NP needs.
Subject(s)
Hospital Design and Construction , Job Description , Nurse Practitioners/organization & administration , Pediatric Nursing/organization & administration , Professional Autonomy , Attitude of Health Personnel , Child , Humans , Nurse Practitioners/psychology , Nursing Methodology Research , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
To effectively care for well or ill children, nurses must know something about how children think and what they are capable of comprehending. Nurses have traditionally based assumptions about children's cognitive abilities on a surface knowledge of Piaget's theory of cognitive development. Many recent researchers in the field of cognitive development have pointed out limitations in Piaget's theory and offer new ways of conceptualizing the way children think. In this article, I will identify limitations of Piaget's theory as it applies to preschool-aged children. Ideas of researchers using an information processing approach to understanding children's thinking will be described as alternative approaches to the understanding of preschool thought. I prescriptively postulate how research findings concerning cognition have implications for nurses working with young children.
Subject(s)
Child Development , Cognition , Nursing Care , Child, Preschool , Humans , Memory , Mental Processes , ThinkingABSTRACT
Mastery of independent toileting is a major developmental milestone for both children and parents, yet little research has been done on the topic since the early 1960s. Since little empirical data exists on the topic, a phenomenologic approach was used to identify components of the toileting process from the mother's perspective and to identify concepts germane to the toileting process to be studied in future research. Based upon analysis of tape-recorded, open-ended interviews, five recurring themes were identified: timing, trajectories of successes and failures, strategies, mother influencers, and child traits and skills. The recurring themes suggested a commonality of experiences, even though individual stories of the transition from diapers to underpants were unique for each child.
Subject(s)
Mothers/psychology , Toilet Training , Adult , Child Development , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Interviews as Topic , Personality , Reinforcement, Psychology , Sex CharacteristicsABSTRACT
The aim of this investigation was to delineate the concepts contributing to the Exercise of Self-Care Agency (ESCA) scale developed by Kearney and Fleischer (1979) and to test its construct and discriminant validity. Using factor analytic techniques upon data generated by 506 subjects, the concepts of Self-Concept, Initiative and Responsibility, Knowledge and Information Seeking, and Passivity emerged. These findings are congruent with the theoretical work of the Nursing Conference Development Group (1973) and Kearney and Fleischer. The factors were found to discriminate these concepts among 3 different samples. Recommendations are made for revision, further research, and use of the instrument in practice.
