Concepción de la Teoría de Transición de Afaf Meleis. Posibilidades de aplicación para la enfermería / Afaf Meleis´transitions theory design: application opportunities for nursing

Introducción. Se trata de un estudio teórico inserido en la elaboración de una tesis de doctorado en Enfermería que aplicó la teoría de Afaf Meleis. Objetivos. Describir la concepción y diseño de la Teoría de Transición y sus posibilidades de aplicación en enfermería. Metodología. Se busca analizar la teoría e identificar los elementos que constituyen su estructura básica: tipos, propiedades, condiciones y patrones de respuesta. Discusión. Las transiciones se caracterizan por diferentes fases dinámicas, marcos y puntos de inflexión, y se pueden definir a través de los procesos o resultados finales, con alteraciones según la experiencia vivida, el espacio y el tiempo. Conclusión. Consideramos que esta teoría con fundamentos epistemológicos posibilita el desarrollo del conocimiento científico enfermero y es aplicable a diversos campos de actuación en el contexto de la salud (AU)

Introduction. We present a theoretical study embedded in the preparation of a nursing doctoral thesis which applied Afaf Meleis’ Transitions Theory. Objectives. To describe the Transitions Theory’s design and its application possibilities for nursing. Methodology. Analyze the theory and identify the elements that constitute its basic structure: types, properties, conditions and response patterns. Discussion. Transitions are characterized by diverse dynamic stages, landmarks and turning points, and can be defined through processes and/or final results, which undergo changes regarding lived experience, space and time. Conclusion. We consider this theory, given its epistemological foundations, as a tool that enables the development of scientific knowledge in nursing, with applicability in various fields within the health context (AU)

Nurses' sociodemographic background and assessments of individualized care.

AIM: The aim of this study was to explore the association between nurses' characteristics (educational level, country, work title, gender, type of work, age, and length of working experience) and their assessments of individualized care. DESIGN: A cross-sectional comparative survey using questionnaires was employed to sample nurses from seven countries. METHODS: Data were collected from orthopedic and trauma nurses from Cyprus, Finland, Greece, Portugal, Sweden, Turkey, and the United States (N= 1,163, response rate 70%) using the Individualized Care Scale-Nurse (ICS-Nurse) and a sociodemographic questionnaire in 2008. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and general linear models. RESULTS: When compared with practical nurses, registered nurses, length of working experience, and the country of the nurses were associated with assessments of the support of patient individuality in specific nursing activities (ICS-A-Nurse) and country assessments of individuality in the care provided (ICS-B-Nurse). The background and experience within nursing teams together with the country affect the delivery of individualized care. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our findings suggest that nurses' personal attributes have important effects on their assessments of individualized nursing care that will be useful when making context-dependent recruitment decisions. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The characteristics of nurses contribute to the care delivered in healthcare organizations. Recognition of these nurse-related factors may help nurse leaders in the development and management of clinical practice.

Cuidados à pessoa em fim de vida: percepção de graduandos de enfermagem em Portugal / End-of-life care: perception of graduate students in Portugal / Cuidados a la persona al fin de vida: la percepción de los estudiantes de enfermería en Portugal

Cuidados paliativos visam melhorar, por meio da prevenção e do alívio do sofrimento, a qualidade de vida daspessoas e das famílias que enfrentam problemas decorrentes de doença incurável e/ou com prognóstico limitado.O objetivo deste artigo é analisar a percepção de estudantes de enfermagem acerca da prestação de cuidados deenfermagem ao paciente em fase final de vida e sua família. Trata-se de estudo descritivo com abordagem qualitativaque utilizou, para a coleta de dados, a entrevista semiestruturada aplicada a alunos do 4o ano de enfermagem. Aanálise de conteúdo possibilitou a identificação de seis categorias: Cuidados paliativos; Cuidados de enfermagemem fim de vida; Cuidados à família do doente em fim de vida; Formação inicial em cuidados paliativos; Tipo deformação sobre cuidados paliativos; e Patologia associada aos cuidados paliativos. Concluiu-se que os alunosentendem não estar preparados, no final do Curso de Enfermagem, para prestarem cuidados à pessoa em fim devida e à sua família.

Palliative care intends to increase, by prevention and suffering relief, the life quality of both the patient and thefamily that have to face problems with an incurable diseases or/and limited prognosis. The purpose of this article is toanalyze the perceptions of nursing students regarding nursing care to end-of-life patients and their families. This isa descriptive study with a qualitative approach. The data were collected through semi-structured interview answeredby undergraduate nursing students from the 4th year of college. The content analysis allowed the identification ofsix categories: Palliative Care; End-of-life Nursing Care; End- of- life Nursing Care for Patient and Family; InitialTraining on Palliative Care; Type of Training on Palliative Care; and Pathology Associated with Palliative Care. It isconcluded that students recognize that, at the end of the Nursing Undergraduate Course, they are underprepared toprovide terminal patients and their family nursing care.

Los cuidados paliativos buscan mejorar, a través de la prevención y del alivio del sufrimiento, la calidad de vida delas personas y de las familias que enfrentan problemas derivados de una enfermedad incurable y/o con pronóstico limitado. El objetivo de este artículo es analizar la percepción de los estudiantes de enfermería sobre la prestación decuidados de enfermaría al paciente en fase final de vida y a su familia. Estudio descriptivo con enfoque cualitativoque ha utilizado, para la recoleta de datos, la entrevista semiestructurada aplicada a los estudiantes del cuartoaño de enfermería. El análisis de contenido permitió identificar seis categorías: Cuidados Paliativos; Cuidadosde Enfermería en fin de Vida; Cuidados a la familia del enfermo en fin de vida; Formación inicial en cuidadospaliativos; Tipo de formación sobre los cuidados paliativos; y Patología asociada a los cuidados paliativos. Se concluyeque los estudiantes, al final del curso de Enfermería, perciben su falta de preparo, para proporcionar cuidados a lapersona al fin de vida y a su familia.