No Visitors: Family Perceptions of Separation From Hospitalized Loved Ones.

BACKGROUND/INTRODUCTION: Restrictions on visitors during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had major implications for both patients and families, impacting health care outcomes. Policies included mandatory closures, masking, and visiting restrictions both in acute and long-term care. Despite visiting restrictions in health care systems, little is known about its effects. OBJECTIVES/AIMS: The objective of this study was to elicit perceptions of individuals who were separated from their loved ones during acute care hospitalization during the COVID pandemic. METHODS: Individuals who experienced separation from hospitalized family members because of the "no-visitor policies" during the COVID-19 pandemic were asked to participate in a study to elicit their perceptions. After institutional review board approval, interviews were completed for those who had loved ones admitted to acute care facilities only. Audiotaped and transcribed interviews were conducted in person, via telephone, or virtually using a primary investigator-developed interview guide. Using the Colaizzi method of analysis, themes were derived. RESULTS: Of the 11 completed interviews, 100% of participants were female, and all were residents of Texas. Themes derived from this pilot project were advocacy, communication, emotional upheaval, human factors, isolation, and abandonment. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from patient interviews support previous published studies. Ideas for improved patient and family experience discussed by the authors include personal protective equipment for significant others, consideration of visitation policies for those patients without decision-making capabilities, and increased accessibility to communication aids for both patients and families.

The Lived Experiences of Nurses Working During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Previous research on nurses during pandemics has focused on nurses working in one facility or type of unit; this study focuses on nurses caring for COVID-19 patients in a variety of units in different sites across the United States. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to understand the experiences of registered nurses working with hospitalized COVID-19 patients. METHODS: This study used a hermeneutic phenomenology design. Semistructured interviews via telephone were conducted and then transcribed verbatim. Colaizzi's method of analysis was used. Data saturation was achieved with 14 participants. RESULTS: Three major themes were evident. They were "the human connection," "the nursing burden," and "coping." Subthemes were identified under each major theme. DISCUSSION: This study depicted nurses who are caring, empathetic, and resilient. They had many recommendations for fellow nurses, the public, and health care organizations.

Effects of Peppermint Aromatherapy on Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting.

PURPOSE: Standardized order sets for postoperative patients often include antiemetic medications only for postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of PONV in patients receiving peppermint aromatherapy and usual care to patients receiving only usual care. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental research design used to evaluate the ability of peppermint aromatherapy to decrease PONV and antiemetic use postoperatively. METHODS: Intervention group received peppermint aromatherapy with a control group receiving standard of care. The nausea scale with descriptors was used to evaluate PONV. FINDINGS: Descriptive statistics and a χ2 test revealed no statistical significance (P = .28). However, peppermint aromatherapy was preferred by many patients as indicated by patients' statements and decreased ratings and complaints of nausea. CONCLUSIONS: The peppermint aromatherapy was favorably received by many of the postoperative patients and may be an effective adjunct treatment with antiemetics for PONV.

A School of Nursing's Response to Hurricane Harvey.

Hurricane Harvey hit the Gulf Coast in August 2017, dumping over 60 inches of rain in just a few short days. Nearly a quarter of households were damaged or lost during this time, and services were impacted for weeks. This article discusses one school of nursing's response to this natural disaster. With natural disasters increasing in number, it is hoped that this article will help schools of nursing plan for such an event.

Moral Distress: A Qualitative Study of Emergency Nurses.

BACKGROUND: Although many nursing studies have focused on moral distress, very few have looked at moral distress and emergency nurses despite the fact that this group works in stressful, fast-paced environments that often involve situations that can lead to moral distress. OBJECTIVES: The goals of this qualitative study are to determine how emergency nurses define moral distress, describe the experiences of moral distress by emergency nurses and its impact, and identify possible strategies to combat moral distress. METHOD: This study used a phenomenological qualitative design. A convenience sample was used and included 8 registered nurses from 3 different emergency departments in a midsized urban county in the South Central United States. A structured open-ended interview technique was used. RESULTS: Four major themes were identified: (1) there was no face of the family, (2) asking God for forgiveness, (3) flipping the switch, and (4) it changes who we are. DISCUSSION: Nurses in this study all reported experiencing moral distress. Sources of moral distress identified included patient advocacy issues, professional behavior of other health care professionals, internal conflicts with what they perceived to be the right thing to do and that which was asked of them, and guilt over their own feelings about patient care. These nurses described effective and ineffective coping mechanisms.

Myths and stereotypes: how registered nurses screen for intimate partner violence.

INTRODUCTION: Intimate partner violence, sometimes referred to as domestic violence, is a prevalent problem in the United States and across the world. Emergency nurses are often the first health care providers to ask individuals about this health issue and are often the first to offer intervention and prevention measures. METHODS: This study used a phenomenological qualitative approach to examine the role of the registered nurse in the emergency setting as it relates to intimate partner violence. Thirteen emergency nurses from the South Central United States were interviewed for this study. RESULTS: Four major themes emerged during analysis of the interviews. The 4 themes were (1) myths, stereotypes, and fears; (2) demeanor; (3) frustrations; and (4) safety benefits. DISCUSSION: This study suggests that emergency nurses are not screening for intimate partner violence based on a protocol as suggested by many professional organizations but rather are screening certain patients for violence based on the nurses' perception of whether particular patients are likely to be victims of violence.

Registered nurses and moral distress.

Nurses spend more time with patients at the end of life than any other member of the health care team, giving them early insight into futility-of-care issues for a particular patient. Providing futile care to dying patients is a well-known source of moral distress for nurses. Traditional ethical models are not always effective in dealing with these issues. The purpose of this article was to describe moral distress that is often experienced by nurses providing care to patients at the end of life and to propose the use of a model in dealing with associated ethical dilemmas in an effort to decrease the incidence of moral distress.

Innovative solutions: taking advance directives to the community.

Less than 25% of Americans have completed an advance directive. This article lists some of the barriers to why people do not have advanced directives and concludes with a description of a program by one hospital to educate the public about the importance of these documents.

Intimate partner violence: continuing education for registered nurses.

Intimate partner violence, also known as domestic violence, is a leading health problem affecting approximately 50% of women during the course of their lifetime. A large percentage of the abusers also abuse their children and older adults. Nurses are in a key position to identify and intervene with victims of abuse. However, a major barrier to screening and referral is lack of education. Nurses indicate a lack of education in their formal undergraduate and graduate programs. Therefore, nurses should be introduced to this topic through a 2-hour continuing education program.

Aortic aneurysm in pregnancy: a case study.

This is an interesting case study about a patient in her 37th week of pregnancy who develops an aortic aneurysm. The pathophysiology and medical and nursing care of these patients are discussed.

End-of-life education in undergraduate nursing curricula.

Americans are increasingly dying in hospitals. The provision of end-of-life care is essential to providing a death with dignity. However, this is not taught in many schools of nursing. The purpose of this article is to discuss the importance of including this important content in nursing curricula.

Ethical dilemma: voluntarily stopping eating and drinking.

Nutritional support is an ethical/legal dilemma that healthcare providers must face when dealing with the elderly population of patients in critical care units. As nurses we have the responsibility to consider the issues concerning this topic. The debate concerning the issue of nutritional support, implications to terminate treatment, and fears concerning liability have shifted the decision-making process from the intensive care bedside to the courtroom. Hence, nurses must face this dilemma daily. This article utilizes a case study approach, explores legal issues, discusses ethical guidelines, and identifies techniques for conflict resolution.

Don't send it yet! Getting your manuscript ready to submit.

Following these steps to finalize your paper will make a big difference in the overall reaction of the reviewers and editors. You are not only more likely to get an acceptance, but you also are more likely to be pleased when you read the article again, when it is in print!

Ethical analysis.

Critical care nurses care for patients at the end of their lives on a daily basis. Ethical dilemmas are often encountered while caring for these patients and their families. This article reviews a case scenario along with a framework for ethical analysis.