ABSTRACT
AIM: To explore public health nurse (PHN) perspectives of their evolving work and how public health nurse work is managed in a Canadian health region. BACKGROUND: Professional and public health organisations describe public health nurse practice roles as population-focused work. Health care management directs public health nurse work to achieve specific goals. METHODS: In this qualitative study, data were collected during focus groups with 42 public health nurse participants in one health region. Focus group data were analysed for meanings and themes. RESULTS: Public health nurses perceived increasing immunizations and limited resources for public health nurse work meant that population-focused care for the public was rationed or missing. Participants perceived the health care organisation directed, managed and assigned public health nurse specialist work; however, public health nurses managed their client-focused practice with knowledge, reasoning and support from colleagues. CONCLUSIONS: Evolving visible public health nurse work was managed by health organisational management directives to increase immunizations and disease control. Public health nurses managed their evolving visible and invisible work supported by their knowledge, practice values and public health nurse colleagues. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Nursing management must lead and communicate the vision supporting better health, better population-focused care and health outcomes to public health nurse and stakeholders, while reviewing resources needed to optimize public health nursing and improve population health.
Subject(s)
Nurses, Community Health , Nurses, Public Health , Canada , Humans , Perception , Qualitative ResearchABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: 131I-meta-iodo-benzyl-guanidine (131I-MIBG) therapy has been used in children with high-risk neuroblastoma, who, in Japan, are cared for by trained nurses. To determine the safety of occupational radiation exposure in nurses, we retrospectively examined radiation exposure during therapy. METHODS: Sixty-two nurses who received radiation exposure during 131I-MIBG therapy were assessed for the daily percentage of total radiation exposure received using the formula, daily radiation exposure/total radiation dose × 100; self-care score of children was evaluated. RESULTS: Fifty-four 131I-MIBG treatments (592 ± 111 MBq/kg) were performed in neuroblastoma patients (M/F; 27 /27, mean age at 131I-MIBG treatment; 7 ± 2 years), who were isolated for 5 ± 1 days. Average total (0.36 ± 0.18 mSv; range 0.09-0.97 mSv) and daily (0.07 ± 0.05 mSv/day; range 0.02-0.32 mSv/day) radiation exposure to nurses per patient care. The daily percentage of total radiation exposure significantly decreased in 3 days after 131I-MIBG treatment (days 0, 1, and 2 was 38.2 ± 14.7%, 26.9 ± 12.6%, and 15.3 ± 7.1%, respectively), and the average self-care score was 12.2 ± 3.5 (10-27) for all patients. Higher self-care score was significantly related to younger patients' age and higher daily radiation exposure in nurses. CONCLUSION: Individual exposure to radiation was well controlled. Nurses who care for pediatric patients needing daily assistance must be aware of the radiation exposure risks, which can be reduced by establishing a care system and monitoring radiation exposure.
Subject(s)
3-Iodobenzylguanidine/therapeutic use , Neuroblastoma/nursing , Neuroblastoma/radiotherapy , Occupational Exposure/analysis , Radiation Exposure/analysis , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Retrospective Studies , RiskABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To examine factors influencing caring behaviour of nurses in Singapore. DESIGN: Descriptive correlational study using Care Behaviour Inventory (CBI-24) questionnaire to assess nurses' perceptions of their caring behaviours. SETTING: Acute tertiary hospital in Singapore. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 167 full time registered nurses working in subsidized wards, with more than 1 year of experience in current practising ward were recruited. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Nurses' perception of their caring behaviours. RESULTS: Data analysis yielded a mean CBI score of 123.11 out of 144, indicating that nurses had a positive perception of their caring behaviours. Among the 4 CBI subscales, Respectfulness and Connectedness components of CBI were ranked the lowest with a mean score of 4.2 and 4.9, respectively. This indicated that although nurses generally performed adequate caring during patient care, they appeared to be lacking in the expressive aspect of caring. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were found among subgroups of nationality, ethnicity, religion and education level. Nurses' perception of their caring behaviours was positively correlated to their age and total working experience. Linear regression showed that age, religion, education level positively influenced nurses' perception of their caring behaviours. CONCLUSION: Findings from this study raise awareness to the caring behaviours that nurses were lacking in and also offer valuable insights to the potential factors influencing nurses' caring behaviours. This information serves as a foundational knowledge to guide the development of interventions aimed to promote patient-centred care and improve quality of future nursing care.
Subject(s)
Attitude of Health Personnel , Empathy , Nurse-Patient Relations , Nursing Staff, Hospital/psychology , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Nurses/psychology , Singapore , Socioeconomic Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires , Tertiary Care CentersABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the statements of nursing professionals regarding healthcare provided to women in process of induced abortion. METHODS: Case study with qualitative approach, performed at a public maternity hospital in Salvador BA; data were obtained with the focus group technique, using content analysis. RESULTS: The nursing team professionals perceive abortion as a crime, a sin, and healthcare as discriminatory. The woman's right to speech is denied, with silence being observed along the abortion process. CONCLUSION: The absence of dialogue at the healthcare services makes the possibility of humanized care delivery more distant, turning the implantation of healthcare humanization policies for women in the process of induced abortion a challenge.
OBJETIVO: Analisar o discurso de profissionais de enfermagem com relação à assistência prestada às mulheres em processo de abortamento provocado. MÉTODOS: Estudo de caso, com abordagem qualitativa; realizado em uma maternidadepública de Salvador - BA; os dados foram obtidos por meio da técnica do Grupo Focal utilizando a técnica da análise de conteúdo. RESULTADOS: As profissionais da equipe de enfermagem percebem o abortamento como crime, pecado, e a assistência, como discriminatória. À mulher é negado o direito à fala, de onde o silêncio observado ao longo do processo do aborto. CONCLUSÃO: A ausência de diálogo nos serviços de atendimento torna mais distante a possibilidade de assistência humanizada, fazendo da implantação da política de humanização da assistência às mulheres em processo de aborto provocado, um desafio.
OBJETIVO: Analizar el discurso de profesionales de enfermería con relación a la asistencia prestada a las mujeres en proceso de aborto provocado. MÉTODOS: Estudio de caso, con abordaje cualitativo; realizado en una maternidad pública de Salvador - BA; los datos fueron obtenidos por medio de la técnica del Grupo Focal utilizando la técnica del análisis de contenido. RESULTADOS: Las profesionales del equipo de enfermería perciben el aborto como crimen, pecado, y la asistencia, como discriminante. A la mujer le es negado el derecho a hablar, por lo que el silencio es observado a lo largo del proceso de aborto. CONCLUSIÓN: La ausencia de diálogo en los servicios de atención vuelve más distante la posibilidad de asistencia humanizada, haciendo que la implantación de la política de humanización de la asistencia a las mujeres en proceso de aborto provocado sea un reto.
