The effectiveness of a standardised positioning tool and bedside education on the developmental positioning proficiency of NICU nurses.

In order to improve the developmental proficiency of neonatal intensive care unit nurses, a standardised infant positioning assessment tool and a bedside education programme were introduced to the registered nurses in a 46 bed level III neonatal intensive care unit in the western United States. A developmental positioning team collected pre-intervention positioning scores on 54 preterm infants. This was followed by a survey of the registered nurses beliefs and attitudes, the introduction of the standardised assessment tool and an informal education programme. Post-intervention positioning scores were collected on 55 preterm infants, and analysis of the data indicated there was a statistically significant change in mean positioning scores. Additionally, the registered nurses identified several barriers to the implementation of developmental positioning. This research indicates the use of a standardised infant positioning assessment tool and bedside education may be useful strategies for improving the developmental positioning proficiency of NICU nurses.

The experience of Latino parents of hospitalized children during family-centered rounds.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to describe the experience of Latino parents of hospitalized children during family-centered rounds (FCRs). BACKGROUND: Family-centered rounds provide a mechanism to exchange information and facilitate shared decision making. Latino parents may have a suboptimal experience during FCRs. Understanding this experience helps nurse leaders improve patient satisfaction. METHODS: Using a convenience sample, written surveys in Spanish were given to 20 parents who had attended at least 2 FCRs. The surveys were translated into English for data analysis. RESULTS: The narrative data were analyzed for common themes using content analysis. Four themes were identified: valued perception, inclusion and care, facilitated communication, and meeting expectations. CONCLUSIONS: Parents in this study felt that their participation and input were valued and that these positively impacted care. Family-centered rounds helped them understand the plan and facilitated communication when done in Spanish. Nurse leaders play a key role in improving satisfaction and increasing access to translation services or bilingual staff.

Measurement of mothers' confidence to care for children assisted with tracheostomy technology in family homes.

The purpose of this research was to develop an objective, linear measure of mothers' confidence to care for children assisted with tracheostomy medical technology in their homes. Caregiver confidence is addressed in this research for three technologies, namely, a) trachesotomy, b) tracheostomy and ventilator, and c) BiPAP/CPAP although detailed measurement results are only reported for tracheostomy, and its co-calibration with tracheostomy and ventilator caregiving items. The sample consisted of 53 mothers responding to several caregiver questionnaires based on a caregiving task matrix after content and clinical validation. A major challenge was integrating this construct with overarching principles already established by Functional Caregiving, a multi-level humanistic caregiving model for children with intellectual disabilities. Empirical analyses included principal components analysis, and then linear transformation of Tracheostomy item ratings to an objective, equal-interval scale with a Rasch model. Results show caregiver separation on the Tracheostomy caregiving scale was 2.66 and reliability, .88. In general, co-calibration improved measurement properties without affecting mothers' caregiving confidence measures. Although sample size was small, measuring mothers' confidence to care for a child supported by complex medical technologies appears very promising.

Bisphosphonates, cancer, and osteonecrosis--a single practice experience.

Intravenous bisphosphonates have come into increasing use to protect cancer patients from adverse boney events. The prevalence of use, demographics of a treatment population, and occurrence of a particular side effect are explored in this article.