OASIS voice mailbox inservices.

Assuring accuracy and reliability in OASIS data collection is more than just a one-time orientation. This article describes a lively ongoing OASIS educational program creatively using the agency's voice mail system. The article presents basic OASIS information and is a required reading for clinicians and managers who are interested in accurately collecting OASIS data.

The national standards for culturally and linguistically appropriate services in health care.

In December 2000, the Office of Minority Health published the National Standards on Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health Care (CLAS Standards). These standards provide a framework for building the cultural and linguistic competence of home health care agencies. This article describes each of the 14 standards and suggests strategies for meeting the cultural and linguistic needs of home health care patients.

Nursing across cultures: the Vietnamese client.

Asian Americans are the most rapidly growing immigrant group in the United States today. Home care nurses will be caring for increasing numbers of patients originating from the Southeast Asian peninsula in the countries of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. A Vietnamese case study explores some of the beliefs, values, and practices held by this group of Asian Americans. The case study highlights the problems that can occur when a nurse is unaware of the impact that culture has on a client from a different ethnic and cultural background. Six steps to provide culturally competent care are outlined.

Cultural assessment in home healthcare.

As the nurse becomes adept at performing cultural assessments and culturally competent care, it will become clear that "although it is critical to conduct a cultural assessment with culturally and ethnically diverse groups, it is also important to realize that every client needs a cultural assessment. Every client has values, beliefs, and practices that must be considered when a clinician renders healthcare services. Therefore, cultural assessments are not limited to specific ethnic groups, but rather should be conducted on each individual" (Campinha-Bacote, 1995, p.148). Nurses who have been identified as good transcultural nurses have been found to be empathetic, caring, open, and flexible. They have a positive attitude toward cultural differences and have a genuine interest in learning from the client about the client's culture (Emerson, 1995). Talabere (1996) states that openness, appreciation of another's perspective, holistic communication, genuine interest, and a nonjudgmental attitude are central to cultural sensitivity. When a culturally sensitive nurse develops mutually agreeable goals with a patient from another culture, a kind of cultural synergy occurs, resulting in care that is "meaningful, satisfying and beneficial to clients" (Leininger, 1988, p.155).

An innovative night service program in home care.

Comprehensive night service by a home care agency has resulted in increased customer satisfaction and referrals to the agency. The description of this innovative night nurse program includes the job requirements and duties of a visiting night nurse and the tools the nurse uses to accomplish the task of nighttime care delivery. The use of self-directed work groups and mentorship to manage the demands of night service are discussed. Continuity of care, nurse safety, professional development, and program cost also are addressed.

Environmental assessment.

The significance, standard elements, components, and documentation of an environmental assessment in home care are discussed. This assessment is delineated within Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and from a functional perspective. An Environmental Assessment Form that can be used as a documentation tool is included.

Achieving success in home care through the self-directed work group approach.

Self-directed work groups (SDWGs) have become the hallmark of many successful corporations. This work-management philosophy is a cost-effective way to respond quickly to the challenges of today's rapidly changing home healthcare environment. To enable nurses to develop SDWGs, the five key characteristics of these groups--coaching, communication, commitment, cooperation, and contribution--are described.