Battered women: how can nurses help?

Research findings about the experience of 1,000 battered wives are presented in this paper. A total of 146 once-battered wives volunteered to be interviewed about their backgrounds, their victimization, and their use of personal strategies, informal help-sources, and formal help-sources to end the violence in their lives. As part of an article in Woman's Day magazine about this research, women who were currently or who had been previously battered were invited to respond to a questionnaire. The first 854 questionnaires returned in usable form were added to the interviews to create a 1,000-case national data base. An important finding of the study is that formal help-sources differ significantly in their effectiveness in providing service to battered women. The women in this study rated health care personnel as less effective than any other formal source of help. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of the research findings for nursing practice as they relate to the need for: a) awareness by the nurse of her or his own attitudes about battered women, b) understanding of the dynamics of battering, c) knowledge and skills for assessment of battering, and d) effective strategies for nursing intervention.     

Self-injury behavior: how can nurses help?

Although historical, religious, and cultural examples provide some understanding of SIB, the importance of further research, especially in adolescent SIB, cannot be underestimated. Nursing research is needed to explore the correlation between SIB and the spiritual needs of adolescents. Shannon (2005) stated that SIB is a common precursor to suicide. If adolescents at risk for this behavior are identified earlier, perhaps fewer teens will be lost to suicide. Although many use self-injury as short-term relief from their problems, it is repetitive in nature. If nurses are able to assist adolescents in interrupting emerging patterns of SIB, future self-injury may be prevented. Adolescents at risk for self-injury behavior are searching for a way to give voice to their pain. When approached with a caring attitude that reflects the love of Christ, when listened to with intentionality, and when nurtured by an authentic presence, self-injurers are relieved to externalize their difficult emotions through verbal means rather than to record their pain with visible stories on their skin. For even when the wounds heal, the scars remain a visible reminder of the hurt hiding within. In essence, the history of the self-injurer is recorded on their skin.     

Nutrition in pregnant teenagers: how can nurses help

Teenage birth rates in the UK are some of the highest in Europe. This article summarizes how the diet of pregnant British teenagers is currently inadequate and may impact upon maternal and infant health in the short and long term. The review highlights the value of an adequate diet during teenage pregnancies and explains how specific nutrient requirements can be met.     

When the patient is illiterate: how nurses can help.

Nurses have a unique opportunity to provide help to illiterate patients. With good listening, observation, and teaching skills, nurses can contribute significantly to the quality of care illiterate patients receive. They can influence long term recovery and patient compliance. It is important to teach when a "teachable" moment has arrived. For instance, when patients ask questions, they are usually ready to learn and an environment conducive to learning can be created. "Teachable" moments can occur at any time during hospitalization. The discharge interview is not the point at which to begin instructions. Discharge teaching should be a review of all the teaching that has been going on during hospitalization.     

The right tools can help critical care nurses save more lives

Technology has enabled hospitals to create a safer environment for patients, and has revolutionized nursing practice. Real-time automated surveillance data and documentation have streamlined care processes, and have directly contributed to improved clinical outcomes. Dashboards of key information displayed in a variety of locations throughout the hospital and even remotely, alert both caregivers and administrators to impending problems, and provide essential information for rapid responses. Such technological innovations facilitate benchmarking initiatives, and ensure that hospitals have the vital information to determine compliance with protocols and processes. The industry-wide emphasis on patient safety has served as an accelerant to the adoption and utilization of proactive automated clinical surveillance tools.     

A long wait: how nurses can help patients through the transplantation pathway

Heart transplants are a proven effective therapy for selected patients with end-stage congestive heart failure. But selecting patients, waiting, receiving and recovery can be a long and anxious process. This article provides an overview of heart transplantation and the nurse's role in helping the patient during this time.     

Patient and family education in the emergency department: how nurses can help

Non-emergent use of the emergency department has grown over the past decade. Lack of resources, access to care, medical insurance, and knowledge can all contribute to the inappropriate use of the emergency department. In return, the increase in the number of patients will then add to the wait time for those who need emergent treatment. The role of the emergency nurse can be enhanced by providing discharge teaching to patients and families about the proper use of the emergency department or where to seek treatment if needed. This education has the potential to significantly reduce the number of repeat visits, as well as misuse of the emergency department. The purpose of this article is to discuss the importance of discharge teaching for the patient and family in the ED setting.