Are nurses prepared to manage cancer pain? A national survey of nurses' knowledge about pain control in Taiwan

Nurses play a crucial role in cancer pain control, but little is known about how well-prepared nurses are to manage cancer pain in Taiwan. The purpose of this study was to examine the level of knowledge about pain management among Taiwanese nurses with different background characteristics and to determine the predictor(s) of nurses' pain management knowledge. Nurse subjects were recruited by a cross-sectional nationwide survey with stratified sampling from nine hospitals distributed in the four major geographic regions of Taiwan. The Nurses' Knowledge and Attitudes Survey-Taiwanese version (NKAS-T) and a background information form were used to collect the data. Of 1900 surveys distributed, 1797 valid questionnaires (94.5%) were analyzed. The average correct response rate was 50.5%, with rates ranging from 7-86% for each survey question. Results from stepwise regression showed that nurses with higher mean correct answer scores had BS or higher degrees, had received pain education at professional conferences, had more prior hours of pain education, had longer clinical care experiences, and always worked with cancer patients. Nurses who worked in intensive care units, however, had significantly lower mean correct scores. The results strongly suggest an urgent need to strengthen pain education in Taiwan. The results also provide the direction for developing pain education.     

Why do nursing students not want to work in geriatric care? A national questionnaire survey

Background

Given the severe shortage of nurses in geriatric care in Israel and the planned expansion of their role in the care of older people, the Israel Ministry of Health's Nursing Division decided to investigate the readiness of current students to work in geriatrics.

Objectives

To gather last-year student nurses’ views on geriatric nursing as a career choice and identify the factors behind those views.

Design

A cross-sectional questionnaire study was designed.

Settings and participants

486 students (70% of the total last-year student nurse population) across the whole range of study settings completed the questionnaire in 2011.

Methods

On the basis of extensive data collection from focus groups of student nurses and working geriatric nurses a structured, self-administered questionnaire was compiled. The researchers distributed and collected the questionnaire in the students’ classrooms.

Results

61% of the 486 respondents had no intention of working in geriatrics while 12% considered the prospect favourably. 27% of the respondents were prepared to consider geriatric nursing as a career choice only after advanced specialist training in that field. 69% said that the planned expansion of the powers of geriatric nurses would incline them more favourably to work in geriatrics.A relatively high proportion of those interested in working in geriatrics were men. The students’ appraisal of the content of their training programme and of the current state of geriatrics in Israel appeared not to influence career choice. Multiple regression analysis found that the factors most predictive of geriatric care as a career choice were a generally favourable attitude to older people, the expansion of nurse powers in the sector and previous experience in older people care. Studying on an academic programme as opposed to a diploma programme was a negative predictor.

Conclusions

The non-influence of training programme content/design is the key finding. The chief recruitment effort should be invested in making the domain of geriatric nursing more attractive to nurses by improving its pay structure and expanding the powers of geriatric nurses to the level of Clinical Nurse Specialist, which would provide an attractive promotion track.     

Are English novice nurses prepared to work in primary care setting?

This study explored the role of nurses in primary care and nurses' level of preparedness to work in the primary care sector in United Kingdom. The study was conducted in three primary care trusts (PCTs) in the north of England and participants were selected using a modified snowball sampling technique. Data were collected through telephone interviews. Fourteen nurses working at various levels in PCTs were interviewed. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Participants believed that nurses work in a variety of roles in primary care including care provider, autonomous practitioner, health educator and patient's advocate. With regard to preparedness to work in primary care, a mixed response was identified. Some nurses believed that the pre-registration nursing curriculum generally prepares nurses well for the role; others believed it did not prepare them at all. A common perception was that the pre-registration nursing curriculum is generally acute care focused and does not educate nurses about the structure of the primary care setting. Participants recommended more emphasis on primary care, longer placements in community and primary care, increased involvement of the nurses working in primary care in the pre-registration nursing curriculum and preceptorship and mentorship programmes for novice nurses in primary care.     

Are the children of the clients’ visible or invisible for nurses in adult psychiatry? – a questionnaire survey

Scand J Caring Sci; 2010; 24; 65–74
Are the children of the clients' visible or invisible for nurses in adult psychiatry? – a questionnaire survey Children in families affected by mental illness are at an increased risk for developing psychopathology, emotional and behavioural problems. Nurses have direct and frequent contact with patients and their families, and are in a unique position to evaluate the situation of these children before problems arise. The aim of this study is to describe the interaction that practical mental health nurses (MHNs) and registered mental health currently have with children of their clients and predictors of this interaction when a parent is receiving psychiatric care. This is a cross‐sectional study. In 2005, questionnaires were sent to all registered (n = 373) and practical MHNs (n = 235) working in 45 adult psychiatric inpatient and outpatient units in five Finnish university hospitals. The total response rate was 51%, while 60% (n = 222) of registered MHNs and 36% (n = 88) of practical MHNs responded. Most of the nurses did not meet children of their clients regularly, although they reported that information about children of the clients were gathered regularly at the units, and discussed clients′ children with them. The personal characteristics of nurses, such as gender, age, marital status and being a parent, were significantly related to the nurse’s propensity to pay attention to the children of their clients in adult psychiatry. Nurses’ professional experience, further family education and use of family‐centred care at the unit increased their interaction with the children of their patients. These results indicate that clients’ children are not entirely invisible for most of the nurses in adult psychiatry. Knowledge of the risks faced by these children and implementation of the preventive approach should be included in the basic education of nurses.     

Back to the future? Views of heads of schools of nursing about undergraduate specialization in mental health nursing

Preparation of nursing students for practice in mental health settings in Australia has been criticized since comprehensive education replaced preregistration specialist education. Current and projected workforce shortages have given rise to considering the reintroduction of specialization at preregistration level as a potential solution. Support of heads of schools of nursing would be essential for such an initiative to be considered. A qualitative exploratory study was undertaken involving in‐depth telephone interviews with heads of schools of nursing in Queensland. Participants generally favoured the concept of specialization in mental health nursing at undergraduate level. Data analysis revealed the following themes: meeting workforce needs, improving quality of care, employability of graduates, an attractive option for students, and what would have to go. Participants identified many benefits to mental health service delivery and consumer outcomes. How the initiative could be developed within an already overcrowded curriculum was identified as the major barrier. This level of support is encouraging if necessary changes to the educational preparation for mental health nursing practice are to be considered.     

Is nursing profession my first choice? A follow up survey in pre-registeration student nurses

The purpose of this study was to explore how nursing students' value factors, motivational factors, institutional factors and competence factors contributed to career intent. All fifth-year nursing students (n=231) in a college in eastern Taiwan completed a survey which followed-up a study done 1 year previously in the same population were followed for 1 year. A validated and reliable self-administered questionnaire developed by the investigators in 2004 and modified in 2005 was used in the study. Data on value factors, competence factors, motivational factors, and situational factors were collected. The overall response rate was 87.4%. The rates of considering nursing as their first choice improved from 19.1% at the point of college-entry to 34.6% in 2004 and 46.5% in 2005 in the same cohort students. Past experience with being ill, degree of stress, self-rated clinical competency, perceived support from staff nurses, and perceived value were associated with career decision after the completion of a whole year of clinical practice (p<0.05-0.01). In multivariate analysis, perceived support from staff nurses, past experience with being ill, and perceived value proved to be significant predictors of the career intent of pre-registration student nurses. Nursing faculty and nurse administrators need to provide assistance to reduce nursing students' career attrition.     

Are we training junior doctors to respond to major incidents? A survey of doctors in the Wessex region

Methods: A telephone questionnaire of specialist registrars (SpRs) (or equivalent, for example, staff grade) in six core specialties was performed in all the 11 acute hospitals in the Wessex region on the same evening. This group was selected to represent a sample of the most senior medical staff "on site" at each hospital.     

What is the role of nursing students and schools of nursing during disaster? A discussion paper

During times of disaster, the front-line nursing workforce and the health services in which they work may be overwhelmed by a surge in patient demand. As a result, assistance will be required to bolster the nursing workforce. Commonly, discussions regarding workforce supply and sustainability during disasters are isolated within particular health service institutions. The aims of this discussion paper are to; firstly, consider the potential contribution of nursing students and schools of nursing within Australian universities to increase the health workforce during a disaster, and secondly, to present a number of recommendations that universities and schools of nursing could consider in developing their own emergency and disaster plans.     

Do gynaecology outpatients use the Internet to seek health information? A questionnaire survey

Background The Internet is a rich source of medical information and the general opinion among doctors is that the number of patients attending clinics with information from a web search is increasing. The purpose of this study was to assess the demographics of those who access the Internet and their attitudes towards the quality and usefulness of information provided by the Internet. This study also looked at the various sources of health information and the satisfaction rates. Design Cross‐sectional observational study. The study group consisted of a cohort of women attending the gynaecology outpatient clinic at a district general hospital in the United Kingdom. In total, 484 patients attending the gynaecology outpatient clinic completed a questionnaire which included 13 structured questions regarding access to and attitudes towards the Internet and other health sources of information. Setting Questionnaires were distributed to 564 women attending gynaecology outpatient clinics for 3 months from 1 June 2005. Results A total of 484 patients (85.6%) completed the questionnaire. Age range was 41–65 years and the median education level was completion of General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE). In total, 360/484 (74%) had sought health information about their condition from a variety of sources before attending the outpatient clinic. In total, 399/484 (82.4%) respondents had access to the Internet. Of 399 with access, 107 (26.8%) of the patients used the Internet to find information about their condition before their appointment. General practitioners remain as the primary source of health information, mainly to improve the knowledge of the condition. A total of 78/107 (73.3%) who had used the Internet before their appointment would like to continue using the Internet as a health information resource. Conclusion A significant proportion of patients had access to the Internet to find health information. The widespread availability and increased usage of medical websites by patients raises important issues regarding the need for quality control and impacts on the doctor–patient relationship.