Grassroots Advocacy in Action: Successes and Opportunities for Pediatric Nurses

The Advocate is a forum for exploring our roles as advocates for the children and families we serve.     

Toward a Feminist Model for the Political Empowerment of Nurses

Shifts in power within the nursing profession and the health care system raise questions as to how nursing will develop and use its power. As a model for political action, empowerment involves the development of three dimensions; (a) raising the conscious of sociopolitical realities; (b) positive self-esteem; and (c) political skills needed to negotiate and change the health care system. This paper discusses these dimensions as they relate to nurses within a feminist context.     

Nurses and Loss: A Call to Action

As we seek to understand how best to support the health and well-being of nurses, we must include a better understanding of the impact of loss and grief on the heart of a nurse. The chronic accumulation of unacknowledged, unattended grief can express itself as detachment, distancing, and avoiding caring connections, but it can also be a primary cause of more severe problems that nurses struggle with. If we courageously explore the inevitable heartbreak that is inherent in our work, it can serve as a catalyst into actions, innovations, and changes that will better prepare and support our nursing workforce.     

Nurses in Action. An innovative approach to mentoring.

Many articles define and explore the concept of mentoring. Few describe how an institution implemented a mentoring program. The author explains the development and content of the mentoring program at Jackson Memorial Hospital. With more than 100 participating nurses, the program is efficient, cost-effective, and easily adaptable to various settings.     

Bed Bugs and Beyond: A Call to Action for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses

Bed bugs, once considered well controlled and even eradicated in many parts of the developed world, have made a comeback and are an increasing public health concern. Coordinated actions on the part of public health entities, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Environmental Protection Agency, have focused on the use of integrated pest management strategies to combat the recent resurgence. Advanced practice registered nurses, especially as clinicians, educators, and policy makers, need to be aware of this public health issue and their integral role in management and containment efforts.     

提升内科系统低年资护士健康教育质量的行动研究

目的探讨内科系统低年资护士对住院患者进行健康教育过程中存在的问题,在行动中不断提升低年资护士的健康教育能力。方法 2015年2-5月,便利抽样选取昆山市中医医院内科系统低年资(3~5年)的护士106名,采用行动研究法,识别问题后,按照"计划-行动-观察-反思"的螺旋循环过程,制定专科化健康教育资料并对低年资护士进行健康教育知识的培训以及基于护理程序应用能力的沟通技能的培训及实践。结果对两次行动进行效果评价的结果显示,行动后内科系统低年资护士的健康教育知识水平、沟通技能的水平均明显提高,差异均有统计学意义(均P0.01)。结论采用行动研究法的螺旋循环模式,对内科系统低年资护士进行系统的专科化健康教育知识及沟通技能的培训,可以提高其健康教育的能力,提升患者满意度。     

责任护士对老年急性心肌梗死早期康复的作用

老年急性心肌梗死 (AMI)的早期康复对远期预后可产生有益的影响。以病人为中心由责任护士对病人进行早期康复指导 ,保证了老年AMI早期康复的顺利进行。通过对 30例老年AMI的早期康复的临床观察 ,发现有责任护士进行康复指导的老年AMI患者心绞痛发作次数明显减少 ,卧床天数明显缩短。从而提出应不断提高责任护士的整体素质 ,以便在老年的早期康复中充分发挥作用