Nurses' attitudes toward physical assaults by patients

This article reports the survey findings of 184 psychiatric nurses' attitudes toward patient physical assault. Attitudes related to staff competence and performance, legal aspects, patient responsibility and safety were measured on a self-report questionnaire. Data were interpreted based on the scant literature related to patient assaults. Findings indicated that attitudes related to legal aspects of patient assault varied considerably among nursing staff. Discussion highlighted the influence of attitudes on both assaulted staff as well as the victim's colleagues.     

Reader attitudes toward journal-based continuing education for EMS personnel

Recertification requirements and new curricula place increased importance on continuing education (CE) for emergency medical services (EMS) personnel. To be effective, continuing education not only must be accessible to EMS personnel, but it must be also acceptable. Journal-based continuing education was selected to improve accessibility, but questions were raised about its acceptance. Although there were some significant differences found between the feelings of basic and advanced EMS personnel, a study conducted on six articles showed that participants overall liked this method. The study also found that some articles significantly generated more reader response than others.     

Nurses' attitudes toward dimensions of nursing practice

The purpose of this study was to examine nurses' attitudes toward nursing behaviors. The research question was: What is the relative importance that nurses attribute to certain dimensions of nursing behaviors? In order to answer this question, an attitudinal instrument was developed and administered to a sample of 196 female nurses whose names were obtained from the deans and directors of the nine NLN schools in Connecticut. Five a priori constructs were used as a basis for validation in the instrument development--the utilization of a unique body of knowledge and skills; the utilization of the nursing process; research ability; leadership ability; and teaching, prevention, and maintenance. Objectives, which were obtained from each of the nine schools in Connecticut, as well as from the NLN, constituted the items in the measuring instrument. Factor analysis of the instrument yielded seven factors, accounting for 63.1 percent of the total variance. Three of these factors were the same factors as those identified in the a priori analysis. The results of this study contribute toward a better understanding of nurses' perceptions of the importance of several identified components of the nursing role.     

Nurses' assessment of patients' spirituality: continuing education implications

This article reports the results of a study to determine the extent to which nurses assessed patients' spiritual needs, indicators of spirituality used in the assessments, data collection methods used, and nurses' demographic information related to assessment and methods of data collection. Boutell's Inventory for Identifying Nurses' Assessment of Patients' Spiritual Needs was developed. Test-retest indicated an acceptable level of reliability. The Inventory was sent to a random sample of 817 nurses eligible to practice nursing in Oklahoma, yielding 238 (29%) usable questionnaires. Criteria for inclusion in the study were that the nurses needed to be employed and giving direct care to patients 18 years of age or older. Findings indicate that the majority of nurses assessed their patients' spiritual needs from a moderate to considerable extent. They most frequently assessed for fears, sources of strength, and feelings of hope. Least frequently assessed were integration, giving love to God, meaning in suffering, and transcendence. Moreover, nurses ages 50 to 59 and psychiatric nurses were more likely than other nurses to assess the spiritual realm. Availability of time and patient acuity were major factors that influenced assessment. Data were most frequently obtained through observation of patients and discussions with patients rather than from secondary sources, such as clergy or patient records. Also, the nurses' basic educational preparation was not found to influence assessment. Suggestions for continuing education and programs are made.     

Nurses' attitudes toward their role in patient discharge medication education and toward collaboration with hospital pharmacists: a staff development issue.

This qualitative pilot study explored nurses' attitudes toward their role in patients' discharge medication education and collaboration with pharmacists. Purposive sampling was used, and data were collected by a focus group interview. The findings give a clear indication of the need for extensive staff development. It is unfortunate that nurses in this study appeared not to value their role in educating patients on medications prior to discharge. They were somewhat resistant to collaboration with pharmacists, and they tended to accept limited responsibility for improving patient discharge medication adherence or compliance. Although the findings are of concern, they do provide clear evidence of the need for intensive staff development.     

The short-term impact of a continuing medical education program on providers' attitudes toward treating diabetes

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the short-term impact of a 7-h type 2 diabetes continuing medical education (CME) program. Outcomes included a measure of health care providers' diabetes knowledge and the Diabetes Attitude Scale (DAS), a validated measure of attitudes toward diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A CME program on type 2 diabetes was presented by an expert panel in Chicago during November 1998. A before-after trial with pre- and postintervention measurements of diabetes knowledge and attitudes toward diabetes was administered as part of the program. A convenience sample of the 129 health care providers in attendance resulted in 91 (71%) completed pre- and postintervention surveys. RESULTS: Within-subjects analysis revealed increases in knowledge and more favorable attitudes toward diabetes after the program. Between-subjects analysis revealed that attitude changes differed for physicians as compared with allied health care providers. CONCLUSIONS: A CME program was associated with an increase in knowledge of diabetes and more favorable attitudes toward diabetes as measured by the DAS. The DAS changes were subtly different for the physician group as compared with the allied health care provider group. These results suggest that the DAS can be a useful instrument for measuring the short-term impact of educational interventions.     

Nurses' attitudes toward nursing research at a metropolitan medical center.

To support the implementation of a nursing research initiative in a large medical center, we collected baseline data on nurses' attitudes toward nursing research, perception of the institution as a research environment, and personal involvement in research activities. This study replicates that conducted by Rizzuto, Bostrom, Suter, and Chenitz [Predictors of nurses' involvement in research activities. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 16(2), 193-204] in 1994. To better understand the findings, we traced the historical evolution of nursing research through successive American Nurses Association codes of ethics. Our review of the literature presents (in table format) factors that encourage and those that impede nursing research. The study results validate the work of other researchers: nurses' positive attitudes toward research are discordant with their actual involvement in research activities. The data suggest that positive attitudes and perceived institutional support are not enough to increase involvement in nursing research; as such, we describe additional institutional infrastructure and forms of educational support.     

Nurses' attitudes toward provision of care and related health outcomes

BACKGROUND: Supportive care during childbirth is as old as humankind and has been a cornerstone of intrapartum practice for decades. Researchers have postulated that supportive care during labor leads to positive outcomes by enhancing normal labor physiology and the mother's childbirth experience. Questions, however, have risen about the ability of intrapartum nurses to provide effective supportive care within today's medicalized hospital birth environment. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to examine the contribution of attitudinal, normative, and control influences on intrapartum nurses' intentions to provide professional labor support (PLS) to parturient women and to assess if behavioral intent could predict the outcome of length of labor. METHODS: A retrospective exploratory study was used to survey 39 registered nurses and 419 nurse-patient dyads to understand the relationship between predictor variables, behavioral intention, and health outcomes. Multiple regression analysis was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) explained 70% of the variance in intrapartum nurses' intentions to provide PLS to their patients. Behavioral intent (beta = -.08, rho =.677) had no statistically significant impact on a patient's length of labor. DISCUSSION: Both attitude and social pressures had a significant impact on the intention to perform PLS, and results show the relative importance of these variables in understanding the nurse's intention to provide support. Although behavioral intent had no significant influence on behavior, as measured by the patient's length of labor, clinical significance needs to be addressed. The regression correlation suggested that as the behavioral intent scores increased, length of labor decreased in the nurse's parturient population. Further studies are required to determine if the TPB can predict health outcomes through nurses' intentions to provide care.     

灵性教育与死亡态度——从三级医院护士死亡态度现状引发的思考

【目的】了解三级医院临床护士死亡态度现状并分析其影响因素,探讨改善临床护士死亡心态的有效措施。【方法】采用方便抽样法,于2019年3-5月选择江苏省无锡市人民医院的803名护士作为研究对象,采用一般资料调查问卷和死亡态度描绘量表进行调查。【结果】 803名临床护士死亡态度各个维度的得分均接近中等水平,其中“逃离接受”维度得分最低（3.00±0.81）,“中性接受”维度得分最高（3.92±0.52）;多元线性回归分析显示,婚姻状况、关于死亡的过往教育情况、工作科室是护士“死亡恐惧”的影响因素,宗教信仰、工作科室是“趋近接受”的影响因素,婚姻状况是“死亡逃避”的影响因素、工作年限是“逃离接受”的影响因素。【结论】三级医院临床护士死亡态度现状不容乐观,合理的教育内容和手段（如灵性教育）将有望促进临床护士死亡态度的正向发展。     

Nurses' knowledge about and attitudes toward patients with AIDS.

With the increasing incidence of AIDS, it is probably inevitable that most nurses working in acute care settings will at some time come in contact with a patient who has AIDS. Nurses must be prepared to give safe, competent, and compassionate care to patients with AIDS. This article reports the results of a survey of registered nurses' knowledge and attitudes related to AIDS and AIDS patients. The respondents displayed moderate scores on the knowledge questions, high scores on transmission and treatment, but low scores on epidemiology and pathophysiology. On the attitude subscales, scores were above three on a five-point scale, indicating a lack of negative attitudes. Recommendations for educational programming are included.     

Progressing toward professionalization: the role of continuing education

The traditional term professionalism--variously linked to such characteristics as an "organized body of knowledge", or a "closely-knit association of people with a high degree of communication"--has been described recently as a static concept. It is professionalization--the dynamic process of refinement through which the character and spirit of a profession is made real and operative--which is more relevant. Part of that process is quite obviously the application of new knowledge which today is growing at an increasing rate. Note this paradox: that although each profession grows by accentuating its own distinctive knowledge, that very specialization leads in turn to the need for closer relationships with allied professions. Equally important is each profession's need to continue to redefine its relationship with its clients. Continuing education is an essential tool in both of these tasks. Recent studies elicited a variety of reasons for the professional's interest and engagement in continuing education: to become better informed; to gain personal enrichment; to achieve career advancement; to satisfy individual curiosity; to fulfill an employer's requirements; to qualify for licensure; to meet new people; or to break out of a routine. Typically, continuing education is promoted by professional schools, university extension divisions, employing agencies, the professional association itself--and even its commercial suppliers. Physiotherapists ought reasonably to ask themselves these questions: What goals are to be sought in the ensuing five years? Which of these can be met through continuing education? What barriers to continuing education now exist? What methodology and delivery of continuing education will best serve the profession? How can this educational thrust be harnessed to improve physiotherapists' relationships with other professionals--and the general public?     

Nurses' attitudes toward family presence during resuscitative efforts and invasive procedures

Nurses in this study found family presence most acceptable when they or their families were the patient. The literature has shown that educational programs regarding family presence can demonstrate a change in nurses' attitudes to include the family during CPR and invasive procedures. Future research should include the introduction of family presence in nursing curriculums to allay prejudices. Precious time and memories may be available to families when the professional and personal concerns are minimized. The ramification of not providing family access is succinctly stated by an RN who was denied access to her husband during his final moments. “I don't know your name, but I will never forget you. You played a part in the most important event in my life. But you didn't share that painful experience with me; you just happened to be present. I want to leave you with this thought. Death is painful for all families. When it's expected, family members usually have time to say goodbye. But when death is unexpected, there's no time for those last intimate moments. I had one opportunity—one moment in time to sit by a stretcher, hold a warm hand, and say goodbye. You stole my moment.”[25]