Lived experiences of immigrant nurses in New South Wales, Australia: searching for meaning

Recognising the potential value of immigrant nurses in multicultural Australia, this study sought to understand immigrant nurses' experiences in order to throw some light on their under representation in the nursing workforce. Using a Heideggerian phenomenological approach the purpose of this study was to explore, describe and analyse the lived experiences of five immigrant nurses, four from non-English-speaking backgrounds, practising in New South Wales, Australia. Through naturalistic open-ended interviews, the everyday experiences of immigrant nurses were described and hermeneutically analysed. The lived experiences, and the meaning of such experiences which emerged from analysis included: professional negation, experienced in lack of support; otherness, experienced in cultural separateness; silencing, experienced in language and communication difficulties and a number of other related experiences and feelings. The study highlights the continuing existence of a social and cultural distance between nurses of the dominant culture and nurses from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.     

Palliative care at home: Stress for nurses in urban and rural New South Wales, Australia

Nurses often experience positive and negative dimensions of caring for dying clients and their families. This project aimed to compare stress experienced by urban and rural community nurses working with palliative-care clients in the home. Participants included five nurses working in rural Australia and seven nurses working in an urban area. Transcribed data from unstructured audio-taped interviews were coded for common and contrasting themes, and a comparison was made of the stress experienced by the two groups of nurses. The major themes were role conflict and definition, family dynamics, time and workload. For both groups of nurses, the impact of family relationships and role conflict within the community impacted significantly to the stress they experienced. Debriefing opportunities for nurses to discuss stress, including educational and support sessions, is an essential component of best practice. Rural nurses had the additional stress of trying to provide a 24 h service over vast distances with a lack of financial resources.     

手术室低年资护士实施风险管理的效果分析

目的探讨风险管理在降低手术室低年资护士护理风险发生中的作用。方法对手术室低年资护士实施风险管理,主要包括成立风险管理培训及活动小组、建立导师制度、划分手术室护理风险事件等级、建立手术室护理风险督查制度等。了解风险管理前后低年资护士护理风险事件的发生情况。结果风险管理后低年资护士高风险和低风险护理事件发生率较风险管理前低,管理前后比较,差异均有统计学意义(P0.001)。结论实施风险管理可提高手术室低年资护士风险意识,从而降低护理风险事件的发生率。     

低年资护士静脉输液风险管理培训效果评价

目的:探讨低年资护士静脉输液风险管理的培训方法及效果。方法:在梳理静脉输液风险环节及内容的基础上,对低年资护士进行静脉输液风险管理培训。采用静脉输液风险管理知识问卷及静脉输液风险管理培训评价表进行效果评价。结果:低年资护士静脉输液风险管理知识得分由培训前的(55.96±7.67)分提高到了培训后的(66.35±5.33)分,在评估、查对、无菌原则、输液工具选择、穿刺技术、通路维护、输液观察及记录、患者及家属健康教育、职业防护9个风险环节的得分均提高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。96%的护士对培训课程总体表示满意,97%以上护士认为培训可以增强静脉输液的风险意识。结论:静脉输液风险管理培训可以提高低年资护士静脉输液风险管理的知识水平,增强风险意识。     

Long work hours and chronic insomnia are associated with needlestick and sharps injuries among hospital nurses in Taiwan: A national survey

BackgroundNeedlestick and sharps injuries are prevalent work-related injuries among nurses. Safety devices prevent only one-quarter of related injuries. More studies of modifiable risk factors are needed.ObjectivesTo examine whether long work hours and chronic insomnia are associated with needlestick and sharps injuries among hospital nurses in Taiwan.DesignCross-sectional survey.Settings/participantsThis analysis included 19,386 full-time bedside nurses working in 104 hospitals across Taiwan.MethodsParticipants filled out an anonymous questionnaire from July to September 2014. Chronic insomnia, needlestick injuries, and sharps injuries during the past year were each measured by a yes/no question. Multivariate logistic regression models were applied to examine the effects of long work hours and chronic insomnia on needlestick and sharps injuries, given with control for sex, marital status, educational level, age, years of practice, work unit, and hospital level in the model.ResultsMore than 70% of study nurses worked long hours during the previous week (>50 h: 27.5%; 41–50 h: 43.2%), and 15.5% of nurses reported chronic insomnia. The percentage of sharps injuries (38.8%) was higher than that for needlestick injuries (22.4%) during the previous year among nurses. After adjusting for potential confounders, logistic regression yielded significant results showing that those who worked 41 to 50 h per week, >50 h per week, and had chronic insomnia were 1.17 times (95% C.I. = 1.04–1.32), 1.51 times (95% C.I. = 1.32–1.72), and 1.45 times (95% C.I. = 1.25–1.68) more likely to experience needlestick injuries, and 1.29 times (95% C.I. = 1.17–1.42), 1.37 times (95% C.I. = 1.23–1.53), and 1.56 times (95% C.I. = 1.37–1.77) more likely to experience sharps injuries, respectively, than those who worked fewer hours and did not have insomnia.ConclusionsThis nationwide nurse survey showed that high rates of needlestick and sharps injuries persist in hospital nurses in Taiwan. The common problems of long work hours and chronic insomnia increase the risk of these injuries. We suggest that hospital managers follow regulations on work hours and optimize shift schedules for nurses to decrease related injuries.     

Compensation scheme for complementary and alternative medicine use in asbestos-related diseases in New South Wales, Australia

What is known and Objective: Asbestos use has resulted in a high global incidence rate of asbestos‐related diseases (ARDs). These diseases require high costs of compensation and medical expense, although definite cures have yet to be found. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been used as a means to attenuate symptoms of ARDs. Our objective is to describe the compensation scheme for CAM use for a population with ARDs in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Comment: Expenses of CAM have conditionally been compensated by the workers compensation dust‐diseases board (DDB) to a population with ARDs. The DDB approves patients` claim for the use of CAM if it is justifiable and related to compensable ARDs. To obtain the DDB`s approval for the CAM cost, a written recommendation letter by the treating medical doctors is required that justifies the use of CAM and that this option does not pose any adverse effects on the compensated patients. What is new and Conclusion: The use of CAM in a subject with ARDs does not have significant benefits of overall survival but does somewhat improve quality of life. However, awareness of the provisions of the compensation scheme for CAM use in a population with ARDs should be carefully informed and also emphasized any side effects on progress of ARDs.     

Occupational exposure to blood and body fluids among a group of Turkish nursing and midwifery students during clinical practise training: Frequency of needlestick and sharps injuries

Aim: To ascertain the number of needlestick and sharps injuries (NSSIs) in nursing and midwifery students and to assess the use of universal precautions among injured and non‐injured students. Methods: A survey of a representative sample of nursing and midwifery students who did clinical practise in a hospital was conducted. In total, 203 students met the inclusion criterion of the study. Of these, 141 (69.46%) provided useable data. The survey form was designed by the researcher after reviewing the relevant literature. The data frequency, percentages, and χ²‐values were examined. Results: According to the data, 35.5% of the participating students had experienced a NSSI, 54% of the students had received one NSSI, and 36.0% had two NSSIs. Sixty‐six percent of the injured students had been injured by an ampoule and the majority of injuries occurred in the treatment room. Most of the students had washed their injury with antiseptic solution and 84% had not told anyone about their injury. While 86.5% of the students threw away used needles in the special sharps containers disposal box, 89.4% also stated that they always recapped used needles. Almost all the students had received the hepatitis B vaccine. Only 14% of the students stated that they always wore gloves. Conclusions: This study shows that a significant percentage of nursing and midwifery students receive NSSIs. It is very important to frequently review information about preventive measures so that the students practise them during clinical practise every semester. Moreover, the instructors should monitor if the students are taking the necessary preventive measures without fail.     

HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes, practices and perceptions of rural nurses in South Africa

Title. HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes, practices and perceptions of rural nurses in South Africa. Aim. This paper is a report of a study exploring HIV/AIDS‐related knowledge, attitudes, practices and perceptions of nurses in the largely black and rural Limpopo Province of South Africa. Background. Studies of HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes and practices among healthcare workers in developing countries have shown gaps in knowledge and fear of contagion, coupled with ambivalent attitudes in caring for patients with HIV/AIDS and inconsistent universal precautions adherence. Method. A cross‐sectional study of a random sample of primary health care (PHC) (n = 71) and hospital nurses (n = 69) was carried out in 2005, using a questionnaire, focus groups and in‐depth interviews. Findings. Hospital nurses reported a higher frequency of care for patients with HIV/AIDS (P < 0·05), but less HIV/AIDS training when compared to PHC nurses (P < 0·001). HIV/AIDS knowledge was moderately adequate and associated with professional rank, frequency of care and training (P < 0·001). Attitudes towards patients with HIV/AIDS were mainly positive and were statistically significantly correlated with HIV/AIDS knowledge (P < 0·01) and training (P < 0·05). Three out of four nurses reported that they practised universal precautions (76·1%), but fear of occupational HIV transmission and lack of injection safety was found. Seven in 10 nurses reported previous needlestick injuries, but postexposure prophylaxis was not available in all healthcare facilities. Participants reported a higher workload because of HIV/AIDS, lack of training impacting negatively on their work, and stigma and shared confidentiality affecting them emotionally. Conclusion. There is a need for accelerated HIV/AIDS training of rural nurses and for wider implementation of universal precautions and postexposure prophylaxis availability in public health facilities in southern Africa.     

军队医院护士锐器伤的不安全因素与防护措施

目的研究军队医院护士锐器伤发生的不安全因素,为军队护士预防锐器伤提供依据。方法采用流行病学调查]方法对广州市5所军队医院的1461名临床护士锐器伤发生的相关因素进行问卷调查。结果护士锐器伤的月发生率为35.9%,发生密度为0.75次/(人·月),导致锐器伤的主要不安全因素包括缺乏自我防护意识、错误的行为习惯、过多接触针头、不良的环境因素、安全产品运用的滞后、注射后用具处理不当等。结论加强护士培训,提高自我防护意识,制定安全指南,提供安全性护理用具,减少护士不必要的针头接触,建立安全注射管理与监测组织,促进安全注射相关法规的健全等措施可减少护士锐器伤的发生。     

Frequency of assault and severity of injury of psychiatric nurses in relation to the nurses' decision to restrain

Ethical standards and current law demand that acute care psychiatric patients be treated with respect, using the least restrictive interventions. Unfortunately, as restraint use has decreased, assault and injury of mental health care workers has increased. Violence against those working in acute care psychiatry is a serious global issue that needs further examination. This study provides current, in depth information about the nature, frequency and severity of assaults and injuries of psychiatric nurses. This study also examined assault and injury in relation to the nurse's decision to restrain. The findings of this study were compared with findings of an earlier study carried out by one of the authors (Moylan) prior to the institution of policies, which are more restrictive in the use of restraint. In a sample of 110 nurses from five institutions, 80% of the nurses were assaulted, 65% had been injured and 26% had been seriously injured. Injuries included fractures, eye injuries and permanent disability. The number and severity of injuries have increased significantly since the 1996 study. Nurses who had been injured decided to restrain later in the progression of aggression than those who had not been injured.     

Strengthening nursing and midwifery capacity in rural New South Wales,Australia

A small rural health service and two university schools of nursing joined forces to establish a rural clinical school to advance clinical education and research. The collaboration, while in its infancy, has given rise to outcomes that strength the capacity of nursing and midwifery services in the community.     

军队医院聘用护士管理现状与思考

为提高军队医院聘用护士的管理质量 ,对其管理现状进行综述 ,明确管理中存在的薄弱环节 ,提出要加强聘用护士综合能力、科研意识的培养 ,重视其心理环境 ,实现自身价值等观点     

The effect of a training course in aggression management on mental health nurses' perceptions of aggression: a cluster randomised controlled trial

Nurses' attitudes towards patient aggression may influence their behaviour towards patients. Thus, their enhanced capacity to cope with aggressive patients may nurture more positive attitudes and alleviate adverse feelings emanating from patient aggression. This cluster randomised controlled trial conducted on six psychiatric wards tested the hypotheses that a 5 day training course in aggression management would positively influence the following outcome measures: Nurses' perception and tolerance towards patient aggression and resultant adverse feelings. A repeated measures design was employed to monitor change. No effect was found. The short time frame between the training course and the follow up measurement or non-responsiveness of the measurement instruments may explain this finding.