Attitudes of registered nurses toward euthanasia

We sought to identify variables that contribute to euthanasia attitude and behavior, including demographics, death fears, experience with death, attitudes toward patient autonomy, and level of moral development.

Subjects were 137 registered nurses from the southeastern United States representing 13 clinical nursing areas. Principal components analysis identified four factors that together explained 62.9% of total variance. These factors were belief in afterlife, nursing experience, liberal or conservative political view, and personal values. Variables identified through factor analysis were entered into regression analyses. These analyses showed that increased religious belief, years of nursing experience, and propensity to view death as an end of existence predicted opposition to euthanasia. Predictors for euthanasia support included a liberal political view, more experience with dying patients, and the belief that patients should have a personal responsibility for their own health-care decisions.     

Attitudes of registered nurses toward nurse practitioners

PURPOSE: Registered nurses (RNs) work closely with nurse practitioners (NPs) in all facets of patient care and often have a direct influence on the patient's perception of the professional who is directing the care, and a patient's perceptions may affect clinical outcomes. However, few studies have been conducted to measure RN acceptance of the NP. The authors surveyed RNs in southern Illinois to assess their attitudes concerning the level of care provided by NPs. Southern Illinois was chosen because of the limited number of NPs in the area and because of concerns that limited exposure might negatively influence RN attitudes about the NP role. DATA COLLECTION: A 26-item research questionnaire, previously used with school nurses, was modified to reflect RNs in general. Seven items related to demographic information, and 19 items created a five-response Likert-formatted scale (r = .93). The questionnaire was mailed to 500 randomly selected RNs from the 11 southernmost counties of Illinois. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed support of the NP role. RNs believed that NPs were knowledgeable, competent health care providers. RNs were also comfortable working with NPs and often consulted them for advice and information. They saw the role of the NP as a positive addition to the health care team. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: One identified concern was that scores indicated RNs felt that they received limited respect from NPs. Although the scores were high in this category, some RNs had concerns that NPs might not respect or understand the difficulty of the RN role in providing patient care. NPs need to recognize their collegial and professional ties to RNs and should take time to provide positive feedback to RNs as they collaborate to provide health care. Such behavior would only solidify the health team approach.     

The prevalence of substance abuse among registered nurses

The purpose of this research was to estimate the prevalence of substance abuse and depression among a population-based sample of registered nurses. In addition, to estimate the degree to which substance abuse and depression were associated with nurses, a comparison was made between nurses and other employed individuals. Respondents were obtained from a probability sample of households that were part of the National Institute of Mental Health Epidemiologic Catchment Area Program (ECA). Of the adults interviewed as part of the ECA, 143 were under age 65 and currently working as registered nurses. These nurses were matched by neighborhood of residence (census tract) and gender to a comparison group of non-nurses from the ECA who were also employed at the time of interview. Estimates of the odds of substance use and depression among the nurses (n = 143) and non-nurses (n = 1410) were calculated. Nurses were no more likely to have engaged in illicit drug use or to have experienced depression than non-nurses. Nurses were also less likely to have experienced problems with alcohol abuse than non-nurses.     

Attitudes toward older people among nursing students and registered nurses in Sweden

Geriatric nursing is generally not considered to be a popular branch of nursing among Swedish nursing students and registered nurses. It is, therefore, important for nurse educators and others with responsibilities for the development of nursing to pay attention to trends of importance for the care of the elderly. Attitudes - conceptualized as feelings, knowledge, and readiness to act - may be one important factor. It has been reported that feelings toward older people may change with experience, age and gender. The aim of this study was to measure feelings toward older people among nursing students and registered nurses. A convenience sample of 151 undergraduate nursing students and 41 registered nurses in Sweden participated in the study. Data were collected through Kogan's Old People scale. The results confirmed earlier findings and showed that limited previous experience of care of older people, age <25 years, and male gender were significant factors for showing less favourable feelings towards the aged. In the education of nurses, goal-directed experience of elderly care is recommended in order to create positive feelings towards and interest in older people among students. It is also suggested that special considerations should be given to very young students and male students.     

Attitudes of registered nurses towards patients with severe dementia

Meeting the needs and wishes of people with severe dementia is difficult and demanding for carers, and a number of approaches can be used in encounters with dementia sufferers. The aim of this study was to explore how registered nurses in a northern Norwegian county thought about approaching people with severe dementia. A patient case was used as a vignette, followed by a questionnaire with 13 sets of statements, each set containing two alternative approaches (one reality orientation approach and one personhood focused approach). In 12 out of the 13 sets of statements the reality orientation alternative was usually chosen, but responses to the statement regarding the meaning of confusion tended more towards the personhood focused approach. RNs with more than the basic education and staff nurses working in a team nursing system, chose the personhood focused approach significantly more often than RNs with no post-basic education and nurses working in a primary nursing system. The article discusses how reflection on daily experiences can improve one's ability to reflect on one's own experiences and encourage a personhood focused approach. Working in a team means gaining opportunities to reflect together with coworkers, while working in a primary nursing care system might afford fewer such opportunities.     

Ego defensiveness and its relationship to attitudes of registered nurses toward older people

This study was designed to simultaneously examine the relationship between select independent variables and attitudes of registered nurses toward older people. Emphasis was placed on exploring the relationship between ego defensiveness and attitudes. Data analysis was based on the responses of 255 registered nurses. The following variables were found to be significantly related to attitudes: ego defensiveness, age, highest level of education, position, close personal relationship with an older person and perception of a relationship with an older person. The findings serve as a cautionary signal that attitudes of registered nurses toward older people may not be as positive as recent literature has indicated.     

Attitudes of critical care nurses toward organ donation

In October, 1987, federal legislation requiring hospitals to develop protocols to encourage organ and tissue donation went into effect. Despite required request legislation, a lack of donors still exists. The attitudes of the critical care nurses caring for potential organ donors may have an effect on the actual donation of organs. This author describes how knowledge level and experience with organ donors and recipients affected the attitudes of two groups of critical care nurses towards organ donation.     

Attitudes of certified registered nurse anesthetists toward AIDS and AIDS patients.

This study was intended to examine and identify the nature of CRNAs' attitudes concerning acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and patients with homosexual lifestyles. This research question has been previously addressed using sample populations of registered nurses, physicians, and medical students. This inquiry was conducted using a sample population of nurse anesthetists. The target population was 500 CRNAs who reside in areas of high AIDS incidence--New York City, San Francisco, and Houston. The participants were equally divided among the three cities using a randomized list provided by the AANA. The design for this study was an experimental 2 x 2 factorial with two independent variables: disease of the individual, either leukemia or AIDS, and the sexual preference of the individual, either heterosexual or homosexual. The randomly distributed questionnaire consisted of three scales: the interpersonal attraction inventory, the prejudicial evaluation scale, and the social interaction scale. Multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVA) were conducted not only on the main effects, disease and sexual preference, but also on the interaction effects of disease and sexual preference. The significant findings of the MANOVAs were subjected to factorial analysis for each scale, and then the MANOVAs were conducted again. The statistical analysis indicated that CRNAs possess a negative attitude toward AIDS patients but not toward leukemia patients. Their attitudes are based on their perception that AIDS patients are responsible for their illness. Potential behavioral consequences were also reported by CRNAs, based on these attitudes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Attitudes of staff towards mothers affected by substance abuse

The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of education and experience on the attitudes of neonatal nurses/midwives when caring for mothers and infants affected by substance abuse. A self-report questionnaire was completed by 50 nurses/midwives. The attitude of nurses/midwives towards mothers affected by substance abuse was generally negative/judgemental, and their knowledge base was low. The most experienced nursing staff generally had a more negative attitude than those nurses/midwives with less neonatal experience. Formal neonatal education did not appear to have a positive effect on knowledge base or attitudes; however, results implied that in-service education on substance abuse might have a mildly positive effect on attitudes. Results indicate a need for formal education on substance abuse and its effect on the neonate and mother, and that specialist education on substance abuse may influence attitudes.     

Attitudes of nurses toward computerization: a replication.

To assess the attitudes of nurses toward computerization, Stronge and Brodt's questionnaire, Assessment of Nurses' Attitudes Toward Computerization was used to survey head nurses, staff registered nurses, and licensed practical nurses in a 500-bed hospital. Nurses' attitudes were generally favorable toward computers and there were no significant differences in attitudes by nurses' job title, level of education, age, or years of nursing experience. Previous experience with computers was the only variable significantly related to total mean score with those nurses who had previously used computers having significantly (p less than 0.001) more favorable attitudes toward computers than those who reported no previous computer use. A factor analysis was obtained; five factors emerged. Although the factors are similar to the categories identified by Stronge and Brodt, results of the factor analysis suggest response bias.     

The relationship between perceived competence and perceived workplace bullying among registered nurses: A cross sectional survey

BackgroundWorkplace bullying is one of the most prevalent work-related psychological and physical issues in health care facilities. Workplace bullying has detrimental effects not only on the bullied person/persons but also on health care facilities and care quality and patient safety.AimsTo examine the prevalence of workplace bullying and the relationship between workplace bullying and perceived competence among Jordanian registered nurses working in private hospitalsDesignA cross-sectional survey study.SettingData were collected from registered nurses working in seven private hospitals in the Capital of Amman.ParticipantsParticipants were 269 registered nurses who had a minimum of a bachelor degree, passed the hospital's competency nursing examinations, able to read and understand English, and were able and willing to complete the survey.MethodsThe Negative Act Questionnaire-Revised, and Nurse Professional Competence scale were used for data collection. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to assess predictors of greater reporting of perceived workplace bullying.FindingsAlmost 43% of the participants perceived themselves to be victims of severe workplace bullying while more than 31% perceived themselves to be victims of occasional workplace bullying. Person-related bullying was the most frequently reported type of workplace bullying followed by work-related bullying. Age, gender, and sum score on Nurse Professional Competence scale explained significant amount of variance in perceived workplace bullying.ConclusionThe majority of Jordanian nurses working in private hospitals perceive themselves as victims of either occasional or severe workplace bullying. Amongst all related variables, perceived competence is the most significant predictor of perceived workplace bullying.