The changing academic role of the nurse teacher in the United Kingdom

This paper presents findings from a national study conducted over a 3-year period (1991–94) which examined the changing role of the nurse teacher The study used multiple methods to collect data from a wide variety of respondents (nurse teachers, midwife teachers, clinical nurses, health service managers and higher education lecturers) This paper presents the findings relating to the development of the nurse teacher's academic role following the introduction of Project 2000 The issues presented and discussed include specialization within the nurse teacher's role, the nature of this specialization and the development of academic credibility and scholarship The implications of these changes in terms of the development of nursing as an academic subject area and the opportunity to contribute to the establishment of research based practice are explored     

A pilot scheme for an integrated falls prevention service

The National Service Framework for the Older Person (Department of Health 2001) set standards for reducing the number of falls and serious injury. One way this might be achieved is through provision of a Specialist Falls Service. This paper describes a 3 year pilot project to introduce an Integrated Falls Service using money obtained from the local Health Authority Health Improvement fund.The article describes a partnership approach with the local council, therapy services and other agencies. The target group and referral mechanisms are discussed and costings given. A variety of interventions will be employed to include assessment and targeted exercises with education sessions. Hip protectors are available for high risk patients. Several indices will be used to evaluate this pilot scheme including balance measurements, confidence scales, supported interviews and diaries. Final evaluation will be in March 2004.     

Hypokalaemia and lactic acidosis in a patient with myelomonocytic leukemia

We report a patient with myelomonocytic leukaemia, persistent hypokalaemia and lactic acidosis. Cytotoxic chemotherapy induced a short remission with normalisation of the potassium concentration; death resulted from lactic acidosis. These two uncommon complications of leukaemia are discussed briefly.     

Interpersonal mental health nursing: research issues and challenges

Since Peplau outlined her perceptions of psychiatric/mental health nursing in (1952) interpersonal relationships has been considered by many as the core of practice. In the intervening period of almost a half century many researchers and theorists have endeavoured to develop and integrate Peplau's framework into day-to-day nursing activity. However, more recently, as a result of the fusion between the professional nursing agenda and the wider political agenda, the importance of interpersonal relationships and the individuality of psychiatric/mental health nursing is being questioned. This questioning is represented in the debate about the aetiology of mental illness, the choice of research methods to determine treatment outcomes and by association the role and value of the psychiatric/mental health nurse. This paper will focus on the interpersonal nature of psychiatric/mental health nursing and explore possible research approaches aimed at explicating its core. Attention will be given to the necessity of using pluralistic methodology in order to do so.     

Competency-based learning applied to nursing management

The ability to manage change has become an essential skill for all managers, particularly those employed within the Health and Social Services. It is recognized that managers may have received an introduction to management concepts and skills within their professional education but require more specific management development. The government approach to adult education with an increased emphasis on vocational training as opposed to professional education (Hyland 1991) has had an important impact upon the theory and practice of nurse management. Nurses are now required to demonstrate, not only the appropriate knowledge and theory of management, but also the competencies necessary to fulfil their role. This is becoming an important dimension of management development programmes. This paper discusses aspects of competency based learning and considers how these concepts are applied to a higher education nurse management programme on 'Managing Change'. The difficulties experienced in applying vocational standards to professional education within the culture of a higher education will be explored, difficulties identified and some alternatives offered.     

Interaction of cephalosporins with human and canine serum proteins

The kinetic interaction of cephalothin and cefamandole with human serum protein and of cephalothin with canine serum protein was studied with use of a rate-of-dialysis method. Binding of antibiotic to serum proteins was complete in less than 1 min and was immediately reversible. Human serum bound 76.9% of cephalothin and 73.7% of cefamandole at 10 microgram/ml, and canine serum bound 41.3% of cephalothin at 10 microgram/ml when this technique was used. Quantitative binding determined by ultracentrifugation was 78.5% for cephalothin and 80.1% for cefamandole in human serum and 45.6% for cephalothin and 32.5% for cefazolin in canine serum. There was no delayed binding of these antibiotics to either human or canine serum. In addition, a large number of antibiotic-binding sites appeared to be present on both human and canine serum protein when the antibiotic concentration was increased to 10(5) microgram/ml.     

Linguistic entrapment: medico-nursing biographies as fictions

This paper argues that in their trainings health professionals are encouraged to use language naively as if it were a transparent medium of scientific communication We contend that language use, particularly in the field of mental health care, should be studied in terms of its social functions and attention should be paid to the inevitably constructive nature of language in patients'records, in order that a'fictional distance'opens up between patients and their records Recent developments in literary theory and narrative analysis can be deployed as theoretical frameworks to understand this process, and we suggest that more attention to the use of language should be included in the educational programmes for health care professionals to counteract the risk of'linguistic entrapment'or'incarceration'     

Hematological effects of a new hollow fiber membrane oxygenator: a clinical study

The hemocompatibility of a new hollow fiber membrane oxygenator, BOS- CM40 , was evaluated during and after cardiopulmonary bypass for coronary artery bypass graft operations in 10 patients. Blood cells were well preserved by this oxygenator. In particular, platelet numbers at the end of bypass were significantly higher than at the start of bypass and platelet function remained completely intact during bypass. After protamine hydrochloride administration, platelet function decreased slightly but platelet numbers remained unaltered. After release of the aortic cross-clamp the beta-thromboglobulin concentration sharply increased, which shows the damaging effect of cardiotomy suction. Nevertheless, platelet numbers and function did not decrease significantly during this period. Apparently, platelet number and function can remain unaffected by this damaging procedure, provided they are normal before the start of suction. The average postoperative blood loss was 551 ml, which appears to be less than the blood loss in a previous study in which a membrane oxygenator of the envelope type was used. (J. Thorac . Cardiovasc . Surg . 83 (1983) 108-116). In conclusion: The BOS- CM40 hollow fiber membrane oxygenator proved to be highly hemocompatible .