The effectiveness of 'nursing beds': a review of the literature

A literature search was conducted to identify 'nursing led in-patient units' where the nurse is the designated leader of the clinical team. The review concentrates on studies which have attempted to measure the impact of nursing-led in-patient units and reviews both the methodology and outcomes. Three major bodies of work were identified. Lydia Hall's evaluation of the Loeb Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation (USA) is reviewed in some detail. This work was the model for 'nursing beds' at the two Oxfordshire Nursing Development Units (UK) in the 1980s. Studies evaluating these centres are reviewed and reports of similar UK units discussed. A third body of work evaluates a nurse-managed critical care environment. Common features include a case mix based on nursing need with nurses having authority to admit and discharge patients. While results are generally favourable, with improved patient independence, fewer readmissions, lower mortality and cost savings reported in some or all of the studies, all studies reviewed demonstrate the difficulties of applying an experimental model to real life clinical services. Methodological limitations render firm conclusions difficult. Techniques adopted from studies in field settings, the so-called 'quasi-experiment', are advocated as a remedy, as is further study of the process of care in investigating this model of care delivery.     

Cognitive behaviour therapy approach to disputing automatic thoughts: a two-stage model

Research shows that clients with automatic thoughts (dysfunctional thinking) often do not think of alternative explanations in relation to negative events. Furthermore, these automatic thoughts are characterized by a broad global, self-evaluative and ambiguous nature that could make disputing (or changing the ways they think) the most difficult part of the therapeutic process. This paper proposes a two-stage practise-based disputing model, guided by research, that aims to 'bring' an automatic thought to a specific, objective, quantifiable and concrete level at which not only is the particular aspect(s) of the automatic thought that causes emotional disturbances finely focused, but the disputing is also likely to be effective and manageable. Furthermore, it will also generate alternative explanations that are helpful in reducing emotional disturbances and in facilitating problem solving approach. In this paper, the authors use a case example to discuss the rationale that underpins the conceptualization of the model and to illustrate the process in which the strategies of the model are effectively used.     

Mammalian wound repair environment does not permit skeletal muscle regeneration

Repair and regeneration are mutually exclusive responses to injury. Previous studies have shown that wound fluids promote proliferation, but not differentiation, of myoblasts in vitro. This study explored the ability of the repair environment within polyvinyl alcohol sponges to support cellular events of skeletal muscle regeneration in vivo. Neonatal rat L8 myoblasts were modified to express beta-galactosidase then inoculated into plain sponges or sponges containing minced muscle. Labeled myoblasts were found in myotubes within minced muscle. In contrast, myoblasts inoculated into sponges lacking muscle remained mononucleate. Occurrence of labeled myoblasts within myotubes, which required fusion, represents differentiation of inoculated myoblasts to participate in regeneration. Failure of myoblasts to form myotubes in sponges lacking muscle suggests that this wound repair environment cannot support morphologic differentiation of myoblasts. Although this repair environment can support the survival of myoblasts, it did not support myogenesis, an event necessary to complete skeletal muscle regeneration. Data from this study reinforce earlier studies in vitro and suggest that the properties attributed to wound fluids are inherent in the wound environment. Whether the inability of this environment to support myogenesis is the consequence of the absence of essential factors or the presence of inhibitors remains to be determined.     

Becoming a mother — an analysis of women's experience of early motherhood

This paper presents the results of a qualitative study conducted by midwife researchers into women's experience of new motherhood. Data were collected using focus groups involving 55 first-time mothers and analysed using grounded theory method. The analysis produced six categories: 'realizing', 'unready', 'drained', 'aloneness', 'loss' and 'working it out'. The core category, 'becoming a mother', integrates all other categories and encapsulates the process of change experienced by women. Also explained are factors mediating the often distressing experience of becoming a mother. The analysis provides a conceptualization of early motherhood enabling the development of strategies for midwives, nurses and others helping women negotiate this challenge.     

Antenatal education – where next?

The history of antenatal education throws light on why contemporary class attenders represent only a particular section of the childbearing population. Since Victorian times, the non-availability of the women's network to middle class women has forced them to seek knowledge of their own bodies, confidence in their childbearing capacities and the support of other women through formal educational opportunities. Research suggests that antenatal classes often fail to provide women with a realistic account of birth and parenting to replace the lived experience of earlier decades and may not be facilitated in such a way as to create the support groups which class attenders critically need. Teaching approaches often promote dependency amongst clients rather than nurturing the decision-making skills required by a consumer-driven maternity service.     

Children and the ingestion of alcohol: a statistical analysis of children attending an A & E department

The results of a survey of children attending an Accident and Emergency (A & E) Department following ingestion of alcohol are reported. Data were analysed to indicate age and sex of children, date and time of attendance, method of transport to hospital, whether accompanied to hospital and if so by whom, and whether admitted or discharged. Trends in children's consumption of alcohol, as observed by the author, are discussed.     

Psychometric evaluation of a squestionnaire to document side-effects of chemotherapy

This paper reports the psychometric testing of the Worthing Chemotherapy Questionnaire(WCQ). The WCQ is a patient self-report instrument to document side-effects of chemotherapy. Literature review of relevant studies shows that psychometric testing of similar instruments is rarely rigorous. Content validity for the WCQ was established in five ways: literature review, Delphi review among oncology staff, pre-pilot unstructured interviews, pilot study and amendment of the instrument and items for spontaneous reporting of problems on the questionnaire. A three-stage approach to construct validity was used. The hypothesis adopted was that as certain cytotoxic agents cause stomatitis, incidence and severity of stomatitis will decrease following cessation of treatment. Stage 1: factor analysis confirmed the presence of a sole factor, with an eigenvalue of 5.3, for mouth problems which explained 65.5% of the variance. Stage 2: the hypothesis was confirmed using research findings. Stage 3: the Wilcoxon test showed highly significant results for during and post chemotherapy stomatitis scores. Reliability of the questionnaire was assessed using the test-retest method. Weighted Kappa was chosen as the test statistic. A median value of _wK=0.87 was obtained. The results indicate that the WCQ is a reliable and valid instrument.     

The meaning of spirituality: a literature review

This paper presents a literature review in relation to the meaning of spirituality. It is proposed that meeting the spiritual needs of patients is a fundamental part of providing holistic nursing care, but that the assessment and meeting of those needs is impeded by inadequate definitions and conceptual frameworks. It should not be assumed that spirituality is either synonymous, or coterminous, with religion, and it is suggested that to adopt this restrictive view is unhelpful in the provision of individualized care. Reflection on the literature reveals that the self, others and 'God' provide the key elements within a definition of spirituality, and that other emerging themes namely meaning, hope, relatedness/connectedness, beliefs/belief systems and expressions of spirituality, can be articulated in the context of those three key elements. In particular, it is proposed that the nature of 'God' may take many forms and, essentially, is whatever an individual takes to be of highest value in his/her life. It is suggested that the themes emerging from the literature can be utilized as a framework to give practitioners and researchers a direction for future exploration of the concept of spirituality.     

Building a relationship: communications and relationships between staff and stroke patients on a rehabilitation ward

Communications among staff and patients on a stroke rehabilitation ward form the focus of this article, which reports on some aspects of a larger study using a grounded theory approach. Tape-recorded interviews were transcribed and analysed concurrently according to recommendations for the approach. A main theme entitled building a relationship was identified, and this process was found to occur in a context varying from participative at one end of a continuum to hierarchical at the other. Building a relationship was found to be influenced by role, personal qualities and organizational context. Appropriate relationships between role-holders were subject to negotiation, leading to a resulting congruence or incongruence between participants' expectations of each other and their roles. Personal qualities were brought into play in the process, with patients' views of staff and staff views of patients both being influential. Some of these views seemed to parallel what has been described in earlier literature as ‘the sick role’ and the labelling of patients as ‘good’ or ‘bad’. Responses to personal qualities led to nurses ascribing meaning to patients' behaviour in terms of adjustment to their stroke, giving time to them to help them to adjust, and withdrawal and handing over to other staff if this strategy failed. Organizational context also had an influence on building a relationship, with time constraints being identified particularly by nurses, and the need to fit in the most essential aspects of care. Place was also important, in that nurses were confined to the ward as a work location, whereas other therapists and doctors worked in other places and sometimes had the facility to take patients off the ward to concentrate on therapy. The findings are discussed against the background of related literature and the conclusion is drawn that the crucial role of nurses in rehabilitation is not recognized and valued, and that shortages of resources - especially suitably qualified and trained nursing staff- are a negative influence on building the relationships which are vital to successful rehabilitation.     

The implications of Project 2000 and the formation of links with higher education for the professional and academic needs of nurse teachers in the United Kingdom

A national study was conducted between 1991 and 1994 to explore and describe the changing role of the nurse teacher following the introduction of Project 2000 pre-registration nursing courses. Multiple methods were used 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 impact of Project 2000 and the move into higher education on the continuing educational needs of nurse teachers. Views on college strategies for staff development, the changing nature of teachers'academic and professional development needs and the problems of the conflicting demands experienced are reported. The research highlights the need for clinical credibility to be clearly defined in relation to nurse teachers and for educational institutions to place more emphasis on teachers'clinical development if the rhetoric of policy is to become a reality.