Methanol poisoning: a review and case study of four patients from Central Australia

Methanol intoxication, a rare and potentially lethal form of poisoning, usually results from ingestion and occasionally inhalation of methanol. Initial symptoms of blurred vision, elongated anion gap and metabolic acidosis are typically delayed and may not at first be recognised as methanol-related complaints. Once diagnosed, treatment must be prompt and definitive. As well as general supportive care, ethanol infusion, dialysis and alkalinization form the mainstays of treatment.

The cases described in this paper are compared to previous reports from other countries worldwide and contrast the variance in outcome often seen in methanol poisoning. The paper describes two tragic deaths and two lucky survivors, all of whom had consumed a cocktail of methanol and other alcoholic beverages at the same party.

The ICU nurse's role in managing the methanol-intoxicated patient relies on that person's sound knowledge of the unusual biochemical reactions occurring in the body and the need to institute definitive and supportive measures to help both patient and family recover.     

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.     

A conjoint appointment involving a nursing research management role

Elliot DJ. International Journal of Nursing Practice 1997; 3: 47–52
A conjoint appointment involving a nursing research management role
Nursing conjoint appointments have taken a number of different forms and included various hospital roles such as ward manager, educator and consultant. This paper discusses an appointment trialed at a lecturer/middle manager level with a functional hospital role of Assistant Director of Nursing (research). The hospital role included activities categorized as: research consultations; research proposal reviews; committee membership; and research project involvement. The academic activities included a half-time teaching load, student clinical placement supervision and thesis/treatise student supervision.
The development and implementation of the position, including background, role structure, appointment conditions and work practices are discussed. Issues that were highlighted during the 2 year trial included: the teaching load compared to reimbursement funding; the actual activities involved in the position; the level of appointment required to be most effective in the role; and concomitant university study by the appointee.     

Animal physiotherapy

Animal physiotherapy is a field of growth in the UK due to factors including increasing client (owner) awareness and demand. Advances in veterinary diagnostic and treatment technology have lead to increasingly sophisticated and integrated veterinary management of both companion and performance animals, and overall increases in animal longevity.Using human physiotherapy techniques to manage similar problems in veterinary patients is not a new phenomenon however. Animal physiotherapy can trace its origins back to at least the early 20th century in the UK. Specific legislation citing the application of ‘Physiotherapy’ in veterinary medicine first appeared over 40 years ago (Veterinary Surgeons Exemptions Order, 1962). The Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy (ACPAT) was founded as special interest group of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP) in 1985, and has a growing membership (to date has over 150 fully qualified Category A members in the UK).In 2000, the first intake of students where enrolled on the M.Sc./Post-Graduate Diploma in Veterinary Physiotherapy at the Royal Veterinary College, London. This program of part time study was developed to provide chartered physiotherapists with the ability to apply their professional knowledge, experience and practical therapy skills to the treatment of animal patients. M.Sc. students are required to complete an original research project, contributing to the development of a much-needed scientific evidence base for veterinary physiotherapy.This article aims to provide an overview of the treatment of animals with physiotherapy from the perspective of an ACPAT physiotherapist. Some understanding of human manual therapy principles and nomenclature is assumed.     

Clinical research priorities in oncology nursing: An Australian perspective

The aims of this research project were to identify areas for research in oncology nursing that have potential for improvement in patient care and to advise about nursing-research policy and priorities that have relevance to areas of patients'needs. Research participants included 10 Clinical Nurse Consultants (CNC) representing 10 area health authorities in New South Wales, Australia. The Delphi method was used to obtain the most reliable consensus of the specialist nurses, and more than 31 high priorities were identified. Quality of life and symptom management emerged as the top two priority categories in the study. The findings of the study provide direction for clinical nursing research in oncology.     

A group programme for postnatally distressed women and their partners

A group programme for postnatally distressed women and their partners is described. The programme consists of eight sessions, including one session for the couple. The concerns of the women centre around their anxieties and feelings towards their partners, their own mothers and their infants. Psychotherapeutic and cognitive-behavioural strategies are employed to assist them in dealing with these concerns. The concerns of the men centre around their attempts to provide emotional and practical support to their partner. Invariably such support results in an increase in tension between the partners, and the programme helps the men to understand why this happens. Formal measures show a decrease in maternal distress over time and an increase in their level of self-esteem. About half of the men show elevated levels of distress.     

Knowing the patient and the impact on patient participation: A grounded theory study

Henderson S. International Journal of Nursing Practice 1997; 3: 111–118
Knowing the patient and the impact on patient participation: A grounded theory study
Currently, there is an emphasis on patient participation. Studies have demonstrated that when patients participate in their care, they experience positive outcomes such as greater satisfaction with care and decreased vulnerability. Nurses are of the opinion that patients should participate in their care. Literature and research indicate, however, that there is an incongruence between nurses' pro-participatory attitudes and actual practice. Grounded theory was used to identify factors relevant to patient participation from the nurses' and patients' perspectives. Using purposive sampling from four hospitals in Western Australia, in-depth interviews and participant observation were conducted. The constant comparative method of analysis was used. As this study is in progress, the core category and sub-categories are still being refined. One category that has emerged strongly is 'knowing the patient' and the outcome on patient participation. This paper will discuss this category from the nurses and patients perspective including recommendations.