Use of a mobile health van by a vulnerable population: Homeless sheltered women

Little is known about the health status of homeless women. In this study, we examined the health problems of and services provided to sheltered, homeless, Midwestern women who used a mobile health van. Our objectives were to document these women's ages, self‐reported past medical histories, self‐reported histories of addictions and hospitalizations, presenting concerns, diagnoses, and visit patterns. To this end, we performed a retrospective review of the 689 records of 408 women who had sought care during a 3‐year period. The data were divided into three groups, representing women ages 15–25 (n = 111), 26–40 (n = 211), and 41–70 (N = 86). In all three age groups, respiratory disorders were most frequently treated. Preventive health maintenance concerns were also major concerns of all age groups. Recommendations for improving the quality, continuity, and follow‐up of care are offered.     

Child Placement Issues of Women With Addictions

For a variety of reasons women with addictions have a significant risk of losing custody of one or more children. Child custody loss can elicit feelings of grief, anger, or hopelessness in women and can promote or inhibit recovery from their addiction. Recurrent pregnancies in women who have lost custody of one or more children and who are not in recovery also are common. Information about the women's experiences and the various types of out-of-home placements for children is provided. Such information can assist nurses in planning interventions that help mothers process their feelings about the custody loss in healthy ways and help promote mother-child attachment when reunification is possible.     

When the System Works: Rescuing a Child From Munchausen''s Syndrome by Proxy

This case study presents a consultation-liaison client and family. The author illustrates how a coordinated staff effort and the nurse-patient relationship resulted in improved treatment.     

Assessment of family history of substance abuse for preventive interventions with patients experiencing chronic pain: A quality improvement project

This quality improvement project demonstrates that RN Care Managers, in a chronic pain programme, can assess for a family history of substance abuse in 5–10 min. Information informs treatment based on specific high risk criteria. Benefits include heightened awareness of the genetic and environmental risks associated with a family history of substance abuse, an opportunity to participate in motivational interventions to prevent or minimize consequences of substance use disorders, and likely substantial overall health‐care cost savings.     

Mental Health Needs of Children and Adolescents at Camp: Are They Being Assessed and Treated Appropriately by the Camp Nurse?

TOPIC: Increasingly, more children and adolescents are attending camps with mental health concerns. This can pose a challenge for camp nurses who may lack experience in assessment and treatment of mental health issues. PURPOSE: To focus on the importance of addressing and treating mental health needs of children and adolescents at camp utilizing the Scope and Standards of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practice. SOURCES: Personal observations, camp nursing experience, and scholarly published literature. CONCLUSIONS: It is paramount that mental health needs of children and adolescents at camp are addressed and managed appropriately by the camp nurse. Education of camp nurses and camp administrators is also a vital part of providing care.     

Solution Focused Therapy: An Alternative Approach to Addictions Nursing

topic : The application of solution-focused therapy as an alternative approach to addictions nursing.
purpose : To acquaint nurses with solution-focused therapy as a treatment modality that uses specific techniques to focus on clients'strengths and resources, rather than on pathology.
source : Traditional method of addictions treatment as a way of confronting a client's denial are contrasted with solution-focused therapy approaches, which provides a positive framework that uses clients'competencies to create necessary solutions.
conclusions : Solution-focused therapy represents a caring and humanistic approach to the practice of addictions nursing.     

The Alcoholic Family: A Nursing Diagnosis Validation Study

This study was designed to develop and validate a new nursing diagnosis, altered family processes: alcoholism. The Delphi technique was used to obtain nurse experts' (N = 201) ratings of terms for the definition, related factors, and defining characteristics. Degree of consensus was determined by analyzing the mean, frequencies, and Fehring's (1987) Diagnostic Content Validity Index for items. Findings supported a proposed definition and related factors including family history of alcoholism and lack of problem-solving skills. Defining characteristics were grouped into three categories: feelings (e.g. mistrust, insecurity, powerlessness, unhappiness), roles, and relationships (e.g. disturbed family dynamics, inconsistent parenting, marital problems), and behaviors (e.g. impaired communication, dependency, denial). Future research includes the proposal and testing of nursing interventions for alcoholic families.