Updating United States psychiatric nurses in a state hospital

Nurses who care for psychiatric patients are often located in settings far from nursing schools and medical centres. As these often provide workshops and training in order to familiarize nurses with current concepts, not only in the field of psychiatry but in medical, surgical, maternity and paediatric fields, it is important that a mechanism be developed to ensure that nurses in distant settings receive training on these topics. This paper outlines the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation phases on the initial 'Psychiatric Nursing Update' held at Logansport State Hospital during 1986–1987. The initial 'update' was evaluated by nurses as successful and has been continued.     

An evaluation of Web-based education as an alternative to group lectures for diabetes self-management

This study evaluated the efficacy of Web-based diabetes self-management education for newly diagnosed patients with type II diabetes as an alternative to group lectures. Using a non-equivalent control group, pretest-post-test design, the participants in the Web group ( n  = 15) took part in a Web-based diabetes self-management program, while those in the lecture group ( n  = 16) attended 3 h of group lectures provided by health-care professionals specializing in diabetes care. The outcome variables were measured at the baseline (T0), and 6 weeks (T1) and 3 months (T2) after the interventions. The glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) percentage and diabetes care knowledge in the Web group improved significantly from T0 to T1, while the diabetes care behavior improved significantly from T0 to T1 and from T1 to T2. The diabetes care knowledge and diabetes care behavior in the lecture group improved significantly from T0 to T1, but the HbA1c percentage did not change significantly between any times. These results show the potential of the Web-based program as an alternative to group lectures for diabetes self-management education.     

Experiences of nurse leaders surviving Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Hurricane Katrina left New Orleans, Louisiana, USA destroyed by its impact on 29 August 2005. Working during a hurricane was nothing new to these authors. Having lived in New Orleans all our lives, we were used to preparing our homes and our families to weather the storm. Nurses are in leadership positions before, during, and after any disaster. Nurses are called upon to report to duty, leaving their loved ones to care for themselves while the nurses care for the sick and frail in unbelievably difficult situations. The purpose of this article is to share our experiences as nurse survivors during Hurricane Katrina, reflecting on 10 major aspects of disaster planning from the perspective of the "Then" (during the storm) and the "Now" (current recommendations).     

ADHD in the college student: a block in the road

Older adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often struggle as they make the transition to college. Loss of parental supervision and structure, variable course schedules and the freedom and distractions of campus life can lead to health-risk behaviours for the college student with ADHD. The purpose of this study was to determine factors that help, as well as hinder, college students with ADHD as they learn to cope with everyday challenges of life and academics once they leave the structure and support of their parents' home. Investigators conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 15 college students with ADHD. Follow-up interviews confirmed and validated information obtained during initial interviews. In-depth qualitative analysis of transcribed interviews resulted in identification of three global themes: gaining insight about ADHD, managing life and utilizing sources of support. Each global theme contains factors that hinder, as well as factors that help the college student with ADHD. The factors that college students described as helping and hindering their transition to college can serve as the basis for interventions to educate and empower younger adolescents with ADHD well in advance of their transition to college.     

Family planning practice and related factors of married women in Ethiopia

KO I.S., YOU M.A., KIM E.S., LEE T.W., KIM S., KIM Y.M., NAM J.J., LEE H.K. (2010).Family planning practice and related factors of married women in Ethiopia. International Nursing Review 57 , 377–382 Background: The family planning (FP) practice rate of Ethiopian women of reproductive age is lower than in most other sub‐Saharan African countries. Aim: To examine the status of FP practice and identify intrapersonal, interpersonal and community factors associated with FP practice among married Ethiopian women in a rural area. Methods: A cross‐sectional survey was conducted with a convenient sample of 193 married women of reproductive age. A structured questionnaire, which was modified based on the Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey, was used. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with FP practice at three levels: intrapersonal, interpersonal and community. Results: Almost 67% of women were currently using at least one FP method and most women obtained FP methods from the public health sector. Short‐term methods such as pills and injections were most commonly used. FP practice was significantly associated with willingness to use long‐term or permanent FP methods in future and spousal discussion about FP. Conclusions: Both intrapersonal and interpersonal factors were related to FP practice. Community factors, however, need to be further assessed using various methods to plan a comprehensive and more culturally acceptable community‐based FP program. Caution is needed to generalize the findings because of the convenient sample, but community‐based FP programs emphasizing long‐term or permanent methods and male involvement in FP counseling would be successful strategies to increase FP practice. Implications for nursing practice: Nurses and midwives need to be trained to provide knowledge and skills for long‐term or permanent FP methods for service quality.     

The management of the suicidal patient in a critical care unit

While much has been written on psychological problems of patients in critical care settings, little has been written on the patient whose serious condition is the consequence of a deliberate and serious attempt to end life. The suicidal patient in critical care presents a special challenge to the critical care nurse. In responding to a suicidal patient the critical care nurse demonstrates technological expertise in life-saving intervention. The nurse is also in a position to provide a positive psychological bridge of hope for the future. This paper addresses the care of the suicide attempter in the critical care unit by first considering prevalent societal attitudes toward suicidal behaviour. Secondly, attitudes which may affect comprehensive care for the suicidal patient in critical care are discussed and the scope of the problem of suicide delineated. Finally strategies for providing crisis intervention for the suicide attempter in the critical care unit are outlined.