Nursing & Health

Undergraduate nurses from the last four semesters of their course were interviewed about their understanding of the nature of pressure in relation to the use of some nursing devices, blood circulation and the measurement of pressure using a sphygmomanometer. The interview protocol was designed to be investigative during the first portion of the interview and to become instructive toward the latter portion of the interview. The study found that pre-service nurses significantly abbreviated the process of auscultatory blood pressure measurement as recommended in the nursing literature and that a number of them rounded-off manometer readings to the nearest ten millimetres of mercury. An analysis of interview transcripts revealed an array of differing concepts of pressure some of which impinged on the students' understanding of arterial blood pressure and the function of the sphygmomanometer. Despite the fact that many of the respondents did not understand the fluctuating nature of arterial blood pressure and the relationship between cuff air pressure and blood pressure in a functioning sphygmomanometer, most recognized blood pressure readings that were above the normal range and a number spontaneously gave advice regarding the blood pressure that they found. The implications for nurse education are discussed. [from publisher's website].

Purified reoviruses RAM‐1 and 74/2 were combined and used as antigen. The Western blot detected antibodies to 16/16 avian reoviruses in sera from experimentally inoculated chickens, and to 6/7 reoviruses in contact sera from naturally infected chickens. The test was specific for avian reovirus and was more sensitive and specific than immunofluorescence.

It is time that Australian midwives developed and published their own theories and models for midwifery. This paper proposes a practical model for midwifery based on caring concepts. The needs of midwifery clients have been analysed and supported by various authors and four concepts of caring have been selected and applied to these needs to bring about a positive birth experience. Philosophical assumptions have been made to form the grounding for the theory, the core of which is a caring midwifery interaction.

This study explores the meaning of excellence in nursing care held by nurses. Qualitative data were collected from 156 undergraduate and postgraduate nurses by means of an open-ended questionnaire. Respondents were asked to reflect on practice which enabled a clear understanding of the meanings given to excellence in nursing care. In addition, details of their nursing background, level of nursing experience, and demographics were sought. Responses were content-analysed for themes by three coders. Four major themes emerged: (1) professionalism, (2) holistic care, (3) practice, (4) humanism. The fourth theme comprised three sub-themes: (a) enabling personal qualities, (b) nurse-patient relationships, and (c) nurse-health team relationships. Responses revealed that professionalism constituted an all-encompassing theme subsuming all others. Findings suggested that the client is the central focus of excellent nursing care at all times. According to these respondents, nurses who deliver excellent nursing care implement nursing in a professional and competent manner, demonstrate a holistic approach to caring, possess certain personal qualities which enhance practice, and relate to patients, families, peers, hospital administrators and community members in a competent, cooperative manner. An important aspect of this study is the differential quality of responses provided by respondents, who were students enrolled in a nursing degree programme compared to respondents who were state-registered nurses and concurrently undertaking higher degree studies. The final result is suggestive of the stages of transition through which nurses pass in their quest for excellence.

The following paper takes the form of a research proposal that seeks to examine the lived experience of acute care nurses following possible exposure to the HIV/AIDS virus in their working environment. The paper explores the characteristics of qualitative research and offers the phenomenological research design of Helen Streubert as the base methodology for the study. The paper justifies the choice of design by giving account of it's suitability to the study of the acute care nurses' lived experience when potentially exposed to HIV/AIDS. A detailed explanation of Streubert's design is offered along with a description of the method that would be followed in order to obtain the study's objectives.

A preliminary literature review is offered in an attempt to explain some of the effects that potential exposure to HIV/AIDS has on nurses. The paper offers some insight as to the transmissibility of HIV/AIDS and details some common fears, attitudes and coping mechanisms which nurses possess when confronted with the HIV/AIDS issue. The psychology behind nurses' fears and attitudes is explored along with the need for nurse managers to consider such psychology before attempting to change nurses attitudes and values. It is surmised that an understanding of nurses fears, attitudes and coping mechanisms in relation to HIV/AIDS, will give some insight as to the lived experience of acute care nurses following possible exposure to the HIV/AIDS virus in the working environment.

The paper briefly examines some of the advances that have been made in the areas of information, counselling and health agency policy in relation to nurses and possible HIV/AIDS exposure. The paper also seeks to explain how these topics can effect the lived experience of nurses following the possibility of exposure to HIV/AIDS. The need for comprehensive educational programs by nurse managers and educators, which give consideration to the education, counselling and policy requirements of acute care nurses, is highlighted in order to assist such acute care nurses through their lived experience. Further justification of the need for the proposed study is highlighted by the fact that there is very little literature available, which deals with nurses' lived experience, following possible exposure to HIV/AIDS in their working environment.

The paper offers some suggestions, based on the preliminary literature review, as to what the possible findings of this research may be. It is hoped that defining and explaining the lived experience of nurses, following possible exposure to HIV/AIDS in the working environment, by utilising a phenomenological study of this type, would result in a better understanding of what the nurses' lived experience entails. This understanding may therefore assist acute care nurses to have their needs met more effectively, following a period of possible exposure to HIV/AIDS at work.

This paper sets out to examine the values which nursing has identified as being fundamental to the profession in the 1990s. Two major areas of interest to Seventh-day Adventist nursing educators are explored: 1. What influence do Christian values have on nursing as we approach the year 2000? 2. Does the Seventh-day Adventist Church have anything unique it can contribute to the nursing profession if the values which are basic to Christianity and nursing coincide"

The Childbirth Education Association of Australia (NSW) Ltd (CEA) completed a non-randomized, prospective study of clients attending its antenatal program over a twelve-month period in 1997. The aim of the study was to establish if the program offered met the needs of their clients.