The nursing practice of monitoring patients in the post-operative (PO) phase upon returning to the general ward setting has traditionally consisted of the systematic collection of vital signs and observation of other aspects of the patient's recovery. For the most part the primary focus of this monitoring has been the detection of post-operative complications. There is a need for more substantive evidence to support an appropriate frequency of post-operative observation. The aim of this research was to identify if the current practice of PO vital sign collection detects PO complications in the first 24 hours after the patient has returned to the general ward setting. Due to the complex world in which nurses practice the research was undertaken using a combination of methods within a triangulated approach to collect data. A survey of 75 hospitals providing a surgical service enabled a description of the current models of PO monitoring as found in policy documents to be made. The majority of hospitals (91%) described a variety of regulated regimens for the collection of PO observations, with the most common for vital sign collection (27%) as hourly for the first four hours and then four hourly. An observation of 282 patient hours in two surgical wards identified the current practice of PO monitoring involved nurses collecting vital signs hourly for the first four hours, three hourly for the next eight hours and then every four hours. This was despite the existence of different models being described in the policies. The records of 144 patients were audited to identify what, if any, nursing interventions detected changes in a patient's recovery and to determine whether a relationship existed between vital sign collection and the detection of complications. It was found that the complications that occurred were minor in nature, occurred infrequently, and did not have a relationship with changes in vital signs. This research found that there was no relationship between the frequency of the collection of vital signs and the occurrence or detection of complications. PO observations were collected by nurses based on traditional patterns, were collected routinely, were ritualised and were not determined by individual clinician expertise or the needs of the individual patient. Recommendations are made regarding the need for a systematic program of research and alternative models of patient observation that focus on patient need rather than organisational need and that provide more efficient and effective practice in monitoring PO patient progress. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--School of Medicine, 2003.

Pressure ulcers are one of the quality indicators of nursing care, their presence reduces the quality of life of the patient, leads to a prolongation of hospitalization, increases costs of care and affects the budget of a health care facility. European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel or the European Advisory Board on issues of bedsores (EPUAP) leads and supports all European countries in their efforts to prevent and treat pressure sores. EPUAP working group has developed guidelines for the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers. One of the important factors in providing the highest quality of nursing care is the ability of nurses to practically use the research results in the nursing process. This thesis deals with the effective use of the latest advances in the prevention of pressure sores and their treatment in the intensive care in Czech Republic. The main objective of this thesis is to explore the latest methods of prevention of pressure sores and care, according to Evidence-based practice principles EPUAP and analyze their practical implementation in selected intensive care wards. Quantitative research was conducted through an anonymous questionnaire in the population of nurses working in intensive care. The results of the research show that nurses working in intensive care, implement...

Darbo tikslas - ištirti žinių apie šiuolaikinę kontracepciją poreikį slaugytojams ir akušeriams. Tyrimo metu siekta: įvertinti slaugytojų ir akušerių nuomonės apie kontracepciją ir įrodymais pagrįstos medicinos duomenų skirtumus; išsiaiškinti ir palyginti slaugytojų ir akušerių žinių apie šiuolaikinę kontracepciją panaudojimą praktinėje veikloje; išsiaiškinti slaugytojų ir akušerių nuomonę apie jų svarbą, lytinio švietimo ir informavimo kontracepcijos klausimais, veikloje. Tyrimo hipotezė - akušerių žinios apie šiuolaikines kontraceptines priemones yra geresnės negu slaugytojų. Atliktas vienmomentis kiekybinis tyrimas, taikant apklausos metodą, kurio metu naudota autorės sudaryta nestandartizuota anketa. Apklausoje dalyvavo 220 respondentų (107 akušeriai, 111 slaugytojai ir 2 asmenys nurodė kitą profesiją) dirbančių Kauno miesto sveikatos priežiūros įstaigose ir jų skyriuose, kurie dirba su moterimis ir kuriems gali tekti konsultuoti kontracepcijos klausimu. Duomenims analizuoti naudota statistinė analizė. Atliekant statistinę duomenų analizę analizuoti tik slaugytojų ir akušerių duomenys. Tyrimo rezultatai: vertinant teiginius apie kontracepcijos poveikį slaugytojos įvertino teisingai 3 iš aštuonių, o akušerės 5 iš aštuonių teiginių. 76,4 proc. respondentų atsakė, jog domisi naujovėmis apie kontracepciją. 60,5 proc. respondentų jų nuomone žino kas yra įrodymais pagrįsta medicina/praktika. 69,5 proc. apklaustųjų jaučia poreikį įgyti daugiau žinių kontracepcijos tema... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Research goal – to analyse the need of information about modern contraceptics for nurses and midwives. Study aims were: assess the differences between the opinions of nurses and midwives and the evidence-based actual data about contraceptics; to find and compare the application of information about contraception by the nurses and midwives in working environment; to gauge the significance placed upon them by the nurses and midwives in sex education concerning contraception. Hypothesis – midwives have a higher knowledge base concerning modern contraception than nurses. Public quantitative research has been conducted using a survey method, in which authors’ non-standardised questionnaire has been used. In total, 220 respondents have participated (107 midwives, 111 nurses and 2 people of other profession) from Kaunas city’s health care establishments and their subsidiaries, in which female patients are present or come to and in which some sort of consultation regarding contraception could be done. The data has been analysed with statistical tools. In the data analysis, only the data concerning nurses and midwives has been analysed. Research results: in the evaluation task of presented statements upon contraception, nurses have answered 3 out of 8 correctly; midwives have answered 5 out of 8 correctly. 76,4 per cent of respondents have stated that they show interest into the new modern contraception methods. 60,5 per cent of respondents claim to know what is evidence-based... [to full text]

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Evidence based practice (EBP) is essential to the practice of nursing for purposes of promoting optimal patient outcomes. Research suggests that the implementation of EBP by staff nurses is problematic and influenced by beliefs, nursing leadership and the work environment. The purpose of this descriptive study was to examine variables that describe the relationship among beliefs about EBP, the work environment and nursing leadership on the EBP implementation activities of the staff nurse. The variables of interest were 1) individual staff nurse characteristics, 2) beliefs about EBP, 3) the EBP work environment and 4) nursing leadership for EBP. A descriptive, quantitative method was used. A sample of 422 Registered Nurses from two urban hospitals (one Magnet and one non-Magnet) completed an online 58 item survey that included questions related to individual belief’s about EBP, the EBP work environment and nursing leadership for EBP as well as EBP implementation activities. Education, tenure and Magnet status were not significantly related to EBP implementation activities in either the univariate or multivariate analysis. EBP beliefs had a significantly positive relationship with EBP implementation activities in both the univariate and multivariate analyses. Work environment and nursing leadership support for EBP had significant positive relationships with self-reported implementation activities in only the univariate analysis. The most surprising finding was that there were no differences between Magnet and non-Magnet work environments for EBP implementation scores, yet the Magnet hospitals reported higher means on the EBP Beliefs Scale than the non-Magnet hospital. The results of this have implications for identifying and testing strategies to influence EBP implementation activities through development of nursing leadership skills for EBP and creating a more EBP friendly work environment.