Bakgrund: På en akutmottagning kommer patienter i olika tillstånd och behov. Det är sjuksköterskan som ofta gör de första bedömningarna och därför är det av stor vikt att bemötandet från sjuksköterskan är positivt för att skapa trygghet. Ökat patientflöde och långa väntetider är några faktorer som är påvisade att kunna påverka upplevelsen för patienterna av sin vistelse på akutmottagningen. Syfte: Syftet med litteraturöversikten var att beskriva faktorer som påverkar patienters upplevelse av omvårdnad under sin vistelse på akutmottagning. Metod: Studien genomfördes som en litteraturöversikt. Databaserna CINAHL och PubMed användes för att söka efter artiklar. Resultat: Sex underkategorier valdes ut: bemötande, delaktighet, information, väntetid, kommunikation och kontinuitet, sjuksköterskans kunskap och kompetens. Resultatet visade att många patienter ansåg att sjuksköterskan var skicklig i sina arbetsuppgifter och var nöjda med bemötandet från sjuksköterskan, men att långa väntetider och bristande information påverkade upplevelsen av omvårdnad. Det fanns en tydlig önskan över att få mer information om sin väntetid, behandling och undersökningar. Brister i detta, skapade en otrygghet och en känsla av vara bortglömd hos patienterna. Slutsats: Sjuksköterskor på en akutmottagning behöver besitta en stor kommunikationsförmåga. Detta för att kunna ge patienterna en så bra upplevelse som möjligt. Slutsatser av resultatet har påvisat att det krävs förbättring inom flera områden för att ge patienter en bättre upplevelse av omvårdnaden under sin vistelse på akutmottagningen. / Background: To an emergency department people arrives with various states and needs. It is the nurse who often do the initial assessments and therefore it is of great importance that the response from the nurse is positive, to provide a feeling of security for the patient. Increased patient flow and long waits are a few factors that are proven to influence patients´ experience of their stay at the emergency department. Purpose: The purpose of the literature review is to describe factors that influence patients’ experience of care at the emergency department. Methods: The study was conducted as a literature review. CINAHL and PubMed databases were used to search for articles. Results: The analysis led to six subcategories: the encounter, participation, information, waiting time, communication and continuity, the Registered Nurse knowledge and skills. The results showed that many patients felt that the nurse was skilled with the nursing assignments and were happy with the response from the nurse, but the long waiting time and lack of information affected the experience of the nursing care at the emergency department. There was a clear desire from the patients to receive more information about their wait time, treatment and examination. Shortcomings of this, created insecurity and a feeling of being forgotten for the patients. Conclusion: Nurses at an emergency department need to possess great communication skills. To be able to give patients the best experience as possible at the emergency department. Conclusions of the results have shown the need for improvement in several areas, to increase a better experience for the patients during their stay at the emergency department.

Bakgrund: Patientens rätt att vara delaktig i planering och genomförande av sin vård betonas idag, men många patienter är mindre delaktiga än de önskar vara. Det finns många fördelar med att patienten är delaktig. Syfte: Att beskriva vilka faktorer som påverkar patientens delaktighet i omvårdnad från patientens och sjuksköterskans perspektiv inom somatisk slutenvård. Metod: Litteraturstudie baserad på 16 vetenskapliga artiklar, publicerade mellan åren 2006 och 2015. Sökning skedde i databaserna PubMed och CINAHL, samt i de funna artiklarnas referenslistor. Resultat: Fem kategorier med faktorer som påverkade patientens delaktighet i omvårdnad identifierades; kunskap, relationen mellan patienten och sjuksköterskan, sjuksköterskans förhållningssätt, patientens situation och egenskaper samt organisationen. Slutsats: Faktorerna inom de fem kategorierna utgör ett komplicerat samspel och varje patient är en unik person med egna önskemål och preferenser för delaktighet. / Background: The patient's right to participate in planning and implementation of their care is stressed today but many patients are less involved than they would like to be. There are several positive outcomes of patient participation, Aim: To describe factors influencing patient participation in nursing care, from the patient’s and the nurse’s perspectives in somatic inpatient care. Method: A literature review based on 16 articles, published between 2006 and 2015. A literature search was made in the databases PubMed and CINAHL, and in the reference lists. Results: Five categories with factors that affected patient participation in nursing care were identified; knowledge, the relationship between the patient and the nurse, the nurse’s approach, the patient’s situation and characteristics and the organization. Conclusion: The factors within the five categories form a complex interaction and each patient is a unique person with its own wishes and preferences for participation.

Bakgrund: Självskadebeteende är skador mot den egna kroppen genom att skära, rispa eller bränna sig utan avsikt att ta sitt liv. Det framkommer att personal känner bristande förståelse och frustration för patienter med självskadeproblem och att de inte vet hur man ska ta hand om dem. Syfte: Att beskriva hur sjuksköterskor inom psykiatrisk heldygnsvård upplever att vårda patienter med självskadebeteende. Metod: En kvalitativ metod användes och datainsamling skedde via intervjuer med sjuksköterskor inom den psykiatriska heldygnsvården (n=14). Materialet transkriberades och analyserades med innehållsanalys. Resultat: Analysen resulterade i ett tema, tre kategorier och sex underkategorier. Temat blev ”Vad göra”, de tre kategorierna blev ”En patientgrupp i nöd”, ”En patientgrupp som berör” och ”En behövande profession”. De sex underkategorierna blev ”Dåtidens brister”, ”I stridens hetta”, ”Mig som sjuksköterska”, ”Oss i personalgruppen”, ”I behov av stöd och vägledning” och ”I kunskapstörst”. Konklusion: Patienter med självskadebeteende berör den enskilda sjuksköterskan men också personalgruppen. Upplevelser vittnar om en patientgrupp i nödliknande situation både förr och idag. Förhoppningen är att med stöd, ökad kunskap och vägledning till verksamma sjuksköterskor förändra upplevelserna av att vårda patienter med självskadebeteende / Background: Self-harm is damage to the own body and includes cut, scratch or burn without intending to take one´s own life. It appears that staff feel lack of understanding and frustration for patients who self- harms and that they don´t know how to care for them. Aim: To describe nurses experiences of caring for patients who self- harm in psychiatric inpatient care. Methods: A qualitative approach was used and data collection was done through interviews with nurses in psychiatric inpatient care (n = 14). The interviews were transcribed and analyzed by content analysis. Results: The analysis resulted in one theme, three categories and six subcategories. The theme was "What to do", the three categories were "A population in need", "A population who affect" and "A profession in need". The six subcategories were "The inadequacies of yesterday”, "In the heat of battle," "Me as a nurse," "us in the personnel”, " "In need of support and guidance," and "In thirst for knowledge". Conclusion: Patients who self- harm affects the individual nurse but also the staff group. Experiences indicate a patient population with a situation in needs, both past and present. It is hoped that with the support, increased knowledge and guidance to the active nurses changing experiences of caring for patients with self-injurious behavior.

Bakgrund: Lymfödem är en besvärande komplikation efter bröstcancerkirurgi. Det kan leda till svullnad, smärta och rörelseinskränkningar i den drabbade armen. Det är ett kroniskt och svårbehandlat tillstånd. Syfte: Att sammanställa vetenskaplig litteratur som beskriver omvårdnadsåtgärder utförda av sjuksköterskan och metoder för egenvård utförda av patienter för prevention och behandling av lymfödem efter bröstcancerkirurgi. Metod: PubMed användes som databas för insamling av artiklar under februari 2016. Fyra kombinationer av sökorden “blood draws”, “lymphedema”, “self-management”, “nurse”, “breast cancer” samt “knowledge” användes. Artiklarna sammanställdes och kvalitetsgranskades. Resultat: Tio relevanta vetenskapliga originalartiklar identifierades; sju med kvantitativ metod och tre med kvalitativ metod. Blodprovstagningar, infusioner, blodtrycksmätningar, trauma och flygresor innebar inte en ökad risk för lymfödem trots rådande rekommendationer om att detta bör undvikas. Patientundervisning från sjuksköterskan och egenvård var viktigt för att förebygga och behandla lymfödem. Patientundervisningen upplevdes emellertid som bristfällig av flertalet patienter och sjuksköterskor måste utveckla sin kompetens inom detta område. Majoriteten av patienterna var medvetna om egenvårdens betydelse, men trots detta utfördes den inte av alla. Bristande kunskap och stöd var två svårigheter som identifierades. Regelbunden träning minskade risken för lymfödem. Slutsats: Vissa rekommendationer om omvårdnadsåtgärder relaterade till lymfödem bör ses över. Patientundervisning tycks vara en förutsättning för egenvård och bör få större utrymme. Egenvård har visat sig effektivt, och strategier för att hantera olika hinder behövs. Sjuksköterskan kan ses som en resurs i omvårdnaden av denna patientgrupp och har en viktig funktion som ansvarig för såväl medicinsktekniska procedurer som patientundervisning och stöd vid egenvård. / Background: Lymphedema is a feared complication after breast cancer surgery, causing swelling, pain and restriction of mobility in the affected arm. This condition is chronic and difficult to treat. Aim: To compile scientific literatur describing nursing activities and methods for self care performed by patients for prevention and treatment of lymphedema after breast cancer surgery. Methods: The PubMed database was used for data collection during february 2016. Four combinations of the search terms “blood draws”, “lymphedema”, “self-management”, “nurse”, “breast cancer” and “knowledge” were used. A quality review and an analysis of the results were conducted. Results: Ten relevant scientific original articles were identified; seven using a quantitative design and three using a qualitative design. Blood sampling, infusions, blood pressure measurements, trauma and air travel did not increase the risk of lymphedema despite current recommendations that this should be avoided. Patienteducation by nurses and self care were important to prevent and treat lymphedema. However, the education was perceived as inadequate by several patients, suggesting that nurses must expand their knowledge in this area. Although most patients were aware of the importance of self care, it was not performed by everyone. Lack of knowledge and support were two difficulties identified. Regular exercise decreased the risk of lymphedema. Conclusions: Some recommendations concerning nursing care related to lymphedema should be reconsidered. Patienteducation seems to be a condition for self care and should be given greater emphasis. Self care has been proven effective, and strategies for dealing with difficulties are needed. The nurse may be considered as a resource in nursing care for this group of patients and has an important function as responsible for blood sampling, injections and blood pressure readings as well as patienteducation and self care support.

Thesis (MCur)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Pain management is a vital component of post-operative nursing care. Orthopaedic patients in particular experience severe pain following surgical intervention. Since effective pain management is crucial in the post-operative recovery of orthopaedic patients, it was essential to explore the knowledge and clinical practice of nurses in orthopaedic wards. The aim of the study was to establish nurses’ knowledge and clinical practice for adult postoperative pain management of orthopaedic patients. A non-experimental, descriptive self-administered survey using a quantitative approach was applied. The total population of N=97 registered professional and enrolled nurses working in dedicated orthopaedic wards in two central hospitals in the Cape Town Metropole district, South Africa were invited to participate in the study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. Reliability and validity was assured by means of a pilot study and consultation with nursing experts and a statistician. Ethical approval was obtained from the Health Research Ethics Committee of the University of Stellenbosch. Permission for access to the hospitals was obtained from the hospital and nursing managers. Informed written consent was obtained from the participants. The data was analysed by the statistician and presented in frequencies, tables and histograms. The variables were compared using either the Pearson chi-square test for differences in nursing category or the Mann-Whitney U-test for differences in years of experience. The analysis of the results illustrated knowledge deficits, inconsistent clinical practices and limited training in post-operative pain management. The recommendations include training courses, revision of the patient’s observation chart and formulation of policies and guidelines for pain management. Appropriate knowledge and clinical skills of nurses are critical to ensure optimal pain management for post-operative orthopaedic patients. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die bestuur van pyn is ’n essensiële component van post-operatiewe verpleegsorg. Ortopediese pasiënte ervaar spesifiek fel pyn na afloop van ’n chirugiese intervensie. Aangesien effektiewe pynbestuur belangrik in die post-operatiewe herstel van ortopediese pasiënte speel, was dit nodig om die kennis en kliniese praktyke van verpleegpersoneel in ortopediese sale te verken. Die doel van die studie was om verpleegpersoneel se kennis en kliniese ervaring van volwasse post-operatiewe pynbestuur van ortopediese pasiënte vas te stel. ’n Nie-eksperimentele, deskriptiewe, self-toegediende opname is toegepas wat gebruik maak van ’n kwantitatiewe benadering. Die totale populasie van 97 geregistreerde professionele en ingeskrewe verpleegkundiges wat in toegewyde ortopediese sale van twee sentrale hospitale in die Kaapstad Metropol distrik, Suid Afrika werk, is genooi om aan die studie deel te neem. ’n Gestruktureerde vraelys is gebruik om data in te samel. Betroubaarheid en geldigheid is verseker deur middel van ’n voortoets en konsultasie met verpleegkundige kenners en ’n statistikus. Etiese goedkeuring is verkry van die Gesondheidsnavorsing Etiese Komitee van die Universiteit Stellenbosch. Toestemming om toegang tot die hospitale te kry is verkry van die hospitaal en verpleegbestuurders. Ingeligte, geskrewe toestemming is van die deelnemers verkry. Die data is geanaliseer deur die statistikus en is aangebied in frekwensietabelle en histogramme. Die veranderlikes is vergelyk deur of die Pearson chi-vierkant toets te doen vir verskille in verpleegkategorieë, of die Mann-Whitney U-toets vir verskille in jare ervaring. Die analise van die resultate het kennistekorte, teenstrydige kliniese praktyke en beperkte opleiding in post-operatiewe pynbestuur uitgewys. Die aanbevelings sluit opleidingskursusse, hersiening van pasiënte se waarnemingsgrafiek en die formulering van beleid en riglyne vir pynbestuur in. Toepaslike kennis en kliniese vaardighede van verpleegpersoneel is krities om optimale pynbestuur vir post-operatiewe ortopediese pasiënte te verseker.

Thesis (MCur (Nursing Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Nursing documentation is the written evidence of nursing practice and reflects the accountability of nurses to patients. Accurate documentation is an important prerequisite for individual and safe nursing care. It is a severe threat for the individuality and safety of patient care if important aspects of nursing care remain undocumented. Nursing staff cannot rely on information that is not documented. Every patient is important and unique hence every patient’s care is individualised and different according to his/her needs. This is why important aspects of his/her care need to be documented. Ultimately, the documentation practices reflect the values of the nursing personnel (Isola, Muurinen and Voutilainen, 2004:79-80). The goal of this study was to investigate documentation of nursing care with reference to current practices and perceptions of nurses in a teaching hospital in Saudi Arabia Specific objectives of the study were:  to identify whether the hospital policies are being carried out  to identify whether the procedures regarding current documentation are being carried out and  to explore the perceptions of the nurses regarding the current documentation practices. Research Methodology For the purpose of this study, a non-experimental descriptive design with a quantitative approach was used. The study was carried out at King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. The total population of 90 registered nurses were used in this study. Questionnaires were distributed to the participants and they were answered with no identities written on the questionnaires. After the questionnaires were completed, it was posted in a box and was collected by the researcher. The questions are straightforward, easily understood, unambiguous, non-leading, objectively set and aimed at obtaining views, experiences and perceptions of documentation of nursing care. . Involvement of participants was voluntary and non-coercive. Data analysis were carried out with the support of a statistician, expressed in tables, frequencies and statistical associations were done between various variables based on a 95% confidence interval. The study revealed that:  Hospital policies are being carried out N=76 (95%)  Procedures pertaining to documentation of nursing care are being carried out N=67(83,7%).  Nurses N=45(56,3%) indicated that paper documentation included a lot of paperwork.  The Cerner (computer system) is regarded as the best system ever used for documentation of nursing care N=44(55%)  The Mycare system (medication ordering system) is regarded as the most reliable, user-friendly system and nurses are happy with it N=68(85%) Recommendations are:  Nurses still need to be taught about the hospital policies  Nurses should be taught the correct procedure on documenting the patient data  Nurse clinicians and managers should check the Cerner for compliance with regard to documentation of physical assessment when conducting audits  Use of paper for nursing documentation should be minimized by shifting some of the nursing documentation procedures from paperwork to electronic version  Continuous updating, in-service training and monitoring to keep nurses abreast with the dynamic nature of computer usage  Reviewing of the system, troubleshooting and suggestions from users need to be attended to on a continuous basis  It is recommended that a backup system (generator) is in place to ensure continuity of documentation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die dokumentering van verpleegsorg is die skriftelike bewys van die verpleegpraktyk en weerspieël die toerekenbaarheid van verpleegsters teenoor pasiënte. Noukeurige dokumentering is ’n belangrike voorvereiste vir individuele en veilige verpleegsorg. Dit is ’n ernstige bedreiging vir die individualiteit en veiligheid van pasiënte-sorg, indien belangrike aspekte van verpleegsorg nie gedokumenteer word nie. ’n Mens kan nie inligting vertrou wat nie gedokumenteer is nie. Die versorging van elke pasiënt is belangrik en uniek. Dit is waarom belangrike aspekte aangaande haar/sy versorging gedokumenteer behoort te word. Uiteindelik weerspieël die dokumenteringspraktyke, die waardes van die verpleegpersoneel (Isola, Muurinen en Voutilainen, 2004: 79-80). Die doel van die studie was om dokumentasie van verpleegsorg met verwysing na huidige praktyke en persepsies van verpleegkundiges in ‘n opleidingshospitaal in Saudi Arabia te ondersopek. Spesifieke doelwitte was  om vas te stel of die hospitaal se beleidsrigtings toegepas word  om vas te stel of die prosedure t.o.v die huidige dokumentering uitgevoer is  en’n ondersoek na die persepsies van verpleegsters aangaande die huidige dokumenteringspraktyke Vir die doel van hierdie studie is ’n nie-eksperimentele beskrywingsontwerp met ’n kwantitatiewe benadering gevolg. Hierdie studie was in King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Jeddah, in Saudia Arabia gedoen. ’n Totale bevolking van 90 geregistreerde verpleegsters was betrokke. Vraelyste was versprei na die deelnemers en is naamloos beantwoord, sonder dat hulle identiteite op die vraelys aangebring is. Na voltooiing van die vraelyste, is dit in ’n houer geplaas en deur die navorser afgehaal. Die vrae is direk, eenvoudig, maklik verstaanbaar, ondubbelsinnig, nie-afleibaar, objektief opgestel en is daarop gemik om gesigspunte, ervaringe en persepsies oor dokumentering van verpleegsters te verkry. Betrokkenheid van deelnemers was vrywillig en nie afdwingbaar nie. Data is getabuleer en in histogramme en frekwensies voorgestel. Deur die Chi-square- toets te gebruik, is statisties betekenisvolle assosiasies tussen veranderlikes bepaal. Bevindinge sluit die volgende in:  Die hospitaalbeleid word toegepas N= 76(95%)  Prosedure t.o.v. dokumentering aangaande verpleegsorg word uitgedra N=67(83,7%)  Verpleegsters het aangedui dat dokumentering op papier, baie papierwerk behels N=45(56,3%)  Die Cerner (rekenaarstelsel) word beskou as die beste stelsel ooit in gebruik vir die dokumentering van verpleegsorg N==44(55%)  Die Mycare stelsel (medisyne bestellingstelsel) word beskou as betroubaar en gebruikersvriendelik, en een waarmee verpleegsters gelukkig is N=68(85%). Aanbevelings is gemaak, gebaseer op die volgende bevindinge:  Dit is steeds nodig dat verpleegsters die hospitaal se beleidsrigtinge geleer moet word  Verpleegsters moet die korrekte prosedure aangaande die dokumentering van die pasiënt se data geleer word  Verpleegklinici en bestuurders moet die Cerner nagaan ter voldoening van die dokumentering van fisiese waardebepalinge tydens ouditeringe  Die gebruik van papier vir verpleegdokumentering behoort afgeskaal te word deur van die praktyk van papierwerk na elektroniese dokumentering te skuif  Voortdurende bywerking van data, indiensopleiding en monitering van verpleegsters om hulle op die hoogte te hou van die dinamiese aard van rekenaargebruik  Hersiening van die stelsel, foutspeurdery en voorstelle van gebruikers moet op ’n voortdurende basis aandag geniet.

Telephone nursing (TpN) care is delivered in a wide range of settings and provides a variety of services to individuals and populations across the age span. Although a viable specialty practice, there is little evidence regarding how the process of care delivery contributes to successful outcomes. To study the effects of TpN care, and to develop appropriate clinical and education interventions, a solid understanding of the process is needed. This study utilized grounded theory method to identify and describe the core concepts of the TpN process, the relationships among these concepts, and the factors influencing the process. Study findings were validated through peer and participant review. Based on interviews with ten telephone nurses from four sites, the following components were identified and organized into a conceptual model of the TpN process. The process generally proceeds through three phases, gathering information to cognitive processing to output. Throughout these phases, the nurse engages in a goal oriented parallel process focusing on both explicit (e.g., verbal, physical) and implicit (non-verbal, contextual) dimensions. Inherent to this parallel process is a two-way interpreting process in which information from the caller is translated into health care language for processing and then health care information is translated back into the language of the caller to identify and meet their needs. Factors influencing the process include prioritization and the level of complexity of the call, resources of the nurse and the organization, and the nurse's desire for validation of the service and the appropriateness of the output. The model highlights the need for research further delineating how implicit information is gathered and processed and how it influences output. Research is also needed on the value of implicit output and on the effects of feedback regarding output on nurse performance and satisfaction. The model suggests that more nursing education should be focused on the sub-processes within the three phases, the interpreting process, and implicit aspects of the process. Finally, the model suggests that formal feedback regarding the quality of call output should be provided and the value of implicit nursing output should be recognized.

Some cultures regard pain as a natural part of life compared with the Western culture which believes that pain is something unnatural and that has to be eliminated. Transcultural nursing is a way to learn about and provide culturally fitting and meaningful care to people with different cultures. Tanzania suffers from a lack of qualified health workers due to an increased burden of disease and this affects the quality and supply of effective health services. It has been seen that it is common for patients to get inadequate pain treatment and this results in many different complications. The aim of the study was to describe the nursing care of patients with postoperative pain at a rural hospital in Tanzania. The study was implemented at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre in Moshi. A qualitative participating observation study with an ethnographic approach was used to collect the data. The data was analyzed by content analysis and resulted in three themes: 1. The role of the nurse, 2. Pain management, and 3. Meeting the patient. The conclusion was that the nursing care around patients with postoperative pain showed an extended collaboration between the nurses and other health care professionals as well as with the patients’ parents. The study further showed that the atmosphere around the patients was positive and calm and that the nurses assessed pain by measuring vital signs and facial expressions.

Ronald McDonald Hus är en ackommodering som ger familjer med sjuka barn möjlighet att kunna bo och uppleva en hemlik miljö samtidigt som deras barn vårdas på sjukhuset. Syftet med studien var att undersöka om det förelåg något samband mellan vistelsens längd på Ronald McDonald Hus och hur nöjda föräldrarna var avseende den fysiska och psykosociala boendemiljön. Vistelsens längd i denna studie definierades som “mindre än tre nätter” och “mer än tre nätter.” Metoden var en komparativ och kvantitativ enkätstudie. Konsekutivt urval användes för att rekrytera deltagare. I studien deltog 34 föräldrar som bodde på Ronald McDonald Hus under sommaren och hösten 2014. Efter internt bortfall återstod 27 föräldrar varav 14 hade bott mindre än tre nätter och 13 mer än tre nätter. Insamlad data analyserades med hjälp av Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Resultatet visade att samtliga deltagare skattade den fysiska miljön på Ronald McDonald Hus högt. Majoriteten av deltagarna upplevde den psykosociala boendemiljön på Ronald McDonald Hus som positiv. Det förelåg inget signifikant samband mellan vistelsens längd och hur nöjda föräldrarna var med den fysiska och psykosociala boendemiljön på Ronald McDonald Hus. Slutsatsen är att Ronald McDonald Hus är betydelsefullt för familjer med sjuka barn. Detta boende har en positiv påverkan på hela familjens tillvaro. Familjer är i stor utsträckning nöjda med den fysiska boendemiljön på Ronald McDonald Hus. Boendet bidrar till minskad ekonomisk oro för många familjer. / Ronald McDonald House provides accommodation for families with hospitalized children where they can experience a home like environment while their children are getting hospital treatment. The aim of this study was to examine if there is a correlation between the length of stay and the parents’ satisfaction with the physical and psychosocial environment. The length of stay was divided into "less than three nights" or "more than three nights". The method used in the study was a comparative and quantitative questionnaire study. Consecutive selection was used to recruit participants. Thirty four parents participated who all stayed at Ronald McDonald House during the summer and autumn 2014. After internal dropouts, 27 parents remained of which 14 stayed less than three nights and 13 more than three nights. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).  The results showed a high rating by all participants on the physical environment at Ronald McDonald House. A majority of the participants also had a positive experience with regards to the psychosocial environment. No significant correlation between the length of stay and the parents’ satisfaction with the physical and psychosocial environment was found. The conclusion was that Ronald McDonald House is an important facility for families with hospitalized children. The accommodation has a positive impact on the experience of the whole family. Families are satisfied to a large extent with regards to the physical environment at Ronald McDonald House. Accommodation at Ronald McDonald House contributes to a reduced economic worries for these families.

Bakgrund: Bipolär sjukdom är en kronisk sjukdom som medför lidande för individen. Sjukdomen kännetecknas av återkommande maniska och depressiva perioder. Den påverkar individens livsvärld och hens upplevelse av sin hälsa. Sjuksköterskan har en betydande roll i att stödja dessa patienter. Syfte: Syftet är att beskriva patienters upplevelser av att leva med bipolär sjukdom. Metod: En kvalitativ metod användes och baserades på sex självbiografier som analyserades med innebördsanalys. Resultat: I resultatet framkom fem teman. Dessa är: upplevelsen av att leva i becksvart mörker och det klaraste ljus, att uppleva skam, upplevelsen av att förlora kontrollen över sitt liv, att uppleva rädsla samt betydelsen av trygghet och stöd för att minska ensamheten. Diskussion: Personer med bipolär sjukdom upplever både hälsa och ohälsa beroende på vart i sjukdomen de befinner sig. Familjen och samhället har en inverkan på hur individen upplever sin tillvaro. Med stöd från en sjuksköterska kan personerna delvis kontrollera sin sjukdom. Deras verklighet förändras ständigt och stöd från sjuksköterskan är betydelsefullt. Konklusion: Personer med bipolär sjukdom upplever starka känslor som påverkar deras liv. För att personerna ska känna sig sedda och bekräftade måste sjuksköterskan visa öppenhet inför individens unika livsvärld. / Background: Bipolar disorder is a chronic disease that entails suffering for the individual. The disease characterized by recurrent manic and depressive episodes. It affects the individual's lifeworld and his or her's health experience. The nurse has a significant role to support these patients. Aim: The aim is to describe patients' experiences of living with bipolar disorder. Method: A qualitative method was used and was based on six autobiographies analyzed with meaning analysis. Results: The results showed five themes. These are: the experience of living in the pitch-black darkness and the clearest light, the experience of shame, the experience of losing control of their life, the experience of fear and the sense of safty and support to reduce loneliness. Discussion: People with bipolar disorder experience both health and illness, depending on their current state of disease. The family and society have an impact on how the individual experience their existence. With support from a nurse the person can achieve control of the disease. Their reality is constantly changing and support from a nurse is important. Conclusion: People with bipolar disorder experience strong emotions that affect their lives. For people to feel seen and recognized the nurse must show candidness to the individual's unique lifeworld.