Not available / text

published_or_final_version / Public Administration / Master / Master of Public Administration

published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Master / Master of Social Sciences

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Social Work and Social Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Master / Master of Philosophy

No description available.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.A.)--University of Durban-Westville, 2004.

The elderly are the fastest growing population in the United States. Nurses' attitudes toward caring for the elderly are a very real concern and may determine nurses' behaviors with the elderly. The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes of nurses toward caring for the elderly residing in long term care institutions. A modified questionnaire, "Attitudes Toward Caring for the Elderly" was used. A combination of Jean Watson's theory of caring and the Ajzen & Fishbein's theory of reasoned action was the theoretical framework used for the study. Three research questions were asked. Data were collected from 32 registered nurses in four long term care institutions. Results showed that nurses attitudes toward caring for the elderly were positive. There were no significant relationships between demographic and personal data and nurses' attitudes toward caring for the elderly. Full time versus part time employment was a significant predictor of nurses attitudes toward caring for the elderly. The low reliability of the tool (Cronbach's alpha = 0.57) could have contributed to the lack of significant data. The study should be repeated after further development of validity and reliability of the tool. / School of Nursing

The purpose of this study was to compare two groups of nurses's attitudes towards the elderly and the knowledge base of the nurses as to signs, symptoms and interventions with depression and dementia in the elderly. The theoretical framework for this study was Oren's (1985) self-care deficit theory. Attitude was measured using the Koan Attitude Toward Old People Scale (Koan, 1961) and knowledge was measured using a scale developed by (Myton, Allen, and Baldwin, 1991).The population studied was registered nurses working at these state hospitals in a midwestern state and agency nurses from four agencies that provide staff coverage at these hospitals. The convenience sample consisted of state nurses (n=65) and agency nurses (n=38). A cover letter explaining confidentiality and voluntary participation was attached to each survey. Completion of the survey constituted consent to participate in the study. There were no identified risks related to participation in the study.The study did not identify significant differences between groups in any of the variables involving attitude toward the elderly, ability to differentiate signs, symptoms, and interventions for dementia and depression in the elderly. Both groups were able to correctly identify signs, symptoms and interventions for dementia and depression about one-half the time. The treatment modalities are different for dementia and depression. The problem is significant because if signs, symptoms and interventions are not identified correctly the patient will not be assisted toward recovery and self-care may decrease. The recommendation for increased inservice education on gerontological nursing are applicable to both groups. / School of Nursing

This study will contribute to existing work–family research by bringing a rich emic understanding of caregivers’ experience with work-eldercare crisis. I adopted Weick’s theory of organizational sensemaking (1995) as method and methodology for this research. I collected data via open-ended, semi-structured interviews with employees who balance full-time employment with caregiving for an elderly person; then I subjected the transcribed texts to a detailed thematic analysis. This analysis helped me identify three main themes that reflect the processes participants use to ‘make sense’ of their experiences. The results of this study suggest that caregivers enact the work environment to attempt creating balance—and to enlist support and assistance—by strategically engaging in interpersonal interactions with others at work about their eldercare activities. They combine past experience with the knowledge obtained from these interactions to develop heuristic scripts, and then use them to enable understanding and guide future behaviour and actions. This study demonstrates that sensemaking is a useful analytical framework through which to examine employees’ experience of the work-family interface. The findings of this research offer insight into the processes involved in the social construction of informal organizational policies; the implications provide a foundation to develop better models of organizational response towards employees’ work-eldercare needs / xi, 171 leaves ; 29 cm