Background: Family caregivers represent a critical component in the management of the health of older adults. The inclusion of family caregivers during transitions occurring between hospital and community settings has been previously considered. However, the experience of family caregivers during transitions occurring within the same setting remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences of family caregivers during transitions occurring within an acute care setting. Method: A qualitative description study was conducted. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 family caregivers. Interviews were audio-recorded and occurred in person or over the telephone. Analysis included coding of interview data and the development of overarching themes. Findings: In this study, family caregivers reported the following themes. These themes included: "a lack of central brain during hospitalization," "muddling through transitions alone" and "wariness towards the care delivery system. The environmental influence of the hospital setting influenced family caregivers' view of the care provided by healthcare professionals and the transitions occurring between different units. Furthermore, half of the family caregiver participants (n=5) identified as having a background in healthcare. Healthcare professionals as family caregivers (HCP-FCs) reported unique experiences from other non-healthcare family caregivers. Interviews and field notes from HCP-FC participants were analyzed separately following the same procedures as the larger study. Three themes emerged including, "seeking inclusion," "insider perspectives," and "role struggle." Conclusion: Experiences of HCP-FCs and family caregivers during hospitalization of older adults have the potential to influence perceptions regarding transitional events occurring within acute care settings. Additionally, family caregivers' and HCP-FCs' perceptions of care coordination among healthcare professionals had the potential to negatively influence perceptions of transitions occurring within the acute care setting.

ABSTRACT Thyroid disease is one of the most common endocrine disorders in clinical practice. Critical illness is often associated with alterations in thyroid hormone functions. Thyroid dysfunction is a serious matter if managed inaccurately; it may increase morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice project is to identify the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors and practice of advanced practice nurses (acute care nurse practitioners (ACNP) and adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioners (AGACNP)) on current thyroid dysfunction management in the acute care setting. The DNP project demonstrated that most acute care nurse practitioners believe that TD screening, diagnosis and management is important in the acute care setting. The survey results also indicated that most of the AGACNP/ACNPs would initiate treatment while managing patient in an acute care setting and will likely collaborate with endocrinology for overall management or follow ups to ensure quality and comprehensive care in management of TD. Keywords: thyroid disease, thyroid dysfunction, identify, knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, acute care

Alla människor kan drabbas av en akut sjukdom eller skada. Hur de drabbade hanterar händelsen är mycket varierande. Känslor som rädsla, oro och smärta kan öka risken för mer eller mindre långdragna psykiska reaktioner. Om det akuta vårdteamet har kunskap om den intima kopplingen mellan människans kropp och psyke kan de ge ett korrekt stöd och bemötande redan i ett tidigt skede och därmed kanske minska patientens psykiska lidande. Trots att traumavården gör stora tekniska framsteg finns endast liten kunskap om hur det är att vara traumapatient. Syftet med studien är därför att belysa patienters upplevelse av det akuta omhändertagandet. Empirisk kvalitativ innehållsanalys användes som metod då författarna avsåg att undersöka patienters upplevelser i en specifik situation.Resultatet är en bearbetning av 10 vetenskapliga artiklar som belyser patienters upplevelser av akut omhändertagande på akutmottagningar och intensivvårdsavdelningar. Vid bearbetningen av artiklarna framkom flera områden som visar på patienternas upplevelser. Dessa har kategoriserats enligt följande: trygghet, professionalism, närhet, att ta kontroll samt kommunikation. Trygghet upplevdes som kärnan då övriga kategorier tycktes bidra till dess övergripande betydelse. Ett viktigt resultat som framkom var att vårdpersonalens tekniska kompetens upplevdes som viktigare än deras bemötande initialt i det akuta omhändertagandet. Förutom att patienterna hade ett behov av att få tydlig information så behövde de också känna att personal, familj och vänner fanns i deras närhet även om de inte kommunicerade med varandra. För att patienternas behov av trygghet skall tillgodoses vid det akuta omhändertagandet är det viktigt att vårdpersonalen ser till helheten och tar hänsyn till den enskilda individens psykiska status just i den aktuella situationen. / <p>Program: Specialistsjuksköterskeutbildning med inriktning mot anestesisjukvård</p><p>Uppsatsnivå: D</p>

Primärvårdens uppdrag innebär att erbjuda patienter i alla åldrar sjukvård som inte kräver sjukhusets specialistkompetens. Primärvård innefattar både vårdcentral och jourcentral där patienter med både akuta och icke akuta åkommor ska kunna omhändertas. Distriktssköterskan besitter fördjupade kunskaper genom specialistutbildning och ska kunna bedöma patientens hälsotillstånd och agera utifrån det. Vården ska vara av god kvalité och ska vara säker och trygg för patienten. Vårdpersonalen ska värna om patientens integritet och respektera individens självbestämmande. Det saknas studier som beskriver hur distriktssköterskor upplever och erfar det akuta omhändertagandet av patienter i primärvård. Syftet med intervjustudien är att undersöka distriktssköterskans upplevelse och erfarenhet av omhändertagande av akuta patienter inom primärvård. Kvalitativ forskningsansats har använts med fokus på livsvärlden, för att fånga fenomenet. Alla informanter som deltog var distriktssköterskor med erfarenhet inom primärvård och uppfyllde därmed kriterierna för deltagande. Resultatet framkom genom Dahlbergs innebördsanalys och gav fem teman med subteman. De övergripande teman var distriktssköterskans erfarenhet, vikten av kunskap och utbildning, kollegornas betydelse, vårdmötet i det akuta omhändertagandet och rutiner i arbetet. Det visade sig i studien att distriktssköterskor har behov av kontinuerlig utbildning i akut omhändertagande samtidigt som erfarenhet, intuition och personlighet bidrar till patientsäkra bedömningar. Kollegorna har stor betydelse för det akuta arbetet och kan inverka på både ett positivt och negativt sätt. Professionaliteten och kommunikationen är av vikt i det vårdande mötet mellan distriktssköterska och patient, likväl som tydliga strukturer är viktiga i de akuta situationerna.

La Belgique et la France ont notamment intégré en 2002 dans leurs systèmes législatifs respectifs une loi consacrée aux droits des patients qui met au centre du système de santé le patient et le devoir de respecter son autonomie. Partant de l’idée selon laquelle les concepts et principes ne peuvent être pensés indépendamment de la manière dont ils sont susceptibles de s’articuler au sein de la « vie ordinaire », j’ai adopté une démarche de philosophie empirique impliquant un terrain d’enquête au sein de laquelle j’ai choisi d’explorer une situation que l’on peut qualifier de limite, en portant mon attention sur la question du consentement aux soins des patients atteints de la maladie d’Alzheimer hospitalisés en gériatrie pour un événement de santé aigu. En effet, la maladie d’Alzheimer implique une diminution des capacités (notamment cognitives) des personnes qui en sont affectées, mettant ainsi l’autonomie du sujet à l’épreuve. Les spécificités liées à cette maladie, doublées du caractère aigu de la prise en charge des personnes qui en sont affectées, font de ce contexte un terrain extrêmement fécond pour examiner les significations et les limites de ce principe tel qu’il est actuellement valorisé dans le domaine des soins de santé. La réflexion proposée dans le cadre de cette thèse s’est ainsi élaborée autour d’éléments recueillis lors d’une enquête de terrain comparative (comprenant différents sites hospitaliers belges et français) spécifiquement mise en place pour les besoins de ce travail. Cette enquête s’est concentrée sur la relation entre les patients et les « soignants de proximité » (infirmières et aides-soignantes), étant donné que c’est dans le cadre de cette relation que la question de la capacité d’autonomie du sujet atteint de la maladie d’Alzheimer émerge principalement en contexte de soin à l’hôpital. En outre, cette enquête s’est en grande partie intéressée à la problématique du refus de soin des patients, ainsi qu’à celle du recours à la contrainte. En effet, c’est essentiellement dans ce type de situations que la question du respect de l’autonomie des patients et du recueil de leur consentement se pose avec le plus d’acuité dans le secteur qui nous occupe. La mise en place de ce terrain d’enquête doit être comprise comme un outil méthodologique et épistémologique ayant pour objectif de nourrir la réflexion conceptuelle, critique et normative liée à la problématique du respect de l’autonomie des patients atteints de la maladie d’Alzheimer. L’ensemble de ce travail m’a permis de développer une nouvelle conception de l’autonomie qui se distingue des réponses les plus fréquemment proposées au sein de la littérature médicale, juridique et philosophique. L’idée principale défendue ici consiste à penser que le problème relatif à la question du respect de la capacité d’autonomie des patients atteints de la maladie d’Alzheimer ne réside pas tant au niveau de la capacité propre des personnes, mais qu’elle dépend avant tout de ce que je présente comme un geste d’octroi, résultant d’un processus de co-construction collectif des professionnels de santé, marqués par des affects et des motivations qui leur sont propres / In 2002, Belgium and France implemented a law that places patients and their right to autonomy at the center of the healthcare system. Based on the assumption that concepts and principles cannot be perceived independently of the way they are likely to be implemented in “ordinary life”, I applied an empirical-philosophical approach to the research field by choosing to examine what can be described as a borderline situation, bringing my attention to the issue of consent to medical care of patients with Alzheimer’s disease hospitalized in geriatric units for an acute health issue. Indeed, Alzheimer’s disease involves a decline of the patient’s abilities (including cognitive skills), thereby jeopardizing his autonomy. The specific characteristics of the disease coupled with the acute medical care it requires single it out as the perfect ground to question the meaning and limitations of the principle and its current use in the healthcare system. The reflection proposed in this thesis is based on information gathered during a comparative field study (including various Belgian and French hospital sites) specifically set up for the purpose of this work. The research focused on the relationship between the patients and the “immediate caregivers” (nursing staff), where the capacity of autonomy of Alzheimer patients in a hospital setting is most frequently questioned. Moreover, the present study largely dealt with the issue of treatment refusal by patients as well as the use of coercion. It is indeed mainly in this type of situation that the problem of respecting patient’s autonomy and obtaining their consent is most vividly debated in the present field of study. The introduction of this research field must be seen as a methodological and epistemological tool that aims at providing further conceptual, critical and normative inputs to the issue of respect of autonomy for patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. This work allowed me to develop a new understanding of autonomy, which differs from the most frequently proposed responses that are to be found in medical, legal and philosophical literature. The main advocated idea here is that the question of respect of autonomy for Alzheimer patients does not lie so much in the person’s own capacity, but actually depends on what I consider a granting gesture that results from a collective construction process of health professionals, biased by their own affects and motivations

Inpatient falls are the most reported incidents in the acute care setting. Symptoms associated with a diagnosis of cancer and treatment may increase risk for falls. The objectives of this study were to identify the risk factors, and the most common risk factors, of adult patients with cancer who fell while hospitalized. A retrospective, matched, case-control audit of electronic medical records and occurrence reports was conducted for 30 patients who fell and 30 patients who did not fall while under the care of the inpatient oncology unit in a community hospital. Fall subjects and controls were matched by cancer diagnosis and age. Results of the study (N = 30) revealed altered cognition (p = .010), muscular weakness (p = .037), and a history of a fall in the past six months (p = .045) as statistically significant fall risk factors. The audit of the electronic medical records revealed variations in the nursing documentation of fall risk factors that could increase the chance of assessments being omitted or communicated inaccurately to other members of the care team. Additional studies are needed to examine risk factors for falls in hospitalized oncology patient populations.

Despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations to test patients ages 13 to 64 years for HIV at health care settings, routine HIV testing is lacking. As a result, many people are unaware of their HIV seropositive status. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to examine relationships between HIV testing and provider type, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding HIV testing in the acute care setting. The study was informed by social cognitive theory. Using a convenient sampling method, a questionnaire derived from previous surveys (Society of General Internal Medicine and University of Washington) was sent to 600 eligible acute care providers from a suburban Chicago hospital who treated HIV-negative patients ages 13 to 64 years. Completed surveys were received from 88 participants. Chi-square and multiple logistic regression testing showed no significant relationships between HIV testing and provider type (p = .09), age (p = .91), gender (p = .84), experience (p = 1), and race/ethnicity. However, knowledge of HIV testing regulations and positive attitudes about HIV testing were significantly associated with the likelihood of offering an HIV test (p = .026, p = .004 respectively). Results have some clinical importance, but also indicated a lack of routine opt-out HIV testing. Results may be used to promote HIV testing among acute care providers which could reduce HIV-status unawareness in the population.

Early mobility quality improvement (QI) projects are leading the charge to shift the prevailing culture in acute care from a culture of immobility to a culture of mobility. Low mobility and hospital acquired functional decline is a persistent problem, especially for older adults, often leading to increased post acute care costs, increased risk of hospital readmission and increased mortality. Transition of care programs designed to improve care transitions and prevent hospital readmission exist but fail to include rehabilitation professionals or to adequately consider patient functional status during hospitalization. The goal of this research was to implement and evaluate an early mobility quality improvement (QI) project that added a physical therapist and mobility technician to an existing transition of care program (Project BOOST) to increase adult patients mobility and level of physical activity during hospitalization, using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The project was implemented from August 2, 2016 to February 4, 2017. A physical therapist rounded with one of two Project BOOST teams to promote increased patient mobility performed with a mobility technician daily. The physical therapist also recommended rehabilitation consultations (physical and occupational therapy) for appropriate patients. The AM-PAC “6 Clicks” Basic Mobility Short Form was used to set mobility tier levels for intervention group patients. Quantitative evaluation used observed hospital length of stay, 30 day same hospital all-cause readmission, and change in AM-PAC score from admission to discharge as outcome measures. Results showed that observed hospital length of stay decreased 0.9 days in the intervention group and 30 day same hospital all-cause readmission decreased 4.8%. Bivariate analysis of patient observed hospital length of stay was statistically significant for intervention group patients (p=0.07) but failed to reach statistical significance for same hospital readmission in intervention group patients (p=0.18). Qualitative evaluation used a phenomenological lens to explore the context of the early mobility quality improvement project and shared experience of patients and staff members exposed to more mobility and higher levels of activity during hospitalization. Twelve participants were interviewed during implementation of the project including four patients and eight staff members (physicians, nurses and a mobility technician). One overarching theme and four supporting themes were found from the data. The essential meaning was that mobility bridged a gap in care. Staff understood the benefits of early mobility for patients. Patients expressed how important mobility was for their discharge and quality of life. Patients with greater functional independence and higher mobility level reduced nursing burden of care. When patients were consistently presented with opportunities to be mobile and active during acute illness, they expected mobility to be a part of their daily care plan. This comprehensive evaluation of an early mobility quality improvement project found the intervention bridged a gap in care for patients. Adding a physical therapist to the Project BOOST team and promoting patient mobility during hospitalization resulted in improved patient outcomes. Early mobility quality improvement projects have the potential to transform clinical practice and improve quality of care.

General acute care hospitals play a particularly important role in the delivery of children's mental health given the extant lack of alternatives to long term hospitals for patients requiring a restrictive treatment environment (Glied and Cuellar, 2003). This cross-sectional study identifies environmental and organizational factors associated with general acute care and children's hospitals in the United States that provide hospital-based child/adolescent psychiatric services and the number of services. Two macro-level theories, Resource Dependence Theory and Institutional Theory were used to identify environmental and organizational factors. A nationwide sample of hospitals was drawn from the 2003 AHA annual survey. Data from the 2002 AHA annual survey, Area Resource File and American College of Graduate Medical Education was used for the independent variables. There were three analyses, correlation, descriptive and logistic regression. Results demonstrate that hospitals in markets with a low percentage of non-white children, higher family median income, high hospital community orientation, and high percentage of not for profit hospitals are more likely to offer child psychiatric services. Organizational factors associated with an increased likelihood to providing child psychiatric services include hospitals identified as Catholic, public or children's and those with a child psychiatric residency program. Three factors were associated with hospitals providing a high number of child psychiatric services and include hospitals in metropolitan statistical areas, system affiliation, and general acute care hospitals. This study demonstrated that 1. large hospitals are more likely to offer child psychiatric services and a high number of services, 2. children's hospitals provide child psychiatric services, but not a high number of them, and 3. hospitals with a high number of service offerings are mainly located in MSA's and more likely to offer outpatient substance abuse services. Significant results were obtained in the analysis of hospital characteristics and the provision of child psychiatric services, but weaker results were observed when analyzing the number of services. Further research is needed to identify factors with stronger associations to the level of service offerings.

Ineffective pain management in the post anesthesia care unit (PACU) increases patients' risk of adverse effects including decreased mobility, infection, chronic pain, depression, cardiopulmonary complications, increased length of stay, insomnia, fatigue, and overall decrease in quality of life. The PACU in a community hospital did not provide an evidence-based pain management guideline for nurses treating postoperative patients, resulting in nurses' concerns about providing pain management. The purpose of this project was to translate evidence on pain management into an evidence-based guideline for improved nursing practice in a PACU. Evidence was obtained from a detailed literature search using multiple databases and professional organizations' guidelines. Nursing practice guidelines were developed and evaluated by 3 expert panelists using the Agree II guidelines. The panelists selected included; Two anesthesiologists, one who is trained in pain management and is also a pharmacist. The third expert is a practicing nurse practitioner in an acute setting who is also a surgical first assist and the associate director of robotics. The panel endorsed the guidelines for advancement through the hospital's review committees. Implementation of the evidence-based pain management guideline in the PACU might provide nurses with tools to guide their interventions and improve patient outcomes. Social changes resulting from the use of evidence-based pain management guidelines include decreased time to opiate administration, decreased adverse effects, improved assessment of pain, and an increase in the number of patients who receive proper pain management.