Implications For Nursing Practice Research Articles

Molecular genetic technology in cystic fibrosis: implications for nursing practice.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disorder occurring in 1 in 2,500 Caucasians of Northern European descent (which will be referred to as "white Americans" hereafter). One in 25 white Americans carries a single mutation of the CF gene. Recent molecular genetic breakthroughs have led to the localization of the gene on chromosome 7. Specific gene mutations have been identified in approximately 80% of individuals with this disorder. These new breakthroughs allow for the accurate identification of individuals affected with this disorder and of approximately 90% of individuals who carry the gene that causes this disorder. Nurses must become familiar with these molecular genetic technologies and their implications for nursing practice. They must be able to identify individuals who can benefit from genetic testing, communicate effectively regarding the risks and benefits of this testing, and support them once results become available. Genetic testing for CF is the first of many such tests that will become available in the future. How nurses deal with CF testing will serve as the model for future, similar testing programs.

Transcultural care values and nursing practices of Philippine-American nurses.

The purpose of this ethnonursing research was to discover, explicate, and analyze the nursing care values and caregiving practices of Philippine nurses working in an American hospital context. The study, which was part of a larger study, was conceptualized within Leininger's theory of culture care. Consistent with the tenets of the theory, a brief overview of Philippine world view, social structure, culture, and ethnohistory was provided. Qualitative analysis of observation-participation and interview data revealed a major care theme of obligation to care. This care theme was supported by three care patterns which were: 1) expressed seriousness and dedication to work, 2) attentiveness to physical care as comfort, and 3) respect and patience as caring modalities. The study also showed that Philippine-American nurses attempted to achieve cultural care congruence by preserving some generic care values and practices, by accommodating to some of the host professional culture's values and practices, and by restructuring or repatterning less serviceable values. Implications for transcultural nursing education, practice, and research were discussed.

The failure of exposure treatment in agoraphobia: implications for the practice of nurse therapists and community psychiatric nurses

There are no systematic studies of the failure of psychiatric nursing interventions and few very such studies in the psychological/psychiatric outcome literature. This study reports a controlled study of exposure treatment with agoraphobic clients who were treated by nurse therapists and psychologists. This includes an analysis of the four categories of treatment failure (i.e. treatment refusers, treatment dropouts, failures and relapsers). The analysis consisted of an examination of the outcome data of clients who met a priori criteria for the categories of failure and an examination of questionnaire responses. The results have implications for psychiatric nursing practice, particularly with regard to preparation for treatment. Additionally, the results indicate that much more research needs to be carried out on treatment methods and that exposure alone produces a significant but limited effect. Finally, the paper suggests that outcome research is a priority in psychiatric nursing.

Empathy, Others-Concept, and Prosocial Orientation

The relationship between 56 nursing students' empathy and their others-concept was investigated to establish ties to a broader construct, prosocial orientation. The female Caucasian nursing students were rated for empathy by two clinical instructors. They were also given the Paired Hands Test to assess their others-concept. The students with the higher empathy ratings had more positive others-concepts. The responses of the low empathy group to the Paired Hands Test indicated a much stronger tendency to perceive and interpret social interactions negatively. Besides practical implications for nurses and other helping professionals, these findings have theoretical ramifications as well. Others-concept has been shown previously to be related to a cluster of variables such as positive social behavior and moral judgment. Evidence of the relationship to empathy helps to tie this cluster to the prosocial orientation construct as a base for further research.

Carbamazepine Treatment of Psychosis

Implications for Patient Welfare and Nursing Practice

The Immigrant Haitian Mother: Transcultural Nursing Perspective on Preventive Health Care for Children

Thirty immigrant Haitian mothers in Southeast Florida were interviewed regarding their beliefs and practices about preventive health care (illness prevention and health maintenance measures) for infants and preschool children (up to age 5). All mothers used preventive health care measures from both the Western biomedical and traditional Haitian ethnomedical (folk) systems. Ninety-seven percent used magico-religious measures; 47% administered home remedies; 47% gave children over-the-counter drugs; and 35% utilized a variety of measures to ensure cold air did not enter neonates and cause illness or pain. The Haitian mothers considered the preventive health care measures effective because the children remained healthy and will likely use them again. They sought consultation from a variety of individuals who formed their health management groups and child caretaker networks. Infants and toddlers were considered at higher risk than newborns for illness due to "evil harm" inflicted by other people and/or voodoo spirits. Implications for transcultural nursing practice include developing community outreach programs, implementing nursing interventions that combine biomedical and ethnomedical preventive health care measures, and functioning as part of the health management group. The authors wish to thank Maude Vincent, R.N., for her assistance in data gathering and analysis.

Research in Plastic Surgical Nursing

This article discusses nursing research, its goals, and nurses' roles and responsibilities in the research process. A major focus of the article describes the concept of research utilization as an integral part of professional nursing practice. Implications for plastic surgical nursing practice and research activities with the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Nurses, Inc. (ASPRSN) are explored.

Medical expansionism: some implications for psychiatric nursing practice

The paper discusses how health care models in general have been influenced by the authors' concept of ‘medical expansionism’. Emphasis is given to addressing the impact of medical theory and practice on models of psychiatric nursing. The initial section discusses the concepts of medicalisation and medical imperialism, offering general health definititions and examination of mental health problems in more detail. From this analysis a definition is presented of a medical model in psychiatry. The effects of this model of health care on the future development of nursing models in psychiatry is discussed.

Decision making in clinical genetics: ethical implications for perinatal nursing practice.

Decision making in clinical genetics: ethical implications for perinatal nursing practice.

Social networks, social support, and elderly institutionalized people.

This article shows how social network studies contribute to development of knowledge about social support and describes research on the social networks of elderly institutionalized people. Network patterns emerged from data obtained through an anthropological fieldwork approach to network analysis. They are discussed in connection with a conceptualization of support as esteem enhancement and coping assistance. Residents' points of view are reported in their own words as much as possible to preserve active images that confront stereotypes of elderly people as passive and dependent. Their responses illustrate important aspects of social support in institutional settings that have implications for scientific nursing practice.

Children with sex chromosome variations: implications for pediatric nursing practice.

Abstract Nursing interventions for children and adolescents with sex chromosome variations are dependent upon one or more variables: the type and severity of problems associated with the variation, the developmental stage of the affected individual, the ability and willingness of the child and family to cooperate in therapeutic approaches, and the availability of resources for therapeutic intervention. Nurses may encounter affected children in all types of settings but particularly in neonatal, pediatric, adolescent-young adult, and mental health settings. The nurse who is knowledgeable about sex chromosome variations can be instrumental in the treatment and referral of children and their families to sources of long-term assistance and support.

The poor: a population at risk.

AbstractThis paper formulates an updated, multidimensional model of poverty and discusses nursing research and practice implications based on the model. The older, traditional cultural and structural models of poverty are compared and contrasted with special attention to the perpetuating impact of stigmatization. From analysis of the older views of poverty, an updated model is proposed that emphasizes investigation of inter‐relationships among environmental, individual/group, and mediating factors. Drawing from concepts of social learning theory, maladaptive and adaptive responses to the situational environments of the poor are explored. There is a focus on the major emotional responses to poverty such as depression, anomie, feelings of powerlessness, and low self‐efficacy. Finally, specific nursing interventions for the client as well as at higher political levels are assessed.

Genetics: implications for preventative nursing practice.

A method for identifying and evaluating susceptible families for cardiac disease risk is presented from the perspective of the role of genes in heart disease. If useful applications of genetic aggregations could be integrated into nursing practice, preventive selective interventions could be implemented. Nursing practice aimed at risk reduction in susceptible families is more efficient for reducing disease mortality.

Studies in Clinical Nursing: l-DOPA: A NURSING ADVENTURE

A clinical study involving the investigational drug l-DOPA is linked with a challenging gamut of nursing problems. These problems have been discussed as they were found in a study with patients with Parkinson's disease. Nursing interventions and implications for future nursing practice have been suggested. Two main points should be emphasized. First, people who participated in this study demonstrated unique responses to certain stimuli within the study. It was this uniqueness of response toward which the professional nurse directed her nursing interventions. Second, data presented might serve as a guidelines for establishing investigational parameters for future prospective nursing studies.