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Bedside Nurses (bedside + nurse)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	81%

Selected Abstracts

Professionals on the Sidelines: the Working Lives of Bedside Nurses and Elementary Core French Teachers

GENDER, WORK & ORGANISATION, Issue 3 2007
Isolde Daiski
Oppression exists at many levels and in varying degrees. To demonstrate how marginality affects differently situated professionals, two occupational groups considered to be marginalized were studied: bedside nurses and elementary core French teachers. The findings confirm that women (and men) in ,feminized' fields experience, as well as exercise, oppression. Devaluation of their worth is internalized and taken for granted by most who inhabit these work spaces, including the members concerned. While those groups ,on top' bully those ,below,' dominance is also reinforced laterally amongst the members. Thus marginality between groups, as well as within them is thereby produced, with the centre of oppression constantly shifting. The authors conclude that professionals are not unified categories, readily distinguishable from outside oppressors. Their members, too, are caught up in power relationships amongst themselves. Recognition of the shifting centre of oppression is an essential first step to improve conditions for the marginalized. [source]

Fall Prediction in Inpatients by Bedside Nurses Using the St. Thomas's Risk Assessment Tool in Falling Elderly Inpatients (STRATIFY) Instrument: A Multicenter Study

JOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 5 2007
Koen Milisen RN
OBJECTIVES: To assess the predictive value of the St. Thomas's Risk Assessment Tool in Falling Elderly Inpatients (STRATIFY) instrument, a simple fall-risk assessment tool, when administered at a patient's hospital bedside by nurses. DESIGN: Prospective multicenter study. SETTING: Six Belgian hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 2,568 patients (mean age±standard deviation 67.2±18.4; 55.3% female) on four surgical (n=875, 34.1%), eight geriatric (n=687, 26.8%), and four general medical wards (n=1,006, 39.2%) were included in this study upon hospital admission. All patients were hospitalized for at least 48 hours. MEASUREMENTS: Nurses completed the STRATIFY within 24 hours after admission of the patient. Falls were documented on a standardized incident report form. RESULTS: The number of fallers was 136 (5.3%), accounting for 190 falls and an overall rate of 7.3 falls per 1,000 patient days for all hospitals. The STRATIFY showed good sensitivity (,84%) and high negative predictive value (,99%) for the total sample, for patients admitted to general medical and surgical wards, and for patients younger than 75, although it showed moderate (69%) to low (52%) sensitivity and high false-negative rates (31,48%) for patients admitted to geriatric wards and for patients aged 75 and older. CONCLUSION: Although the STRATIFY satisfactorily predicted the fall risk of patients admitted to general medical and surgical wards and patients younger than 75, it failed to predict the fall risk of patients admitted to geriatric wards and patients aged 75 and older (particularly those aged 75,84). [source]

Detection of Delirium by Bedside Nurses Using the Confusion Assessment Method

JOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 4 2006
Joke Lemiengre RN
A prospective, descriptive study was used to assess the diagnostic validity of the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) administered at the bedside by nurses in daily practice. Two different scoring methods of the CAM (the specific (SPEC) and sensitive (SENS) methods) were compared with a criterion standard (CAM completed by trained research nurses). During a 5-month period, all patients consecutively admitted to an acute geriatric ward of the University Hospitals of Leuven (Belgium) were enrolled in the study. The 258 elderly inpatients who were included underwent 641 paired but independent ratings of delirium by bedside and trained research nurses. Delirium was identified in 36 of the 258 patients (14%) or in 42 of the 641 paired observations (6.5%). The SENS method of the CAM algorithm as administered by bedside nurses had the greatest diagnostic accuracy, with 66.7% sensitivity and 90.7% specificity; the SPEC method had 23.8% sensitivity and 97.7% specificity. Bedside nurses had difficulties recognizing the features of acute onset, fluctuation, and altered level of consciousness. For both scoring methods, bedside nurses had difficulties with the identification of elderly patients with delirium but succeeded in diagnosing correctly those patients without delirium in more than 90% of observations. Given these results, additional education about delirium with special attention to guided training of bedside nurses in the use of an assessment strategy such as the CAM for the recognition of delirium symptoms is warranted. [source]

Sensitivity, Specificity, and Usefulness of the Dutch Fatigue Scale

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING TERMINOLOGIES AND CLASSIFICATION, Issue 3 2001
Lucas J. Tiesinga PhD
Purpose. To test the sensitivity, specificity, and usefulness of the Dutch Fatigue Scale (DUFS), which is based on NANDAs defining characteristics of fatigue. Methods. A cross-sectional design was used among domiciliary patients (N = 213) with chronic heart failure (n = 138) and with breastfeeding postpartum women (n = 75). Findings. Calculations of the sensitivity and specificity of the DUFS, comparisons of the average DUFS sumscores between both nonfatigued and fatigued subjects, as well as between patients with chronic heart failure and postpartum women, and correlation coefficients performed with sociodemographic factors (age, gender, education) demonstrate acceptable psychometric properties. Conclusions. The DUFS is a reliable and valid measurement tool for the assessment of fatigue. Practice Implications. Accurate recognition of the existence and extent of fatigue must precede interventions. Easy to use, reliable tools for the bedside nurse are invaluable assets to practice. Search Terms: Fatigue, measurement of fatigue, psychometric testing [source]

Application of Evidence-Based Practice Through a Float Project

NURSING FORUM, Issue 3 2008
Carol Boswell EdD
Evidence-based practice must become a common, acceptable process for the bedside nurse. This paper demonstrates a process for engaging nurses in the use of evidence for direct practice. An example using the revision of a float policy is provided as a model for staff nurses to incorporate evidence in a mechanism to elicit change. [source]

Observing the approaches to weaning of the long-term ventilated patients

NURSING IN CRITICAL CARE, Issue 2 2010
Kalliopi Kydonaki
Background: The weaning process from mechanical ventilation is a complicated issue for patients with respiratory failure who require long-term respiratory support. Although the application of weaning protocols reduces weaning time, and enhances patient outcome, little is known about the actual approaches that clinicians use for the weaning of these patients. Aim: The purpose of this paper is to explore approaches to weaning of long-term ventilated patients in a Scottish Intensive Care Unit. The findings are part of a larger study on decision-making during the weaning of long-term ventilated patients. Method: Data were collected through participant observation and follow-up interviews with the nursing staff. Twenty-four-hour chart and medical notes review and informal conversation with the bedside nurse were also used to collect information on the weaning process. Findings: Nine patients were recruited to the study. Two patients were extubated and three patients were extubated but then required a tracheostomy. A further four patients had a tracheostomy performed. Thematic analysis of the data showed that weaning was individualized, and physician led, regardless of the existence of the weaning protocol. Six different weaning approaches were identified. Nurses followed a conservative approach to weaning in comparison to doctors who appeared more aggressive. Conclusion: There are many varieties in the approaches clinicians use when weaning long-term ventilated patients, which acts on the continuity of their care. A shift of focus to identify ways of maintaining continuity of care and a combined ,wake and wean' approach needs to be considered. [source]

Professionals on the Sidelines: the Working Lives of Bedside Nurses and Elementary Core French Teachers

Nurses' role in detecting deterioration in ward patients: systematic literature review

JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 10 2009
Mandy Odell
Abstract Title.,Nurses' role in detecting deterioration in ward patients: systematic literature review. Aim., This paper is a report of a review conducted to identify and critically evaluate research investigating nursing practice in detecting and managing deteriorating general ward patients. Background., Failure to recognize or act on deterioration of general ward patients has resulted in the implementation of early warning scoring systems and critical care outreach teams. The evidence of effectiveness of these systems is unclear. Possible mechanisms for low effectiveness may be inconsistent recording of patient observations by ward staff, or inconsistent application of ,calling criteria' for outreach teams, even when observations have been recorded. Methods., The literature was searched between 1990 and 2007 using four sources: electronic databases, reference lists, key reports and experts in the field. Three broad search categories were used: nursing observations, physiological deterioration and general ward patients. All research designs describing nursing observations (vital signs) on deteriorating adult patients in general hospital wards were included. Results., Fourteen studies met the inclusion and quality criteria. The findings were grouped into four main themes: recognition; recording and reviewing; reporting; and responding and rescuing. The main findings suggest that intuition plays an important part in nurses' detection of deterioration, and vital signs are used to validate intuitive feelings. The process is highly complex and influenced by many factors, including the experience and education of bedside nurses and their relationship with medical staff. Conclusion., Greater understanding of the context within which deterioration is detected and reported will facilitate the design of more effective education and support systems. [source]

Cohesion among nurses: a comparison of bedside vs. charge nurses' perceptions in Australian hospitals

JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 4 2001
Wendy Chaboyer PhD RN
Cohesion among nurses: a comparison of bedside vs. charge nurses' perceptions in Australian hospitals Aim.,This study examines the extent to which hospital nurses view their working environment in a positive sense, working as a cohesive group. Background.,Despite the fact that nursing in Australia is now considered a profession, it has been claimed that nurses are an oppressed group who use horizontal violence, bullying and aggression in their interactions with one and other. Methods.,After ethical approval, a random sample of 666 nurses working directly with patients and all 333 critical care nurses employed in three large tertiary Australian hospitals were invited to participate in the study in the late 1990s. A mailed survey examined the perceptions of interaction nurses had with each other. The hypothesis, that level of employment (either Level I bedside nurses or Level II/III clinical leaders) and area of work (either critical care or noncritical care) would influence perceptions of cohesion, as measured by the cohesion amongst nurses scale (CANS) was tested. Results.,In total 555 (56%) surveys were returned. Of these, 413 were returned by Level I and 142 by Level II/III nurses. Of this sample, 189 were critical care and 355 noncritical care nurses. There was no difference between Level I and II/III nurses in mean CANS scores. It is interesting to note that the item rated most positively was ,nurses on the units worked well together', however, the item rated least positive was ,staff can be really bitchy towards each other' for both Level I and II/III nurses. There was no difference in CANS scores between critical care and noncritical care nurses. Conclusions.,Nurses working in Australian hospitals perceived themselves to be moderately cohesive but, as would be expected in other work settings, some negative perceptions existed. [source]