{"title":"June - August 2021","authors":"","doi":"10.37464/2020.383","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37464/2020.383","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55584,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2021-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42253140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Community-based nurse practitioner support is associated with better self-care behaviour and quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure","authors":"S. Chen, James Boyd, Sean M. Randall, A. Maiorana","doi":"10.37464/2020.383.147","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37464/2020.383.147","url":null,"abstract":"Objective: To evaluate the effects of a community based chronic heart failure management program, delivered by nurse practitioners, on self-care behaviour, quality of life and hospital readmissions. Background: Chronic heart failure is a complex condition associated with high rates of hospital readmissions. However, many hospitalisations in patients with chronic heart failure are potentially preventable with better self-management and access to specialised healthcare support. Nurse practitioners have an advanced scope of practice, making them well credentialed to support patients with chronic heart failure. Study design and methods: This study compared self-care behaviour and quality of life in patients who had attended a nurse-practitioner led chronic heart failure management service (SmartHeart) (n=58) compared with patients receiving usual care (n=58), but no nurse practitioner support. Self-care behaviour was assessed using the Self Care Heart Failure Index and quality of life was assessed using the Short Form-36 and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire. Hospitalisation records were extracted from medical records using data-linkage. Results: Patients who received nurse-practitioner support had better self-care behaviour (p<0.05), mental component summary of the Short Form-36 (p<0.05) and heart failure specific quality of life (p<0.05). All-cause hospitalisations were delayed (p<0.05) and length of stay was shorter (p<0.05) in the group receiving nurse practitioner support, but there were no differences in chronic heart failure related admissions. Discussion: A chronic heart failure support program, operating in a community setting and delivered by nurse practitioners, enhanced self-care, improved psychosocial health and reduced time in hospital. Conclusion: Chronic heart failure management delivered by nurse practitioners can improve self-care behaviour and quality of life, and reduced hospital admissions, compared with usual care.\u0000What is already known about the topic?\u0000\u0000Chronic heart failure is a complex health issue requiring disease-specific management that needs to be tailored to the individual. However, many patients with chronic heart failure don’t receive adequate support to manage their condition.\u0000\u0000What does this paper add:\u0000\u0000A chronic heart failure management service, delivered in primary care by nurse practitioners, improved self-management and quality of life and was associated with a lower rate of hospitalisations compared with usual care alone.","PeriodicalId":55584,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2021-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48676416","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The assessment of knowledge and practical skills of intramuscular injection administration among nursing staff: a cross-sectional study","authors":"Urška Fekonja, Zvonka Fekonja, Dominika Vrbnjak","doi":"10.37464/2020.383.234","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37464/2020.383.234","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55584,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2021-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69735076","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jan Shepherd, A. Waller, R. Sanson-Fisher, K. Clark, Jean Ball
{"title":"Barriers to the provision of optimal care to dying patients in hospital: a cross-sectional study of nurses’ perceptions","authors":"Jan Shepherd, A. Waller, R. Sanson-Fisher, K. Clark, Jean Ball","doi":"10.37464/2020.383.315","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37464/2020.383.315","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55584,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2021-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41925832","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Nursing in the time of COVID-19: exploring nurse preparedness early in a global pandemic","authors":"Ged Williams, Anastasia Gunn, A. Sweeny","doi":"10.37464/2020.383.238","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37464/2020.383.238","url":null,"abstract":"Objective: To obtain Australian nurses’ perspectives regarding COVID-19 preparedness early in the pandemic. Background: In March 2020 Australia experienced a rise in COVID-19 cases and was bracing itself for the worst, having witnessed China, Europe and America’s earlier exposure to the outbreak. On 14 March 2020 an Australian nurse set up a Facebook page called “Nursing in the time of COVID-19: A clinical forum” allowing colleagues to share information about COVID-19. This presented an ideal opportunity to survey nurses’ preparedness for the pandemic. Study design and methods: Anonymous web-based survey disseminated between 9 April–4 May 2020 via the Facebook page. Results: A total of 214 nurses responded to the survey of whom 85% were direct care clinical staff and 29 (13.5%) had cared for a COVID-19 patient. Prevalent feelings regarding COVID-19 were anxious, overwhelmed, vulnerable, engaged and interested. The strongest sources of information regarding COVID-19 were published academic articles, WHO/ CDC and similar authorities, employer leaflets/ guidance and Facebook. The strongest needs/ expectations identified by the respondents were education and information, access to mental health counselling, provision of additional health workers to support nurses, and supplemental pay rise. Respondents identified work-related training specific to COVID-19, revision of skills and competencies and upskilling to do tasks previously not familiar to the participant of particular benefit. Nurses who had cared for COVID-19 patients expressed a stronger interest in receiving a supplemental pay rise for risk exposure, a stronger sense that they and their employer were ready to care for COVID-19 patients yet expressed less appreciation for mental health counselling compared to nurses who had not yet cared for COVID-19 patients. Discussion: The perspectives of Australian nurses are generally similar to nurses in other countries. However, we report some variations between nurses who have and have not cared for COVID-19 patients. We identify the levels of concern as well as those supportive actions that are most appreciated by nurses responding to COVID-19 specifically, these same findings could be applied to other major events generally. Conclusion: The timing of this survey allowed us to explore the perspectives of Australian nurses during the early pandemic vulnerability period without the benefit of hindsight. Despite thinking the Australian experience was going to be worse than it was, Australian nurses showed relative confidence in their own and their employers’ readiness and this was most obvious in nurses who had cared for COVID-19 patients.\u0000What is already known about the topic?\u0000\u0000Nurses around the world have voiced anxiety and concern about the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it may have on them personally and professionally.\u0000Nurses have access to informal networks, social media, media, employer guidelines and other professional and academic sources of","PeriodicalId":55584,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2021-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42583452","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Taking care of the caretaker: navigating compassion fatigue through a pandemic","authors":"Benita N. Chatmon, Ecoee Rooney","doi":"10.37464/2020.383.603","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37464/2020.383.603","url":null,"abstract":"The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating on the mental health and well-being of healthcare professionals (HCPs). HCPs have had to withstand the prolong suffering of their patients, with some outcomes resulting in death. As a result, HCPs are predisposed to compassion fatigue. Compassion Fatigue is an extreme state of tension and preoccupation with the suffering of those being helped to the degree that it can create a secondary traumatic stress for the HCP. It is estimated that 48– 53 percent of nurses experience compassion fatigue. Nurses are known for their ability to alleviate patient suffering, however, lack of effective resources and knowledge of how to effectively treat patients with COVID-19 has left many HCPs feeling powerless to care for the sick and suffering in their care. Known protective factors against and strategies to reduce compassion fatigue and other emotional stresses include; socialising, mindfulness habits, healthy lifestyle habits, journaling, and seeking professional help. The management of compassion fatigue must be multi-dimensional and include prevention, assessment, and consequence minimisation. The nursing profession has to be bold and acknowledge that compassion fatigue is a critical risk within many healthcare environments, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, over four million people have died from the COVID-19 virus worldwide, and approximately 700 thousand in the United States. The impact of the pandemic has been traumatising for many nurses and midwives. A collaborative effort between hospital administrators and HCPs is imperative in assessing, implementing, and mitigating compassion fatigue that is a normal response to the abnormal exposure to trauma in this critical frontline workforce. \u0000Keywords: COVID-19, pandemic, Compassion Fatigue, Mental Health. Healthcare Professionals","PeriodicalId":55584,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2021-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47426800","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Enabling difficult conversations in the Australian health sector","authors":"C. King, B. Williams","doi":"10.37464/2020.383.310","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37464/2020.383.310","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Research on difficult conversations is mainly about the impacts of avoiding difficult conversations, with little research on enabling difficult conversations except for improving communication. Objective: This study aimed to identify the ideal environment for enabling difficult conversations to take place in healthcare settings. Methods: Convergent Interviewing was used with 20 clinical supervisors to explore the following question: “What enables healthcare professionals in the workplace to have difficult conversations?” Of these 20 clinical supervisors, 10 were nurses, eight were in allied health (five speech pathologists, two physiotherapists, one community support worker) and two were in medicine. Results: Enabling difficult conversations is complex and requires change at the individual, team, profession, and organisational levels. Enabling these conversations is not as simple as improving communication skills, although effective communication skills are necessary. Discussion: Other requirements include the desire for someone to want to have a difficult conversation. This relationship exists between the people needing to have the conversation, the physical environment and time required to have the conversation, and also having management, disciplinary and organisational support to engage in difficult conversations. Conclusion: Enabling difficult conversations between healthcare professionals is a complicated endeavour involving individual, team, profession, and organisational changes. This implies making a significant effort in presenting training and educational opportunities for all health professionals.\u0000What is already known about the topic?\u0000\u0000Poor communication is a key contributor to medical errors.\u0000While clinical supervisors need to have difficult conversations with peers, patients and managers, many supervisors lack the skills to adequately perform these on a regular basis.\u0000\u0000What this paper adds:\u0000\u0000Having difficult conversations between healthcare professionals is complex.\u0000That focussing on ‘enabling’ is a more proactive and positive approach than focusing on ‘avoiding’.","PeriodicalId":55584,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2021-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48163214","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Bathing wipes, a valuable hygiene option for frail older persons at home: a proof of concept study","authors":"Vicki A Archer, W. Smyth, Cate Nagle","doi":"10.37464/2020.383.458","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37464/2020.383.458","url":null,"abstract":"Objectives: To explore experiences and attitudes of frail older persons to using bathing wipes as a hygiene option at home. Methods: A descriptive, exploratory study was conducted with older clients who required hygiene assistance post hospital discharge and consented to trial bath wipes. Client participants or their carer completed a verbal questionnaire administered via telephone. Descriptive statistics summarised the quantitative data and closed-ended questions were analysed using content analysis. Results: Thirty-seven of the 49 consented participants used the bathing wipes at home. There was high level of agreement that bathing wipes were fit for purpose and participants indicated that they were suitable to use to supplement assisted showers. Conclusion: The use of bathing wipes provides an acceptable hygiene option and can support autonomy of frail, older persons, while reducing the risk of falls from wet floors. Bathing wipes are of use to persons who have not yet regained independence with showering and/or are awaiting bathroom modifications installed.\u0000What is already known about the topic?\u0000\u0000Wet floors associated with showering unassisted, can be a falls hazard to elderly persons attempting to regain independence.\u0000Transition care programs offered for elderly clients returning to their own home post hospital discharge are limited in scope and duration.\u0000Falls in frail, older people are common, with adverse consequences for the individual and the health system.\u0000\u0000What this paper adds\u0000\u0000Bath wipes were well accepted by elderly clients as an alternative to showering without assistance.\u0000Bath wipes can be used by the individual on a short-term basis while they regain independence with hygiene, while they wait for bathroom modifications, or they can be used longer term.","PeriodicalId":55584,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2021-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49138736","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
N. Krzyżaniak, A. Scott, Mina Bakhit, Ann Bryant, M. Taylor, C. Mar
{"title":"Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Australian residential aged care facility (RACF) workforce","authors":"N. Krzyżaniak, A. Scott, Mina Bakhit, Ann Bryant, M. Taylor, C. Mar","doi":"10.37464/2020.383.490","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37464/2020.383.490","url":null,"abstract":"Objective: We conducted a survey to understand the challenges faced by the staff of residential aged care facilities (RACF), during the COVID-19 pandemic. Background: In the current pandemic, the RACF workforce has been required to work under stressful conditions, with immense mental and physical pressures, resulting in anxiety and stress felt towards their jobs. Study design and methods: We electronically surveyed both clinical and non-clinical staff at public and private RACFs in Australia in June and August 2020. The survey asked a mix of open-ended and closed questions about preparedness for the pandemic, information flow, experience with personal protective equipment (PPE), management of suspected COVID cases, restrictions on visitors, and impact on RACF staff personal and home life. Quantitative data were analysed in SPSS; qualitative data using content analysis. Results: We received 371 responses: 198 from clinical staff and 168 from non-clinical staff. Respondents were between 20–71 years old, and 87% were female most commonly from Victoria (28%) or New South Wales (28%). The majority (80%) felt that Australian RACFs were well-prepared for the pandemic and 87% agreed that relevant healthcare authorities were contactable for information needed. A total of 37% reported challenges in estimating and ordering appropriate quantities of protective equipment. Ninety percent of facilities reported screening residents for possible symptoms and 77% introduced precautions or quarantine measures to protect residents. Most participants (98%) reported their RACF implemented restrictions on visitor access and 43% reported unfair or abusive treatment by family or friends of the residents. Commonly reported personal impacts included: workload increase, stress, emotional toll, family issues and fatigue. Support from colleagues as well as training, de-brief sessions and frequent meetings were identified as helpful facilitators during this time. Conclusion: We identified a wide range of practices and coping strategies among Australian RACFs. Whilst a majority of respondents reported coping well, a large proportion reported struggling both mentally and physically. Factors reported as helpful by the respondents may assist RACFs in planning for future pandemics. Implications for research, policy and practice: Understanding the challenges faced by all levels of staff within RACFs may aid decision-makers on a range of different levels – researchers, aged care providers, local/regional/state health departments and national leaders within government to help inform the development of interventions that may help the sector to recover, as well as prepare for potential future outbreaks. Of particular importance, are interventions or initiatives that focus on supporting the physical and mental health of staff i.e. those that prevent or minimise worker fatigue, emotional burnout and stress.\u0000What is already known about the topic?\u0000\u0000Nursing staff in Australian RACFs did not ","PeriodicalId":55584,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2021-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46902642","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Application and Research of Humanistic Care in Operation Room","authors":"Yan-fei Han","doi":"10.32629/ajn.v2i2.381","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32629/ajn.v2i2.381","url":null,"abstract":"Objective — To conduct studies on the application effect of humanistic care in the operation room. Methods — A total of 90 patients who received surgical treatment in our hospital from January 2021 to May 2021 were selected and divided into experimental group and control group based on the order of admission, with 45 patients in each group. The patients in the control group were treated with routine surgical nursing, and the patients in the experimental group were treated with humanistic care on the basis of routine surgical nursing. Comparison was made in the application effect of the two groups. Results — The scores of Self-Rating Depression Scale and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale in two groups demonstrated significant decreasing. The scores of the Self-Rating Depression Scale and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale were significantly reduced in the two groups after psychological nursing intervention. Conclusions — Effective humanistic care can not only contributes to the relief of anxiety or depression and other unhealthy emotions of patients, but also serves as an important way to maintain a good doctor-patient relationship. Humanistic care has certain application value in clinical applications.","PeriodicalId":55584,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2021-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88786401","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}