A Mentoring Program: Mentoring the Mentor and Mentee

Mentoring is a concept that is essential in recruiting and retaining nursing faculty.  While a number of nursing programs provide methods for mentoring novice faculty members, the success of such activities may often be determined by the rate of faculty attrition.  Expectations, workload, and attrition rate of novice faculty members were the catalysts for developing a program focused on mentoring the mentor and mentee.  Previously, mentors functioned in the roles of teacher or resource person, causing the roles of both mentor and mentees to be unclear and without specificity.  With a focus on teaching mentors how to be more effective while mentoring the novice faculty members, a Nurse Educator Mentor was assigned to develop and implement the Faculty Mentoring Program.  Faculty members who have experience teaching, as well as novice faculty members, are able to transition into their roles easier, thus promoting faculty attrition, productivity, and better outcomes.  This article presents a discussion of a successful nursing faculty mentoring program.Keywords: Nurse Educator Mentor, Faculty Mentoring Program, transition Â

The Effect of Air mattresses (Total Care P 500®) on Pressure Ulcer Prevalence and Incidence Rates among Adult Post Cardiac Surgical Patients

Background: Pressure ulcer development is a common problem worldwide, especially among patients in Intensive Care Units who are at higher risk of skin injury due to several factors such as limited mobility, inadequate skin moisture, illness, and poor nutritional status.Objective: To determine the effect of a newly introduced air mattress on pressure ulcer development among patients who underwent cardiac surgery in a Cardiac Intensive Care Unit within a tertiary care facility.Method: Quantitative descriptive retrospective observational design was used to describe the effect of air mattresses on the prevalence and incidence of pressure ulcers among adult post-cardiac surgical patients. A convenience sample of patients, who underwent cardiac surgeries, above fourteen years of age, and  stayed at least one day in cardiac surgical intensive care unit during a six month period (1st April – 1st October, 2012) were enrolled in this study. Data was extracted from the patient’s charts and electronic medical records in a retrospective manner. Statistical Package for Social Scientists 20.0 was used to analyze the data.Results: Of 224, three patients developed stage two pressure ulcers over the sacral area (1.3%) comparing to 2.76% during the same period in 2011. The prevalence rate was 2.9% comparing to 7.67% reported in 2011. The results showed no statistical significant differences between the patients who developed pressure ulcers and the patients who were free of pressure ulcers. Length of stay and operating time duration were significant predictors for pressure ulcers development (p values, 0.006 and 0.051 respectively).Conclusions: Using air mattresses for cardiac surgical patients might help in reducing the incidence of pressure ulcers in Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. The length of stay and operating time were identified as the main risk factors in pressure ulcer development

Augmenting Survey Completion and Rates of Returns for Patients with Low Literacy: A Randomized Control Trial of Telephone Follow-up

Abstract Aim.  The aim of the study was to determine the best possible means to achieve survey-item completion and high rates of return among low-literacy patients in regard to their perspectives on their health and quality of care post-hospital discharge.Background.  The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Survey (HCAHPS) is designed for individuals with a sixth-grade reading level.  One hospital, however, who had mailed the HCAHPS to discharged patients had low return rates and low item completion, which hospital personnel felt were due to low literacy levels.  Design.  An experimental design was used to conduct this descriptive/comparative study. Methods.  A total of 286 adult patients with low literacy volunteered to participate in the study.  The survey was disseminated in English or Spanish to individuals with low literacy, using two different modes of dissemination (mailing of the survey or telephone with follow-up reading/clarification of the survey items, if needed) to patients with low literacy who were hospital discharged.Results.  Participants in the telephone group were 7.4 times more likely to complete the HCAHPS as compared to those who received the HCAHPS by mail.  These telephone participants also were more likely to complete all items compared to those who were mailed the survey.  Discussion.  Assessing the health literacy of patients is important to ensure that HCAHPS is understood and that the survey is returned and items are completed.  Telephone dissemination should be considered for patients with low literacy.  Keywords:  health, hospital, literacy, patient perspective, patient satisfaction, quality of care, surveyÂ

Differences in Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT) measures depending on the device used in blood samples drawn (direct Vacutainer® versus Butterfly needle): A Randomized Comparative Study

 Background. Most laboratory errors occur during the pre-analytical phase and are often related to the blood drawn equipment. No studies have evaluated yet the influence of the most common vein puncture devices on activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). We aimed to compare APTT when venous blood samples are drawn with two different needle devices (direct Vacutainer® versus butterfly needle). Methods. Consecutive adult healthy volunteers were prospectively enrolled and assigned to receive two antecubital peripheral blood punctures from both arms, using the two devices. The blood drawn sequence (i.e. right or left arm first) and the first device to be used (i.e. direct vacuntainer® or butterfly needle first) were randomly established.Results. Forty healthy volunteers (mean age 42.9 years; SD 7.5; range 27-58), comprising 25 (62.5%) women, were recruited. APTT obtained with the two blood drawn devices significantly and positive correlated (Spearman rho=0.943; p<0.001). However, mean APTT was significantly more prolonged in blood samples drawn with butterfly needles than in those obtained with direct vacutainer® (34.01 ± 4.4 vs. 33.63 ± 3.8 seconds, respectively; p=0.013). No differences in APTT were found when samples obtained from right and left arms were compared.Discussion. The type of blood drawn equipment significantly influences APTT, which is prolonged when a butterfly needle is used. An increased contact time between blood and butterfly tube plastic material would favor a premature consumption of plasma coagulation factors before mixing with anticoagulants in the collection tube. The appropriately chosen blood drawn device is thus essential to avoid pre-analytical errors.KEY WORDS: Activated partial thromboplastin time, Phlebotomy; Quality control; Blood Specimen Collection; Pre-analytical quality; Laboratory techniques and procedure

Caring Behind Bars: A Phenomenological Study on the Caring Roles of Mothers in Prison

This research study aimed to identify the caring role experiences of mother inmates in Ilocos Sur Provincial Jail (ISPJ). The study used a phenomenological design. Purposive sampling was used to choose the 7 participants.The specific techniques utilized were individual interviews, focus group discussions, and narrative data analysis. The unstructured interviews and focus group discussions were guided by the following question: What are your experiences in caring for your children while you are inside the jail? An unstructured individual interview was conducted to explore more data collected from the focus group discussions. The themes that were identified are reminiscing, letting go, communicating, providing, savoring the moment, getting hurt, and powerlessness.The central theme that emerged from the findings is that the mother caring role experiences of inmates is unique. Although behind bars, inmate mothers make ways to fulfill their mother caring role in their own ways.Based on the results of the study, the researchers have the following recommendations in order to assist and strengthen the mother caring role of inmates:Self-awareness programs for inmate mothers.Counseling activities for the mother inmates.More programs and activities to promote bonding between the mother inmate and her children.The conduct of the same study to father inmates. In addition, the conduct of quantitative research studies on the same topic.Â

A Review of the Theoretical Framework of Culture and Value Applied to Nursing

Culture is a unique component of each patient, and nurses are charged with caring for the whole patient while in their care.  Cultural competence is an important tool that guides the practice of the nurse while providing care to the patient. Understanding the theory behind culture and the nurses’ cultural competence. The Purnell Model of Cultural Competence (PMCC) is a valid framework to apply to the application of culture and values.  As health care in the US is changing, it is important to note the impact that culture plays in health outcomes.  This article explores the use of the PMCC to culture and values as it applies to health care. The intent is to provide an overview of the theory, relate the theory to the concepts, discuss the existing research, recommendations from the existing research, and application to future research recommendations

Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (Act) On Negative Cognition Among Patients with Depression – A Preliminary Analysis

Background: This study evaluated the effectiveness of Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) on negative cognition among Patients with depression Methods: Sample:  10 subjects having depressive symptoms & receiving treatment (5 experimental + 5 control) were selected using Simple Random Sampling at Spandana hospital Bangalore Measures: The independent variable of this study was Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). The dependent variable was negative cognition. Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ) was used to asses negative cognition.  Procedure: On day one, Coin flip method was used to allocate subjects to either Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) or treatment as usual (TAU) group. Subjects in experimental group (n=10) received six sessions of Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT).  Sessions were delivered on one to one basis on alternative days. Each session lasted for 30-45 minutes Results: Difference in the post treatment scores between ACT & TAU is statistically significant for Negative cognition (P < 0.00). Conclusion: ACT is effective compared to TAU, in reducing negative cognition among patients with depressive symptoms

Constructivism: An Approach in Training Nursing Students in the Clinical Setting.

Abstract            Nurses are important in the society because of their soft and caring hands.  Because of the changing needs and increase in demand of care, today’s generation nurses are expected to be critically thinking of their own to be effective without depending too much from the other health care team.  Educators in the clinical setting have to utilize new teaching innovations that would create proficient nurses.  This paper aims to display that constructivist approach will enable nursing students to deal with complex situations in the hospital through analysis, application, evaluation, and creation; increase motivation and autonomy in nursing care with critical decision making; confirms active construction of knowledge among nursing students using language based on past experiences; enhance communication among students that provide real world examples and will provide them with experience-based learning opportunities to practice.            Student nurses are active learners in the clinical area because of their philosophy that their client’s health and well-being depends on their hands.  This paper concludes that constructivist approach will create globally competent nursing students and enable them to deal with complex situations in the hospital through analysis, application, evaluation and creation with motivation and autonomy.  It is the duty of the educators to enhance that skill by letting them actively construct knowledge using language based on past experiences, then context-rich.  This kind of learning strategy will provide learners with experience-based learning opportunities to practice skilled with appropriate decision making process.  Let us not waste what students know, instead, we save, preserve and add.  Educators need to let these students feel that as early as internship, they are capable and competent in providing quality care.  Therefore, guidance is needed and not directives

An Integrative Review of the Reporting and Underreporting of Workplace Aggression in Healthcare Settings

Objectives.  Despite the prevalence of workplace aggression, workplace aggression is grossly underreported.  The purpose of this paper is to review the state of the science for the reporting and underreporting of WPA enacted by patients and/or visitors and then make recommendations for increasing the reporting of WPA. Design.  An integrative review process was used to select peer-reviewed articles describing the state of the body of evidence for the reporting and underreporting of workplace aggression. Data sources.  Articles were extracted from the Scopus database, a robust search engine that simultaneously searches over 20,000 peer-reviewed journals from over 5,000 international publishers.Review methods.  Article inclusion criteria were publication date between January 1, 2000 and October 24, 2014, healthcare workers as the study population, and dependent variable related to workplace aggression reporting or workplace aggression underreporting.  The initial search yielded 237 citations.  All abstracts were read for direct or indirect relevance At the conclusion of this initial review, 33 articles met inclusion criteria.  The article reference lists were reviewed and seven additional articles were assessed for inclusion.  Twelve articles were retained, read in full, and critiqued. Results.  Twelve articles were retained, read in full, and critiqued.  The underreporting of workplace aggression was as high as 95%.  Reasons for not reporting workplace aggression included perceived lack of organizational change after reporting, violence considered part of the job, and aggression not intentional.  Reasons for reporting workplace aggression included workplace aggression that was perceived as intentional, when administrators took action based on incident reports, when the process for reporting was quick, easy, and efficient, when aggression was physical or resulted in an injury. Conclusion.  The reporting of workplace aggression is paramount to the future success of prevention interventions.  Any changes made to increase the reporting of workplace aggression will require healthcare worker buy-in as well as organizational and administrator support to be effective.Â

Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (Act) On Psychological Flexibility Among Patients with Depression – A Preliminary Analysis

Background: This study evaluated the effectiveness of Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) on psychological flexibility among Patients with depression Methods: 10 subjects having depressive symptoms & receiving treatment (5 experimental + 5 control) were selected using Simple Random Sampling at Spandana hospital Bangalore Measures: The independent variable of this study was Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). The dependent variable was psychological flexibility, Acceptance & Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II) was used to asses psychological flexibility. Procedure: On day one, Coin flip method was used to allocate subjects to either Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) or treatment as usual (TAU) group. Subjects in experimental group (n=10) received six sessions of Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT).  Sessions were delivered on one to one basis on alternative days. Each session lasted for 30-45 minutes. Results: Difference in the post treatment scores between ACT & TAU is statistically significant for psychological flexibility (P < 0.00). Conclusion: ACT is effective compared to TAU, in improving psychological flexibility among depressive patient