The Study of Phosphate Rock Forming Minerals (Francolite) of Iran through the EDX-SEM to Assessment of Compositions in Nano-scale

AbstractIn this work, the fine grains of Phosphate rocks forming minerals (francolite-Ca5(PO4,CO3)3F,OH) which belong to the geological formation of phosphate rocks of Zagros mountains in IRAN were detected, analyzed and interpreted by SEM-EDX in nano-scale. Moreover, the results are compared with the results of XRD analysis and straight observations of samples through the polarized microscope. Finding the composition of elements in minerals is the best path finder and also is very important in many geological investigations. The fine grain Phosphate minerals perform as traps which attract some kinds of elements. But sometimes these minerals are very fine and it is too difficult to determine and separate them for further studies. For instance, interpretation and investigation of the composition of fine minerals in Nano-scale by using single crystal X-ray Diffraction (Single-crystal XRD) analysis is impossible. Due to variety of minerals phases in a rock sample, the interpretations of the results of total elemental analysis, for example XRF, ICP, are not so real. Therefore, the best method for determination of elements in fine grain rock forming minerals is the study of minerals by the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDX)

Individual and Social Factors Affecting Nurses’ Attitudes Toward and Quality of Care Given to Patients Who Attempted Suicide

Introduction: Nurses are the first healthcare professionals who meet patients who attempt suicide, and their attitudes toward these patients may be important. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of demographic factors on nurses’ attitudes toward patients who attempt suicide and the quality of nursing care that these patients receive.Materials and Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was performed using the convenience sampling method on 182 nurses working at selected hospitals of medical universities in Tehran, Iran. Data were collected using questionnaires that gathered information about demographics, nurses’ attitudes toward patients who attempted suicide, and the quality of nursing care provided. Data were analyzed by the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences v.20 software and by the Pearson test and t-tests.Results: Regarding social and mental aspects, we found no significant statistical relationship between age and work experience with respect to nurses’ attitudes toward and the quality of care provided to patients who attempted suicide, but women provided higher-quality nursing care than men (P=0.046). Although the relationship between education and quality of nursing care was statistically significant (P=0.007), we found no significant relationship between education and attitude.Conclusion: We found no significant relationship between age and work experience with respect to nurses’ attitudes toward, and the quality of care provided to, patients who attempted suicide, but women provided higher-quality nursing care than men. Furthermore, quality of care was higher from nurses who had a bachelor-level education, suggesting that higher-educated nurses should be recruited to care for critical patients

Liver transplant recipients quality of life instrument: Development and psychometric testing

Background: Liver transplantation is a life-saving intervention for many patients with end-stage liver disease. In the past, evaluation of successful liver transplantation was based on patients' survival rate. However, in recent years this evaluation has been based on patients' quality of life. Various instruments have been developed to evaluate patients' quality of life. Nonetheless, scholars still believe that it is crucial to develop a standardized and disease specific instrument for evaluating the quality of life in liver transplant recipients. Objectives: The aim of this paper was to describe the development and psychometric testing process of a quality of life instrument specific to liver transplant recipients. Materials and Methods: Initial items of this instrument were extracted from a conventional content analysis study, and then were completed with findings of related international literature. The face validity was assessed by interviewing with four liver transplant recipients, and the content validity was evaluated by eleven experts in the field of transplantation. The construct validity was achieved by involving 250 liver transplant recipients through exploratory factor analysis method, and reliability was calculated by Cronbach's alpha. Results: Three main factors with 40 items were extracted from the exploratory factor analysis: Health Satisfaction, Concerns, and Complications. Reliability of the instrument was confirmed (alpha = 0.922). Conclusions: Given the special considerations regarding liver transplant recipients, this questionnaire is more accurate in evaluating the success of liver transplantation. © 2013, Kowsar Corp.; Licensee Kowsar Ltd

Satisfaction of nursing students with two clinical evaluation methods: objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) and practical examination of clinical competence

Background and aimClinical training is an essential part of nursing education. Its evaluation can deeply affect on its quality and has always been a challenge for nursing education. The aim of this descriptive study was to compare satisfaction of nursing students with two methods of clinical evaluation, namely, objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) and practical examination in faculty of nursing and midwifery affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran in 2007. Materials and Methods44 sophomore students in their orthopedic clinical training were selected by convenience sampling method and evaluated by the two evaluation methods. Data were collected by a satisfaction questionnaire in 3 cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains. Content and inter-rater methods were used for validity and reliability of the questionnaire respectively. SPSS package (ver. 13) was used for data analysis. FindingsSatisfaction rates of nursing students in the 3 domains were higher in OSCE than in practical examination with a significant difference in achieving educational goals in the domains  and in total (

Incidence of pressure ulcer and its risk factors in patients at orthopedic wards

Background and aimPressure ulcer and its related factors are associated with such complications as decreased quality of life of patients and increased cost of health system as important issues of nursing care. This descriptive study was conducted to determine the incidence of pressure ulcer and its related factors in patients at orthopedic wards in 2009.  Materials and methods330 patients with no pressure ulcer at the time of admission, no movement due to therapeutic interventions or movement only with assisting devices were selected through convenience sampling at orthopedic wards of hospitals affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. A demographic questionnaire, “National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel“ grading scales and “Braden Pressure Ulcer Assessment Scale” were used for data collection. The tools were validated by content method and inter-rater reliability method was used for the grading system and Braden Scale. Data were analyzed by SPSS 15.  Findings46 patients (%13.9) developed pressure ulcer of which %76.1, %21.7 and %2.2 were at stages 1, 2 and 3 respectively. The most common locations of the ulcers were in sacrum (%34), ischium (%34.8), heels (%17.4) and both sacrum as well as heels (%10.9). The related factors included medical diagnosis, type of therapy, decreased activity and immobility. ConclusionThe incidence of pressure ulcers in Tehran is similar to other reports around the world. Risk factors in this regard are old age, lengthy hospitalization, medical diagnosis, type of therapy, decreased activity and immobility. Keywords: Pressure ulcer, Risk factors, Braden Scale.  *Corresponding Author: Lecturer, Dept. of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Tehran, Iran. E-mail: [email protected]

The relationship between organizational commitment and nursing care behavior

Introduction: Nursing care encompasses physical, emotional, mental and social needs, in order to improve a patient’s health and wellbeing. Caring is the central core and the essence of nursing. The important issue of care is access to proper care and increasing patients’ satisfaction. Job performance of nurses is affected by many factors including organizational commitment. This study aimed to determine the relationship between organizational commitment and nurses caring behavior. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 322 nurses from selected Hospitals of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran were randomly selected and enrolled in the study in 2015. The self-reported data by nurses were collected through demographic characteristics questionnaire, Meyer & Allen organizational commitment model and Caring Behavior Inventory (CBI). Data were analyzed with SPSS statistical software version 20, using t-test and ANOVA. Findings: The majority of nurses (63%) were female. The mean score and standard deviation of organizational commitment and caring behavior of nurses were 74.12±9.61 and 203.1±22.46, respectively. The results showed a significantly positive correlation between organizational commitment and caring behavior (p=0.001). Conclusion: In this study the caring behavior of nurses with higher organizational commitment were significantly better than the others. Managers and nurse leaders should pay more attention to improve organizational commitment of nurses, in order to improve nurses’ performance