18 research outputs found
The Experience of Temporality by a Group of Asian and Caucasian Diabetic Patients
This contentious paper aims to explore the experience of time by individuals
who have been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. It further argues that the
temporal processes form central to the diabetic experience and it proceeds to
depict the arenas in which time is transformed by virtue of diabetes. Finally, it
is proposed that understanding the person as a whole being is necessary if selfmanagement
of diabetes is to be successful
International electives: nursing idealism or safaris?
Why should we care? Millions of people around the world die every day of treatable diseases stemming largely from extreme poverty, often compounded by natural disasters. Personally, I don’t perceive such problems as doom and gloom. Instead, I balance the visuals of destruction and health problems with images of international teams working together, smiling faces, locals at work and team leaders from many nationalities keeping alive the spirit of hope. We need, occasionally, to remind ourselves of Dr Orbinski’s words of wisdom </jats:p
Nanotechnology: is there a need for ethical principles?
Nanotechnology (NT) is concerned with materials and systems
whose structures and components exhibit novel physical, chemical
and biological properties due to their nanoscale size. This new
scientific discipline is fast becoming a major driver of the future
direction of health care and is likely to have a significant impact
on society, medicine and nursing. This article demonstrates that
ethical reflections lie at the heart of nursing. In contextualizing
the ethics of NT, this article questions the conclusion reached
by others that ethical reflections on NT lag behind its scientific
developments. Instead it proposes that the ethical issues raised
by NT are similar to those relating to biotechnology, considered
by ethicists since the 1970s. Consequently, this article argues
that a foundation of ethical reflections already exists that can
be transferred to NT. Finally, this article asserts the need for
nurses to be proactively involved in interdisciplinary discussions
likely to extend the current ethical reflections of autonomy, nonmaleficence,
beneficence and justice to NT
In too deep: understanding, detecting and managing DVT
Venous thromboembolism (VTE), which includes deep vein
thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is a serious
health and social care problem of the developed world, affecting 1
in 1000 adults every year, and with an annual financial overhead of
approximately £640 million. The nature of DVT means that often
the condition can go unrecognized until the thrombus becomes an
embolus. The pathogenesis of DVT continues to be based on Virchow’s
triad, which attributes VTE to ‘hypercoagulability’, ‘stasis’ and ‘intimal
injury’. The diagnosis of DVT is often the result of a number of tests
performed either sequentially or in combination before mechanical
and/or chemical treatment is embarked on. Creating public awareness
of DVT and PE is the best way to prevent this condition. Nurses are
in an ideal position to discuss the importance of lifestyle changes and
other related measures to prevent DVT