Commentary: Human Capital in Health Care, A Resource Crisis or a Caring Crisis?

Predicting and shaping the human capacity resources for health care globally for the future requires voice and valuation of, and about, caring

As estrelas estão alinhadas: As enfermeiras devem exercer a sua voz

The author develops in this editorial a claiming discourse whose purpose is to draw attention to the nurses to make their voices heard at a particularly propitious time for it (the stars are aligned). Afaf Meleis describes the current situation as the ideal for the nursing profession, finally, exercise your voice and contribute to optimizer health care through greater presence of nursing in all areas related to health. Demographic, educational, social and health changes, increasingly require the presence of nurses to optimize the quality of care, especially self-care.La autora desarrolla en esta editorial un discurso reivincativo cuyo propósito es llamar la atención a los profesionales de enfermería para que hagan oír sus voces en un momento especialmente propicio para ello (las estrellas están alineadas). Afaf Meleis describe la situación actual como la idónea para que el colectivo enfermero, por fin, ejercite su voz y contribuya a optimizar los cuidados de salud mediante una mayor presencia de la enfermería en todos los ámbitos relacionados con la salud. Los cambios demográficos, educativos, sociales y de salud, requieren cada vez más la presencia de las enfermeras para optimizar la calidad de los cuidados, especialmente de los autocuidados.O autor desenvolve neste editorial discurso um vingativo cujo objetivo é chamar a atenção para os enfermeiros para fazer suas vozes ouvidas em um momento particularmente propício para isso (as estrelas estão alinhadas). Afaf Meleis descreve a situação atual como o ideal para a profissão de enfermagem, finalmente, exercer a sua voz e contribuir para o otimizador de cuidados de saúde através de uma maior presença de enfermagem em todas as áreas relacionadas com a saúde. Mudanças sociais e demográficas de educação em saúde, cada vez mais exigem a presença de enfermeiros para otimizar a qualidade dos cuidados, especialmente auto-cuidado

The evolving nursing scholarliness

The thesis of this discussion is that nursing is involved in a scholarly evolution, that this evolution has properties and norms that have evolved from previous stages of development, and that every previous stage had a major contribution leading to our current evolution. The discussion is based on the premise that a reflective stance and self-analysis are essential to growth and development and that meaning and ideas are enhanced when one is able to trace their origins, the problems that motivated their development, the conceptualizations to which they relate, and the knowledge of how one intellectual tradition grows from another. Progress in nursing theory is a most significant aspect of this scholarly evolution and a cornerstone of the discipline of nursing. It behooves us, therefore, to review the events that influenced the current stage of nursing scholarliness and the contributions of nursing theory to it. In its search for professional identity and meaning, nursing has proceeded through several stages. Self-analysis and evaluation and the view and status accorded nursing in our patriarchal society made it appear as if each successive stage was a deviation from the goal of establishing the discipline of nursing. But in essence each stage has sharpened and clarified the dimensions needed for establishing the scientific discipline, prompting or leading to the scholarly evolution in nursing

The Case Against the DNP: History, Timing, Substance, and Marginalization

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or not? The answer is not! Within the historical context of our discipline, a doctorate degree should stand for advancing and translating knowledge. Clinical practice is the core of this knowledge. Separating the practice and research missions could undermine our ability to be equal partners in universities, as well as diminish our effectiveness in establishing the evidence for quality and safe health care

Enhancing cultural competence: Trans-Atlantic experiences of European and Canadian nursing students

This paper describes the enhancement of cultural competence through trans-Atlantic rural community experiences of European and Canadian nursing students using critical incident technique (CIT) as the students' reflective writing method. The data generated from 48 students' recordings about 134 critical incidents over a 2-year project were analysed by qualitative content analysis. Five main learning categories were identified as: cross-cultural ethical issues; cultural and social differences; health-care inequalities; population health concerns; and personal and professional awareness. Four emergent cultural perspectives for the health sector that became apparent from the reflections were: health promotion realm; sensitivity to social and cultural aspects of people's lives; channels between the health sector and society; cultural language and stories of local people. CIT was successfully used to foster European and Canadian undergraduate students' cultural reflections resulting in considerations and suggestions for future endeavours to enhance cultural competence in nursing education

Women\u27s health: A global perspective

The purpose of this chapter is to discuss global issues related to women\u27s health. Several universal issues were selected for presentation to provide a context for understanding health care for women and to challenge readers to identify potential threats to quality care. In addition, principles that have been proposed for the development and implementation of a viable and comprehensive health care system for women are identified and discussed. The intent here is not to capture the situation and health experience of women in all parts of the world; nor is it possible to address all the contextual contingencies needed for addressing women\u27s health. Rather, the intent is to provide a framework for understanding the neglect that women have encountered in all aspects of their lives, including health care. Furthermore, our aim is to provide those who have been committed to health care for women with support in their attempt to provide quality health carefor other women. Finally,our goal is to raise the readers\u27 consciousness of women\u27s health needs beyond the United States. We fully realize that women\u27s health issues cannot be understood in isolation from the specific sociocultural context of their situations; however, by highlighting some universals, perhaps we can underscore the need for global cooperation in taking a more coherent and coordinated approach to providing affordable and quality health care for women