Nursing redefined: emergent insights from studying the art and science of nursing in Germany and Switzerland.

Developments in the Art and Science of Nursing is one module of a Masters degree course organised by Cardiff University, Wales, and taught since the year 2003 in Bavaria, Germany. In an initial intensive two weeks of lectures and other educational activity, the aim of the module is to examine fundamental issues related to the history and development of nursing theory, science and the profession. Pre-conceived ideas are gently challenged. Nursing, knowledge and nursing knowledge is dened and redened. Insights emerge, lost personal motivations are remembered, potentials for the future appear on near and distant horizons. This paper records some of those issues as recounted by the course participants. Insights emerge, lost personal motivations are remembered, potentials for the future appear on near and distant horizons. This paper records some of those issues as recounted by the course participants

Trends in nursing and midwifery research and the need for change in complementary therapy research

In recent years there has been a change in nursing and midwifery research. Whilst many of the subjects being studied remain the same, nurses and midwives have started to employ a range of data collection methods that are relatively new to the profession. Predominantly quantitative research, which concentrates on reduction, objectivity, manipulation, categorization, passivity, control, prediction, causality and generalizability (Munhall & Oiler 1986), is starting to be replaced by other approaches perhaps more congruent with nursing, midwifery and caring. As Moody (1990) stated, ‘the 1980s ushered in an array of diverse, sophisticated research methods…’ with other authors adding that ‘nursing is just beginning to authenticate new territory that incorporates a plurality of methods’ (Nagle & Mitchell 1991). The following is an exploration of the recent apparent shift away from a focus on quantitative research in nursing and midwifery towards the use of qualitative methods which emphasize a greater degree of individuality, humanism, participation and interaction. It is suggested that the traditional quantitative research paradigm still exists in the field of complementary therapy research and that the shift that has taken place in nursing and midwifery research needs to be considered more seriously in the field of research in complementary therapies

Prinum non nocere: thoughts on the need to develop an 'adverse events' register for complementary and alternative therapies

Building a body of knowledge to support the eff|cacy and practice of complementary and alternative therapies is an imperative that should be fully embraced by all those involved. Additional endeavours to monitor adverse events related to complementary and alternative therapies should also be pursued.The history and extentofmedical iatrogenesis is briefly outlined, as is the literature on adverse events related to complementary and alternative therapies. Allopathicmedicine is slowly realising the negative impact of iatrogenesis and is starting to develop systems to monitor such events in order to reduce or eliminate their existence. It is suggested that a similar development is needed in complementary and alternative therapies, so that it can be ensured that, at aminimum, primum non nocere, the therapy should f|rstly do no harm

A brief report on an action learning group exploration of how older people adapt to change in later life

In collaboration with Age Concern UK, older people were invited to participate in action learning groups to explore how they adapt to change. Themes for discussion were initially identified using a nominal focus method. Discussions identified actual and desired methods of coping with changes in later life. A series of weekly meetings with three cohorts of urban, rural and sheltered accommodation participants with an average age of 81 years revealed that they were concerned with having to cope with and adapt to a wide range of experiences. These included the loss of sharing and reduced sociability, reduced mobility, bereavement, physical changes, having to move house order to cope with these experiences, participants engaged in a range of activities that centred on aspects of communication and social networking. Participants talked to each other socially and informally, exchanging information and advice. When able, they also participated in more structured but non-specific social events during which time they also had the opportunity more formal social networking and information exchange opportunities

Unique Normality

This was a descriptive phenomenological study of midwives emotional support of women becoming mothers. It used Giorgi’s (1997) Psychological Phenomenology to explore the lifeworld experiences of community midwives. Downe developed the concept of 'unique normality' related to the birth experience, she wrote it should be seen as “an ordinary drama – not a crisis and not as a routine event, but as a one off exciting event, full of possibility” (Downe 2006: 354). The midwives in this study appeared to be trying to achieve this unique normality for the women for whom they were giving emotional care. They approached the journey as a unique experience for each woman but they also tried to provide the women with a sense that their experiences were normal to reduce expressed or anticipated emotional distress. It was found that midwives came alongside the women and shared their intuition, experiences and themselves as one woman with another woman to normalise the women’s extraordinary unique experiences to facilitate a sense of comfort

A Brief Report on An Action Learning Group Exploration of How Older People Adapt to Change in Later Life

In collaboration with Age Concern UK, older people were invited to participate in action learning groups to explore how they adapt to change. Themes for discussion were initially identified using a nominal focus method. Discussions identified actual and desired methods of coping with changes in later life. A series of weekly meetings with three cohorts of urban, rural and sheltered accommodation participants with an average age of 81 years revealed that they were concerned with having to cope with and adapt to a wide range of experiences. These included the loss of sharing and reduced sociability, reduced mobility, bereavement, physical changes, having to move house and/or location, having to retire, and having to deal with outside agencies. In order to cope with these experiences, participants engaged in a range of activities that centered on aspects of communication and social networking. Participants talked to each other socially and informally, exchanging information and advice. When able, they also participated in more structured but non-specific social events during which time they also had the opportunity to support each other. Participants suggested that there was a role for statutory and nonstatutory bodies and professions such as mental health and community adult nursing, occupational therapy and social work to provide more formal social networking and information exchange opportunities

An exploration of the science of unitary human beings and the principle of integrality The effects of background music on patients and their perception of the environment

Includes bibliographical referencesSIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:DX218384 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Effects of music listening on adult patients' pre-procedural state anxiety in hospital

BACKGROUND: Anticipation of an invasive procedure in hospital is likely to provoke feelings of anxiety and stress in patients. An unfamiliar environment, loss of control, perceived or actual physical risk, dependence on strangers and separation from friends and family are all factors that can contribute to the development of such feelings. Recently, there has been considerable interest in the anxiolytic potential of music listening in a variety of clinical settings, yet thus far, little is known about the impact of music listening on the pre-procedural patient population. A systematic review of all literature to date was indicated to improve understanding of outcomes and impact of music listening on pre-procedural anxiety, thus helping nurses decide whether or not to incorporate music listening into practice and to highlight a need, or otherwise, for a related primary research agenda. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review was to determine the best available evidence on the effectiveness of music listening in reducing adult hospital patients' pre-procedural state anxiety. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Types of studies This review included randomised controlled trials and quasi-experimental research designs that examined the efficacy of music listening in reducing state anxiety among pre-procedural hospital patients published between January 1985 and February 2006. The search was limited to publications after 1985 to coincide with the increasing interest and use of complementary therapies within health care during the 1980s and 1990s. Types of participants Participants of interest to the review were adult day patients, ambulatory patients and inpatients who were about to undergo any type of clinical procedure. Types of intervention The review focused on studies that investigated pre-procedural music listening employed and prescribed as a potentially therapeutic activity. It excluded any other form of music therapy. Types of outcome measures The primary outcome measures examined were alterations in state anxiety and a variety of physiological variables such as blood pressure and respiration and heart rates. SEARCH STRATEGY: A search for published and unpublished literature between January 1985 and February 2006 was conducted using all major electronic databases. A three-step search strategy was devised which consisted of using high-precision MeSH terminology and keywords to ensure that all material relevant to the review was captured. CRITICAL APPRAISAL: The methodological quality of included studies was assessed by two reviewers, who appraised each study independently, using the standard Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Data were extracted from the studies that were identified as meeting the criteria for methodological quality using a data-extraction tool developed for the review. Studies were grouped by outcome measure and summarised using tabular and narrative formats. RESULTS: The review demonstrated that state anxiety is defined and measured using both psychological and physiological parameters. Music listening had a consistently positive and statistically significant effect on reducing psychological parameters of pre-procedural state anxiety. However, the results from the measurement of various pre-procedural physiological parameters failed to reveal any consistent positive changes in patients who had listened to music. This calls into question the adequacy of the theories in this area which link anxiety and the automated and central nervous systems and the effect that music listening may have on these processes and physiological responses. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: 1 In order to reduce anxiety, it is likely that patients will benefit psychologically from having the opportunity to listen to music in the immediate pre-procedural period. 2 Patients do not appear to experience any alteration in physiological status as a result of listening to music. 3 Further research is indicated in order to replicate existing studies, to strengthen the evidence to support such interventions and to establish intervention parameters. 4 Further research is needed analysing the physiological mechanisms by which music listening is believed to reduce state anxiety and the contribution of the automated and other nervous systems to this reduction