The nurses’ experience of possible HIV infection after injury and / or exposure on duty

The purpose of the research was to describe the experience of nurses in the studied hospital who had been exposed to possible HIV infection during injury or exposure on duty. A qualitative phenomenological descriptive study was used to describe the emotions and non-verbal reactions of the twelve participants during two subsequent in-depth interviews. These were conducted post-exposure, and after counselling and prophylactic treatment took place. The nursing staffs from a selected private hospital were included in the study after exposure of blood and/or human body fluid. After completion of the study, it was found that the exposed staff’s experience had two main categories. Firstly, they were grieving for the loss of the concept of being healthy and invincible, blessed with nursing skills and definite goals in life. The bereavement process included phases of denial, anger, anxiety and fear, with recurring thoughts regarding the adverse events, as well as acceptance which developed with time. The bereavement process and shock of the exposure had wider consequences to the family, as well as an impact on the working environment. Most participants reported that they experienced genuine support and compassion from colleagues, at home and in the community. The second category of experience was the physical side effects which participant’s developments developed due to the prophylactic antiretroviral therapy. Some participants experienced severe difficulties due to the treatment, while other had fewer problems. Some proposals to adjust and possibly improve the hospital’s exposure surveillance system were developed from the research results, including that a 24-hour crisis management system be implemented for exposed staff members; that support groups be started for staff, colleagues and family members; that all staff receive orientation and support during unfamiliar procedures or placement in unknown departments; that all exposures-on-duty be investigated and studied so that pro-active or preventive measures may be devised; and that problems with staffing and working climate be resolved. All the findings and proposals were subsequently addressed to the relevant members of the Hospital Management. If healthcare services wish to retain nursing staff in future, more will need to be done to prevent all types of exposure-on-duty and, if they do occur, to anticipate, manage and shorten the subsequent period of the professional nurse or learner’s bereavement.Health Studie

Verpleegkundige beraming van die behoeftes van moeders met voortydse babas

Premature labour is and remains an actual problem. There will always be mothers that undergo the crisis of having a premature baby. The unique needs ofthese mothers remains unfutfliled. Possible reasons fo r this are that the nurse, working in the neonatal intensive carei special care units or in the post natal ward, does not do a complete assessment o f the mother. Nurses are set on the physical needs o f the mother and baby during hospitalization arui pay more attention to these needs than to others. Those needs which are in fact neglected, are those which are SoWucial and importanti concerning the mother. In this siUdy , it is needs, other than physical needs, which are emphasized.Health Studie

Endometriose by Tampon Gebruikers

Endometriosis has been recognized as one of the possible causes for infertility. If endometriosis occurs more often in a women who uses tampons comparing to those who do not, it is an important point of discussion to the m odern women and nurses. Resent research (van Rijswijck & Botha, 1997) indicated that a correlation between the use of tampons during menstruation and endometriosis exists. It seems that an educational program, by primary health care workers, indicating the potential dangerous effects of tampon use will lower the incidence of endometriosis, thus the problems with infertility could lesson and optimal health care to women could be improved.Health Studie

Keeping record of the postoperative nursing care of patients

The aim of this research project was to evaluate the recordkeeping of postoperative nursing care. A total of 186 randomly selected patient records were evaluated in terms of a checklist that included the most important parameters for postoperative nursing care. All the patients underwent operations under general anaesthetic in one month in a Level 3 hospital and were transferred to general wards after the operations. The data collected was analysed by means of frequencies. One finding was that the neurological status of most patients was assessed but that little attention was paid in the patient records to emotional status and physical comfort. The respiratory and circulatory status of the patients and their fluid balance were inadequately recorded. The patients were well monitored for signs of external haemorrhage, but in most cases haemorrhage was checked only once, on return from the theatre. Although the patients’ pain experience were well-monitored, follow-up actions after the administration of pharmacological agents was poor. The surgical intervention was fully described and, generally speaking, the records were complete and legible, but the signatures and ranks of the nurses were illegible. Allergies were indicated in the most important records. The researchers recommend that a comprehensive and easily usable documentation form be used in postoperative nursing care. Such a form would serve as a checklist and could ensure to a large degree that attention is given to the most important postoperative parameters. Errors and negligence could also be reduced by this meansHealth Studie

The prevention of intrapartum HIV/Aids transmission from mother to child

The transmission of HIV/AIDS from mother to child is the main cause of HIV/AIDS in children and child mortality. Two-thirds of children with HIV/AIDS are infected in the intrapartum period (Farley, 2000:1 -2). Midwives, through effective practices, can lower the transmission of HIV/AIDS from mother to child in the intrapartum period. The aim of the study was to determine which preventive practices registered midwives in provincial labour wards in Bloemfontein, implement to lower the risk of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS and in doing so to lower child mortality. A descriptive research design was used. Fifty-one midwives completed questionnaires to determine what preventive practices are used. The study showed that most of the midwives did not implement the interventions that could lower the chances of HI V/Aids transmission from mother to child during the intrapartum period. Midwives therefore may not have a positive impact on child mortality. The researchers concluded that midwives do not implement the interventions mentioned in the study because of a lack of knowledge and skills. Of the midwives who completed questionnaires, 67% completed their training between 1990 and 2000. This lack of knowledge may be due to a lack in the curriculum of training institutions and of an up-to-date policy concerning the transmission o f HIV/Aids in p ro v in c ia l in s titu tio n s in Bloemfontein. It is recommended that all affordable interventions should be incorporated in the policy.Health Studie