African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 7 (4), pp. 001-006, April, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Papers

Experiences of expert midwives in a training program aimed at decreasing perineal tears

Tiina Pirhonen RN¹*, Mika Gissler², Tom Hartgill³ and Jouko Pirhonen¹

¹The Norwegian Continence and Pelvic Floor Center, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway.

²National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland and Nordic School of Public Health; Gothenburg, Sweden.

³University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.

Accepted 15 January, 2019

Abstract

This descriptive study explored the roles and responsibilities of expert midwives involved in teaching staff from midwifery students to senior consultants/physicians. We have earlier conducted an intervention project, aimed at decreasing the number of anal sphincter tears. During this intervention a local core team of expert midwives was established. These experts continued the training of colleagues after the midwife instructor had fulfilled the active training period. Eighteen expert midwives from the four Norwegian hospitals which took part in this training program were recruited. To explore the views and experiences of these expert midwives, a questionnaire was completed, and the results were analyzed qualitatively. Before starting the program 24% of the midwives, working at the delivery ward were negative towards the supervision and project, while 46% were positive. One year after the program’s start 92% were positive. Negative feedback at the beginning of the intervention came mostly from the media and professional midwifery organizations. The expert midwives felt that doctors were the most challenging to teach. The response from pregnant women was ultimately positive. Eighteen well motivated midwives became highly appreciated experts after an intensive training program and deemed themselves better and more successful professionals than before.

Key words: Delivery, anal sphincter rupture, prevention, qualitative research, interdisciplinary education.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 7 (4), pp. 001-004, April, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Investigating an autonomous system in nursing

Mohammad Reza Nami¹* and Jila Saneipour²

¹Faculty of Electrical, IT, and Computer Engineering, Islamic Azad University- Qazvin Branch, Iran.

²ICU Part, Imam-Hossein Hospital, Shahid Beheshti Medical University, Iran.

Accepted 09 January, 2019

Abstract

The term E-nursing has been used to refer to the incorporation of ICT into nursing. Point-to-point connections using private networks are used by hospitals and clinics that deliver services directly or contract out specialty services to independent nursing service providers at ambulatory care sites. Radiology, mental health and even intensive care services are being provided under contract using Tele-nursing and telemedicine to deliver the services. An autonomous system manages complexity and improves the system complexity without interfering expert humans. The purpose of this paper is to present an autonomous virtual organization for e-nursing describing their characteristics, effects on quality factors, their building blocks architecture, and challenges.

Key words: E-Nursing, collaborative networks, information and communication technology (ICT), virtual organization breeding environment (VBE), autonomic computing, self-managing systems.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 7 (4), pp. 001-008, April, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

First time stroke survivors' perceptions of their health status and their goals for recovery

Irene Hartigan¹*, Elizabeth O’Connell² Geraldine McCarthy³ and Denis O'Mahony⁴

¹Lecturer at the Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, Ireland.

²Lecturer Practitioner at the Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, Ireland.

³Professor and Head of School at the Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, Ireland.

⁴Consultant Physician in Geriatric Medicine to Cork University Teaching Hospitals and Senior Lecturer at the School of Medicine, University College, Cork Ireland.

Accepted 08 January, 2019

Abstract

Stroke is an intensely individual, complex and life changing experience. Stroke recovery has many dimensions, and perceptions of health status are thought to affect recovery. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe patients' perceptions of their health status and their goals for recovery from early post stroke. Following ethical approval, semi structured interviews were conducted with patients (n=10) diagnosed with a first incident of stroke. Time following stroke onset ranged from 4 to 7 days. Gender difference was equal, and mean age of participants was 77 years. Participants considered themselves to be active and in excellent health prior to the stroke onset. All participants perceived that their health had declined since the stroke onset, but they were hopeful for the future. Two distinct themes emerged; "sudden fear and helplessness" and "regaining control in life". Participants reported wanting to quickly return to doing everyday things and identified individual goals for recovery. The patients' experience should be considered early post stroke to provide a complete picture of their role in recovery. Participants believed that the greatest challenge would be testing themselves at home. This study reinforces the importance of engaging with patients early post stroke so that recovery goals are identified that help restore meaning through the re-establishment of previous activities. Patient goals for recovery need to be discussed and devised in conjunction with health care professionals.

Key words: Stroke, health status, goals, recovery.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 7 (3), pp. 001-008, March, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Papers

Irish staff nurses perceptions of clinical incident reporting

Elizabeth Fitzgerald¹*, Desmond Cawley² and Neil J. Rowan²

¹Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, Ireland.

²Department of Nursing and Health Science, Athlone Institute of Technology, Ireland.

Accepted 13 October, 2018

Abstract

Clinical incident reporting identifies actual and potential risks to patient safety and then eliminates those risks through a system of procedural changes, policy enactment or changes in staff education. This constitutes the first study to explore perceptions of registered nursing staff towards efficacy of clinical incident reporting in Ireland since the launch of the national “STARSweb” incident reporting system in 2004. A survey of 210 nurses using open and closed questions was conducted across three separate acute hospitals in the Irish midlands region. While the majority of participants (90%) had submitted at least one clinical incident report, few received prompt feedback (12%) or prior appropriate training (30%) on this topic. A clear definition of what participants understood of the term “clinical incident” was not evident. However, fear of repercussion or disciplinary action from management was not considered an issue in terms of barriers to reporting. However it is evident that further training in clinical incident reporting is required and modifications to reporting systems at governance level within hospitals are necessary in supporting staff in their work. When considering effective management of clinical incident reporting, managers should ensure that staff nurses receive appropriate feedback and promote the importance of this feedback to enhance clinical incident reporting.

Key words: Incident reporting, near miss, risk management, adverse event, clinical, human error.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 7 (3), pp. 001-008, March, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Papers

Cultural competence outcomes assessment: A strategy and model

Lori A. Escallier¹*, Judith T. Fullerton² and Barbara Ann M. Messina¹

¹Stony Brook University, School of Nursing Health Sciences Center, Stony Brook, NewYork 11794, United States of America.

²University of CA, San Diego (retired) 7717 Canyon Point Lane, San Diego, CA 92126-2049, United States of America.

Accepted 23 January, 2019

Abstract

The nursing profession has acknowledged its responsibility to prepare all practitioners to provide culturally respectful care to diverse patient populations. A culturally competent academic and clinical teaching milieu is a strategy for shaping clinical nursing expertise. It is a vital link between theory and practice. This article presents a replicable model of the process in which one U.S. University School of Nursing engaged to assess the cultural competence of the nursing curricula at both undergraduate and graduate levels, the cultural awareness of faculty and students, and the perceptions of clients about the degree of cultural sensitivity demonstrated by program graduates.

Key words: Cultural competence, cultural sensitivity, nursing workforce diversity, strategic approach.