African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 2 (7), pp. 508-516, September, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper 

A study of  the conditions of work on nurses' daily and social lives in Adana City of Turkey 

*Beyazit Özoğuz, Nurgül Akdoğan and Gökhan N. Üzümcü 

Department of Pediatrics Nursing, Faculty of Health, Anadolu University, Eskişehir, Turkey.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 25 August, 2015

Abstract

This study is performed in order to specify the working conditions and the issues of the nurses working in Adana City of Turkey at Çukurova University Balcalı Hospital; and to examine the effects of these on their family, daily and social lives. This was a descriptive study applied by distributing the survey form on 15.02.2008 to 238 nurses, which was prepared by benefitting from the literature; and by asking them to fill in the form voluntarily and recollecting the forms back. 55.9% of the nurses are married, 45.4% have license degree, 37.4% have associate degree and the average age is 39.4±5. Their term of employment is 10.09±7.45. Nurses stated that standing on duty effected their family lives (62.6%), social lives (60.9%), daily lives (60.5%), and they had problems from the point of children (76.5%). The most common reasons of complaint from the nurses during their daily lives were determined as follows: very tiring (76.5%), promotion facilities are limited (50.4%), needs extreme attention (42.4%), the given responsibility does not match with the level of the authority (40.8%) and there is a conflict between the working life, family duties and responsibilities (36.1%). The marital status of the nurses and its effect on the daily life (p<0.005) and on the social life (p<0.005) were found meaningful. The working conditions of the nurses need to be improved. Advanced researches may be suggested in order to meet the expectations of the nurses they have before starting their professions.

Key words: Family life, working on shift, occupational problems, nursing.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 2 (7), pp. 541-544, September, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of the changing health care environment so as to meet patients’needs and expectations

*Kao Ma Jijia, Han Su-mei and Sang Ziying

Department of Neurosurgery, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China.

*Corresponding   author.   E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 14 August, 2015

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore patients’ perceptions of quality nursing care. Under the changing health care environment, more emphasis is placed on patient-centered care. To meet patients’ needs and expectations, patients’ perceptions of quality nursing care must be given more concern; thus, 440 patients (purposive sample) in 18 inpatient nursing units in a China hospital were selected. A questionnaire on the perception of quality nursing care scale was distributed to patients to find out the level of quality care perceived by them. Using descriptive statistics to analyze patients’ data, the overall mean score and each category mean score of the quality of nursing care as perceived by patients were at a high level. Patients perceived the highest mean score in the category of progress of the nursing process, while they perceived the lowest in preconditions for care. Also, it was observed that quality nursing care presented a challenge for nursing administrators to develop strategies for improving nursing care in those categories where patients had lower quality nursing care than others, such as psychological support or the nurse’s sense of humor.

Key words: Patients’ perceptions, nursing care, quality nursing.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 2 (7), pp. 545-547, September, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of the effect of obstetric fistula and the challenges on women who lack the means to access quality maternal care

*Tenzing H. Gurung, Hari E. Malla and Pasang B. Sherpa

Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Purbanchal University, Biratnagar, Nepal.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 16 August, 2015

Abstract

Obstetric fistula is a devastating and preventable tragedy that primarily affects young, poor women who lack the means to access quality maternal care. Women living with fistula are constantly wet from the leaking of urine and often experience genital ulceration, infections and a humiliating odor. About 20% of women with fistula also develop unilateral or bilateral foot drop that limits their day-to-day activities. They are typically shunned by their partners, families and communities because they are considered unclean, and many live in nearly complete isolation. Without financial support, many women with fistula are forced to beg for their living, and they are especially vulnerable to malnutrition and violence.

Key words: Women, living with, obstretic fistula, preventive measure.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 2 (7), pp. 531-540, September, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of the attitudes of visitors to towards nurses and the need to raise their profiles to encourage more respect for the profession

*Berney Malema, Mosibudi H. Moseneke and Desmond Daniels

Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 29 August, 2015

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine and describe the perception that visitors to acute care units have, regarding the image of nurses and nursing and to make appropriate recommendations to raise the profile of nurses and to encourage more respect for the profession. The public’s image of nurses is tarnished by newspaper reports on poor patient care. A questionnaire was used to collect data from visitors of patients receiving acute care at two private hospitals in the Gauteng Province in South Africa. They were selected as a section of the public who were in contact with nurses and who were thus aware of what nurses do and the relationship between nurses and their patients, due to their family or friends being cared for by nurses. A convenience sample was used whereby the first 110 willing adults (18 years or older) who visited patients in two identified acute care units of two selected private hospitals in a specific week, during 16:00 and 20:00 h, were invited to participate in the study. The data was analyzed through descriptive statistics by means of a computerized statistical program and presented as frequency tables, pie diagrams, figures and percentages. The participants described a positive image of nurses and nursing. The results contradict the negative image of nurses as portrayed by the media. This could be due to the fact that, the media focuses only on newsworthy events in society, unfortunately in the majority of cases with a negative meaning. The results of the study, indicating a positive image of nurses and nursing by the public, could serve as a means to enhance the image of nurses by communicating it to the media. In the event of the media becoming aware of negative incidents, a cooperative agreement between the hospital and newspaper management should ensure that the true facts are being reflected in the reports.

Key words:  Public’s perception of nursing, status of nurses, nursing profession.