Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Love in nursing'

This study used a qualitative research design incorporating principles of social constructionism, hermeneutic dialectic method, Neo-Socratic dialogue and philosophy for reporting the tacit and social knowledge constructions underlying particular ways of knowing that inform the experiential reality of love in the practice of nursing and midwifery. The philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas, that culminated in his magnum opus of the ‘metaphysics of otherness’, provided the theoretical underpinning for the interpretation of the experiences nurses and midwives believed were examples of love in their clinical practice in Australia, Singapore and Bhutan. What is love in nursing and midwifery? The answer is moral responsibility. The relational context has a nurse and midwife constantly exposed to patient situations that give rise to expressions of love as moral responsibility. It is a form of love that centres on the ability of our being, or at least the possibility of our being, to transcend its everyday form to a metaphysical state of being moral. It enables a nurse and midwife to transcend the isolation associated with their personal being as a self-project, to be ‘for’ the patient as a first priority. But while the ‘Goodness’ of the ‘Good’ assigns the nurse and midwife responsible and is expressed to their personal being in the form of the ‘urge to do’, ‘what to do’ in caring for the patient is a matter of living out the command to be responsible and will be different for each nurse and midwife. However, no matter the outcome, love as moral responsibility will always leave a nurse and midwife feeling there is still more to be done in being responsible.

Background: Obesity is a significant healthcare problem in modern American society. It has led to decreased longevity of employees and decreased productivity in day-to-day duties of healthcare workers. There are more negative attributes to obesity than positive, regardless of the race affected. One of the leading causes of death in 2012 was cardiovascular disease. Due to poor dietary choices, the promotion of sedentary lifestyle has led to complications of obesity such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Major improvements can be made within a community that acknowledges the risks of obesity and seeks to implement preventive programs. Increasing one’s physical activity and implementing healthier dietary choices leads to a reduction in cardiovascular diseases. Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to develop an evidence-based obesity prevention program for the healthcare facility staff to increase physical activity within the workplace. Theoretical Framework: Health Belief Model Theory. Methods: The investigator used a quasi-experimental approach using a pretest/posttest design. Results: The results of the data analysis revealed positive perception changes in acceptance to the implementation of physical activity in the workplace. Within two weeks of the project completion, the investigator noted a 69.23 percent increase in the implementation of physical activity in the work and home setting, and an 84.62% change in the manner individuals made food choices, with a median percentage rate of 96.2 for awareness of obesity, overweight health status, and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Conclusion: The evidence-based worksite obesity prevention initiative provides support and acceptance for the implementation of physical activity in the work setting.

Smärta är en subjektiv upplevelse som måste bedömas utifrån den enskilda individen men trots det bedöms smärta inte alltid individuellt. Det finns olika omotiverade skillnader mellan den vård som män och kvinnor erhåller. Syftet med studien är att undersöka hur genus- och könstillhörighet påverkar upplevelsen av smärta och dess konsekvenser. En litteraturöversikt har genomförts för att besvara detta. I resultatet har två huvudkategorier identifierats; upplevelsen av att göra och upplevelsen av att vara. Upplevelsen av att göra visar att män och kvinnor har olika saker som de förväntas utföra trots smärta. Männen förväntas kunna arbeta trots svår smärta och kvinnor förväntas kunna utföra hushållsarbete. Upplevelsen att vara visar att både män och kvinnor har svårt att leva upp till den maskulina respektive feminina normen i samband med smärta. Män upplever att de förväntas kunna vara starka och ha kontroll över sina känslouttryck. Kvinnor upplever en rädsla över att vara till besvär och har svårt att prioritera sin egen hälsosituation. Både män och kvinnor har en negativ syn på smärtlindrande läkemedel, där män tenderar att vara mer rädda för att utveckla ett beroende och kvinnor är mer rädda för biverkningar. Kvinnor skattar oftare sin smärta som måttlig eller svår jämfört med män och upplever avfärdande av sin smärta i högre grad än vad män gör. Grunden till alla dessa skillnader kan till stor del vara socialt konstruerade. Resultatet kan användas till att förbättra mötet med den enskilda patienten, där manliga patienter kan behöva mer stöd i form av bekräftelse av känslouttryck och kvinnor kan behöva bekräftelse i form av acceptans i att prioritera sig själv.

The death of a loved one is associated with feelings of grief, which is a multifaceted emotional response for individuals’ who are attempting to cope with a loss. The grieving process can have an unpredictable trajectory for each person, even though it may encompass many common and familiar features. Grief after a loss incorporates an expansive range of emotional and physical responses, which frequently consists of feelings of sadness, depression, and loneliness. Few studies have reviewed effective interventions for combating the emotional and physical symptoms of grief after the loss of a loved one. Walking is an affordable bereavement care intervention that may prove beneficial in improving grief responses and the related physical and psychological symptoms. A physical activity, such as walking, is a type of activity that is easily performed that may ultimately reduce the effects of stress, decrease depression, and improve mood in persons who have experienced the death of a loved one. The conceptual framework that guided this study was the Roy Adaptation Model.

The purpose of this study was to decrease the severity of grief related symptoms associated after the death of a loved one using an acute three-week walking regimen and comparing baseline responses to walking completion responses on the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief (TRIG). A convenience sample of 62 persons in southeastern Georgia who had experienced the loss of a loved one participated in the three-week walking regimen. The results showed no statistical improvement in grief scores after a three-week walking program.

The study is an oral history of the work of district nurses in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland from 1940-1974. The main themes that emerged from the study were, the wide scope of the nurses' practice, their significant relationships, and the unique nature of their role. Within the themes were concepts of self sacrifice, resilience and autonomy. The challenges the nurses faced in their daily lives from their surrounding environment and the urgent needs of patients were physically and mentally taxing. There was evidence of their resilience and strength of character when they did not flinch in difficult situations. Yet they described being 'happy at work' and relied on their faith. The study suggests that the service these women provided could be regarded as 'heroic'. The thesis offers an insight into the daily lives of district nurses in a remote part of Scotland which has never been studied before. Most nurses were trained Queen's Nurses which was evidently influential and to some a prestigious qualification.

Bakgrund: Depression drabbar 25 procent av kvinnorna i Sverige. Det kan behandlas på olika vis. Elektrokonvulsiv terapi är en behandlingsform som används när symtomen är svåra. Sjuksköterskans roll är att se patientens behov och utifrån dem ge god omvårdnad där patienten kan känna sig förstådd.  Syfte: Syftet var att belysa hur kvinnor med depressiva symtom upplevt behandling med elektrokonvulsiv terapi. Metod: En kvalitativ litteraturstudie baserad på sex bloggar gjordes. Materialet har analyserats med en kvalitativ innehållsanalys som utmynnade i tre kategorier och nio underkategorier. Resultat: Elektrokonvulsiv terapi beskrivs som en väg ut ur depressionen, det fanns ett hopp om att behandlingen skulle hjälpa. Olika farhågor infann sig inför behandlingen, liksom olika reaktioner efteråt där minnespåverkan var framträdande. Effekten av ECT kunde både ses vara positiv och utebliven. Resultatet bildade kategorierna ’Vilja må bättre’, ’Slitas mellan upplevelse av befrielse och obehag’ och ’Att påverkas av behandlingen’. Slutsats: Studien visar att behandlingen framkallar olika sorters känslor och upplevelser. Ett förbättrat omhändertagande kan utföras och lidande minskas när sjuksköterskor tar del av patientens upplevelser.

Aging may bring mental and/or physical decline. There may come a point when a loved one needs long-term care in a nursing home. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the community dwelling spouses' emotional state. A study was conducted with 10 individuals (5 men and 5 women) who had a spouse in long-term nursing care. Inclusion criteria was to be at least 65-years old, have been married at least 30 years, and reside alone in his or her own home. The social emotional selectivity theory and the construct of boundary ambiguity were applied to view the epoch. Data were collected with audio recorded interviews and coded as to major idea in each response. Five themes evolved from the responses: reduction of friends, ease or difficulty with change, companionship, vows are forever, and why. The community-dwelling spouse tended to be sad, anxious, and angry. Loss of companionship, increased isolation due to reduction of friends prior to placement, concern about the well-being of his or her spouse, and feelings of 'why did this happen to me?' were common themes by the community dwelling spouse. Wives who did all household chores prior to their husband's institutionalization were more able to accept the placement of their spouse than were husbands who had depended on their wives. There is a need for treatment for the community-dwelling spouse by nursing home staff, friends, and family. Nursing homes can encourage support through community-dwelling support groups and mealtime with their institutionalized spouses. Children of community-dwelling spouse can provide support through contacting their parents frequently, clergy, and friends of the church through visiting the community-dwelling spouse after placement of their spouse.

Nursing care of persons having dementia diseases affecting the frontal lobes, sets special demands on the staff, but the knowledge about how to best tailor nursing care is sparse. The aim of the study was to illuminate possibilities and difficulties in nursing care of persons having dementia diseases with frontal lobe dysfunction and was carried out as a descriptive, qualitative study, based on a review of medical records and interviews with nursing staff (n=10) that was analysed with qualitative content analysis. The difficulties were related to the patients lack of inhibition and judgement, anxiety, agitation, reduced ability to care for physical needs, egocentrism, imbalance between rest and activity, and depressed mood. The possibilities were seen in relation to the nursing staffs professional encounter, characterised by being distinct and consequent, being a step ahead, being flexible and catch the moment, being calm and create a positive atmosphere, being close and trusting and being and doing together. To receive continuous feedback and support was a prerequisite for the staffs’ engagement. The result showed that the nurse patient encounter is of importance to gain a high quality nursing care where each patient, despite illness, is seen as a unique and valuable person.

Background: The trajectory of recovery after sepsis varies. Survivors may have considerable ongoing limitations, requiring a caregiver for a prolonged period. Objectives: To learn about experiences, quality of life, coping, resilience, and social support of caregiver caring for survivors of sepsis. Methods: We conducted a convergent mixed-methods study, recruiting informal caregivers of patients who had survived sepsis in the past year and were readmitted to the intensive care unit with sepsis. Individual face-to-face, semistructured interviews and validated surveys on quality of life, coping, caregiver burden, resilience, and social support were administered to caregivers. Interview transcripts were analyzed using content analysis. Surveys were scored and summarized using descriptive statistics. Results: Caregivers were primarily middle-aged, White, and female. Half were spouses of their care recipient. Caregivers reported some deficits in mobility, pain, and anxiety/depression. Coping styles varied, with engaged coping being more prevalent. Most caregivers reported mild to moderate burden, all reported either normal or high resilience levels, and types of social support were similar. However, interviews and survey findings were not always consistent. Major themes that emerged from the analysis included (1) advocating for and protecting their loved one, (2) coping with caregiving, (3) uncertain future, (4) rewards of caregiving, and (5) need to optimize communication with family. Discussion: Caregivers of sepsis survivors are protective of their care recipient and use a variety of strategies to advocate for their loved one and to cope with the uncertainty involved in a new intensive care unit admission. More advocacy and support are needed for this population.

Många närstående till en sjuk familjemedlem tar sig an rollen som vårdgivare vilket annars hade antagits av hälso- och sjukvårdspersonal. Nedskärningar inom den offentliga sektorn fortskrider och inte tillräckligt med fokus läggs på hur detta påverkar de närstående som vårdar en sjuk närstående i hemmet. Syftet med litteraturstudien var att beskriva upplevelsen och vad som påverkar upplevelsen av att vara vårdgivare i hemmet till en närstående med Parkinsons sjukdom. Studien utfördes som en litteraturstudie. I resultatet framkom fyra kategorier: Tid och relation, Stöd och information, Sjukdomsförlopp och Symtom. Resultatet visade att vårdgivare upplevde det svårt att ha en normalt fungerande vardag till följd av deras roll som vårdgivare. Vårdgivares upplevda börda ökade även i takt med den närståendes sjukdomsförlopp. En bra relation och mycket ömsesidighet mellan parterna minskade den upplevda bördan hos vårdgivarna samt ökade deras upplevda livskvalitet. Vårdgivare upplevde att stödgrupper minskar deras mentala börda genom att de fick möjlighet att dela med sig av sina erfarenheter till andra och att det hjälpte dem att förstå och själva handskas med sin situation. Vårdgivare upplevde att de inte fick tillräcklig information och stöd från hälso- och sjukvården. Vårdgivare ansåg att den fysiska funktionsnedsättningen var mer påtaglig vid direkt vård och gav mer fysisk påfrestning hos vårdgivaren än vad de psykiska symtomen gjorde. De psykiska symtomen hade större inverkan på vårdgivarens mentala hälsa och deras upplevda börda. Då antalet vårdgivare som vårdar en närstående i hemmet ökar är det av stor vikt att forskning genomförs och uppmärksammas.
Many people related to a sick person take on the role of caregiver, which would otherwise have been adopted by healthcare professionals. Cut downs in the public sector are progressing, and there is not enough focus on how this affects the persons who cares for a sick loved one at home. The purpose of this study was to describe the experience of being a caregiver and what factors affects the experience of a caregiver who cares for a loved one at home with Parkinson’s disease. The results revealed four categories: Time and relationship, Support and information, Disease duration and Symptoms. The results showed that caregivers find it difficult to have a normally functioning everyday life due to their role as caregivers. The caregivers perceived burden increases as the loved ones disease processes. A good relationship and a lot of mutuality between the parties reduce the perceived burden among caregivers, and increase their perceived quality of life. Caregivers feel that support groups reduce their mental workload by enabling them to share their experiences with others and that it helps them to understand and cope with their situation. Caregivers feel they do not receive adequate information and support from health care. The caregivers feel that the loved ones physical disability is more pronounced at the direct care and involves more physical stress than the mental symptoms makes. The psychological symptoms have a greater impact on caregivers’ mental health and their perceived burden. As the number of caregivers who care for a loved one at home increases it is of great importance to maintain research and attention to made research.

Bakgrund: Palliativ vård ska tillgodose behoven hos patienter med livshotande (icke botbara) sjukdomar på alla vårdnivåer i Sverige. Studier har visat att närstående till patienter i specialiserad palliativ hemsjukvård inte alltid har bemötts korrekt eller tagits på allvar vilket har resulterat i att de har slitit hårt ofta i skymundan. Att inte få rätt stöd har visat sig kunna leda till både fysiska, psykiska och psykosociala påfrestningar. Det har till exempel rapporterats om nedstämdhet, koncentrationssvårigheter och fatigue. Centralt i arbetet som sjuksköterska i specialiserad palliativ hemsjukvård är stöd till närstående då de ofta är en förutsättning för att patienten ska kunna vistas den sista tiden i livet i hemmet. Stödet bestod till stor del av samtal. Genom att bekräfta och ta närståendes oro och funderingar på allvar ökade deras välbefinnande. Syfte: Att beskriva sjuksköterskornas erfarenheter av att stödja närstående genom samtal inom specialiserad palliativ hemsjukvård. Metod: Designen var en empirisk studie med induktiv beskrivande ansats. Datainsamling skedde genom kvalitativa forskningsintervjuer. Resultat: Efter analysen framträdde svaret på de två frågeställningarna: Hur gjorde sjuksköteskorna för att etablera en god kontakt med närstående? Hur kunde sjuksköterskorna stötta närstående?   Det framkom fyra subkategorier till varje fråga. Resultatet visade att samtalet i specialiserad palliativ hemsjukvård var en stor del av det befintliga arbetet men att det inte alltid skedde under strukturerade och medvetna former. Erfarenheter av strukturerade närståendesamtal var uteslutande positiva. Diskussion: Resultatet diskuterades mot valda delar av Watson´s tio karitativa faktorer. Känslighet gentemot självet och andra, Mänsklig omsorgsrelation, Att ge uttryck för positiva och negativa känslor, Kreativ, problemlösande omsorgsprocess.
Background: Palliative care is intended to cater for the needs of patients with life threatening, non-curable, diseases at all levels of medical care in Sweden. Studies have shown that family and loved ones of patients receiving specialized palliative care in the home have not always been taken seriously or otherwise considered appropriately. This has led to them struggling under the pressure, often without acknowledgment. Not receiving the appropriate support has been shown to be a factor causing physical, psychological as well as psychosocial distresses. For example, depression, difficulties to concentrate and fatigue have been reported. Central to the work as a nurse in specialized palliative home care is to provide support to family and loved ones as it is often a necessity enabling the patient to be at home towards the end of life. The support in this case consisted largely of dialogue. By acknowledging and considering the thoughts and worries of the family, their wellbeing was increased. Aim: Describing the experiences of nurses supporting family and loved ones through dialogue within specialized palliative home care. Method: The study was by design inductive and data were collected via qualitative research interviews. Results: Following the analysis, the answer to the two questions emerged: How did nurses do to establish a good relationship with family and loved ones? How could nurses support family and loved ones? There were four subcategories for each question. The result showed that the conversation in specialized palliative home care was a major part of the existing work, but it did not always happen in structured and conscious forms. The experience of structured conversations with relatives was exclusively positive. Discussion: The result was discussed against selected parts of Watson's ten carative factors. Sensitivity to self and others, Human care relationship, To express positive and negative feelings, Creative, problem-solving care process.

Bakgrund: Vårdpersonal är på många sätt utsatta i sitt arbete. Sjuksköterskor i hemsjukvården arbetar ofta ensamma och i patienters egna hem och är därmed särskilt utsatta. Hot och våld är vanligt förekommande men utsattheten kan också vara till exempel att ha ensamt omvårdnadsansvar eller att möta oberäkneliga patienter. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att beskriva sjuksköterskors upplevelser av utsatthet i arbetet i hemsjukvården. Metod: Studien var en kvalitativ intervjustudie där 13 sjuksköterskor intervjuades. Materialet analyserades med kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultat: Analysen mynnade ut i tre kategorier: Att känna sig utlämnad, Att inte veta vad/vem som möter en och Att ständigt vara vaksam. Förutom hot och våld upplevde sjuksköterskorna även utsatthet i form av ensamhet, ovisshet och ständig vaksamhet. Den inre och yttre arbetsmiljön bidrog till en upplevelse av utsatthet, framför allt i utsatta områden. Stöd från kollegor och chefer samt egna strategier och egenskaper gjorde att de lättare hanterade upplevd utsatthet. Slutsats: Sjuksköterskornas arbetsmiljö ger en upplevelse av osäkerhet som är svår att påverka. Ytterligare forskning behövs för att få förståelse för sjuksköterskans situation och upplevelser av utsatthet. Det krävs också åtgärder i organisationen för att skapa en tryggare arbetsmiljö och främja säker vård.
Background: Health care staff are in many ways vulnerable in their work. Nurses in home care often work alone and in the patients’ home and are therefore more exposed. Threats and violence are common, but the vulnerability can also come from being solely responsible for the nursing care or caring for patients who act erratic. Aim: The aim of this study was to describe nurses’ experiences of exposure in home care nursing. Methods: The study was a qualitative interview study where thirteen nurses were interviewed. Data was analyzed with qualitative content analysis. Results: Three categories emerged from the analysis: Feeling undisclosed, Not knowing what/whom to meet and Constant vigilance. In addition to threats and violence, the nurses experienced exposure in forms of loneliness, uncertainty and constant vigilance. Their working environment contributed to experiencing exposure, especially in exposed areas. Support from colleagues and leadership, as well as the nurses own strategies and characteristics, made the exposure easier to handle. Conclusions: Nurses working environment gives a sense of insecurity that is hard to influence. Further research is needed to gain understanding of their situation and experiences of exposure. The home care organization is required to arrange a safer working environment and promote safety in home care nursing.

This descriptive, exploratory study framed within Parse’s theory of humanbecoming, addressed the research question: What is the meaning of persons’ experiences of keeping in touch with their loved ones who have died. Seven persons described their experiences of keeping in touch with their loved ones who had died. Study themes in the language of the participants were treasured events and signs give rise to lasting comfort while constant yet changing bonds come with turmoil and tranquility amid unfolding strength and confidence. Interpreted in the language of the researcher, study findings were written as cherished ciphers and occurrences engender solace as enduring-shifting ties abide with ease unease amid fortifying expansion. Study themes were linked primarily with theoretical concepts of valuing imaging, connecting-separating, and transforming. Findings were discussed in light of relevant literature, and possibilities for nursing practice, education, policy, and further research were offered.