OAR@UM Collection:

Post-operative wound management : nurses' knowledge and practices

2020-12-10T06:27:01Z

Title: Post-operative wound management : nurses' knowledge and practices Abstract: Despite the plethora of information available about wound care, many research findings suggest that nurses lack research-based knowledge regarding wound management. Other findings suggest that there are other factors that influence nurses' practice. The purpose of this study was to identify Maltese qualified nurses' knowledge regarding postoperative wound management; and to explore factors that influence nurses' practice in this area of nursing. A questionnaire was used to collect qualitative and quantitative data from fourteen qualified nurses working on two surgical wards in the local hospital. The results confirmed the lack of research-based knowledge regarding the use of wound cleansing solutions and dressing materials. Findings from this study revealed that the factors that seem to influence nurses' practice include hierarchical pressures (especially from medical staff), and a lack of assertiveness. Furthermore, a lack of opportunities to express their opinions about wound care issues; and the unavailability of a variety of wound cleansing solutions and dressing materials, have also been identified as being influential. Description: B.SC.(HONS)NURSING

Residential homes and need fulfillment

2020-12-10T05:49:41Z

Title: Residential homes and need fulfillment Abstract: The literature suggests that elderly people entering residential homes will eventually encounter some form of emotional loss due to the lack of need fulfillment. Needs have been described as affecting the quality of life of the elderly concerned; and thus, it is important to try to provide a certain degree of need fulfillment so as to make the experience of residential living as positive as far as possible. The purpose of the study was to identify whether the needs of the elderly living in residential homes in Malta are being fulfilled. For the present study, two residential homes were used, one provided by the government and the other by the church. A sample of 16 elderly people from each home was selected by means of systematic sampling, with one elderly person from ea.eh home participating in the pilot study. To explore the area under investigation a semi-structured interview schedule was designed, which incorporated both closed and open questions. The data revealed the heterogeneity of the elderly residents since ea.eh individual elderly person experienced the residential home in a unique way. On the whole, the governmental home seemed to meet more the needs of the elderly residents. On the other hand, the church home seemed to be in a state of equilibrium, with one side being positive, the other being negative. The main limitations of the study are the small sample size, the large percentage of female respondents and the selection criteria adopted. However, the study still reflects the way the needs of elderly people within residential homes are managed, particularly since the majority of residential homes presently available in Malta are provided by the government and the church. Description: B.SC.(HONS)NURSING

The presence of parents during anaesthesia induction

2020-11-29T06:11:38Z

Title: The presence of parents during anaesthesia induction Abstract: The literature supporting the presence of parents in the anaesthetic room during anaesthesia induction of their children is considerable, but in Malta up to this very day, parents are still prevented from accompanying their children until they are asleep. The purpose of this study was to explore the opinions of anaesthetists and nurses about parents' presence and to identify the factors accounting for the current practices. This study was conducted at Karen Grech Theatre and the two sample populations identified consisted of 12 nurses and 12 anaesthetists from various grades. A descriptive non experimental approach was chosen using a questionnaire to both the theatre nurses and the anaesthetists. Both qualitative and quantitative analysis was undertaken. The data revealed that while anaesthetists and theatre nurses are aware of the positive effects parents' presence has on children, the respondents were mainly concerned about parental anxiety being transferred to the child. The results suggested that although the respondents had reservations about this practice, the majority would want to accompany their own children. Factors which could inhibit parents' presence in the anaesthetic room were identified. The implications of this study were discussed. Description: B.SC.(HONS)NURSING

Caring as perceived by qualified nurses in Malta

2020-11-29T06:13:32Z

Title: Caring as perceived by qualified nurses in Malta Abstract: This study was carried out to investigate whether caring is perceived by Maltese qualified nurses as a central value in their professional practice. The literature findings have shown that caring is considered as inextricably bound to the values and practice of nursing. Studies of nurses? perceptions of caring have shown that caring is perceived to imply an active response in view of the perceived patient/ s needs. Nurses a 1 so tend to overemphasise psychosocial aspects rather than physical aspects of caring. Nurse researchers and theorists emphasise the importance of developing caring as a work ethic, a professional value, rather than as an affective, emotional obligation. The degree of professionalization of caring is seen as the basis for the professionalization of nursing itself. This project was carried out on two wards (one medical and one surgical) at Saint Luke/s Hospital. The sample population was obtained by census sampling of the staff nurses working on these wards. A questionnaire consisting of both open open and closed questions was used. The open, free-response questions included a definiton of caring and a series of case vignettes, using a projective technique, based on Morrison/s study of nurses/ perceptions of caring. Analysis of the data was mainly qualitative and a series of area representations were prepared to show the degree of the participants' perceptions of caring. The definitions given suggest that for most of the participants/ caring could be defined as the identificatlon and satisfaction of all the patient/s needs, which could be physical, psychological and moral. The perceptions of the caring impIied in the vignettes did not correspond to the defined caring. Caring was perceived fully in five <13.9%) of a total of thirty-six responses of the nine nurses to the four case vignettes, partially in 11 <30.6%) of the responses, and not perceived at all ln 20 <55.6%) of the 36 responses. Caring seems to be considered possible in an idealised nursing context, rather than a value central to the professional practice of nursing in Malta. Description: B.SC.(HONS)NURSING