Axone (Dartmouth, N.S.)最新文献

A discussion of the benefits and obstacles of authoring a paper for a nursing journal is followed by an explanation of the process of writing for publication. Benefits include advancing nursing knowledge and professional recognition of the individual author. The barriers addressed are time, failure to recognize expertise, a reluctance to subject one's work and ideas to the public arena for scrutiny, and lack of confidence with scholarly writing. The discussion focuses on choosing a suitable journal and subject, the role of the editor and peer reviewers in a refereed journal, and a procedure for planning, writing, and editing a paper. The process is addressed both in a generic sense, and specifically when writing a paper for AXON. Strategies to get nurses started with writing, such as critical reading of journal articles individually or with a peer group, writing with a mentor or group, and starting with small projects, are also included.

Over the past three decades, there has been an increasing interest in cases of profound muscle weakness in critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients. Potential causes for these acute weakness syndromes are multiple and include disorders of the peripheral nerves, the neuromuscular junction, and muscle (Sliwa, 2000). This article will provide an overview of one potential cause of an acute weakness syndrome affecting peripheral nerves, critical illness polyneuropathy (CIP). A case study concerning a 32-year-old male who suffered multiple traumatic injuries, and who was treated for more than two years, is presented to illustrate the course of the syndrome. He required extensive interdisciplinary involvement to achieve independence in spite of ongoing neurological impairments.

The presence of a chronic illness such as multiple sclerosis (MS) represents not only overwhelming demands on male caregivers, but ambivalence for men with respect to their masculinity. Men as sole caregivers for spouses with MS feel caught between a rock and a hard place, given their gender socialization and the pressing demands of caring for a dependent and vulnerable spouse. Regular chapter visits within the MS Society in Ontario confirmed the assumption that male caregivers have to contend with a predominant bias among professional female caregivers that men are really not capable of caring for someone with a chronic illness and subsequently cannot be trusted with such responsibility. This bias actually works to undermine men's perceived capability and predisposition to caring for a vulnerable family member with a chronic illness or disability.

The team approach in neuroscience patient care results in health care professionals interacting on a daily basis. However, the collaboration of health care disciplines in research is limited. The barrier to research integration among disciplines may be related to the diverse views of the quantitative and qualitative paradigms. Health care research is challenged by both the variety of health professionals and differing research paradigms. Patients will benefit from integrated health care research with a coordinated research agenda and efficient use of resources.

Although concurrent spinal cord injury (SCI) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) are recognized, there is little acknowledgement of SCI/TBI as a contributor to psychological distress and family burden. By mail-out questionnaire, we evaluated psychological distress and family burden in a married group (n = 12) with traumatic SCI who had not been identified as having concurrent TBI on referral to the Canadian Paraplegic Association. Both the person with SCI and the partner completed the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), the Adjective Checklist, and a Likert strain scale to measure the perception of the partner's strain. The partner also completed the Zarit Burden Interview. Despite screening criteria designed to selectively recruit individuals without TBI, seven individuals described post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) > or = 3 days. Subsequently, participants' reports were divided into two groups--"longer PTA" and "shorter PTA". On the Brief Symptom Inventory, the two SCI groups did not differ, but the partners of individuals with "longer PTA" had significantly elevated Global Severity Index scores compared to the other partners. The "longer PTA" partner group demonstrated more strain and more burden (as measured by the Likert strain scale and the Zarit Burden Interview). Given the size of the groups (n = 7, n = 5), these findings are presented to illustrate trends and to stimulate further research.

On the pediatric neurosciences unit of British Columbia's Children's Hospital we are in the throes of a nursing staff crisis. In the last year alone we hired ten new graduates to work as casuals on our unit. With a two and a half day hospital orientation, five preceptor shifts, and a Competency Based Education Plan in hand, we send them off to the trenches. We know these nurses have little nursing experience and even less Neuroscience nursing experience. Yet, we expect them to care for patients and families whose problems they may not understand. For a preceptor, and senior colleague, this is a disturbing situation. We recognize that in their orientation shifts they have not even begun to experience the challenges of a Neuroscience unit. Have they cared for a child who has had a postoperative laminectomy? Do they recognize subtle seizures? Have they sat with a family who have just learned that their child has a brain tumor? No. We expect them to care for patients and families with minimal support. This is the reality of nursing today. Many of us pride ourselves on being committed pediatric Neuroscience nurses. Our physicians rely upon our assessment skills and they trust our intuition! We believe we have earned that trust. How can we convey our enthusiasm and excitement to our perceptees so they are motivated to stay and become experienced pediatric Neuroscience nurses? In this presentation we outline our paper to remedy this situation.

There has been little specific investigation of personality and behaviour changes following spinal cord injury (SCI) and only limited consideration of the possible impact of concurrent traumatic brain injury (TBI). By mail-out questionnaire, we evaluated personality and behaviour changes in a married group (n = 9) with traumatic SCI, who knew their partners prior to injury, and who had not been identified as having concurrent TBI on referral to the Canadian Paraplegic Association. Both the person with SCI (and the partner) completed the revised Adjective Checklist and by their combined report, there were significant personality and behaviour changes. Unexpectedly, five individuals described post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) > or = 3 days. Subsequently, participants' reports were further divided into two groups--"longer PTA" and "shorter PTA". The "longer PTA" group self-reported less change and more positive change than did their partners. The "longer PTA" partners described changes that are consistent with the profile of TBI. The "shorter PTA" group described themselves more negatively than did their partners. Given the size of the groups (n = 5, n = 4), these findings are presented to illustrate trends and to stimulate further research.