NursingConnections最新文献

This report describes factors associated with the act of penile amputation by three female partners in southern Thailand. While gender-specific roles and paternalistic behaviors are normative in Thai society, specific precipitating factors for the three amputations included: (1) an immediate financial crisis that adversely affected one of the children in the family; (2) ingestion of drugs or alcohol by the husband immediately before the event; (3) public humiliation of the wife in the presence of a mia noi (secondary wife) or concubine within the week that preceded the incident. Understanding women's cultural preservation in Thailand may promote culturally sensitive and meaningful nursing care.

In response to the challenge of teaching health assessment to large groups of entry-level BSN students with minimal experience in the health professions and a faculty belief that theory and practice are best actualized with small groups, a new health assessment course was implemented. Based on a philosophy of student accountability and self-direction in learning, faculty willingness to try new teaching strategies, and using computer testing, a successful course was developed. Students rotated through specific small group clinical labs while preparing with textbooks, study questions, videotapes, and computer-assisted instruction. Evaluation methods based on case application and the use of computer testing technology were implemented for this course. The result was increased satisfaction for the faculty and the students with enhanced application experiences supportive of the clinical practice.

The growing percentage of Americans who are elderly and the prevalence of chronic medical conditions will soon necessitate an expanded system of home health care. Presently, the financial and physical burden of this care falls on the elder and the family. This article discusses the issues surrounding elder caregiving.

Safer-sex guidelines established during the early days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic have undergone very little revision despite some controversy. Although these guidelines have been widely disseminated in the gay community, many gay men continue to engage in behaviors that are believed to put them at high risk for transmission of HIV. This suggests either that they have not accepted safer-sex guidelines as accurate or that other factors override personal implementation of the guidelines. The study examined seronegative gay men's beliefs about the accuracy of safer sex guidelines and the men's participation in behaviors risky for transmitting HIV. The greatest disagreement between the men's beliefs and behaviors centered on the risk of oral intercourse; this suggests a need for clarification of the safer sex message about this behavior. The findings of this study support the need to reformulate safer-sex guidelines. When unprotected oral and anal sex are classified at the same level of risk, those who engage in unprotected oral sex may proceed to unprotected anal sex with less reservation.

The experience of aging in The Old Order Amish Community, of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is explored from the viewpoint of the elderly. Through personal interviews with elderly Amish and others knowledgeable about the community, the influence of religious beliefs and practices as the core of their lifestyle becomes evident. The entire community, not just family members, cares for the elders with respect and loving care, generally without recourse to any external resources from the non-Amish.

Two groups of student nurses were given on AIDS Knowledge/Attitudes survey before different clinical experiences. Group One worked with nurses experienced in the care of persons living with AIDS (PLWA) on a high-acuity unit with many AIDS patients. The other group were precepted on a acute-care unit with no AIDS patients. Outcomes measures revealed significantly better student attitude scores for Group One on scales measuring (1) avoidance intentions to working with PLWA and (2) attitude toward homosexuals.