Thursday, March 17, 2011

WJNR Special Issue: Evidence-Based Practice

Check out the April 2011 issue of Western Journal of Nursing Research dedicated to Evidence-Based Practice. Articles focus on the following three topics: approaches and programs to foster EBP, leadership support needed to promote EBP, and case studies of nurses applying evidence to address clinical issues.

Access to the full text is available to all St. Joseph Hospital of Orange and CHOC employees through the Burlew Medical Library website.

Wednesday, March 09, 2011

New resource about statistical tests

The Journal for Wound Ostomy & Continence Nursing has begun a 6-part series on statistical tests with its January issue. Eberly & Telke have written an easy-to-read essay on comparing means between two samples.

Research Abstract and Commentary:Patient Perspectives on Falls

Patients’ perspectives of falling while in an acute care hospital and suggestions for prevention

Patient falls and falls with injury are the largest category of reportable incidents and a significant problem in hospitals. Patients are an important part of fall prevention; therefore, we asked patients who have fallen about reason for fall and how falls could be prevented. There were two categories for falls: the need to toilet coupled with loss of balance and unexpected weakness. Patients asked to be included in fall risk communication and asked to be part of the team to prevent them from falling. Nurses need to share a consistent and clear message that they are there for patient safety.

Carroll, D. L., Dykes, P. C., & Hurley, A. C. (2010). Applied Nursing Research, 23, 238-241.

Commentary by Dana N. Rutledge, RN, PhD, Nursing Research Facilitator

Given the fact that patients continue to fall, these researchers sought to understand the unique views of patients who had fallen within 48 hrs of their fall while an inpatient in an acute care hospital. They interviewed 9 cognitively intact men and women with ages from 24 to 78 years. Six of the participants had fallen in the past.

Results were fascinating, with cogent excerpts from patient statements. Patients’ reasons given for falling made sense: losing one’s balance while in a hurry to get to the bathroom, being involved in a normal activity while weakened from the condition leading to hospitalization, and not having items within reach. Patients were able to come up with ideas to prevent their own falling in the future: thinking ahead and NOT getting up quickly or without help; asking for help when it is needed, and overcoming the natural instinct to “not bother” the nursing staff; and using appropriate assistive devices (e.g., walkers, slip resistant socks).

The study pointed clear messages to nurses:
• Give anticipatory guidance for patients at risk of falling.
• Help patients feel comfortable asking for help.
• When a patient requests help, respond quickly and positively.
• Think ahead to patients’ needs to prevent their needing to go beyond their capabilities.

Studies like this one which offer patient perspectives are so important for nurses to read and reflect on… please let us know in the Office of Nursing Research (714-771-8120; 12698) if you need help in this.

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

Danielle's Picks from the Literature - March 2011


Here are my picks from the nursing literature published over the last few months. Staff at St. Joseph Hospital or Children's Hospital of Orange County may be able to access some of the full text articles through the Burlew Medical Library.

Creative partnerships for funding nursing research.
McCann JJ; Hills EB; Zauszniewski JA; Smith CE; Farran CJ; Wilkie DJ;
Western Journal of Nursing Research, 2011 Feb 01; 33 (1): 79-105

Implementation of evidence-based nursing practice: nurses' personal and professional factors.
Eizenberg MM;
Journal of Advanced Nursing, 2011 Jan; 67 (1): 33-42

Lower extremity ulcer management: best practice algorithm.
Simms KW; Ennen K;
Journal of Clinical Nursing, 2011 Jan; 20 (1/2): 86-93

Linking economics and quality: developing an evidence-based nurse staffing tool.
Anderson, E Faye; Frith, Karen H; Caspers, Barbara;
Nursing Administration Quarterly, 2011 Jan-Mar; 35 (1): 53-60

Painful breast lumps in nursing mothers: identifying and treating plugged ducts, mastitis, and abscess.
Balkam JJ;
American Journal of Nursing, 2010 Dec; 110 (12): 65-7

Clinical librarians as facilitators of nurses' evidence-based practice.
Määttä S; Wallmyr G;
Journal of Clinical Nursing, 2010 Dec; 19 (23/24): 3427-34

Dissemination of research into clinical nursing literature.
Oermann MH; Shaw-Kokot J; Knafl GJ; Dowell J;
Journal of Clinical Nursing, 2010 Dec; 19 (23/24): 3435-42

Virtual journal club connects evidence to practice: an analysis of participant responses.
Lehna C; Berger J; Truman A; Goldman M; Topp R;
Journal of Nursing Administration, 2010 Dec; 40 (12): 522-8

Teaching Research and Evidence-Based Practice Using a Service-Learning Approach.
Balakas K; Sparks L;
Journal of Nursing Education, 2010 Dec; 49 (12): 691-5

Towards Evidence-based Management: Creating an Informative Database of Nursing-Sensitive Indicators.
Patrician PA; Loan L; McCarthy M; Brosch LR; Davey KS;
Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 2010; 42 (4): 4th Quarter: 358-66

Integrating evidence-based practice with educational theory in clinical practice for nurse practitioners: bridging the theory practice gap.
Ferrara, Lucille R.;
Research & Theory for NursingPractice, 2010; 24 (4): 213-6

Pilot study to test the use of a mobile device in the clinical setting to access evidence-based practice resources.
Morris J; Maynard V;
Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, 2010 4th QUARTER; 7 (4): 205-13

The role of nursing best practice champions in diffusing practice guidelines: a mixed methods study.
Ploeg J; Skelly J; Rowan M; Edwards N; Davies B; Grinspun D; Bajnok I; Downey A;
Worldviews on Evidence-BasedNursing, 2010 4th QUARTER; 7 (4): 238-51