Nurse Assessment of Nutritional Status to Identify Patients at Risk for Complications After Pancreatic Resection.

To determine if serum prealbumin (PAB) levels can be used by nurses to predict patients who may be at higher risk for postoperative complications after pancreatic surgeries. A quantitative, retrospective study. One cancer center at an urban medical center in Detroit, Michigan.

Applying Integrative Learning Strategies and Complexity Theory to Design Simulations for Care of Complex Patients.

Nurse educators use a variety of clinical simulation strategies to promote cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning. Statistically significant increases in self-confidence levels were found among senior-level nursing students in the assessment and management of medical and psychiatric symptoms after participating in strategically designed, complex, student-led clinical simulations. Having students role play simulation scenarios that are developed from real-life clinical experiences is a cost-effective interactive strategy that enhances their communication and technical skills.

The prevalence of uncontrolled pain in long-term care: a pilot study examining outcomes of pain management processes.

Pain in long-term care (LTC) is common among older residents despite the vast options available for optimal pain management. Inadequate pain management affects individual health care outcomes. Researcher evidence has shown that nurse practitioners (NPs) improve the quality of care in LTC but are challenged by multiple barriers that inhibit optimal pain control.

Using multisensory technology to create a therapeutic environment for people with dementia in an adult day center: a pilot study.

This quantitative pilot study examined the feasibility of using a multisensory environment (MSE) as a nonpharmacological intervention for people with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) within an adult day care center. Outcome measures were participant agitation, participant reaction to MSE, and caregiver satisfaction with MSE as a management strategy for older adults with BPSD. A within-subjects, repeated measures research design was used to obtain results from a total of 8 older adults with BPSD and 4 formal caregivers.

Comparative analysis of two musical genres within a multisensory environmental intervention.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if there were any differences in the behavioral responses of persons with dementia while listening to nonreligious and religious music within a multisensory environment.

Research Design: A within-subjects, repeated measures design was used.

Method: Participants were exposed to both musical genres during multiple sessions over a 4-week period.

Use of multisensory environments in the home for people with dementia.

The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the feasibility and effectiveness of using multisensory environments (MSE) in the home of people with dementia. A qualitative research design was used, which included semi-structured interviews and self-rated caregiver observation checklists. Field notes and audio recorded interviews were transcribed for data analysis.

A self-directed learning tool for nurses who precept student nurses.

The Preceptor Orientation Self-Learning Education (POSE) module was developed as a teaching/learning tool for preparing nurses in their role as preceptors to senior nursing students in the clinical practice area. Findings from this pilot study suggest that the POSE module offered nurse preceptors an effective and convenient teaching/learning option in preparing them for their roles as clinical preceptors to student nurses. Results of this study can be used to enhance nursing education on preceptor preparation.

Self-care activities captured through discussion among community-dwelling older adults.

Four separate focus group sessions were conducted in the Detroit metropolitan area to invite vital elders to speak freely about their health, health problems, health practices, and how they maintain their bio-psycho-social and spiritual well-being. Twenty-eight participants were interviewed. The majority were African American, female, widowed, Protestant, and had achieved a high school or greater educational level.

Factors that affect functional status in patients with cancer-related pain.

Cancer-related pain in outpatient adult populations remains high and has a direct effect on functional status. Factors that affect functional status have been explored separately, but the inter-relatedness of those factors has not been examined. Using a cross-sectional design, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between pain level, beliefs about pain, symptom distress, perceived control over pain, and functional status in 304 ambulatory cancer patients who experienced cancer-related pain within the past 2 weeks.

Beliefs about the controllability of pain: congruence between older adults with cancer and their family caregivers.

Family dyadic beliefs about pain controllability were examined to determine what influence they had on patient symptom distress and subjective caregiver burden. The Calgary Family Assessment and Intervention Models and Illness Beliefs Model guided this investigation. Self-report questionnaires were administered to a sample of 81 family dyads that consisted of ambulatory cancer care older adult outpatients and their family caregivers.

Improving cancer pain management by homecare nurses.

Purpose/objectives: To demonstrate the effects of a program, directed at homecare nurses, of structured educational interventions on the management of pain and opioid-related side effects in homecare patients with cancer.

Design: A longitudinal multilevel, randomized, controlled clinical trial.

Setting: Midwestern region in the United States.