Informing the design of hemodynamic monitoring displays.

In the ICU, an extensive array of variables from the hemodynamic monitoring display is routinely analyzed. However, the development of new display technologies is proceeding without adequate study of the monitoring tasks and behaviors of a primary user group--critical-care nurses. Semistructured interviews focusing on the cognitive aspects of the hemodynamic monitoring task were conducted with 14 critical-care nurses.

Nurse residency program implementation: the Utah experience.

Recently, nurse residency programs have been shown to improve satisfaction and enhance the retention of new graduate nurses, offering one solution for hospital executives, administrators, and managers searching for innovative ways to address nursing staff shortages. This article identifies crucial lessons that will assist leaders in designing and implementing a nurse residency program in their own institutions. The lessons are drawn from the experience of the successful University of Utah program.

Reducing parenting stress in families with irritable infants.

Background: Caring for an infant with unexplained, persistent crying is one of the most stressful events for new parents. Infant irritability, also referred to as infantile colic, occurs in 10-25% of all infants and is the most common parental concern reported in the first year of life.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a home-based nursing intervention in reducing parenting stress in three groups of families with irritable infants, using data from a larger evaluation study.

Effectiveness of an intervention for colic.

An intervention for infant irritability or colic was evaluated in a randomized clinical trial. A total of 121 full-term irritable infants (2 to 6 weeks old) were randomized to routine care or the home-based intervention program. A third group (n=43) of irritable infants were entered into a post-test-only group.

An intervention program for families with irritable infants.

Purpose: To describe and evaluate a home-based nursing intervention program, the REST routine, which incorporates the use of infant behavior assessment, pattern recognition, individualized infant schedules, specific management strategies, and parent education and support.

Study Design And Method: A two-site clinical trial was conducted on 164 healthy full-term infants with excessive unexplained irritability or colic. Infants between the ages of 2 to 6 weeks were randomized to routine care or a home-based intervention program (n = 121).

Adaptation of a cardiac monitor for collection of infant sleep data and development of a computer program to categorize infant sleep state.

This article describes the adaptation of a cardiac Holter monitor to more conveniently collect and store infant sleep data. The cardiac monitor was first adapted to connect to a sleep mattress, then refined until readable infant sleep signal data were produced. System data were compared to data collected by a live observer of infant sleep (kappa = 0.

Appreciative inquiry and leadership transitions.

In times of accelerated change accompanied by leadership transitions, appreciative inquiry (AI) and sensemaking skills are necessary. AI is a philosophy, a model of change, and a set of tools and techniques that support discovery, dreaming, design, and creation of a vision that inspires people in an organization to move toward a collective destiny. Sensemaking involves sizing up a situation to create a framework for decision-making, creating a context for communication, linking with others, and focusing on what is and what could be.

Current beliefs and management strategies for treating infant colic.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to describe the current beliefs about the etiology of colic as well as current management approaches used by pediatric health care providers.

Method: An open-ended, short- answer survey concerning beliefs about the etiology and treatment of colic was conducted at major National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and Practitioners and American Academy of Pediatric meetings. The two groups of providers surveyed, pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) (n = 216) and pediatricians (n = 215), were similar in age and years of practice.

A mentored experience (KO1) in maternal-infant research.

Funding mechanisms that require a mentor provide a unique opportunity to implement the research mentoring that is recognized as increasingly important in nursing. Little has been written about how to create and sustain the roles of mentor and principal investigator within a funded arrangement. This article analyzes one research mentoring relationship focused on maternal-infant interaction research and implemented through the Federal KO1 (Mentored Research Scientist Development Award) grant mechanism.

Comparison of two measures of parent-child interaction.

Background: The numerous parent-child interaction measures available include few that are appropriate to brief clinical encounters or to research settings where time, cost, space, and subject burden are critical factors.

Objectives: This study compares the newer Mother-Infant Communication Screening (MICS) with the established Nursing Child Assessment Satellite Training (NCAST) Teaching Scale (NCAT).

Methods: Theoretical foundations, development, administration, support, and published psychometrics for the two scales are contrasted.

Building research competence in nursing through mentoring.

Purpose: To explore how mentoring can be used to build research competence in nursing in various professional and geographic settings.

Organizing Construct: The traditional concept of mentoring in interdisciplinary health professions and its application to nursing research.

Methods: Literature review of MEDLINE and CINAHL databases 1990-2001 and personal reflections on mentoring and mentored experiences.

Characteristics of school-age children who had colic as infants: mothers' views.

Issues And Purpose: To describe the behavioral style and personality characteristics of young school-age children who were identified as colicky infants and the parents' perspective of any residual behaviors or effects.

Design And Methods: A qualitative descriptive design with mothers of 12 children identified with colic as infants and 8 mothers of children who did not have colic.

Results: Three themes of children who had colic: independence/self-reliance, activity, and emotional lability/intensity.