Biographical Narrative Research From the Perspective of the Science of Unitary Human Beings: A Methodological Approach.

Narrating or storytelling is a fundamental practice for human survival and a means for finding meaning in experiences and for enhancing self-understanding. The use of story has been present in nursing since its origins. Biographical narrative has rarely been used as a research method in nursing, and there are no examples conceptualizing biographical narrative research methods within a unitary science perspective. The purpose of this paper is to describe one specific narrative methodological approach-the biographical narrative research method-and to link the method to the science of unitary human beings as a means of creating a unitary understanding of the storied nature of human-health experiences.

Epidemiological observations of the judicious use of antibiotics in a pediatric teaching hospital.

OBJECTIVE: This study in a tertiary care teaching center with 361 beds was conducted to assess use, misuse, and abuse of antibiotics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Every day of the study, a computer program was used to compile a list of patients' bedside records. On a specific day, the bedside charts of selected patients were reviewed to determine whether: (1) a justification for antibiotic prescription was recorded; (2) duration of antibiotic therapy had been defined; (3) suitable cultures had been obtained; and (4) treatment was appropriate for the infection to be treated. For 6 months, charts were evaluated 3 days per week. RESULTS: Of 750 bedside charts 500 (67%) were selected for review. Of the 500 patients, 175 (35%) did not receive antibiotics. The abuses or misuses of antibiotics most frequently observed among the 325 treated patients were no record of justification for the antibiotic prescribed (130/325, 40%); no appropriate blood or fluid samples obtained for culture (45/325, 14%); no subsequent control cultures or cultures obtained before modifying therapy (80/175, 46%); no indication of a planned duration of therapy (180/325, 55%); and improper dosage prescribed in relation to weight (25/325, 8%). Abuse or misuse of antibiotics was more frequently observed among surgical patients than among nonsurgical patients (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Rational use of antibiotics should be emphasized in every training program as a main strategy to control the increase in drug resistance and to prolong the usefulness of antibiotics.

Percepción subjetiva de la calidad de vida en estudiantes de enfermería de una universidad pública / Subjective perception of quality of life in nursing students from a public university

Introducción: La educación es un elemento que influye sobre la calidad de vida de una persona, sin embargo, el proceso formativo puede ocasionar afectación negativa sobre dicha percepción. El gran esfuerzo cognoscitivo y las exigencias derivadas del contacto con personas en condiciones de enfermedad y sufrimiento, ocasionan estrés y ansiedad, que afectan la experiencia y la calidad de vida del enfermero en formación. Objetivo: Determinar el nivel de calidad de vida subjetivo percibido por estudiantes de enfermería de una universidad pública. Materiales y métodos: Investigación descriptiva, correlacional. Participaron 112 estudiantes de enfermería activos para el período agosto - diciembre de 2014. Se utilizó la encuesta de datos socio-demográficos y la Escala GENCAT de calidad de vida. Resultados: El índice promedio de percepción subjetiva de calidad de vida fue de 106, que indica buena apreciación de la condición de vida actual. La dimensión mejor evaluada fue la de Derechos 87,1% y la de más baja puntuación fue Bienestar físico 77,3%. El estudiante considera de mayor impacto y relevancia el acompañamiento y soporte afectivo, espiritual y emocional de una red de apoyo sólida a lo largo del transcurso de su período formativo, que la estabilidad de tipo financiera o la capacidad de adquisición material.

Introduction: Education is a factor that influences the quality of life of a person; however, the training process can cause a negative impact on that perception.The great cognitive effort and the requirements derived from the contact with people in condition of sickness and suffering cause stress and anxiety that affect the experience and the quality of life of the nurse in training.Objective: To determine thelevel of subjective perception of quality of lifein nursing students from a public university.Materials and methods:A correlational descriptive study was performed with 112 active nursing students during the period of August and December, 2014. The sociodemographic data survey and the GENCAT Scale of Quality of Life were used.Results:The average index of subjective perception of quality of life was 106, which shows good appreciation of the current life condition.The best assessed dimension was Rights with 87.1% and the one with the lowest score was Physical well-being with 77.3 %.The student considers of greatest impact and importance the accompaniment, emotional and spiritual support from a solid support network throughout the course of his or her training period over the financial stability or the material acquisition capacity he or she can have.