"Something must be done!": public health nursing education in the United States from 1900 to 1950.

This article examines public health nursing (PHN) education in the United States from 1900 to 1950. Following establishment of district nursing and the Henry Street Settlement in the late 1800s, nurses worked with families and communities in schools, homes, and with immigrant populations in tenements of industrialized cities. By the early 1900s, PHN leaders recognized that graduates needed broader education than provided by hospital training schools to prepare nurses to address social conditions and promote health and hygiene for populations. Current themes in professional nursing, such as social determinants of health, have their roots in early discourse about PHN education.

International experiences in nursing education: a review of the literature.

Service learning and study abroad opportunities have become increasingly popular in nursing education in the past decade. The purpose of this systematic review was to explore existing literature concerning global health experiences in nursing education. Twenty-three empirical articles from 2003 to 2010 were reviewed, building upon existing reviews of international nursing education literature. Research on two-way exchange experiences and models for best practice were found to be lacking. While an array of countries were represented as the visiting or hosting side of the experience, few co-authors from host countries were found, particularly in literature originating from the U.S. The authors recommend that two-way exchange programs be evaluated to identify successful strategies and barriers to success. Ongoing evaluation of exchanges is necessary to ensure continued sustainable partnership and exchange in immersion experiences for nursing students.

Nursing research and participant recruitment: organizational challenges and strategies.

Hospitals as research environments are crucial in advancing evidence-based practice and translational research. The authors discuss issues related to hospital-based nursing research such as institutional review board approval, the HIPAA, structure, unit characteristics, and nurse staffing as well as research-related issues such as study purpose and design, participant recruitment, and research personnel. Strategies and suggestions for nurse executives to assist researchers in overcoming recruitment challenges are presented.

Psychometric assessment of the Brazilian version of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to translate and psychometrically assess the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale (BSES) among women living in Fortaleza, CE, Brazil, and examine the relationship between breastfeeding self-efficacy (BSE) and maternal demographic variables. DESIGN AND SAMPLE: This methodological study is the first translation of BSES conducted in South America. The psychometric assessment of the original study was replicated. This methodological study enrolled a group (sample of judgment) of 117 pregnant women. MEASURES: BSES and maternal sociodemographic variables were studied. RESULTS: The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the translated BSES was .88. Significant differences in BSES scores were found among mothers with a previous satisfactory breastfeeding experience (M = 145.81; SD = + or - 6.82, p = .0001). Significant relationships were found among prenatal BSE and maternal age (r = .228; p = .01), educational level (r = .234; p = .01), and marital status (r = .183; p = .04). No relationship was found among BSE and maternal occupation, family income, or number of pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, our findings suggest that BSES translated into Portuguese may be a reliable and valid measure to assess maternal BSE in Brazilian culture. Minor changes may be needed to use it in other Portuguese-speaking countries, such as Portugal and Mozambique.

Community resources for older adults with chronic illness.

Elders with chronic diseases frequently have problems with activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. This article describes a holistic, elder-friendly community model. The review of the nursing, healthcare, and social science literature offers insight into the complexity of community resources for elders.

Rural health nursing research review: global perspectives.

The CINAHL and MEDLINE databases were used to conduct a review of international rural nursing research published between 2003 and 2007. In total, 41 articles were reviewed and organized based on the United Nations Human Development Index, which categorizes countries based on development status. Critical review of international rural nursing research yielded three major organizational themes: clinical issues, aspects of nursing practice, and nursing and health policy research. Despite the variety in international locale of the research, these themes and other common findings emerged. The need for increased access to specialized nursing knowledge, resources, and support is an ongoing issue facing nurses in rural and remote settings.

Trends in breastfeeding research by Brazilian nurses.

Exclusive breastfeeding is acknowledged as important for survival, optimal growth, and development of infants. The current review presents a synthesis of research output by Brazilian nurses on breastfeeding over the last 20 years, analyzes the theoretical and methodological issues emerging from studies on breastfeeding in Brazil, and provides directions for future research and practice by nurses in the area breastfeeding. Studies included in this review were identified through LILACS searches of Portuguese-language sources. Articles were organized and analyzed chronologically by comparing the evolution of the Brazilian Breastfeeding Program. The incomplete research output of the Brazilian nursing profession in regard to breastfeeding research needs to be addressed. In addition, specific cultural, sociological, and anthropological characteristics of Brazilian regional settings remain to be explored. Emphasis on potential confounders and critical interrelations is warranted.

The Effect of Self-Efficacy on Treatment.

Becker's (1974) Health Belief Model has been used successfully to address behavior change in chronic diseases, including smoking and alcohol dependence. This project applies the Health Belief Model to opiate addiction treatment, specifically medication-assisted treatment (MAT). The purpose of this study was to measure the relationship between self-efficacy and treatment outcomes for opiate-dependent clients on MAT. A convenience sample of 50 persons with addiction to opiates was admitted to an outpatient substance abuse treatment program for MAT and followed for a period of 6 months. Pretreatment and posttreatment self-efficacy scores were obtained using a modified General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE). Treatment outcomes were measured by the number of negative random monthly urine screens, attendance at group and individual counseling sessions, and retention in treatment for at least 6 months. Pretreatment and posttreatment self-efficacy scores were compared using a t test, and self-efficacy scores were compared with client outcomes using Pearson's correlation. GSE scores showed improvement after 6 months in treatment (p ≤ .01). However, no statistically significant relationship was found between GSE scores and treatment outcomes.

A model to develop nurse leaders for rural practice.

Rural health disparities are due in part to access barriers to health care providers. Nursing education has been extended into rural areas, yet a limited rural research and practice literature informs the content and delivery of these educational programs. The University Of Virginia School of Nursing through a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration developed the Nursing Leadership in Rural Health Care (NLRHC) Program. The transformational nursing leadership in rural health care (TNLRHC) model guided the development of NLRHC program content and teaching methods. This article describes the TNLRHC model and how it has steered the integration of rural content into advanced practice nursing (APN) education. The capacity of the TNLRHC model for promoting innovation in APN education is described. Recommendations regarding the future development of APN education are presented.

Preprocedural distress in children with cancer: an intervention using biofeedback and relaxation.

Children diagnosed with cancer experience many invasive procedures throughout diagnosis and treatment of their disease. These procedures, oftentimes a source of distress in children, can elicit a variety of anticipatory symptoms prior to the actual procedure. Although there have been efforts to develop approaches to alleviate this distress through use of distraction, relaxation, sedation, guided imagery, and hypnosis, there has not been a combination treatment that merged relaxation techniques and biofeedback within a pediatric framework. A group of 12 children diagnosed with cancer participated in a 4-session intervention combining relaxation and biofeedback. This feasibility study suggests that the combination intervention offered in a clinical setting may be beneficial to children experiencing procedural distress as a novel coping strategy.

Family and friends to the rescue: experiences of rural older adults with heart failure.

The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences of rural community-dwelling older adults with heart failure who required assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental ADLs (IADLs). The context of the study was a rural area in a southern U.S. state. Twenty older adults with ADL/IADL needs living in the rural area were recruited during hospitalization and interviewed in their homes after discharge. The semi-structured interview focused on ADLs/IADLs and community resources. This qualitative descriptive study used hermeneutic methods for analysis. Four themes were identified: Accepting Limitations, Disappointments and Unmet Expectations, Figure It Out, and Complex Connections. The findings indicate that despite the older adults' medical conditions, they were able to set up complex arrangements, which allowed them to remain in their homes. Understanding the help older adults require after discharge will assist nurses in developing programs that are available, accessible, and acceptable to older adults who live in rural areas.

Emergency preparedness: one community's response.

Since 2001, our nations' leaders, the press, and the general public have looked to the health sector for leadership in addressing acts of terrorism. It has become urgent for health agencies and related public services to collaborate and for all health professionals to become knowledgeable about disaster preparedness. This article describes collaboration between the public health department, local hospitals and the school of nursing in one community, Charlottesville, Virginia, to address disaster preparedness. In this story about our community's emergency preparedness, the focus is both on preparation and the hope we will never need to utilize this knowledge.

Casais inférteis vivenciando a fertilização in vitro / Infertile couples facing in vitro fertilization - a qualitative research / Parejas infértiles probando la fertilización in vitro

A infertilidade é um problema de saúde que vem acometendo pessoas na sociedade contemporânea. Esta investigação qualitativa utilizou o Interacionismo Simbólico como referencial teórico-metodológico para compreender os significados vivenciados pelas mulheres durante uma fertilização in vitro em Fortaleza-Ceará. Seis mulheres concordaram em participar deste estudo conduzido entre março/2002 e janeiro/2003. Os métodos incluíram observação participante, diário de campo e uma entrevista. A FIV foi considerada difícil pelas mulheres as quais experienciaram temor, dor física e emocional, ansiedade, e expuseram seus corpos para tentar gerar uma nova vida e satisfazer o desejo da maternidade. A experiência diária com o processo de FIV moldou os sentimentos, comportamentos e atitudes das mulheres. O suporte de enfermagem foi crucial para a habilidade da mulher de enfrentar a trajetória da FIV, especialmente durante os períodos críticos do tratamento.

This qualitative investigation uses Symbolic Interactionism as theoretical and methodological framework to understanding the experienced meanings created in women's lives by the in vitro fertilization process in Fortaleza-Ceara. Six women agreed to participate, and were enrolled in this study that was conducted between March/2002 and January/2003. Methods included participant observation, field diary, and an interview. In vitro fertilization was considered difficult by the women who experienced fear, physical and emotional pain, anxiety, and exposure of their bodies in an attempt to generate a new life and fulfilling the desire for motherhood. The daily experience with the overall in vitro fertilization process shaped the women' feelings, behaviors and attitudes. Nursing support was crucial for the women's ability to endure the in vitro fertilization trajectory, especially during critical periods of the treatment

La infertilidad es un problema de salud que ha acometido personas en la sociedad contemporánea. Esta investigación cualitativa utilizó el Interaccionismo Simbólico como referencial teórico-metodológico para comprender los significados probados por las mujeres durante una fertilización in vitro (FIV) en Fortaleza-Ceará. Seis mujeres concordaron en participar de este estudio conducido entre marzo/2002 y enero/2003. Los métodos incluyeron observación participante, diario de campo y una entrevista. La FIV fue considerada difícil por las mujeres que, a la vez, tuvieron temor, dolor físico y emocional, ansiedad, y además exhibieron sus cuerpos para intentar generar una nueva vida y satisfacer el deseo de la maternidad. La experiencia diaria con el proceso de FIV amoldó los sentimientos, comportamientos y actitudes de las mujeres. El soporte de enfermería fue crucial para la habilidad de la mujer de enfrentar la trayectoria de la FIV, especialmente durante los periodos críticos del tratamiento.

Trends in breastfeeding research by Brazilian nurses

Sabe-se que o aleitamento materno exclusivo é importante para a sobrevivência, crescimento e desenvolvimento infantil. Os objetivos desta revisão foram: apresentar uma síntese da produção intelectual da enfermagem brasileira na área do aleitamento materno nos últimos vinte anos, criticar questões teóricas e metodológicas dos estudos, e providenciar direções para futuras pesquisas e práticas de enfermagem em relação ao aleitamento materno. Os estudos incluídos nesta revisão foram identificados por meio de busca no LILACS para estudos publicados em português. Os artigos foram organizados e analisados cronologicamente, traçando uma comparação com a evolução do Programa Nacional de Aleitamento Materno. A lacuna da pesquisa em aleitamento materno pela enfermagem brasileira precisa ser preenchida como uma agenda prioritária. Além disso, as peculiaridades culturais, sociológicas e antropológicas que caracterizam cada região brasileira precisam ser exploradas. A ênfase em potenciais co-fatores e suas inter-relações críticas precisa ser melhor explorada.