A psychiatric-cardiac case: analysis for education and clinical practice.

Psychiatric patients are now known to have disproportionately high cardiovascular disease mortality rates. Today's nurse needs more knowledge to manage the care of the psychiatric-cardiac patient. This paper uses a case scenario to cite essential components of care. Psychiatric-cardiac events are explained using a conceptual model. The model provides the nurse with a template for identifying needs and mapping the changes observed through therapy. The paper serves as an organizing tool for clinical practice and a case presentation for continued education of nurses.

Registered nurses' self-nurturance and life and career satisfaction.

Knowledge of factors that help nurses thrive, including satisfaction with life and self-nurturance, can be used to enhance retention of a healthy work force. This study determined whether nurses are happy or satisfied with their lives; how self-nurturing or "good to self" they are; and whether a relationship exists among self-nurturance, life satisfaction, and career satisfaction. A descriptive, correlational study of 136 registered nurses involving measures of self-nurturance and life and career satisfaction was conducted. Mean scores for life satisfaction and self-nurturance were consistent with those from studies of well adults. Self-nurturance, life satisfaction, and career satisfaction were positively correlated with each other; thus, improving one is expected to improve the others. Knowledge of the significant positive correlation among life satisfaction, self-nurturance, and career satisfaction may prove useful in improving the mental health and safety of nurses. Strategies consistent with Magnet hospital characteristics are suggested for the occupational health nurse.

Relationships among the nurse work environment, self-nurturance and life satisfaction.

AIM: This paper is a report of a study to (1) ascertain the relationship among self-nurturance, perceived Magnet features and life satisfaction and (2) evaluate the predictive effects of self-nurturance and Magnet features on life satisfaction. BACKGROUND: Promoting health is a global priority for nurses and for the public who depend upon them to provide quality care. Health gains can be realized by modifying the work environment and by modifying lifestyle choices (self-nurturance). A study of nurses that examined perceptions of workplace features that enable nurses' professional practice (Magnet features), self-nurturance and healthy outcomes (life satisfaction) was not found in the literature. METHODS: Survey data collected in May 2003 from a convenience sample of 310 Registered Nurses were used for this descriptive, correlational study. FINDINGS: Self-nurturing nurses were more satisfied with life and perceived that more Magnet features were present in the workplace. Nurses with a master's degree were more self-nurturing than nurses without a baccalaureate degree. The synergistic effect of both self-nurturance and workplace factors predicted 29% of variance in nurses' life satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Higher levels of perceived Magnet features and frequent self-nurturance choices are important health influences on nurses' life satisfaction. Greater life satisfaction is known to reduce job dissatisfaction while improving retention. Approaches that incorporate both self-nurturance and workplace Magnet features are suggested to improve the health and retention of experienced nurses.

Self nurturance: research trends and wellness model.

Employees deserve use of the latest theoretical and research knowledge to improve the wellness care that occupational health nurses provide. Self nurturance is a newly recognized component of adult wellness. Teaching self nurturance to employees can empower self responsibility for improved health. Occupational health nurses can use the Nemcek Wellness Model to structure a wellness practice that includes assessing employees' self nurturance practices, self nurturance knowledge, and wellness outcomes such as satisfaction with life and examining the effects health promotion interventions have on employees' self nurturance practices, self nurturance knowledge, and wellness outcomes. Correlational and experimental designs are suggested to expand self nurturance research.

State of evaluation: community health workers.

Disparity groups, especially racial and ethnic minority groups, are at greater risk for poor health yet experience numerous obstacles in accessing health care. Community health workers (CHWs) are indigenous, trusted, and respected members of the underserved community. They can serve as a bridge between peers and health professionals. Use of CHWs has fluctuated since the federal government first endorsed their use for expanded health access to the underserved in the 1960s. National demands to eliminate health disparities and recent socioeconomic pressures have focused attention on use of CHWs to improve community health. Still, underutilization exists due to, in part, a lack of understanding of the CHW concept and a dearth of evaluation literature on CHWs. This article describes the CHW concept, provides a summary of CHW evaluation literature, and suggests quality care indicators to strengthen evaluation. The review of evaluation research relating to CHWs provides a preliminary state of the science for nurses to begin building an evidence-based practice. Quality of care indicators pertinent to CHW are summarized from the existing evaluation literature. The three best practice domains (therapeutic alliance, risk reduction and health care utilization) are proposed along with suggestions for using quality indicators to improve evaluation. A reduction in health disparities can occur with enhanced CHW utilization.