Family Role in Care of Patients With Neurological Conditions: International Neuroscience Nursing Research Symposium Proceedings.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Discussions during the 2022 International Neuroscience Nursing Research Symposium highlighted the impact of family in the care of neuroscience patients. This sparked conversations about the need for understanding global differences in family involvement in the care of patients with neurological conditions. METHODS: Neuroscience nurses from Germany, India, Japan, Kenya, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Vietnam collaborated to provide a short summary of family involvement in caring for patients with neurological conditions in their respective countries. RESULTS: Family roles for neuroscience patients vary across the globe. Caring for neuroscience patients can be challenging. Family involvement in treatment decisions and patient care can be affected by sociocultural beliefs and practices, economic factors, hospital policies, manifestation of the disease, and long-term care requirements. CONCLUSION: Understanding the geographic, cultural, and sociopolitical implications of family involvement in care is of benefit to neuroscience nurses.

Challenges and Opportunities in Stroke Nursing Research: Global Views From a Panel of Nurse Researchers.

ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: A diverse group of neuroscience nurse experts discussed stroke nursing research at the 5th International Neuroscience Nursing Research Symposium. Panel experts from Singapore, India, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Malawi, Germany, Palestine, Kenya, Japan, and the United States collaborated to examine similarities and differences in nurse-led stroke research conducted in their home countries. This article reflects panel insights on challenges and opportunities for nurse-led stroke research. DISCUSSION: The research challenges discussed include nursing independence, the processes of informed consent and randomization process, obtaining adequate independent funding, recruiting research subjects, and working with vulnerable groups. The major opportunities to leverage and improve stroke nursing research include facilitating the nurse investigator role, information digitalization, improving health literacy, and collaboration between nurse researchers. SUMMARY: We are living in a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world, and the COVID-19 pandemic has accentuated many challenges. There is a need to allow for creativity around recruitment and conducting stroke research. The use of technology reduces travel needs and mitigates many safety, financial, and transportation-related problems. Although the pandemic has highlighted the challenges faced when conducting stroke-related research, there are remarkable similarities in opportunities to improve outcomes.

Cultural Perspectives on Pain Assessment and Opioid Use: International Neuroscience Nursing Research Symposium Conference Proceedings.

ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: In August of 2020, the 4th International Neuroscience Nursing Research Symposium was held. The purpose of the symposium was to share neuroscience nursing research from around the world. One of the topics thought most notable that stimulated a crucial conversation was how different countries assessed pain and their use of opioids for pain management. BACKGROUND: Neuroscience nurses are global. What is not known is their experience with and what challenges exist with pain management for human beings in their country. Crossing geographic and cultural boundaries, pain affects all human beings. Each culture has unique values and beliefs regarding pain. Patient barriers, pivotal in this article, included poverty, poor health literacy, opioid phobia, and cultural as well as social beliefs. RESULTS: Neuroscience nurses from Australia, Brazil, Germany, Singapore, India, Ghana, Kenya, Philippines, South Africa, and the United States each collaborated to provide a short summary of assessing pain and use of opioids for pain management for the neuroscience patient. CONCLUSION: Neuroscience patients have varying degrees of pain based on many factors. Various countries have religious, spiritual, and cultural traditions that influence the reporting and management of pain. Pain assessment and management can be challenging, especially for the neuroscience nurses around the world.