OBJECTIVES To assess perceptions of nursing staff regarding methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), infection control (IC) and prevention strategies, barriers to IC, and IC resources. DESIGN Cross-sectional mixed methods study. SETTING Atlanta Veterans Affairs (VA) long-term care facility (LTCF). PARTICIPANTS Forty-two direct-care nursing staff employed at the LTCF during Augu...

Once low back pain (LBP) occurs, it is easily prolonged and may become a chronic problem. LBP is an occupational problem among nursing staff at welfare facilities, and we investigated LBP and related matters in nursing staff, who work in health and welfare facilities for the elderly and at a special nursing home. The results concerning staff with LBP and those without LBP were analyzed statisti...

PURPOSE To investigate the preference of HER2+ breast cancer patients and nursing professionals for subcutaneous (SC) versus intravenous (IV) trastuzumab and to evaluate the financial impact derived from the use of the SC formulation. METHODS A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was carried out to investigate preferences of all patients who started treatment with SC trastuzumab while t...

BACKGROUND People living with dementia in nursing homes are most likely to be restrained. The primary aim of this mixed-method education intervention study was to investigate which factors hindered or facilitated staff awareness related to confidence building initiatives based on person-centred care, as an alternative to restraint in residents with dementia in nursing homes. The education inter...

Background: The ability of nursing staff to determine stroke deglutition disorders is important in care of stroke patients. Purpose: This study aimed to increase diagnostic accuracy of stroke deglutition disorders among nursing staff in stroke care. Method: By comprehensive determination of the most accurate water volume for the diagnosis of stroke deglutition disorders using evidence-based met...

Upon admission to hospital, 30-50 % of patients either are or become malnourished. There is no generally accepted definition of malnutrition or guidelines on the best way to establish nutritional status. We consider it self-evident that the nursing staff have an important role in screening patients at risk of malnutrition on admission and thereafter at regular times. This is why we developed th...

PURPOSE Attitudes of nursing home staff, residents, and their relatives determine the decision-making process about the use of physical restraints. Knowledge of staffs' attitudes toward physical restraints is sparse; even less is known about relatives' attitudes. Therefore, we surveyed relatives' attitudes and opinions toward physical restraints and compared the results to a survey of nursing h...

BACKGROUND Many ethical problems exist in nursing homes. These include, for example, decision-making in end-of-life care, use of restraints and a lack of resources. AIMS The aim of the present study was to investigate nursing home staffs' opinions and experiences with ethical challenges and to find out which types of ethical challenges and dilemmas occur and are being discussed in nursing hom...

BACKGROUND Caring practice in nursing homes is a complex topic, especially the challenges of meeting the basic needs of residents when their behaviour evokes difficult emotions. Cognitive and physical changes related to aging and disability can contribute to behaviours considered to be unacceptable. For example, resident behaviours such as spitting, making a mess with food or grinding teeth are...

During May, 2006, on one acute mental health inpatient unit, nursing staff evaluated each patient three times a day (i.e., once each nursing shift) using the Broset Violence Checklist (BVC). Associated data were collected using the Staff Observation and Aggression Scale-Revised (SOAS-R) if an adverse incident occurred. At the end of the data collection period, the nursing staff were asked to co...