THE AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING

VOLUME 28 NUMBER 2

Download Complete Issue


Nursing care of older patients in hospital: implications for clinical leadership
This study investigated how nurses managed the care of acutely ill older patients in acute hospital settings.

Key words: Older patients; clinical leadership; professional agency; nursing care; acute care units

Kathleen Milton-Wildey, RN, BA, Dip.Ed, MA (Macq), PhD (UWS), FCN, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Health, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia. [email protected]
Louise O’Brien, BA, RN, PhD, Professor of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Charles Sturt University. Chair Research Committee, Australian College of Mental Health Nurses, NSW, Australia. [email protected]

Download Article


End of life clinician-family communication in ICU: a retrospective observational study - implications for nursing
The objective of this study was to identify practice issues that influence end of life communication and care of patients and families in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Key words: End of life, communication, family support

Ms Melissa Bloomer, MN(Hons), MPET, MNP, GCPET, GCDE, Crit. Care Cert., BN, RN, Lecturer/ PhD Candidate, Monash University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Australia.
Dr Susan Lee, PhD, MBioeth, BAppSci (Nsg Ed), DipAppSc (Nsg),RN., Senior Lecturer/NHMRC Fellow, Monash University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Australia.
Professor Margaret O’Connor, DN, MN, B.Theol, RN, FRCNA, AIMM, Vivian Bullwinkel Chair in Palliative Care Nursing, Monash University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Australia.

Download Article


A quality improvement project to prevent, detect, and reduce delirium in an acute setting
To implement a best practice approach to assessment, management and prevention of delirium in two acute medical wards.

Key words: delirium, acute care, rummage boxes

Noellene M Foster, BN, Dip Proj Mt, Grad Cert P Hlth, Project Officer, Royal Perth Hospital, Wellington St, Perth, Western Australia. [email protected]
Nicholas GHD Waldron, MB, ChB, FRACP, Consultant Physician, Royal Perth Hospital, Wellington St, Perth, Western Australia. [email protected]
Mark Donaldson, MB, BS, FRACP, Consultant Physician, Royal Perth Hospital, Wellington St, Perth, Western Australia. [email protected]
Helen Margaria, B App Sci (OT), Grad Dip Bus (Mgt), Superintendent Occupational Therapist, Royal Perth Hospital, Wellington St, Perth, Western Australia. [email protected]
Andrea McFaull, BSc (Nsg), Clinical Nurse Specialist, Royal Perth Hospital, Wellington St, Perth, Western Australia. [email protected]
Anne-Marie Hill, M Sc.(Physiotherapy), Grad Cert University Teaching, B Applied Sci (Physiotherapy), Senior Lecturer, School of Health Sciences Physiotherapy, University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, Western Australia. [email protected]
Christopher D Beer, MB, BS, FRACP, Associate Professor, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia. [email protected]

Download Article


How useful is the expert practitioner role of the clinical nurse consultant to the generalist community nurse?
The objective was to draw attention to the clinical component of the clinical nurse consultants’ (CNC) role in the community.

Key words: Clinical nurse specialist, community health nursing

Wendy Jannings, RN, SCM, Cert Spinal Injuries, Grad Cert Adult Ed., Clinical Nurse Consultant, Northern Sydney Home Nursing Service, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW, Australia. [email protected]
Emma Underwood, RN, BHS(Nsg), MN, MN (PS), Cert Spinal Injuries, Cert Rehab, Grad Cert Diabetes, Nurse Educator, Northern Sydney Home Nursing Service, NSW, Australia.
Mary Almer, RN, RM, MN(PalCare), Cert Onc Nursing, Grad Dip PalCare, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Northern Sydney Home Nursing Service, NSW, Australia.
Bronwin Luxford, RN, BN, Cert Onc, Grad Cert Pall Care, DRM, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Northern Sydney Home Nursing Service, NSW, Australia.

Download Article


What we learnt - recruiting prenatal mothers to an RCT addressing the prevention of overweight in early childhood?
To identify and explore the experiences of recruiting prenatal women into a randomised control trial which involves a family-focused early intervention program addressing the prevention of overweight and obesity over the first two years of life.

Key words: Recruitment, health promotion, survey, overweight, prenatal, randomised control trial

Karen Wardle, Registered Nurse, Certified Midwife, Grad Dip PH, Health Promotion Officer, Health Promotion Service, Sydney South West Area Health Service, Narellan, New South Wales, Australia. [email protected]
Dean Murphy, Registered Nurse, Research Nurse, Health Promotion Service, Sydney South West Area Health Service, Narellan, New South Wales, Australia.
Lynne Ireland, Registered Nurse, Child and Family Nurse, Research Nurse, Health Promotion Service, Sydney South West Area Health Service, Narellan, New South Wales, Australia. [email protected]
Cynthia Holbeck, Registered Nurse, Research Nurse, Health Promotion Service, Sydney South West Area Health Service, Narellan, New South Wales, Australia.
Carol Davidson, Registered Nurse, Research Nurse, Health Promotion Service, Sydney South West Area Health Service, Narellan, New South Wales, Australia.
Li Ming Wen, MD, MMed, School of Public Health, University of Sydney; Program Manager Research and Evaluation; Health Promotion Service, Sydney South West Area Health Service, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia. [email protected]
Dr Chris Rissel, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Public Health, University of Sydney; Director, Health Promotion Service, Sydney South West Area Health Service, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia. [email protected]

Download Article


Living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a qualitative study
The purpose of this study is to explore the experience of living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with the aim of gaining an understanding of how the disease affects the patients’ lives.

Key words: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, qualitative study.

Gülçin Avşar, MsC, Atatürk University School of Nursing, Department of Fundamentals of Nursing, Turkey. [email protected]
Mağfiret Kaşikçi, PhD Assistant Professor, Atatürk University School of Nursing, Department of Fundamentals of Nursing, Turkey. [email protected]

Download Article


Behind barriers: patients’ perceptions of source isolation for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
To explore the lived experience of patients in MRSA isolation in an acute care hospital in New Zealand.

Key words: MRSA, isolation, qualitative research, acute care

Ruth Barratt, Clinical Nurse Consultant Infection Control, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand. [email protected]
Ramon Shaban, Senior Research Fellow, Research Centre for Clinical and Community Practice Innovation, Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University and Princess Alexandra Hospital, University Drive, Logan Campus, Meadowbrook, Queensland, Australia. [email protected]
Professor Wendy Moyle, Deputy Director, Research Centre for Clinical and Community Practice Innovation, Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Nathan, Queensland, Australia. [email protected]

Download Article


The effectiveness of a follow-up program on blood pressure and cardiovascular risk factors for hypertensive patients
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a follow-up program on blood pressure and cardiovascular risk factors in hypertensive patients.

Key words: hypertension, cardiovascular risk factors, follow-up, nursing

Zohre Irmak, PhD, Department of Nursing, Mugla School of Health Sciences, Mugla University, Mugla, 48100 Turkey. [email protected]
Gulsen Duzoz, M.Sc., Department of Nursing, Mugla School of Health Sciences, Mugla University, Mugla, 48100 Turkey. [email protected]
Inci Bozyer, Department of Nursing, Mugla School of Health Sciences, Mugla University, Mugla, 48100 Turkey. [email protected]

Download Article


Is it me? Or is there something in the water? Client decision making in nursing
This paper aims to retrospectively explore client decision making via two case studies prompting us as nurses to reflect on the factors that lead to this. Clients do not always act in ‘their own best interests’ as ‘defined by health professionals’. Our response and understanding of this is key if we are to support and devise strategies encouraging more appropriate decisions and improved outcomes.

Key words: Client, decision making, chronic care, rural, nursing.

Merridie Rees, RN, NP, (C&FH Cert), (Grad. Cert. Orthopaedics), (Grad. Dip. Health Service Management), MNursing (NP), MCN, Nurse Practitioner Community Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, NSW, Australia. [email protected]
Jenny May, B. Med(Hons). FRACGP, FACRRM, GP Academic, University Department of Rural Health and Rural Clinical School Northern NSW, University of Newcastle, Tamworth, NSW, Australia. [email protected]
Kym Rae, B Sc., B Teach, B Sc(Hons), PhD, Post Doctoral Fellow in Research and Reproductive Medicine, University Department of Rural Health and Rural Clinical School Northern NSW, University of Newcastle, Tamworth, NSW, Australia. [email protected]

Download Article


Creating a new cardiac service: the Brisbane experience
This article discusses the creation of a new paediatric cardiac surgical service via the merging of two units.

Key words: Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, amalgamation, merge, staff, change management, change dynamics

Ms Jacqueline Jauncey‑Cooke, PhD candidate, MN, GradDip(Critical Care), GradCert Health Prof Educ., Clinical Nurse, PICU, Mater Children’s Hospital Brisbane, PhD Candidate, School of Nursing & Midwifery, The University of Queensland, Australia. jacqui.jauncey‑[email protected]
Ms Donna Franklin, MBA, GradDip Aviation & Physiology, GradDipMgt, GradCert(Critical Care), BN, Nurse Unit Manager, PICU, Mater Children’s Hospital Brisbane, Australia.

Download Article


Investing in patients’ nutrition: nutrition risk screening in hospital
This paper explores the current state of knowledge and evidence for investing in the nutrition screening of patients in hospital.

Key words: Australia, evidence translation, hospitalisation, malnutrition screening, malnutrition, nursing.

Robyn P Cant, PhD, MHlthSc, GradDipHEd, DipNFS, CertDiet, Research Fellow, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University, Churchill, Victoria, Australia. [email protected]

Download Article