Hacettepe University Faculty of Health Sciences Nursing Journal - 2010; 17(1)

De�erli Okurlar�m�za

Prof.Dr. Fethiye ERD�L — 2010-01-01

Viewpoint of Nurses on Nursing in Respect to Professionalism Criteria

��r. G�r. Dr. Fato� KORKMAZ, Prof. Dr. Selma G�RG�L� — 2010-01-01

Purpose: This descriptive study was carried out to determine the viewpoint of nurses about their profession in the context of the criteria for professionalism. Materials and Methods: Research was conducted with 180 graduated nurses who were working in three hospitals affiliated to the two universities in Ankara, and the study the whole population. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey which was developed by the researchers. The questionnaire consists of two sections; the first section included 26 questions concerning the descriptive characteristics of nursing, and second section there were 16 questions which aim to determine the point of view of nurses on nursing based on the professionalism criteria. Data collected from the survey was evaluated by using frequency and percentage calculations in SPSS statistical analysis programme. Results: The analysis of the findings revealed that, the major of the participants did not consider to leave their occupation because they care for their profession and more than half of the participants described the nursing services in our country as inadequate. It was identified that the proportion of nurses who choosed nursing in order to help individuals in need was quite low, , more than half had attended professional trainings, seminars and similar educational activities, and hold the view that research contribute to the development of professionalism of nursing. The number of nurses who have membership to professional association and who could implement their decision into actions were also low, whereas they acknowledged the need for ethical principles in guiding the decision making process. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that the views of nurses on nursing did not meet the professionalism criteria at a desirable level.

The Problems and Anxiety Levels of Women Who Had Elective or Therapeutic Abortion

2010-01-01

Objective: This study was carried out as a case-control study to identify the problems and anxiety levels of the women who had elective or therapeutic abortion. Methods: The sample of the study consists of 200 women who applied to the Family Planning Clinic and Early Pregnancy Clinic in a Women Health and Obstetric Hospital. The data is collected by using quasi-structured questionnaire Form and Beck Anxiety Inventory. Results: Seventy nine percent of women who had elective abortion (EA) and 52.0% of women who had therapeutic abortion (TA) stated that they had difficulty during decision-making period for abortion. It has been reported that the most experienced problems after the abortion were pain (25.5% EA; 45.3% TA), and sadness due to the loss of the baby (15.4% EA; 13.3% TA). It has been determined that both women who had EA and those who had TA suffered from mild anxiety. It has been identified that the pre-abortion anxiety point medians of women having had EA or TA were higher than post-abortion anxiety point medians (preabortion median: 16, post-abortion median: 6.5 for EA; pre-abortion median: 9, post-abortion median: 2 for TA) (p<0.05). Conclusion: Women having had abortion have problems such as fear and pain as they are not informed sufficiently for the procedure.

Evaluation of the Efficiency of Training Programs Given to Second Stage Primary School Students on Hepatitis-B

Emine GE�K�L, Ramazan SAVA�, T�rkan �AH�N, Fatma T�lay KUTLU, Saim YOLO�LU — 2010-01-01

Objective: This study was planned to evaluate the efficiency of the education given to second stage primary school students on hepatitis B. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 513 students from the two primary education schools in Ad�yaman, between April and May 2007. Data were collected by using questionnaire forms, which had been administered twice, including before (pretest) and two weeks after an one-hour education on hepatitis (post-test). Results: Fifty-four percent of the students were girls and 59.9% were between 13–14 years of age. The mean scores of the students in the pretest were 42.07 � 14.22 out of 100 points, and 70.02 � 17.11 post-test, respectively with a significant difference after the one-hour education on hepatitis (t=-34.391, p=0.0001). In addition, the increase of mean scores of female students were higher than male students. (t=2.652, p=0.008). Conclusion:It was concluded that training increased the students' level of information on hepatitis B. Based on these results, it could be recommended that education programs aiming to inform the society on major diseases concerning public health, particularly the development of school health services are necessary.

The Role of Perceived Social Support on Stroke Patients' Caregivers who have the Burnout Syndrome

Hem�. Melike TUNA, Prof. Dr. Nermin OLGUN — 2010-01-01

Objective: This study was conducted as descriptively with the aim to identify the role of social support in the case of burnout syndrome which is seen in caregivers of stroke patients. Materials and Methods: One hundred and ten caregivers of 110 stroke patients who had been hospitalized in one of the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital and Neurology Department of one private hospital between the years 2008 and 2009 were participated to this study. Data were obtained through the use of “Patient and Caregivers Information Form” “Functional Independence Meter” which used for patients; , and and “Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support” Results: It was identified that caregivers experienced burnout (29,94�8,06) and insensitiveness (18,57�4,45), but their personal achievement were not affected negatively (19,12�6,01). Compared to women, men experienced more burnout, and caregivers . were the most socially supported by family (19,65�8,10). Conclusions: It was concluded that the burnout syndrome of stroke patients' caregivers decrease when social support increased.

The Abused Elder in Family and Nursing Home Life: A Case Report

Prof. Dr. Fatma �Z, Ar�. G�r. Dr. Hatice TAMBA� — 2010-01-01

Elderly is a period that lead to many problems. One of these problems is abuse and neglect of elderly. In this case, the story of the Mrs. KK who was abused physically, psychologically and economically by her relatives and preferred to live at nursing homes, and possible solutions are discussed . The study was conducted between 6.February-16 March 2009. The necessary and effective care to Mrs. KK have been provided by discussing her problems experienced before and after nursing home within the context of nursing diagnoses. It was aimed at providing her a safe and quality life in the social context of nursing home via nursing interventions based on the diagnoses. In conclusion, instead of a conceptualization that elderly people should be cared at home and within the family, supporting the institutional care of elderly, and developing an understanding on an independent and safe life at institutions might be suggested. In this context, health professionals have important responsibilities.

A Neglected Problem in Stroke Patients: Pathological Laughing and Crying

Yrd. Do�. Dr.G�lendam HAKVERD�O�LU Y�NT, Ar�. G�r. Dr. Esra AKIN KORHAN — 2010-01-01

Stroke among chronic diseases is defined as neurological alterations, which occured due to interruption in blood stream to a certain part of brain. Stroke can be seen in individual as increasing deficiency in physical, psychological and social functions depending on severity and type. One of the signs that can be seen in patients is pathological laughing and crying. Pathological laughing and crying, is a behavioural manifestation of central nervous system disturbances. Patients in current state suffer from frequency of excessive crying crisis without feeling happiness or sadness. Appropriate management of emotional disturbance is important after stroke. The aim of rehabilitation nurse is conveying to the maximum functional capacity of person who have incapability and deficiency, maintaining the optimum health and lifestyle. In nursing management related to daily life of patients, evaluating of cognitive functions and emotional status as well as the management of physical symptoms are important.

Prevention of Medication Errors in Pediatric Patients

Yrd. Do�. Dr. Ebru KILI�ARSLAN T�R�NER, Prof. Dr. Firdevs ERDEM�R — 2010-01-01

Children are particularly sensitive group that should be considered in all efforts which aim to prevent the medication errors and to provide safe of medication administrations. The increased need for calculations, dilutions and manipulation of pediatric medicines, together with a need to dose on an individual patient basis using age, body weight and/or surface area, means that they are more prone to medication errors at each stage of the medicines management process. Consequently, the risk for being harmed due to medication errors in pediatrics may increase. Dose calculation errors are the most observed medication error type in pediatric and neonatal units. This type of error may occur because of nonexistence of commercial forms of medicine for children, packaging, labeling, prescription system, working conditions of profession or special characteristics of the professionals. Accordingly, when taking measures for minimizing the medication errors, all these effects and processes should be taken in to consideration. To decrease the medication administration errors, recommended precautions and practices for nurses included careful medication calculations, double-check of medications, informing the child and care giver about pediatric medication, reporting the medication errors, and arranging the working conditions to diminish the distractions. In this article, the most common medication administration errors and recommendations to prevent medication errors in pediatric patients were discussed.

Relationship of Academic Achievement and Early Intervention Programs for Children Who Are at Socio-economical Risk

Ar�. G�r. Zeynep ERD�L — 2010-01-01

Deficiency areas of children who experience developmental delays due to insufficient socioeconomic conditions, generally manifest in the form of academic failures when children start school. Early intervention services provide preventive care for children placed socioeconomically at risk. Research, examining the relationship between academic achievement and socio-economic level shows that insufficient socio-economic conditions are often the main reason of academic deficiency. When children at risk are considered, high quality care and intervention programs designed for the child or for the parents are found to impact the academic achievement of these children positively. Appropriate experiences provided through a systematic and planned effort at early periods of a child's life could help prevent academic difficulties and developmental delays in the future. For this reason, support services or intervention programs which are especially targeting children placed socioeconomically at risk and their parents, can create positive results in long term. This paper reviews literature focusing on the relationship between socio-economic insufficiency and academic failure.