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Biomedical subjects

Beth Perry

Publications and source records attributed to Beth Perry.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Touched by a nurse: the imprint of exemplary oncology nursing care.

This paper examines the relationship between exemplary oncology nursing practice and professional fulfillment. What inspires nurses to choose oncology and, subsequently, what gives them impetus to continue in this field? To answer this question, oncology nurses were invited to recall moments in their careers when they were satisfied that they had chosen the "right" career. Data, in narrative form, were collected through an online research technique. Submissions were analysed using three approaches, narrative analysis (Priest, Roberts, & Woods, 2003), poetic interpretation (van Manen, 1990) and photovoice (Woolrych, 2004). Findings reveal that oncology nurses who provide excellent care, and make strong connections with their patients, are also usually very satisfied with their careers. Specifically, nurses provide exemplary care and report attaining professional fulfillment when they achieve connection with those in their care by affirming value and sharing humour. Second, caregivers feel they are making a difference when they "see patients through" the care trajectory. Nurses accomplish this in part by helping people live on, individualizing care, enabling hope, and helping individuals find meaning. It is anticipated that this paper will reawaken memories of similar experiences in caregivers, thus enhancing confidence, self-esteem and energy and reminding nurses that they do unquestionably leave an imprint.

Adolescent↗

Rapid optical coherence tomography and recording functional scattering changes from activated frog retina.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has important potential advantages for fast functional neuroimaging. However, dynamic neuroimaging poses demanding requirements for fast and stable acquisition of optical scans. Optical phase modulators based on the electro-optic effect allow rapid phase modulation; however, applications to low-coherence tomography are limited by the optical dispersion of a broadband light source by the electro-optic crystal. We show that the optical dispersion can be theoretically estimated and experimentally compensated. With an electro-optic phase modulator-based, no-moving-parts OCT system, near-infrared scattering changes associated with neural activation were recorded from isolated frog retinas activated by visible light.

Action Potentials↗

Children's play narratives: what they tell us about lesbian-mother families.

Play narratives can offer a unique insight into the child's internal world. This study compared the play narratives of children in 38 lesbian-mother families; 73 two-parent, heterosexual-mother families; and 58 single-heterosexual-mother families recruited from a general population sample. Findings indicated positive mother-child relationships and well-adjusted children. Girls' narratives showed more affection than boys' and were more strongly associated with mothers' interview measures, suggesting that girls' play narratives reveal a more accurate picture of family relationships.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Children with lesbian parents: a community study.

Existing research on children with lesbian parents is limited by reliance on volunteer or convenience samples. The present study examined the quality of parent-child relationships and the socioemotional and gender development of a community sample of 7-year-old children with lesbian parents. Families were recruited through the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, a geographic population study of 14,000 mothers and their children. Thirty-nine lesbian-mother families, 74 two-parent heterosexual families, and 60 families headed by single heterosexual mothers were compared on standardized interview and questionnaire measures administered to mothers, co-mothers/fathers, children, and teachers. Findings are in line with those of earlier investigations showing positive mother-child relationships and well-adjusted children.

Child↗

Core nursing values brought to life through stories.

AIM: To determine what contributes to the professional fulfilment of registered nurses. METHOD: An interpretive research approach was used to gather data from a large international sample of nurses from a variety of nursing specialties. A web-based data-collection method was developed to solicit and receive submissions. FINDINGS: Nurses who believed they provided high quality care and made strong connections with patients were usually very satisfied with their careers. CONCLUSION: Nurses who become well satisfied with their career choice live out their core values and engage in interdependence. They entwine themselves in a mutually dependent way with patients, learning and growing together as they share the journey through the care trajectory.

Career Choice↗