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Biomedical subjects

K C Buckwalter

Publications and source records attributed to K C Buckwalter.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Teaching patients self care: a critical aspect of psychiatric discharge planning.

This article has dealt with selected issues in patient education that involves teaching patients self care in the mental health delivery system. It has presented several predischarge teaching techniques that have been used in a research study by the first author and other strategies that have been found to be effective in both authors' clinical practice. There are many other areas in need of systematic investigation related to self-care skills. The first author's study is one of very few conducted by psychiatric nurses to document effective self-care treatment techniques (Figure). We hope that other clinicians and researchers will become interested in this area and add to the knowledge base of self care in the field of psychiatric-mental health nursing.

Family↗
PubMed1981

Postpartum affective disorders: the manias and depression of childbirth.

Care offered to women with post-partum affective disorders is crucial to their present and future self-concept and their ability to bond with their infant. Nurses working in obstetrical units are becoming more aware of facilitating the natural bonding process and the staffs of psychiatric/mental health professionals also need to take this into account when working with mothers experiencing post-partum affective disorders. Currently there is much exciting basic research in post-partum illnesses and, it is hoped, in the future women will not have to endure extensive emotional trauma during the post-partum period. Meanwhile, it behooves nurses to help affected women and their families to cope with their experiences in the most productive, guilt-free manner.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Access to health care resources for family caregivers of elderly persons with dementia.

Concerns about the "elder care crisis" and changes in the provision of health care are fostering expectations that families should be responsible for taking care of their elderly members. The assumptions that families (1) are not providing enough care, (2) know how to provide care, and (3) have access to resources for the provision of care are embedded in the social expectation of family care for elderly persons with dementia. However, research shows that these assumptions are not based on fact.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nurse to nurse: consultation in geriatric nursing practice.

The complexity of clients in today's health care environment requires a close, collaborative working relationship among disciplines. However, nurses, who are often key decision-makers in the planning, management, and movement of clients throughout the health care system, may not use the expertise of their best allies: nurses in other settings, institutions, and specialty areas. Many care problems-at home or in the hospital, nursing home, or rehabilitation center-can be effectively resolved by nurse-to-nurse consultation. The importance and benefit of nurses relying on their own profession to answer nursing care questions are illustrated with vignettes that apply a model of consultation to the practice of geriatric nursing.

Consultants↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Iowa nurses' knowledge of living wills and perceptions of patient autonomy.

The principle of patient autonomy is well recognized in the nursing profession. This study extends the exploration of patient autonomy by examining nurses' knowledge about living wills. The questions addressed in this study included the following: (1) Were Iowa nurses aware of the living will statute? (2) What sources of information did nurses use to learn about this legislation? (3) What were nurses' perceptions of patients' rights? (4) What were nurses' perceptions of nurses' role involving living wills? (5) Were living wills followed? (6) If not followed, which factors contributed to the failure to honor a living will? and (7) Which communication mechanisms were used to alert nurses to a living will? A questionnaire was mailed to 10,000 actively licensed nurses in Iowa. Approximately 3,000 Iowa nurses responded to the questionnaire regarding Iowa living wills. Seventy per cent of the nurses knew that Iowa had living will legislation. No single educational source was a predominate choice for targeted information about the living will statute. Nurses were reluctant to suggest to patients that they should consider writing a living will. Nurses were also more willing to assume a passive role of suggesting that patients talk with relatives about the need for a living will but were less likely to be suggest that a patient write a living will for future health care treatment decisions. The majority of the nurses favored the patient having some control in health care treatment decisions. Three major factors were pertinent to the failure to follow a living will: family request, treating physician's refusal, and lack of information that the living will existed. The medical record was the primary means of communication regarding a living will. To enhance patient efforts at self-determination, nurses must recognize the advance directive legislation is available in their state and the potential impact that their nursing care may have on the implementation of the document.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The biological basis of behavioral symptoms in dementia.

This article describes the pathophysiology of dementia and differentiates between cognitive and noncognitive symptoms that characterize this devastating illness. Relationships between brain anatomic and neurochemical systems and behavioral symptoms of dementia are discussed. An overview of the etiologies and neuro-pathologies of dementia are presented as they relate to impairments in memory and intellectual abilities, personality changes, and behavioral symptoms. Recent genetic and molecular discoveries that have advanced our understanding of this complex spectrum of disorders and their treatment(s) are also highlighted.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Use of the cognitive abilities screening instrument to assess elderly persons with schizophrenia in long-term care settings.

This article presents data evaluating the cognitive status of elderly persons with schizophrenia using the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (CASI). Comparisons between the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) and the CASI demonstrate greater specificity of the CASI in determining level of cognitive function. The authors argue that the CASI provides a comprehensive profile including nine cognitive domains. Therefore, for this understudied population in nursing homes, CASI is a more useful outcome measure for psychiatric nursing interventions designed to improve cognitive function in elderly residents with schizophrenia. Psychiatric nurses cannot hope to understand and improve what they cannot accurately assess.

Aged↗