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M J Kreitzer

Publications and source records attributed to M J Kreitzer.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Creating a healthy work environment in the midst of organizational change and transition.

In the midst of organizational change and transition, the need for a healthy work environment is greater than ever. Leaders may be in a position of leading staff on a journey they would rather not be on. Although there may not be a choice of destination, there are many decisions to be made along the way that will impact the health and quality of the journey. Creation of a healthy work environment does not occur overnight. It requires acknowledgment of the reality of the present environment, clear behavioral expectations and standards, systems, and structures to ensure the organizational changes are enduring and a means to assess continually the health of the work environment. Leaders have an opportunity and a responsibility to structure organizations in such a way that dignity, integrity, honesty, and compassion are preserved.

Hospitals, University

How healthcare professionals contribute to hope in patients with cancer.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To explore whether healthcare professionals influence the level of hope in patients with cancer and, if so, how they influence their hope. DESIGN: Descriptive, qualitative design. SETTING: An adult hematology/oncology unit in the upper midwestern United States. SAMPLE: Thirty-two men and women receiving active or supportive treatment or palliative care for cancer. METHODS: Semistructured interviews conducted in the participants' hospital rooms. Ten investigators and two consultants transcribed and analyzed the interview data using content analysis. They identified themes and subthemes that described healthcare professionals' roles. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Healthcare professionals' contributions to hope as described by patients with cancer. FINDINGS: Healthcare professionals positively and negatively influenced hope in this sample. Hope was facilitated by being present, giving information, and demonstrating caring behaviors. Negative influences on hope primarily concerned the way in which healthcare professionals gave information. CONCLUSION: Healthcare professionals do influence patients' perceptions of their hope. Although most nursing actions are hope enhancing, nurses can reduce a patient's sense of hope if information provided or attitude toward the patient is insensitive or disrespectful. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nurses can increase patients' hope by being present, taking time to talk, and being helpful. They must provide information and answer questions in a compassionate, positive, honest, and respectful manner. Caring behaviors such as thoughtful gestures, showing warmth and genuineness, and being friendly and polite also increase patients' hope.

Adaptation, Psychological

Trends in healing.

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Consumer Behavior

Effects of carbohydrates in growth medium on agglutination of several species of Salmonella with polyvalent H antiserum.

The effect of various carbohydrates in the growth medium on agglutination of salmonellae with polyvalent H antiserum was studied. There appeared to be a relationship between fermentation of the carbohydrate by the organism and resultant agglutination with the antiserum. It is recommended that the tube test for flagellar antigens be allowed to remain in a water bath for 2 hr before the final observation is made. Sorbitol, dulcitol, mannose, maltose, rhamnose, or trehalose, when included in the growth medium for Salmonella, yielded high percentages of positive agglutinations with all conditions of the experiment.

Agglutination Tests

Rapid determination of Salmonella in samples of egg noodles, cake mixes, and candies.

A glass apparatus system was compared with a standard enrichment broth-selective agar method to test samples of egg noodles, cake mixes, and candy for the presence or absence of salmonellae. The glass apparatus system used fermentation of mannitol, production of H(2)S, or motility, in conjunction with a serological test of flagellar antigens, to detect salmonellae. No salmonellae were detected in 173 samples of food products. Of these samples, 171 were found to be Salmonella-negative after 48 hr with the glass apparatus system. After 72 hr, the standard Salmonella procedure yielded 38 samples which produced Salmonella false-positive results on selective agars. Inoculation of samples with cultures of Salmonella showed that approximately one inoculated cell could be detected after 48 hr of incubation with the glass apparatus. The standard Salmonella test requires a minimum of 72 hr for completion. Compared with the standard Salmonella test, the glass apparatus system is a more rapid and simple system that can be used to determine the presence or absence of Salmonella in these food products.

Antigens