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Biomedical subjects

Mary Jo Gagan

Publications and source records attributed to Mary Jo Gagan.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Women maintaining physical activity at midlife: contextual complexities.

Health benefits associated with being active are well recognised and yet for many, particularly women at midlife, how this activity is maintained is both complex and poorly understood. This paper describes a qualitative feminist study in which 10 midlife women participated in two semi-structured interviews to explore factors influencing their ability to maintain physical activity over time. A thematic analysis uncovered participants' beliefs and behaviours regarding their experience of, and strategies used to maintain, regular activity. Four core themes emerged; 'exercise is part of me, part of my life', 'the importance of being fit and healthy', 'exercise interweaves and changes with life situations', and 'constraints and conflicts'. Encompassed within these four was a desire for life long good health and physical fitness. Maintaining regular physical activity was intrinsically connected to family, relationships and work. Findings from this study indicate how important it is for nurses to consider contextual realities when encouraging and supporting midlife women to maintain physical activity.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Interpersonal violence issues in the nursing classroom.

Interpersonal violence in the United States has been called a health issue of epidemic proportions (Rudman & Alpert, 2000). Reports of interpersonal violence appear daily in popular media, and specific cases have been sensationalized. The nursing profession traditionally has attempted to respond to major health issues through education, political activity, and direct patient care. So, what have nurse educators done to prepare nurses to address this issue in their clinical practices and communities?

Curriculum↗
PubMed2002

Nurse practitioner curriculum for the 21st century: a model for evaluation and revision.

The popularity and acceptance of the nurse practitioner (NP) role, developed in response to a need for additional health care providers, have led to large numbers of educational programs that prepare nurses for NP practice. These programs, following guidelines developed by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties Curriculum Guidelines Task Force prepare NPs who are able to provide care to individuals and families throughout the life span. However, in the present health care environment, the NP curriculum constantly must be monitored and evaluated to reflect change. The authors developed a model for curricula revision that incorporates the elements of health policy, community needs and demands, and curriculum goals. This model promotes ongoing reflection on the educational product and assesses graduates' abilities to serve clients and communities within the constraints and opportunities afforded by the current health care system. This model is proactive and embraces the nurse practitioner curriculum guidelines as its core.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Testing the feasibility and initial effects of iron and vitamin C to enhance nursing home residents' immune status following an influenza vaccine.

Influenza infections pose a serious threat to residents living in nursing homes and are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in older adults. It is estimated that influenza vaccination is only 30%-40% effective in the frail elderly. This 2-group experimental design study examined the efficacy of giving iron supplements to nursing home residents aged 65 and older to improve immune response following influenza vaccination. Specific aims of the study were to test study procedures and explore initial immune response. A number of barriers were encountered during the recruitment and consent phase limiting subject recruitment. Only serum transferrin was significantly different following the 30-day administration of iron supplementation. It was concluded that to achieve sufficient power to examine the effect of the intervention on immune response and infection rates, aggressive recruiting strategies at multiple sites are necessary.

Aged↗