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Biomedical subjects

N R Kelly

Publications and source records attributed to N R Kelly.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

The transition to first position as nurse practitioner.

The nurse who graduates from a nurse practitioner program leaves a comfort zone of nursing practice to enter a new position where feelings of insecurity and stress are common. Because the role of the nurse practitioner (NP) continues to evolve and is influenced by many environmental issues, the preparation of the NP by the academic institution needs to be assessed on a frequent basis. The purpose of this research was to obtain a better understanding of the transitional phase to the first position as NP after graduation. The perceptions of preparation, gains, losses, barriers, facilitators, and strategies for adjustment were explored. A qualitative approach using focus groups was developed in which 21 recent NP graduates from a large university participated in one of four focus groups. Peer debriefing and participant verification were techniques used to ensure credibility and trustworthiness of the data and subsequent analysis. The themes identified were: loss of personal control of time and privacy; changes and losses in relationships; feelings of isolation and uncertainty in establishing the NP role; and a special bonding with clients. Although the participants perceived they were adequately prepared for their role, they also described feelings of guilt and uncertainty from not knowing information they believed they should know. They concluded that they functioned differently than the physician as well as other nurses and found it necessary to distance themselves from the role of other health care providers. This study has implications for colleagues, academic institutions, and the individual nurse practitioner.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2000

Exploring barriers to utilization of poison centers: a qualitative study of mothers attending an urban Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Clinic.

OBJECTIVE: Prior research regarding poison center utilization identified risk factors for underutilization including race/ethnicity and acculturation. The purpose of this study was to understand factors contributing to underutilization of poison centers by low-income and minority mothers. METHODS: Focus groups were conducted with women attending an urban Women, Infants and Children clinic. Transcripts were analyzed for themes and key points. RESULTS: Twenty-two English-speaking mothers and 21 Spanish-speaking mothers participated in 7 groups. Participants viewed poisoning as a serious problem to which all children are susceptible. English-speaking mothers had heard of the poison center but were unaware of services provided. They preferred to use the 911 system, which was viewed as immediate medical assistance and was an easy number to remember. Women questioned the credentials of the poison center staff. Spanish-speaking mothers had limited knowledge of poison centers and were concerned about language barriers. CONCLUSIONS: To increase utilization of poison centers, educational interventions must address these specific needs and misconceptions and should be produced in Spanish and English versions.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Assessing parental utilization of the poison center: an emergency center-based survey.

The purpose of this study was to identify and characterize caretakers who fail to utilize the poison center for unintentional poisonings involving children. We interviewed 210 caretakers of children evaluated for unintentional poisoning in the emergency center of an urban, university-based teaching hospital to determine (1) whether demographic differences exist between those caretakers who contacted a poison center prior to the emergency center visit and those who did not and (2) whether differences exist in prevalence of poison prevention knowledge and behaviors between the two groups. Ninety-six (46%) of caretakers did not contact the poison center prior to the emergency center visit. Significant differences were found between the two groups for the following caretaker variables: race/ethnicity, language preference, age, level of education, country in which schooling occurred, and type of insurance coverage for the child. When logistic regression was used to control for confounding, the two variables associated with failure to use the poison center were black race and schooled outside the United States (primarily in Mexico). Poison center callers reported a higher prevalence of poison prevention knowledge and behaviors than noncallers. Educational interventions should be targeted to the groups of caretakers identified who do not use the poison center.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Effectiveness of a poison center: impact on medical facility visits.

To estimate the effectiveness of a poison center by determining the number of potential medical facility visits for childhood poisonings which are prevented, and to determine how callers learned about the poison center in order to help guide future public educational efforts, a cross-sectional telephone survey was done. A systematic sample of caretakers of children < 6-y-of-age living in Harris County, TX, and who called the poison center about a poisoning incident between February 1993 and January 1994, was taken. One hundred sixty-six/197 eligible caretakers (84%) completed the survey. Of the 166 caretakers, only 5 (3%) were referred by the poison center to a medical facility for treatment, although 6 (3.6%) actually sought medical attention. The remaining 160 (96.4%) were successfully managed at home. The majority of these (74%) required no intervention and the remaining 26% required only minimal treatment, including ipecac, dilution, irrigation or observation. Of the 160 caretakers managed at home, 69 (43%) would have sought medical attention for the child at a health care facility if the poison center did not exist, and of those 81% would have gone to an emergency center or hospital for evaluation. Callers learned about the poison center most often from family/ friends, doctors, Mr Yuk stickers, television, previous use, or pharmacists. Poison centers decrease health care costs by preventing unnecessary medical facility visits for minor childhood poisonings which can be successfully managed at home. Methods effective in educating the public about poison centers should be continued and other methods explored to increase poison centers' use.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

The experience of being a male student nurse.

Although schools of nursing market their programs to all segments of society, men are underrepresented in schools of nursing. The purpose of this study was to identify male students' perceptions of the motivational factors, barriers and frustrations encountered in becoming a nurse. Eighteen students attended one of four focus groups representing one associate program, two baccalaureate programs and one diploma program. The students' belief that society perceived nursing as a feminine profession was an underlying thread that related to many of their perceptions and feelings. The most influential support people noted were immediate family, especially wives. The participants also believed that high school counselors were of no assistance in choosing nursing as a career. Even though the schools of nursing were perceived as supportive, the participants had feelings of isolation and self-doubt.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The transitional process of retirement for nurses.

Retirement exemplifies one of the most important transitions in life. A job provides structure to daily life, adds to a sense of self-worth and self-esteem, and is a means of self-expression, all of which define and identify the person. This work activity links individuals to a society and to a social network. When an individual retires, there is a loss of one role and a beginning of a new one. The purpose of this research was to explore the preretirement period of nurses to better understand the transitional process. A qualitative approach was chosen to enable the researchers to explore in-depth perceptions and opinions of this subjective experience. Interview questions were developed from the literature to determine the perceptions of preparation, barriers, and facilitators in the process, losses, gains, and coping strategies that were helpful. A purposive sample of female nurses from academic institutions and hospitals were invited to participate in one of three focus groups. All were invited to a fourth focus group session during which the findings from the researchers were presented and the participants verified the results. Of the 19 participants, 11 had retired, whereas 8 were in the preretirement phase. Four nurses had accepted an incentive retirement offered at their institution. The conversations were taped, transcribed, and analyzed. Thematic analysis identified both positive and negative aspects of the experience with concerns related to finances, timing of retirement, discretionary time, and relationships. Participants frequently expressed feelings of inadequacy with the numerous decisions related to finances and wished the institution had provided more information. They perceived the most enjoyable gain to be the time to enjoy and do the things they wished. The prevalent feeling among the groups was that the loss of work friends was very difficult. Old relationships would need to be fostered and new ones developed in the retiree role. Based on the findings, support services, including advisers and counselors, are recommended to ease the movement through this transitional process. The assumption is that if individuals have a better understanding of the retirement process and their new role, they will prepare and adjust better.

Adaptation, Psychological↗