Biomedical subjects
O Barr
Publications and source records attributed to O Barr.
The development of the generalist nurse within pre-registration nurse education in the UK: some points for consideration.
A major difference between pre-registration nurse education in the UK as distinct from most other European countries is the existence of discrete branches of nursing. The package of four specialty areas of adult nursing, children's nursing, learning disability, and mental health nursing do not exist at pre-registration level in the majority of other European countries. The Republic of Ireland offers pre-registration education in general, mental health and learning disability nursing, and not children's nursing. Intergovernmental support was given to the idea of a generalist nurse in 1988. Such a change in nurse education in the UK would have major implications for patients, nurses and the nursing profession, and requires careful consideration by all nurses in education and practice. This paper presents some of the key arguments for and against the adoption of a generalist approach to pre-registration nurse education in the UK.
Community mental handicap nursing services in Northern Ireland: a profile of clients and selected working practices.
The aim of this survey of community mental handicap nursing in Northern Ireland (NI) was, among other things, to construct a profile of clients of the service as well as to describe selected working practices. A 25-item questionnaire was developed and administered to all 50 community nurses working with people with learning disabilities in NI. The number of responses was 36, giving a rate of 72%. Fifty-six percent of the clients were female. Young to middle-aged adults made up the largest portion of the caseload. Over 80% of the clients had no history of hospital admission. Caseload size also differed according to the years of service, gender and grade of the nurses. The main reason for visiting clients as reported by respondents was to give physical care.
The challenge for learning disability nurses.
The need for nurses specifically educated to work with people with learning disabilities has been questioned. RNMH skills allow qualified nurses to give holistic care to their clients. To gain recognition as providing a necessary service, RNMHs must become more active in promoting their work and its outcomes.
Factors and circumstances perceived as contributing to mental health problems in people with learning disabilities.
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Job satisfaction of community nurses working with people with a mental handicap.
There is a dearth of studies on the job satisfaction of community nurses, especially those working with people with a mental handicap, in the United Kingdom. This paper reports on some of the data gathered as part of a survey of community nurses (mental handicap) (CNMH) in Northern Ireland in 1992. A 25-item questionnaire was sent to all 50 CNMH. The response rate was 72%. The results showed that most of these CNMH rated their level of satisfaction as high or very high. Additionally, they identified a number of factors which contributed to their job satisfaction and/or dissatisfaction. These findings have implications for theory building, methodology and nursing practice.
Reap the benefits of a cooperative approach. Understanding interdisciplinary teamwork.
1. For a variety of people, teamwork is effective for nursing interaction. 2. Teamwork can benefit patients and staff if careful planning of team policies is undertaken. 3. Teamwork requires agreed values, aims and objectives together with commitment of members. 4. Lack of commitment to teamwork reduces quality care, is wasteful of resources and contradicts the UKCC Code of Professional Conduct.
Down's syndrome and Alzheimer's disease--what is the link?
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Sickle cell anemia and SLE.
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Normalisation: what it means in practice.
Much of the development in the area of learning disabilities has been the result of normalisation. However, the term lacks definition. This article will explore the available definitions and outline some key components to be considered when incorporating normalisation into service provision.
Preventing complications in people who wear contact lenses.
The number of contact lens wearers has steadily increased over the past 10 years. Convenience, efficiency and availability of different types of lenses have made them popular. The rise in the use of contact lenses has increased the number of people at risk of contact lens-related complications. Studies have highlighted the consequences of poor contact lens care. Acanthamoeba keratitis is one of the most devastating complications of contact lens wear and can be avoided by adhering to the recommended contact lens regimen. This article reviews the literature on the complications of contact lens wear and stresses the need to educate the wearer. It examines the nurse's role in relation to health promotion and the basic principles for successful long-term contact lens wear. This information is relevant to all nurses caring for people with contact lenses and will be of particular interest to the nurse who wears contact lenses.
Interdisciplinary teamwork: consideration of the challenges.
Most services currently provided by the NHS involve a considerable amount of interdisciplinary team working. The effectiveness of team structures and team functioning is variable, ranging from effective to fragmented service coordination. Despite major developments in establishing productive multidisciplinary team working over the past decade, several key challenges still need to be overcome. This article outlines a definition of and the rationale for successful interdisciplinary teamwork. It considers key organizational, professional and interpersonal challenges that need to be addressed if the present level of teamwork is to be enhanced.
Learning disabilities. Community homes: institutions in waiting?
This article explores the assumption that community care is better than care in an institution for people with learning disabilities. Parallels are also drawn with community provision of residential and nursing home accommodation for people who are elderly, those who have a physical handicap, and people with a mental illness. While community care is recognised as a valuable option, the authors argue that it must be correctly implemented, and identify the need to move further forward.
A profile of learning disability nurses.
Profiling exercises provide vital data for effective and efficient deployment of resources and for monitoring the development of services. A survey, focusing solely on community nurses for people with learning disabilities in Northern Ireland, was carried out in 1992. The findings showed, among other things, a higher caseload per nurse than the UK average. While more than half the workforce had multiple qualifications there was a lack of clinical specialist training.
Continence promotion in adults with learning disabilities.
Helping to reduce rates of incontinence among people with severe learning disabilities can have profound effects on their self-esteem and on unit running costs. This paper describes a hospital-based continence promotion programme for people with severe learning disabilities using a behavioural approach.
Specialist services for people with learning disabilities.
Research confirms that the needs of people with learning disabilities are often missed out of health promotion. This paper reports the results of health screening clinics run for people with learning disabilities.
Learning disabilities. Caring teams.
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