Biomedical subjects

T V McCann

Publications and source records attributed to T V McCann.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Advancing self-determination with young adults who have schizophrenia.

The research examined how community mental health nurses promote self-determination with clients who are experiencing an early episode of schizophrenia. The study used grounded theory methodology incorporating interviews and observations. The study took place in the community, in rural and regional New South Wales, Australia, and involved clients and community mental health nurses. The findings show that the promotion of self-determination is dependent on nurses educating clients about their illness and well-being, and fostering self-control. The development of a reciprocal relationship, or alliance, between nurses and clients is implicit in advancing self-determination. The implications of the promotion of client self-determination for education, clinical practice and research and these are discussed.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Community mental health nurses and authority to prescribe medications: the way forward?

This paper explores a single dimension of the nurse practitioner role - whether community mental health nurse practitioners should have authority to prescribe medications. The paper is taken from a larger study about how these nurses promote wellness with clients experiencing an early episode of psychotic illness. The focus is timely as several Australian States have recently passed nurse practitioner legislation. This qualitative study used interviews and participant observation to collect data. The fieldwork was undertaken in the community, in regional and rural New South Wales, Australia and involved community mental health nurses. The findings show that expanding the nurse practitioner role to include authority to prescribe medications is currently contentious. Respondents envisaged that prescribing authority would include most medications that are used to treat mental illness but exclude drugs that treat medical illness. They identified a need for an appropriate educational course, and called for a system of clinical supervision and ongoing support for nurses assuming this role. Participants also claimed that individual nurses who choose to forgo prescribing authority should not be coerced into undertaking this role. The findings have professional, clinical, legal and educational implications for nurses as they seek authority to prescribe within the context of a nurse practitioner role and these are discussed.

Community Mental Health Services↗

PubMed2001

Mutual relating: developing interpersonal relationships in the community.

AIM OF THE PAPER: This paper, which is part of a larger study that examined how community mental health nurses promoted wellness with young adult who were experiencing an early episode of psychotic illness, aims to explicate how nurses develop interpersonal relationships with these consumers. RATIONALE: Research into the development of interpersonal skills is important because they are an essential foundation to the promotion of wellness in psychotic illness. DESIGN/METHODS: The study used Strauss and Corbin's approach to grounded theory methodology. Concurrent data collection and analysis was undertaken incorporating interviews and observations. The study took place in the community, in rural and regional New South Wales, Australia, and involved consumers, significant others, and community mental health nurses. RESULTS: The findings show that several strategies are associated with mutual relating. Attempting to understand necessitates nurses trying to see it from insiders' points of view, while acknowledging that they can never completely understand their illness experience. Being friendly indicates that the qualities of a friendly relationship should be implicit in a professional friendship. Tuning in involves taking account of and adjusting to consumers' ways of dressing, communicating, and the types of approaches that consumers prefer. Revealing oneself is a process that helps put both consumers and nurses at ease, and helps dispel the perception consumers take part in a one-sided relationship. Being there for them, is a particular type of obligation that entails nurses being accountable for the care they provide, being a spokesperson for consumers, if required, and avoiding collusion with others. Related to avoiding collusion, is the issue of maintaining confidentiality, particularly within the context of interacting with significant others. CONCLUSION: The results of the study have implications for the way nurses develop and maintain interpersonal relationships with consumers, and this is affected by nurses' personal and professional attributes.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1999

Reluctance amongst nurses and doctors to care for and treat patients with HIV/AIDS.

A survey was carried out, using a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews, to examine why nurses and doctors might be reluctant to care for patients with HIV/AIDS. The findings provided four main themes: perceptions about sexual promiscuity; blaming certain patients with HIV/AIDS; belief in the right to refuse to provide care; and discriminatory care. The paper concludes by acknowledging the limitations of the study and examining the implications of the findings for clinical practice.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1998

Educational intervention with international nurses and changes in knowledge, attitudes and willingness to provide care to patients with HIV/AIDS.

This paper reports the findings of a study which examines the relationship between the use of an educational intervention with nurses from several Asian countries and changes in knowledge, attitudes and willingness to care for patients with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). A pre-test and post-test questionnaire was used to collect the data. The results indicate, that whilst there was an improvement in knowledge following the educational intervention, there is a need for further improvement in the knowledge levels of the nurses. The method of contracting the virus is less influential in shaping students' attitudes towards people with HIV/AIDS. Fear of contagion is evident; this increases when more invasive clinical procedures are being carried out. What is also evident is that multiple levels of infection control protocols are used with patients. Fear of contagion is also apparent in the participants' willingness to work with colleagues and patients with HIV/AIDS. While the participants stated that they were more willing to work with colleagues and patients with HIV/AIDS following the educational intervention, they said that they would continue to take additional precautions for fear of contracting HIV in the workplace. The conclusion emphasizes that it is important for education about HIV/AIDS to be incorporated within current undergraduate and in-service programmes.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1997

Willingness to provide care and treatment for patients with HIV/AIDS.

This paper is derived from the findings of a larger study which examines nurses' and doctors' attitudes towards mainstreaming of hospital inpatient services for individuals with HIV/AIDS in general hospital wards. The aim of this paper is to discuss the factors which influence nurses' and doctors' willingness to provide care and treatment for patients with HIV/AIDS. Two methods of study are used in this research--a survey questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. The findings of this study provide several themes about the positive attributes associated with caring for and treating patients with HIV/AIDS. These include: that caring for and treating is personally and professionally rewarding; the need to be non-judgemental and accepting of others; that previous work or social experience is related to willingness to work with patients; the influence of family and colleague support in the work environment; and having a duty of care.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMed1995

The global epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus infection: past reflections, future directions.

The impact of the global epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in developed countries has been far reaching, but its impact in developing countries is much more devastating. The common underlying theme that helps explain HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is inequality. The resources available to nurses in all these countries vary markedly. Although there are many instances of nurses responding in an altruistic manner, the evidence indicates that many nurses are reluctant to provide care for individuals with HIV infection. HIV and AIDS have enabled an examination of broader, fundamental questions about the nature of nursing in health care and in society.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗