Biomedical subjects

Pirkko Routasalo

Publications and source records attributed to Pirkko Routasalo.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Do nurses exercise power in basic care situations?

Power is a matter of authority and control. It can be wielded either consciously or unconsciously, and it can be either overt or latent. Using a structured questionnaire, this study set out to describe nurses' opinions about the exercise of power in basic care situations in both acute and long-term care. The questionnaire was organized into four categories in which items concerned: power in obligatory daily activities; power in activities necessitated by obligatory activities; power in voluntary activities; and power in activities that take into account the patient's characteristics. The samples consisted of 228 nurses from five medical and surgical wards of district hospitals, and 233 nurses from five geriatric units of a community health centre and from one nursing home in Finland. The final response rate was 65% (acute care 76%; long-term care 55%). Data analysis was based on statistical methods. The results showed that, in the nurses' own opinion, negative power is exercised only in certain situations and in the patient's best interest, when for instance there are concerns that something may happen to the patient.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Barriers to and facilitators of research utilization among Finnish registered nurses.

1. The aim of nursing research is to produce a sound foundation for evidence-based nursing; the job of nurses is to make the best possible use of that foundation and apply the knowledge produced to the practice of nursing. 2. The purpose of this study was to identify and describe barriers to and facilitators of research utilization from the point of view of Finnish Registered Nurses. 3. The BARRIERS Scale was administered to 316 nurses in two major hospitals; 253 nurses returned the questionnaire, giving a response rate of 80%. The structured data were processed with SPSS 9.0, and the unstructured data were interpreted using the method of content analysis. 4. The main barriers to research utilization identified by the respondents were: the fact that most research is published in a foreign language; that physicians will not co-operate with implementation; and that statistical analyses are difficult to understand. The facilitators mentioned most often were nurses' positive attitudes and abilities. Other important facilitators included the support and activity of a ward sister as well as encouragement, a favourable attitude and collaboration on the part of all staff members. 5. The findings are discussed in relation to the Finnish healthcare context and nurse education, and evidence-based nursing practice.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Older patients' first 72 hours in hospital.

The aim of this study was to determine what kind of care older patients receive in hospital during the first 72 h after admission. This was examined through four categories: patient's arrival on the hospital ward; patient's daily schedule on the ward; information and guidance; and interaction during the hospital stay. The focus was on five patients aged over 70 who had been admitted for prescribed examinations and care, including starting insulin medication, colonoscopy and a computed tomography scan of the colon. The data were collected by means of non-participant observation; interpretation was based on the method of content analysis. The results showed that the patients' arrival on the ward consisted of routine procedures and periods of waiting. The patients' daily schedule was determined by the ward's routines. They had very little control or influence over their own care, and limited privacy. Interaction between the patient and personnel was minimal, and lasted for only short periods of time. Patients were important sources of information for one another. There was also good cooperation among patients, helping one another to cope with minor everyday problems. It is concluded that nursing staff on the ward were preoccupied by their own routines and largely failed to take into account the views of their patients.

Age Factors↗