Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Davidhizar

Publications and source records attributed to R Davidhizar.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Is there a difference in nurse burnout on the day or night shift?

Since it appears that burnout continues to be a problem for health care workers, this area deserves continued investigation and study. While stresses unique to the night shift are identified in the health care literature, the examination of burnout in relation to shifts worked does not appear to be present. While this preliminary study did not provide statistically significant data from which generalizations can be made, the tendency toward significance between the day and night shiftworkers in the area of personal accomplishment is important and identifies the need for further study in this area. One answer to the nursing shortage has been to extend shift lengths from eight hours to 12 hours. In fact, the popularity of extended shift hours is increasing in spite of indications that most 12-hour nurses report fatigue. Not only do studies need to be done to determine if quality of care is suffering, but the effect of 12-hour shifts on burnout and potential subsequent withdrawal from nursing needs to be examined. Symptoms of burnout rarely get better when ignored and therefore are deserving of recognition and attention. Since both intrinsic and extrinsic factors are involved, this issue should not be addressed only by further research investigation, but by incorporation of relevant concepts in nursing education, attention to handling stress in the workplace, and organizational intervention to minimize extrinsic stressors in the workplace. Extrinsic stressors may be reduced through attention to such issues as workload, flexible scheduling, and conflict management.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1993

Helping survivors cope with sudden death.

Sudden death is extremely traumatic for survivors. Sudden death allows no preparation or special moments of farewell and thus leaves survivors with feelings of guilt as well as grief. Caring for survivors presents a challenge to the nurse and an opportunity to utilize strategies around a crisis intervention model that can assist survivors in coping. Helping survivors can be crucial in encouraging those who remain to experience successful bereavement and to cope with the loss.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1993

Are your students prepared for a visit from the Joint Commission?

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations 1991 standards added emphasis on the nursing care agencies provide. When previous standards required the organization to demonstrate whether it had the means of providing good patient care in place, the new standards require that delivery of competent care can be verified. All nursing students must be knowledgeable of these standards because they provide a significant amount of nursing care and are present in health care organizations in significant numbers. This requires administrative planning between nursing schools and agency staff. This planning needs to include orientation of agency staff to educational objectives for each level of student and orientation of students to the agency and its policy and procedure manual.

Accreditation↗
PubMed1993

Soft-spoken managers: a blend of communication styles.

Traits of a soft-spoken person are sometimes seen as negative qualities for managerial positions. Yet, using this technique together with an assertive style can produce clear communication to promote effective relations and to achieve managerial objectives.

Communication↗
PubMed1992

The dynamics of laughter.

The benefits of humor have been accepted throughout human history. Humor is widely accepted for its positive physiological and psychological effects in a variety of situations. The psychiatric literature purports humor as an effective tool in psychiatric illness and psychotherapy. The benefits of humor in business, management, and education are also being described because the right perspective facilitates problem solving both interpersonally and in a group setting, and humor puts people at ease, promoting expression and the exchange of ideas. In the nursing literature, humor and laughter are increasingly presented as an approach that can assist the nurse in meeting health-related goals and objectives. Not only can humor benefit the patient, but the use of humor can facilitate effective management of staff and others encountered in the health care setting. Humor also has negative functions. Although the nursing literature on humor identifies that there are some situations in which humor is contraindicated, little attention is given to the problem created for the nurse when others, i.e., patients or family members, fellow staff members, or physicians, laugh inappropriately. This article discusses the assessment of laughter. Benefits of laughter and humor are described. The causes of inappropriate laughter are outlined, and the dynamics of inappropriate laughter are considered. Finally, implications for nursing practice are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1992

Co-dependency in the workplace.

Co-dependency has become a familiar term in recent years. No only do mental health professionals encounter the phenomenon, but with the bestseller status of Co-Dependent No More (Beattie 1987), more and more laypersons have begun to identify co-dependent individuals among family members and friends. Community health nurse managers may encounter this problem in clients as well as in other nurses. Of particular concern to the community health nurse manager is co-dependency among nurses on the staff. Co-dependency exhibited by nurses can have a negative effect on group morale and team spirit in a community health setting. This article defines co-dependency and presents guidelines for responding to it in community health nurses.

Dependency, Psychological↗
PubMed1992

Interpersonal communication: a review of eye contact.

Because healthcare takes place in the context of an interpersonal relationship, it is important for the healthcare worker to be cognizant of eye contact and the implications eye contact may have on the delivery of patient care. The healthcare worker should consider a variety of factors in evaluating the patient's eye contact including cultural background, emotional state, personality characteristics, and gender. Each patient should be personally assessed and appropriate healthcare strategies planned that meet individual needs. Interpersonal approaches need to be modified on an ongoing basis as the patient provides feedback during the healthcare worker-patient interaction.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

When your patient complains.

A caregiver's attitude and mood sets the tone for the interpersonal environment in which patients and caregivers relate. Caregivers should role model a positive attitude. When complaints are expressed, the caregiver should listen and make careful note not only of the content of what is expressed but the feelings behind the message. The caregiver should assess the meaning behind the complaint in order to be able to appropriately receive, investigate, and respond to complaints. It is the wise caregiver who accepts that complaints are an inevitable part of the care setting and works to develop expertise in ways of handling this human patient reaction.

Adaptation, Psychological↗