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DECEMBER 2000 VOL-1, NO.1 CONTINUING NURSING EDUCATION – AN OVERVIEW ABSTRACT Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) emphasizes lifelong learning and is seen as an attitude towards acquisition of knowledge. CNE needs are determined based on advances in health care, nursing science and technology. An overview of CNE is presented in this article. The personal and professional benefits are explained using a model. The need for research in this area is identified and the current scenario of CNE in India is explained. Continuing Education is expected to provide opportunities for nursing professionals towards self development that embrace motivational, critical and reflective elements. 125 YEARS OF NURSING EDUCATION IN INDIA * Shirley David, R.N., R.M., M.Sc (N) ABSTRACT India is the only country that can boast of having records of early nursing practices. In fact, from ancient times when disease was shrouded in myths, it has been found that nursing did exist in a primitive form. From 1500 BC to the current day, a tortuous path of progress, regress, change and more progress has been indelibly etched into the history of our noble profession. It is hoped that this article will serve as a reminder of our past and encourage nurses to reach even greater heights in the service of our fellow men. EMPOWERING STUDENTS FOR PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE * Mary Sulakshini Immanuel, R.N., R.M., M.Sc (N), Ph.D ABSTRACT Nursing students during their professional training, undergo socialization which has an impact on their learning. They are socialized to traditional values of subservience, obedience and confinement. Nurse educators should create an environment of encouragement, motivation, sincere colleagueship and provide opportunities to stimulate exchange of ideas and analysis of problem situations. This article emphasizes the importance of empowering nursing students towards professional practice. Four empowering strategies namely analytical nursing strategy are discussed. The consistent use of these strategies throughout the educational experience by nurse educators may help to facilitate the successful implementation of professional nursing for the students. CRITICAL THINKING IN NURSING * Vijayalakshmi Satheesh, R.N., R.M., M.Sc (N) ABSTRACT Critical thinking has been identified as essential to knowledge development and nurses need critical thinking to be safe, competent and skillful practitioners in their profession. Critical thinking is controlled and purposeful. Unlike traditional thinking, which preserves the status quo – “This is how we always do it”, critical thinking is open to possibilities and has a wide scope and vision. Critical thinkers are always active thinkers, self confident, open minded, creative, have good communication skills and are committed to excellence. They ask questions like “Am I open to new ideas and able to understand the view points differing from my own”? “Am I confident in my ability to reason and willing to do the work that requires to think critically?”. This article describes the concept of critical thinking and the characteristics of critical thinkers. It also emphasizes the ways to foster critical thinking in nursing education and nursing practice, among nurses and nursing students. PALLIATIVE CARE – A PSYCHOSOCIAL APPROACH * Leah Macaden, R.N., R.M., M.Sc (N) ABSTRACT Cancer is generally viewed by patients and professionals as a stressful event resulting in various effects like mutilation, dependency, fear of death etc. The psychological defences involved in this chronic illness include regression, denial, intellectualization, projection and displacement. The ways in which these defence mechanisms are used, will decide the psychological reaction of the patient and his family. A basic principle of Palliative Care is that the patient and his family together comprise the unit of care. Nurses are in a unique position to help patients cope with the many stress situations of cancer. Thus, it is very essential for nurses to be knowledgeable about the various psychosocial issues of these patients, the coping mechanisms commonly used and the need for support systems. This will help the nurse to integrate specific interventions and make them more patient centered. It will also help in better allocation of available resources and eventually improve quality of life for the terminally ill.
ROLE OF A PSYCHIATRIC NURSE IN REHABILITATION * Dorothy Deena Theodore, R.N., R.M., M.Sc (N) ABSTRACT The role of a psychiatric nurse involves adequate knowledge which includes understanding the meaning of psychiatric rehabilitation, the principles of rehabilitation, and the modalities available. It also involves developing a positive attitude through the understanding of the philosophy behind rehabilitation. Further it involves skill in carrying out her responsibility. This skill has been discussed utilizing the nursing process format which includes assessment, planning (formulating nursing diagnoses, goals and interventions), implementation (hospital based and community based) and evaluation. KNOWELDGE AND ATTITUDE OF NURSES TOWARDS AIDS * Christy Simpson, R.N., R.M., M.Sc (N) ABSTRACT This study was done to determine the nurses’ knowledge and attitude towards patients with HIV/AIDS and to assess the effectiveness of the formal teaching on HIV/AIDS during their basic training programs. The sample was selected by stratified random sampling. A standardized self reporting inventory of forty one items was administered to twenty three B.Sc. graduate nurses and 127 diploma graduate nurses. There was a significant difference between the B.Sc. graduate nurses versus diploma graduate nurses in their knowledge and attitude. The B.Sc. graduate nurses scored higher in overall knowledge and attitude. This implies that there is a disparity in the formal education on AIDS between the B.Sc. nursing program and the Diploma program. A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE EFFICACY OF VEGETABLE OIL AND WET MOUTH SOLUTION (ARTIFICIAL SALIVA) IN REDUCTION OF RADIATION INDUCED XEROSTOMIA IN PATIENTS WITH HEAD AND NECK CANCER * Bala Seetharaman, R.N., R.M., M.Sc (N) ABSTRACT The study was done to compare the efficacy of vegetable oil and wet mouth solution in relieving xerostomia of patients with head and neck cancer who received radiation therapy. Double blinded randomized cross over controlled design was selected for this study. Using simple random numbers, randomization was done by the pharmacists assigned to distribute the therapies. The sample size was sixty. Data collection was carried out for six weeks. Each therapy was given three times a day for two days. On the third and sixth day the investigator evaluated the effectiveness of therapy. The investigator and the patient were blinded. There was statistically no significant difference between both the therapies in relieving xerostomia related problems. AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH TO ADOLESCENTS’ REPORDUCTIVE HEALTH EDUCATION * Rajeswari Siva, R.N., R.M., M.Sc (N) ABSTRACT Reproductive health needs are poorly understood and unmet. This paper documents the exploratory study on knowledge, behavior and attitude among rural adolescent population on reproductive health and highlights the effect of alternative and innovative approach to health education. The research design used was comparative study design. Forty boys and forty girls from four different rural schools were chosen using stratified random sampling technique and the data were collected using structured questionnaire. There was gross inadequacy of knowledge and favourable attitude towards reproductive health in both groups. The alternative approach of health education was effective.
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