The aim of this study was to describe patients' experiences and perceptions of receiving nursing care in their private homes. A home is a place of security, independence and an arena for one's own routines. When nurses enter a patient's home, there are expectations from both sides which affect the social interaction. Maintaining patients' dignity demands that the nurse gets to know the patients and shows respect for their autonomy and integrity. A qualitative research method was chosen. Twenty-one patients with homecare nursing were interviewed in open interviews during 2008. Data were analysed according to the principles of interpretive description. The results are described in terms of three main themes: to be a person, to have trust and to have self-esteem. Patients reported experiencing certain events that could pose threats to their dignity, integrity and autonomy, as well as to their trust in nursing care. Patients have to deal with this ambiguity of accepting care while simultaneously maintaining independence and privacy. The nurses were perceived not as a guest but as professionals who would carry out a task in the interest of the patient. For patients, there is a duality in receiving homecare nursing and still exerting independence and self-determination in their homes. The patients developed strategies to balance their own privacy and dignity, despite the inconveniences the nursing treatment and procedures involved. This empowered them in their relationship with the professional caregivers.

The purpose of this study was to describe patients' experience during and after coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention. Data were collected by interviews with 14 patients. A qualitative content analysis approach was used. Four main categories were identified that describe patients' experience of the hours during and following intervention: emotional thoughts, bodily sensations, nursing intervention of importance, and personal strategies. All patients made a comment on staff conduct and pointed out that even minor nursing actions may be of great importance. Patients were most positive toward the transradial approach. Even though the approach via arteria radialis will increase, many patients will still have their procedure done via arteria femoralis. In spite of all research and technical developments, the patients' experience from intervention via arteria femoralis is pretty much the same as it was 1997.

No abstract

This study described the work content of registered nurses (RNs) employed in municipal health care. Diary notes of three working days from 34 RNs were analysed using content analysis, and a total of 3185 activities were identified. Of these, 2807 were analysed further and grouped by comparing similarities and differences. The content of the RNs' nursing activities consisted of assessing health, giving treatments and conducting check-ups, handling pharmaceuticals and teaching. In the administration category, the content comprised planning and reporting, followed by documentation. The RNs' role in municipal health care is consultative, which reinforces their need for competence in advanced nursing, as well as in leadership and pedagogy. RNs mostly work without colleagues and they are responsible for many seriously ill patients. In order to be confident in providing qualified nursing, specialist nursing education in elderly care is needed.

9, 13±20 Nurses' use of time in a medical±surgical ward with all-RN staf®ng Aims To investigate allocation of nursing time, organisation of nursing activities and whether or not allocation and organisation have changed over time.Background In a ward that changed to all-RN staf®ng, the nurses were encouraged to implement a patient-focused philosophy. The nurses perceived that they had dif®culty in using the time available ef®ciently. Methods Non-participant observations were conducted with 2-year intervals. Ten consecutive weekdays were covered on two occasions. The study was carried out at a university hospital in Sweden. Findings Between observations, a signi®cant change in the organization of the direct care had occurred, and the same tendency was found in patient administration and general management. The organization of work changed from a partly fragmented to a more coherent one. The time used for direct care and administrative activities increased between the two observations, while indirect care, personal and service activities decreased. Conclusion It can be suggested that the nurses used their time ef®ciently and, over time, they developed a more coherent way of organizing nursing activities.

No abstract

The need for an interpreter, and the native tongue of the patient, should be clearly stated on the radiology request form, to allow timely scheduling of an interpreter. Intercultural communication in nurse radiographers' education should be enhanced.

Objectives: This article describes the theoretical foundation and methodology used in a study intended to increase knowledge concerning informal caregivers' resources to health (in salutogenesis; General Resistance Resources, GRRs). A detailed description of how the approach derived from salutogenic theory was used and how it permeated the entire study, from design to findings, is provided. How participation in the study was experienced is discussed and methodological improvements and implications suggested. Method: Using an explorative, mixed method design, data was collected through salutogenically guided interviews with 32 Swedish caregivers to older adults. A constant comparative method of analysis was used to identify caregiver-GRRs, content analysis was further used to describe how participation was experienced. Findings: The methodology unraveled GRRs caregivers used to obtain positive experiences of caregiving, but also hindrances for such usage contributing to negative experiences. Mixed data made it possible to venture beyond actual findings to derive a synthesis describing the experienced, communal context of the population reliant on these GRRs; Caregivinghood. Participating in the salutogenic data-collection was found to be a reflective, mainly positive, empowering and enlightening experience. Conclusion: The methodology was advantageous, even if time-consuming, as it in one study unravelled caregiverGRRs and hindrances for their usage on individual, communal and contextual levels. It is suggested that the ability to describe Caregivinghood may be essential when developing health-promoting strategies for caregivers at individual, municipal and national levels. The methodology makes such a description possible and suggested methodological improvements may enhance its usability and adaptability to other populations.