Ükke Karabacak

Care plans using concept maps and their effects on the critical thinking dispositions of nursing students

It is expected that nursing education improves abilities of students in solving problems, decision making and critical thinking in different circumstances. This study was performed to analyse the effects of care plans prepared using concept maps on the critical thinking dispositions of students. An experimental group and a control group were made up of a total of 80 freshman and sophomore students from the nursing department of a health school. The study used a pre-test post-test control group design. The critical thinking dispositions of the groups were measured using the California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory. In addition, the care plans prepared by the experimental group students were evaluated using the criteria for evaluating care plans with concept maps. T-test was used in analysing the data. The results showed that there were no statistically significant differences in the total and sub-scale pre-test scores between the experimental group and control group students. There were also significant differences in the total and sub-scale post-test scores between the experimental group and control group students. There were significant differences between concept map care plan evaluation criteria mean scores of the experimental students. In the light of these findings, it could be argued that the concept mapping strategy improves critical thinking skills of students.

The relationship among pressure ulcers, oxygenation, and perfusion in mechanically ventilated patients in an intensive care unit.

PURPOSE We examined the relationships among oxygenation, tissue perfusion, and other comorbid conditions not incorporated into the Norton Scale, and pressure ulcer (PU) development in subjects receiving mechanical ventilation. DESIGN Descriptive, observational study. SETTING AND SUBJECTS The setting was our university hospitals surgical/emergency intensive care unit in Istanbul province, Turkey. The sample comprised 30 patients who were older than 18 years, did not have a PU on admission, and had been mechanically ventilated for more than 24 hours when data collection began. METHODS Skin integrity and a PU risk, using the Norton Scale, were administered twice daily. In addition, serum blood testing, vital signs, and data regarding ventilation and oxygenation status were obtained from the patients electronic medical records. RESULTS Slightly less than half of subjects were women (n = 14, 46.7%). Their mean age was 54.36 years (SD = 20.68). Pressure ulcers developed in 5 patients (16.7%); all PUs were located on the heel. All ulcers were initially observed as stage I lesions; 1 progressed to a stage II ulcer and 1 progressed to a stage III ulcer. Patients who developed pressure ulcers have higher serum glucose levels (z = −2.198; P = .028), higher serum pH levels (z = −2.031; P = .028), and lower diastolic blood pressures (z = 0.055; P = .057) than those who remained ulcer free. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate that mechanically ventilated patients who develop PUs were more likely to have significantly higher blood glucose levels, significantly lower diastolic blood pressure values, and significantly higher serum pH values than were patients who remained free of PUs. Nurses who care for mechanically ventilated patients should recognize these factors and initiate preventive interventions as indicated.

Image of nursing held by nursing students according to gender: a qualitative study.

This paper is a report of a study to determine the nursing images of female and male nursing students. The study used a qualitative research design to determine nursing images of male (n = 20) and female (n = 20) nursing students. To analyse the data, the method used content analysis. Statements were organized under three categories and seven themes after content analysis. The first category, nursing concept, incorporates the two themes of: (i) female or sister; (ii) job definition. The second category, choosing, incorporates the four themes of: (i) Desire of Others; (ii) Guarantee of Work; (iii) Being Helpful to Others; and (iv) Limited to Academic Achievement. The third category, Gender, incorporates the one theme of: (i) Gendered Approach. Male students have started to take part in nursing programs relatively recently; therefore, more research is needed in the fields of academic accomplishments of male students.

The Effect of Exaggerated Lithotomy Position on Shoulder Pain After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Abstract: Background: The exaggerated lithotomy position with the expertise of nurses can be successful solution for the patients who have the postoperative shoulder pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Aims: This study aimed to determine the effect of applying an exaggerated lithotomy positions to patients who had laparoscopic cholecystectomy to relieve shoulder pain. The study was conducted on nonrandomized groups and made as a semiexperimental study with a pretest/post‐test control group design. Design, Settings, and Subjects/Participants: The study was conducted on 102 patients who had elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy and agreed to participate in this study after they met the inclusion‐exclusion criteria in the general surgery clinic of a training and research hospital in Istanbul between December 12, 2012, and June 30, 2013. Methods: The pain levels (10 minutes before and after positioning) and peripheral oxygen saturation (SPO2) levels (1 minute, 5 minutes, and 10 minutes before and after positioning—total 6 times) of the patients were measured using a visual analog scale and pulse oximetry, respectively. The pain levels and the analgesic (pethidine hydrochloride and diclofenac sodium) usage of the patients in both the experimental and the control group were compared. Results: The exaggerated lithotomy position appreciably lowered the shoulder pain of the patients in the experimental group (t = 12.663; p = .000 < .001). It also increased peripheral saturation levels of the patients more rapidly compared with those in the control group receiving analgesics (t = 17.693; p = .000 < .005). In addition, it decreased the need to use additional analgesics and opioids (t = 2.14; p = .037). Conclusions: In this study the exaggerated lithotomy position was found to be fast and effective for relieving shoulder pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, decreased the need to use additional analgesics and opioids, and, in conjunction with pain control, also contributed to improvements in respiratory functions.

The Human Papilloma Virus Vaccination: Turkish Mothers’ Views

Objectives: This study was conducted in order to analyze the knowledge and opinions of mothers of daughters in Turkey regarding the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted at 8 public family health centers at primary health care institutions affiliated with the Ministry of Health located in Ataşehir, in Istanbul province. A total of 252 mothers of daughters participated. A sociodemographic characteristics form and an HPV vaccine evaluation questionnaire were used to collect the data. The data were analyzed using percentage, frequency distribution, a chi-square test, and Fisher’s exact test. Results: Most of the participating mothers were between the ages of 28 and 47 years (68.7%), had a high school graduate education or less (82.5%), were not employed (67.9%), and had a low family income (57.6%). The majority (95.6%) had no experience with cervical cancer in their family, 60.7% had never heard of HPV infection, 72.2% did not know that HPV infection is related to cervical cancer, 54.8% had never heard of the HPV vaccine, 89.7% had not been advised to have their daughters vaccinated, and 98.8% had not yet had their daughters vaccinated. Among the factors influencing the mothers’ information about HPV infection were age (p=0.021), education level (p<0.001), work status (p<0.001), mothers’ marriage age (p<0.001) and family income level (p=0.009). It was determined that a greater education level positively influenced the mothers’ intention to get the HPV vaccine for their daughter (p=0.044). Conclusion: This study revealed that the mothers had very limited knowledge of the HPV vaccine and that health professionals do not sufficiently inform parents on this subject. It was also found that the high cost of the vaccine and other influences had a negative impact on intention to pursue obtaining the vaccine.