Tesis sobre el tema "People registered for VAT"

The diploma thesis deals with tax records and with value added tax. Who leads the tax records, the legislation, the documents in the tax records, tax records of revenues and expenditures, liabilities, accounts receivables, inventories and fixed assets. Legislation of VAT, who is subject obligated to VAT, tax documents, the taxable and exempt benefits, the right to deduct VAT, the application of VAT in the country, application of VAT in the EU, application of VAT with the third countries. Complex example, which serves as a realistic example of keeping tax records in Excel and how to calculate a tax liability and how to fill in the tax form of VAT returns.

Registered nurses [RNs] are within the frontline of professional nursing and are expected to provide a diverse range of health care services to a varied and heterogenic group of patients. They are bound by a code of ethics that mandates that nurses respect all human rights regardless of the patient’s abilities or functional status. However, research implies that RNs do not feel adequately prepared to support patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities [IDD], and that patients with IDD are often misinterpreted and misunderstood in care. Gaining in-depth knowledge about how RNs can experience nursing for this group of patients is therefore of great importance. The overall aim of this thesis was to describe, appraise, integrate and synthesise knowledge concerning nursing for patients with IDD. A further aim was to explore and describe Swedish RNs’ perceptions of providing care for patients with IDD within a home health care setting.   This thesis consisted of two studies designed to investigate various aspects of nursing and caring for patients with IDD. Paper I was a systematic review using a meta-ethnographic approach, and Paper II was an interview study using a qualitative descriptive, interpretive design. Data was collected by systematic data base searches (Paper I), and by individual interviews (Paper II). The systematic review comprised 202 RNs (Paper I) and the qualitative descriptive study comprised 20 RNs.  In the systematic review, data was analysed by a Line of Argument Synthesis [LOAs] as described by Noblit and Hare (1988), while the data in Paper II was analysed by content analysis.     Nurses’ experiences and perceptions of nursing patients with an IDD could be understood from 14 LOAs. Six of these were interpreted to reflect a tentatively more distinctive and unique conceptualisation of RNs’ experience of nursing for this group of patients. The remaining eight LOAs were interpreted to reflect a conceptualisation of nursing per se that is a universal experience regardless of context or patient group (Paper I). In Paper II, the nurse’s perceptions were interpreted to be reflected by three overarching categories: Nursing held hostage in the context of care, Care dependant on intuition and proven experience and Contending for the patient’s right to adequate care.     Absence of understanding and knowledge about IDD might be an explanation for the “otherness” that still appears to surround this group of patients. Concentrating on the person behind the disabilities label as well as on abilities instead of disabilities could be a reasonable approach in nursing care for patients with IDD. Thus, implementing nursing models focusing on person-centred care could support RNs to moderate the health and care inequalities that are still present among patients with IDD (Paper I).    As a result of the home health care context and its organisation, the RNs perceived themselves as unable to provide care in accordance with their professional values. Not mastering the available augmentative and alternative communication tool additionally meant having to provide care based on second-hand information from support staff. The RNs also perceived that caring for this group of patients involved a daily battle for the patient’s rights to receive the right care at the right place and time and by the right person (Paper II). Hence, a broad base of evidence on what actually works best in clinical practice for this group of patients, particularly in the home care context, is still needed.
Forskning visar att patienter med intellektuella funktionsnedsättningar (IF) ofta kan misstolkas och missförstås i vården. Studier visar även att hälso- och sjukvårdspersonal generellt har en begränsad kunskap om IF. Det är inte ovanligt att sjuksköterskor uppger att de känner sig oförberedda på att stödja denna grupp av patienter och att de rädda för att inte kunna kommunicera effektivt och att vårda patienter med IF. Detta kan inverka på negativt på omvårdnaden och kvaliteten på den vård som ges, vilket i sin tur kan leda till att essentiella vårdbehov inte identifieras eller uppfylls på ett lämpligt och adekvat sätt. Det finns belägg för att personer med IF inte får vård i samma utsträckning som andra samhällsmedborgare och det verkar som att vanliga omvårdnadsmetoder inte alltid är utformade för att tillgodose vårdbehoven hos patienter med IF. Dessutom finns det rapporter som visar att problem med samordning mellan olika omsorgsinstanser har bidragit till för tidiga dödsfall bland personer med IF. Följaktligen har denna befolkning särskilda vårdbehov med komplexa sjukdomsbilder som utgör en utmaning inom instanser som tillhandahåller vård och omvårdnad för denna patientgrupp.   Inom ramen för professionell omvårdnad förväntas sjuksköterskan att kunna erbjuda vård till en varierad och heterogen grupp av patienter utifrån den etiska koden som föreskriver att sjuksköterskor ska respekterar alla mänskliga rättigheter oavsett patientens förmågor eller funktionella status. Genomförda studier påvisar att sjuksköterskor utbildade i IF är bättre rustade för att tillhandahålla en säker omvårdnad av god kvalitet till denna patientgrupp. Trots detta så finns i dagsläget ingen klar beskrivning över hur sjuksköterskestudenter förbereds på att omvårda patienter med IF under sin utbildning. Nyligen publicerade internationella studier avslöjade en stor variation i väsentligt IF-innehåll med flera uppenbara luckor i sjuksköterskeprograms utbildnings- och kursplaner. Hur dessa resultat reflekteras i den svenska kontexten är osäkert men det kan inte heller uteslutas. Forskning som undersöker hur omvårdnad för denna utsatta patientgrupp kan upplevas och uppfattas av sjuksköterskorna är därför avgörande för en ökad kunskap och för att kunna utveckla av en evidensbaserad omvårdnad inom område. Det ter sig därmed angeläget att detta blir en utbildnings- och professionell prioritet. Med normaliseringsprincipen på 1960-talet följde att de stora vårdinstitutionerna stängde och patienter med IF flyttade ut till kommunerna. Sjuksköterskan inom kommunens hemsjukvård bär nu ansvaret för patienternas omvårdnad, vilket sker i patienternas hem, och är därmed också oftast den primära vårdkontakten. Kunskap om hur sjuksköterskor kan uppleva att erbjuda omvårdnad till patienter med IF (Paper I) och hur omvårdnaden som tillhandahålls i kommunal hemsjukvård kan beskrivas och uppfattas av sjuksköterskorna (Paper II) är av därför av vikt. Det övergripande syftet i denna avhandling var således att beskriva, bedöma, integrera och syntetisera kunskap rörande omvårdnad för patienter med intellektuella funktionsnedsättningar. Vidare avsågs att beskriva hur sjuksköterskor kan uppfattar omvårdnad för denna patientgrupp inom kommunal hemsjukvård. Paper I var en systematisk litteraturstudie med en meta-etnografisk ansats och Paper II var en intervjustudie med en kvalitativ, deskriptiv och tolkande design. Data samlades in genom systematiska databassökningar (Paper I) och enskilda intervjuer (Paper II). Deltagarna bestod av 203 sjuksköterskor (Paper I) respektive 20 sjuksköterskor (Paper II). I Paper I analyserades data med meta-etnografi och en ”Line of argument” synteser (LOA), medan data för Paper II analyserades med innehållsanalys. I den första studien (Papper I) kunde sjuksköterskornas upplevelser av omvårdnad för patienter med IF förstås utifrån fjorton olika ”Lines of Arguments” synteser (LOA): Baseras på långvariga relationer (A*); Baseras på förtroende (B); Gå bortom verbal kommunikation (C*); Baseras på långsiktig planering (D); Inkluderar relevanta andra för att kunna erbjuda kvalitativ omvårdnad (E); Arbetar mot negativa attityder och utanförskap (F*);  Kräver mer kunskap i omvårdnad för denna patientgrupp (G*); Behöver erkänna personen bakom etiketten ”funktionshindrad” (H); Baseras på evidens (I); Tar oberäkneliga situationer i beaktan (J*); Kräver kunskap bortom diagnosen (K); Interprofessionellt samarbete (L); Omfatta företrädarskap och beskydd (M); Förståelse för patientgruppens komplexitet (N*). Det vill säga hur de olika men relaterade studiernas resultat tillsammans, argumentationslinjen, tolkades att representera övergripande helheter bland den ursprungliga uppsättningen av delar av sjuksköterskornas upplevelser. Åtta av dessa LOA synteser, (B, D, E, H, I, K, L, M) tolkades att reflektera ett begreppsliggörande av omvårdnad per se, det vill säga en universell upplevelse av omvårdnad oavsett kontext och patientgrupp. Medan sex av LOA synteserna, A, C, F, G, J och N tolkades att kunna spegla en unik konceptualisering av sjuksköterskors upplevelse av omvårdnad för patienter med IF. I Paper II tolkades sjuksköterskornas erfarenheter att återspeglas i tre övergripande kategorier: i) Omvårdnad tagen som gisslan av vårdkontexten; Som ett resultat av hemsjukvårdens organisering erfor sjuksköterskorna sig själva som oförmögna att tillhandahålla omvårdnad i enlighet med sina professionella värderingar. De beskrev att de ständigt sysslade med ”brandsläckning” istället för att ge en kontinuerlig omvårdnad. ii) Omvårdnad beroende av intuition och beprövad erfarenhet;Sjuksköterskorna beskrev också att de inte behärskade alternativa och kompletterande kommunikationsverktyg vilket innebar att sjuksköterskan ofta behövde basera sina bedömningar och beslut för omvårdnaden på andrahandsinformation från stödpersonalen, samt iii) ”Slåss” för patienternas rätt till en adekvat vård en del av omvårdnad; I denna sista kategori reflekterades hur Sjuksköterskorna erfor att omvårdnad av denna patientgrupp kunde innebära en daglig kamp för att säkerställa patienternas rätt till vård på lämplig plats, i lämplig tid och av lämplig person. Tolv av fjorton LOA synteser (Paper I) tolkades att partiellt speglas i sjuksköterskornas erfarenheter av omvårdnad (Paper II) inom kommunal hemsjukvård; i – A*, B, E och L; ii – C*, G* och I; iii- D, F*, H, M och N*. Två av LOA synteserna (Paper I) tolkades att inte reflekteras av sjuksköterskors erfarenheter (Paper II); Tar oberäkneliga situationer i beaktan (J*) och Kräver kunskap bortom diagnosen (K). Detta indikerar att resultatet från Paper I är överförbart i kommunal hemsjukvård i Sverige (Paper II). Avsaknad av förståelse och kunskap kan vara en förklaring till stigmatiseringen som fortfarande tycks omsluta denna patientgrupp. En omvårdnad där sjuksköterskan fokuserar på personen bakom funktionshindren och på personens förmågor istället för oförmågor ter sig som en rimlig strategi för att kunna säkerställa kvalitén på den vård- och omsorg som denna grupp av patienter har rätt till. Således kan implementering av omvårdnadsmodeller som innebär en koncentration av personcentrerad vård stödja sjuksköterskor för att motverka de hälsoskillnader och ojämlikheter som fortfarande verkar vara närvarande inom denna patientgrupp (Paper I). Det som alltjämt tycks saknas, är en bred kunskapsbas av vad som faktiskt fungerar bäst och krävs i klinisk praxis, särskilt inom hemsjukvården, för denna patientgrupp. Utbildningsprogrammen till sjuksköterska och sjuksköterskeprofessionen hade stärkts av en generell/allmän debatt om detta samt om vilka kompetenser och färdigheteter som behövs för att patienter med IF ska kunna erhålla den omvårdnad och vård som krävs för denna oftast komplexa patientgrupp (Paper II).

The purpose of this study was to compare two groups of nurses's attitudes towards the elderly and the knowledge base of the nurses as to signs, symptoms and interventions with depression and dementia in the elderly. The theoretical framework for this study was Oren's (1985) self-care deficit theory. Attitude was measured using the Koan Attitude Toward Old People Scale (Koan, 1961) and knowledge was measured using a scale developed by (Myton, Allen, and Baldwin, 1991).The population studied was registered nurses working at these state hospitals in a midwestern state and agency nurses from four agencies that provide staff coverage at these hospitals. The convenience sample consisted of state nurses (n=65) and agency nurses (n=38). A cover letter explaining confidentiality and voluntary participation was attached to each survey. Completion of the survey constituted consent to participate in the study. There were no identified risks related to participation in the study.The study did not identify significant differences between groups in any of the variables involving attitude toward the elderly, ability to differentiate signs, symptoms, and interventions for dementia and depression in the elderly. Both groups were able to correctly identify signs, symptoms and interventions for dementia and depression about one-half the time. The treatment modalities are different for dementia and depression. The problem is significant because if signs, symptoms and interventions are not identified correctly the patient will not be assisted toward recovery and self-care may decrease. The recommendation for increased inservice education on gerontological nursing are applicable to both groups.
School of Nursing

The need for Registered Nurses (RNs) in the long-term care of older people is being questioned, particularly in the context of nursing shortages, while suggestions for 'professionalising' Care Assistant (CA) roles are emerging. Despite ongoing debates about the importance of their work, research has so far been unable to provide an evidence-base for the outcomes of the work of either RNs or CAs in UK care homes. Using a multi-method interpretive approach, adopting a structure-process-outcome framework and grounded in the philosophical hermeneutics of Hans-Georg Gadamer, this qualitative research sought to illuminate the distinct contributions made by RNs and CAs to outcomes for older people in care homes. RNs and CAs from around the UK contributed 'significant' examples of their work for Phase 1 of the study and Phase 2 comprised researcher fieldwork (observation, interviews and documentary analysis) in three care homes around England. Participants included RNs, CAs, older residents, relatives, home managers and professionals working in the homes. The findings offer a rich and detailed analysis of the realities of the work, much of which takes place 'behind closed doors' and has been described to a limited extent in the literature. They suggest that the CAs' daily support helps residents to function and to feel valued, and that close, reciprocal, family-type relationships develop. The health knowledge and clinical expertise of good RNs is critical in determining residents' health outcomes, particularly in the long-term, and RNs' 24-hour 'perceptual presence' can make life or death differences in acute or emergency situations. RNs also influence the environment, atmosphere and quality of care in the home. In the context of the literature, the findings offer new insights into the role and contribution of RNs and CAs, the outcomes of their work and the priorities of residents. The study produced new models of RN and CA roles in care homes, encompassing dimensions not previously acknowledged in the literature or their job descriptions, and a new framework within which the outcomes of care for older people could be evaluated. The research offers a positive image of work with older people in independent sector care homes.

The aims of this thesis are to illuminate the meaning of being cared for and treated by nurses and physicians, as narrated by psychiatric suicidal in-patients; the meaning of taking care of and treating patient at risk of committing suicide, as narrated by nurses and physicians; and the meaning of being met and having one’s suicidal relative taken care of by health personnel, as narrated by relatives. Narrative interviews were conducted with 42 adult patients at risk of committing suicide in an in-patient psychiatric unit, 19 RNs, 19 physicians, and 15 relatives at a hospital in Norway. The tape-recorded and transcribed interviews were interpreted using a phenomenological hermeneutic method. Nurses’ relations to patients at risk of committing suicide were illuminated via the dimension ‘Distance- Closeness’ (I). The relation of the suicidal patient to the nurses was illuminated via the dimension ‘Confirming- Lack of confirming’ (II). The relation of physicians to patients was illuminated via the dimension ‘Power to - Power over’. (III). The relation of suicidal patients to physicians was illuminated via the dimension ‘Participating approach-Observing approach’ (TV). Results from the relatives’ experiences of being met by health personnel of suicidal patients reveal that the context of being met was characterized by ‘being helpless-powerless’, and that the meaning of the experiences of ‘being met’ was reflected in six themes: ‘Being seen as a human being’; ‘Participating in an I-Thou relationship with personnel’; ‘Trusting personnel, treatment and care’; ‘Being trusted by personnel’; ‘Being consoled’; and ‘Entering into hope’ (V). The interpreted meanings of the experience of being cared for as a person at risk of committing suicide were illuminated as confirmation, communion, consolation and hope. Threaded through these meanings is the relation with self and others. Thus, the essence of the results that emerged from this study indicates the presence of a relational view of the care received by people at risk of committing suicide.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå universitet, 2001, härtill 5 uppsatser

digitalisering@umu

Dengue fever has increased to the point where it has become a major international public health and economical problem, mainly in urban and semi-urban areas in tropical and subtropical regions. Worldwide 2,5 billion people live in regions where dengue can be transmitted and approximately 100 million people get infected yearly. In 2002 there was a great outbreak in Latin America, and Costa Rica was in the top three regarding reported cases. At the time of writing, reports show that cases of dengue are currently low in Costa Rica. Although the figures vary, dengue remains a public health problem. This study aimed to describe Costa Rican registered nurses’ views and experiences of caring for patients with dengue fever. Data were collected with semi-structured interviews and conducted with eight registered nurses from Costa Rica, and analysed with qualitative content analysis method with search for similarities and differences which later were categorized. The result was divided into five categories; the conception about dengue fever, caring, patient education, prevention and the future. The result showed a similar perception of the disease and was described as terrible, causing a lot of suffering for the patient, as well as a burden on the health care, that requires large financial resources. To control dengue and suppress the proliferation it is important to have different preventive means and to educate people to achieve a change of the mindset.

There is an enduring and prevailing disparity between the clinical prevalence of alcohol, tobacco and other drug-related problems and the frequency that nurses recognise and intervene in these common problems. The extant nursing literature has long determined an urgent need for further investigation into why nurses do not respond to patients with ATOD-related problems in the consistent and effective manner that the prevalence of these costly health problems require, or in a manner that reflects the opportunities that nurses have to offer brief and timely intervention. This thesis reports and discusses the investigation of factors that determine identification, assessment and interventions of patients with alcohol, tobacco and other drug-related problems by a randomly selected sample of Registered Nurses [n=1281] in practice in New South Wales, Australia. Of particular interest was the relationship between nurses' ATOD knowledge, therapeutic attitudes and clinical activity. Multiple quantitative and qualitative methods were used, firstly to systematically investigate factors within the nurse and their clinical setting that might predict desired clinical behaviour towards addressing ATOD-related problems, and secondly, to analyse and describe nurses' self-reported perceptions, views and experiences of the issue and what aids or impedes it. The research instrument - a 72 item self-completed questionnaire was developed and refined within a process of three (3) pilot studies and test-retest method. A multiple regression model was developed to establish the predictors of key clinical behaviours. Thematic coding was used to analyse the perceptions of these nurses as to the factors that affect their ability to intervene with patients who have ATODrelated problems. Convergent and divergent concerns between quantitative and qualitative findings became apparent. Thematic analysis of open-ended responses demonstrated that nurses report a complex of factors that affect their ability and capacity to intervene with patients who have ATOD-related problems. Among these are factors located within nurses themselves, within their patient(s), within their workplace, within other health professionals and within the broader social/cultural context. The latter part of the thesis systematically considers the relationships between the quantitative and qualitative findings within this large sample of registered nurses. From this comprehensive level of analysis, workforce implications for ATOD education, training and organisational support for nurses, the most numerous group of health care workers, have been readily identified. The major empirical finding of this investigation is that there is a significant difference between positive attitudinal sets and motivation of practicing registered nurses to perform desired ATOD-related clinical activities, and the lower reported frequency at which this occurs. The qualitative findings are highly convergent with the empirical ones. It is the nurse's self-identified lack of knowledge, skills, experience and confidence that is now reported as having the greatest effect on their ability to assess, identify and offer brief and timely intervention for patients with ATOD-related problems, rather than any prevailing beliefs and attitudes that these patients were not worthy of their care, or outside the legitimate framework of their nursing role.

The relationship between nutrition and HIV is multifactorial. Nutrition counseling provided by a Registered Dietitian (RD) has the potential for improving disease risk outcomes for PLWH. To determine barriers to access nutritional counseling with an RD in PLWH, and evaluate the relationship of this counseling on dietary intake, nutritional status, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and HIV-disease outcomes. This is a cross-sectional study of a consecutive convenience sample of 130 PLWH on stable ART from the MASH cohort. After consenting, participants completed a survey on types and frequency of nutritional services received in the last 12 months, and on barriers to access these services. Participants were assigned to groups according to their responses. Demographics, anthropometries, dietary intake, medical history and laboratory information were obtained. The Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) scores were calculated after obtaining two 24-hour dietary recalls, and Nutribase and SPSS 20 were used for analyses. Mean age was 47.7 years, 62.0% were male and 77.0% were Black; 48% percent were seeing an RD, with 48.3% of those visiting an RD³4 times within the year. Frequently identified barriers to nutritional services were difficulty in keeping appointments (33.8%) location (24.6%) and lack of referrals (23.8%) by medical personnel. Lack of referral was associated with lower CD4 cell count (r=-0.2, P=0.029). Compared to those who did not visit an RD, participants who did had higher AHEI scores (34.7 vs. 29.2, P < 0.001), lower waist circumference (35.5 vs. 38.5 in., P=0.003), and BMI (26.0 vs. 28.8 kg/m2, P=0.019), with higher proportion of participants within the normal range of BMI (48% vs. 25%, P=0.017). The group consulting an RD had significantly lower risk factors for CVD, with better lipid profiles for all biomarkers, and lower waist circumference (35.5 vs. 38.5 inches, P = 0.003) and systolic blood pressure (114.8 vs. 127.9 mmHg, P < 0.001). Other CVD risk factors such as ART and substance abuse, common in this population, were not significantly different between the groups. Our findings suggest that consulting with an RD is associated with better nutritional status, dietary intake and lower risk factors for CVD.

Currently South Africa has the highest number of persons living with HIV-AIDS (PLWAs) in the world. Focus-group discussions conducted by Moon (2005:3) in the Eastern Cape indicated that people may not want to get tested for HIV or to access antiretroviral therapy (ART) for fear of disclosure of their HIV-positive status and of stigmatization. These findings prompted the researcher to conduct a study in this field. The objectives of this study are to explore and describe the experiences of PLWAs with regard to the comprehensive ART management received from registered nurses at selected public primary healthcare clinics in Nelson Mandela Bay; and to develop guidelines for registered nurses that could facilitate them in rendering appropriate comprehensive ART management. The research study is based on a qualitative, explorative, descriptive, phenomenological and contextual research design. The research population comprised of HIV-positive patients who received treatment at the selected public primary healthcare clinics. Criterion-based, purposive sampling was used to select participants for the interviews. Ten in-depth unstructured interviews were conducted. Data was then transcribed and coded. One central theme identified the fact that PLWAs experienced both positive and negative experiences at the clinics. The main findings of this research included evidence of various forms of stigma experienced by the PLWAs; distrust of the lay health counselors; but also that PLWAs were generally well-treated and satisfied with the service they had received. Broad guidelines for registered nurses was formulated that could facilitate them in rendering appropriate comprehensive ART management. The study concludes with recommendations made with regards to the areas of nursing practice, education and research. Throughout the study the researcher abided by the ethical considerations. The aspects of trustworthiness implemented in this study, included dependability, credibility, transferability and confirmability (Holloway & Wheeler, 2002:354).

The aim of this study was to analyse the role of the registered nurse in the management of pro re nata (PRN) medication in a care home (nursing) for older people. Studying PRN medication provides insights into the role of the nurse in care homes (nursing) who act as assessor, decision maker and evaluator in residents' care. It also provides a lens by which to explore how residents and their carers interact and participate in day-to-day care decisions about residents' health. The case study draws on ethnography. It is a multi-method study, using documentary and medication reviews, observations and interviews to answer the research questions. Thirty-four residents were recruited to the study and 60 care home staff. Findings showed that 88.2% of residents (n=30) were prescribed PRN medication and that all residents were on a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 7 medication. During each 28-day MAR sheet period between 35 and 44 PRN prescriptions were written. They contributed 12.7% of all medication prescribed, accounting for between 1.2 and 1.5 medication per resident. Nurses were found to administer PRN medication, but a finding of this study was that this activity could be delegated to carers who were identifying resident needs. There was some evidence of resident engagement but this was often a three-way process between resident, GP and family or resident, carer and nurse. A percentage of medication that could have been PRN were routinely prescribed. Observations also identified that nurses would decide not to administer routine medication in certain circumstances and that this was directly related to their assessment of the resident. The process of medication management was dominated by the regulations and governance processes of the care home. Observations and interviews found that care home staff recognised and affirmed residents' pain but did not take action for analgesia to be administered. They were familiar with the use of pain assessment tools for older people living with dementia and had received training in dementia care. Many of the staff were also able to interpret signs and symptoms of a resident's distress. Nevertheless, their preoccupation with meeting internal and external regulator standards was a barrier to addressing residents' needs. This is the first study that has looked at an aspect of medication management to understand how nurses and care home staff work for and with residents to moderate and address their health care needs. It suggests that additional training in aspects of medication management and resident assessment may not be able to address deeper seated issues of autonomy and how the nursing role is understood and enacted in care home settings.

Learning disability (LD) affects around 2.5% of the population in the United Kingdom. Yet, the phenomenon of caring for people with communication difficulties and a learning disability (PCDLD) experiencing distress within palliative care settings is not fully understood. This study aims to gain an in-depth phenomenological understanding of how Registered Learning Disability Nurses (RNLDs) and Palliative Care Professionals (PCPs) identify and respond to the distress of PCDLD in palliative care settings. The objectives are: (a) to critically explore the lived experiences of RNLDs and PCPs who care for PCDLD experiencing distress in palliative care settings; and (b) to critically explore factors which determine how PCDLD express distress in palliative care settings. Hermeneutic phenomenological methodology incorporating a constructivist perspective was followed. Purposive sampling was used to capture professional and demographic attributes from LD nursing homes, community LD teams, and hospices. Thirteen participants consisting of eight RNLDs and five PCPs were interviewed. Data was collected by semi-structured, audio-recorded interviews, field-notes, and demographic questionnaires. Data analysis was thematic following Van Manen. Ethical approval was gained from the university Research Ethics Panel and from individual research locations. The findings indicated that Knowing by building relationships; Positivity in successful caring outcomes; Humane care; Moral duty of care; Time to care; Comfortable care environment; and Future perspectives encapsulate the primary strategies used to identify and respond to the distress of PCDLD. An essence statement portrayed the understood meaning of the fundamental nature of participants’ experiences of caring for PCDLD. The essence statement also informed both the development of a ‘New Theoretical Model of Palliative and End-of-care for PCDLD within Palliative Care Settings’, and a prototype ‘Checklist to enable social and healthcare professionals to self-evaluate their personal professional practice and the holism of care provided to PCDLD in palliative care settings’.

Bakgrund: Världen har en åldrande befolkning och den beräknas öka. Stigande ålder ökar risken att drabbas av sjukdomar vilket kan leda till ett ökat hjälpbehov. Äldre människor är sårbara relaterat till förluster. Denna sårbarhet ökar ytterligare vid flytt till en vård- och omsorgsboende. Emotionellt stöd beskrivs som ett abstrakt begrepp då det inbegriper det existentiella mötet och innehåller olika dimensioner. Emotionellt stöd beskrivs även som medmänsklighet och har visat sig leda till bättre hälsa samt att det förebygger depression. Syfte: Att beskriva betydelsen av- och vilka erfarenheter äldre personer som bor på vård- och omsorgsboenden har av emotionellt stöd som ges av sjuksköterskor och omvårdnadspersonal. Metod: Litteraturöversiktens artiklar sökes i databaserna PubMed och Chinal, 15 artiklar inkluderades med både kvantitativ, kvalitativ och mixad ansats. De inkluderade artiklarnas resultatdelar analyserades genom att söka efter skillnader och likheter som sedan sammanställdes i kategorier. Resultat: Äldre människorna upplevde att det emotionella stödet brister. Då det emotionella stödet inte gavs upplevde de äldre att de inte blev bekräftade som personer, kände ensamhet och otrygghet. Slutsats: För att de äldre ska uppleva emotionellt stöd är det viktigt att sjuksköterskan och omvårdnadspersonalen arbetar med ett personcentrerat förhållningsätt genom att möta de äldre, lyssna på dem och samtala med dem.
Introduction: The world has an aging population and it is expected to increase. When you get older, there is a high risk of diseases and due to that an increasing need of care. Older people are vulnerable due to losses. This vulnerability increases further when moving to a nursing home. Emotional support is described as an abstract concept, an existential meeting, with many dimensions. Emotional support is also described as humanity and emotional support has been shown to improve health and prevent depression. Aim: To describe, from the perspective of older people living in nursing homes, the meaning of and the experiences of emotional support given by registered nurses and nurse assistants. Methods: The articles of the literature review were searched in the databases PubMed and Cinahl, 15 articles of quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods approaches were includes. The articles were analyzed by searching for differences and similarities. The differences and similarities were then grouped together in categories. Result: The result showed that older people experienced shortcomings concerning emotional support. Older people felt that they were not confirmed as persons, felt loneliness and insecurity when emotional support was not given. Conclusion: In order for older people to experience emotional support, it is important that registered nurses and nurse assistant’s uses a person-centered approach by meeting the older people, listening to them and have good conversation with them.

Background: In South Africa there data is lacking on the health of the older population. This study aims to report on actions taken by general practitioners on abnormal blood pressure, blood glucose and osteoporosis screen identified by registered nurses, conducting home based visits to older clients. Methods An agency piloted the Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) tool in an urban affluent population. In this cross sectional secondary study analysis, 465 participants aged 60 years and over had a nurse visit in their homes and a subsequent General Practitioner (GP) visit. The prevalence of specific geriatric problems was assessed as well as the frequency of initiated procedures by the GP. This study will focus on initiated actions by the General Practitioners in response to abnormal blood pressures, blood glucose, and osteoporosis screen. Results Frequency tables were utilised to identify prevalence of the abnormal blood pressures, blood glucose and osteoporosis screen. . Abnormal blood pressures were detected (230/465, 49%) of the subjects , the GP initiated actions on only 15/465 (3.2%) of clients. Abnormal blood sugars were detected 106/465 (23%) of the GP initiated actions on 23/465 (5%) of clients. Clinical risk factors for the development of osteoporosis were detected in 252 /465 (54%) subjects GP initiated actions on 11/465 (3%) Conclusion This study explored the relationships between comprehensive geriatric assessment and subsequent GP actions and found using the CGA in this population will be successful in identifying abnormal health findings which will enable intervention. However, due to challenges in the communications and marketing of this service, GP’s were not well informed of their role and did not act on majority of the abnormal findings detected by nurses
Thesis (M.N.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.