/library/oar/handle/123456789/57169 2026-05-29T17:39:52Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/65758 Title: Graduate nurses' perceptions of their transition period from a student to a nurse Abstract: The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of graduate nurses during their transition period from a student to a nurse. Ten graduate nurses emerging from various cohorts participated in the study. Data was collected by means of tape recorded structured interviews. These were transcribed and analysed by using thematic analysis. Four themes emerged from the data: 'role conflict', 'being different', 'novice nurse', and 'becoming a nurse'. The findings reveal that graduate nurses encounter many difficulties during their first year as qualified staff. They recalled that they had to compromise their values with those of the hospital system, and for them this was a major source of role conflict. They also experienced difficulties in fitting in and become accepted as part of the nursing team by the other nurses. The main reason was their being perceived as different. The graduate nurses also felt that being degree nurses, it was their responsibility to maintain standards in nursing and they felt that this was not always easy. As regards their clinical practice, the participants felt that although they were able to carry out basic nursing care, they found it difficult to deal with new and complex situations. Overall, the graduate nurses were proud of what they had achieved. They considered nursing to be a challenging career and were happy to be in the caring profession. These findings indicate that the graduate nurses' overall experiences of their transition period from a nursing student to a qualified graduate nurse are similar to the experiences of graduate nurses documented in the literature. It is suggested that further larger scale studies are undertaken before any conclusions can be drawn, and to address the problems identified in this study. Description: B.SC.(HONS)NURSING 1999-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/65222 Title: Nurses' knowledge and fear in caring for patients with HIV/AIDS Abstract: There is an abundance of nursing literature on nurses' knowledge of HIV/AIDS, yet there is a paucity of studies exploring fear of nurses in caring for HIV/AIDS patients. The aim of this study, was to explore registered nurses' knowledge on HIV/AIDS and their fear in caring for patients with HIV/AIDS. A descriptive survey approach was used to fulfil this aim. Convenience sampling was used and three male medical wards were chosen for the study. A total of fifteen nurses met the inclusion criteria. Nurses' knowledge and fear were explored by using a self-administered questionnaire and a 100% response rate was obtained. Findings suggest that knowledge is variable amongst nurses, with knowledge being high in certain areas and low in others. The findings also suggest, that nurses experience fear when caring for HIV/AIDS patients. Several recommendations were made including organization of more in-service training courses and issuing of a regular AIDS update bulletin; organization of a permanent counseling service for nurses, by management and repetition of the· study, using a questionnaire and an observational schedule with a larger randomly-chosen sample. Description: B.SC.(HONS)NURSING 1999-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/65090 Title: Nurses' perceptions of the spiritual care of patients Abstract: Although commitment to holistic care is an established notion in nursing, the lack of research in the spiritual dimension of care led the student researcher to carry out a small scale study which aimed to explore nurses' perceptions of the spiritual care of patients. The student researcher used a descriptive non-experimental design where qualitative and quantitative data were obtained through a self administered questionnaire. The sample used was a convenience sample of eighteen Maltese nurses working full,-time in two medical wards at the local general hospital. The response rate was of 100%. This study gave further indication that spirituality and spiritual care are still highly associated by nurses with religiosity. This finding is recurrent in previous studies carried out in societies with a predominant Judeo-Christian faith (Ross 1997a, Narayansamy 1993). Therefore in such situations, even though literature agrees that spirituality cannot be limited to believers, religiosity might be that factor in life which gives meaning and purpose and embraces all the individual's relationships. These are the attributes given to spirituality by most of the literature reviewed in this last decade (Ross 1997a, Long 1997). Results showed that nurses might have some awareness about spiritual care, but show lack of knowledge as probably they do not consider it as an integral part of their role. Education given to qualified and student nurses might increase self-awareness and the knowledge base for the future implementation of spiritual care. Furthermore the ward environment was identified as an inhibiting factor which might be overcome by systematic and practical ways. Spirituality in nursing seems to be still in its infancy due to lack of research. Therefore if nurses claim their commitment to holistic care, the profession is urged to focus more on education and research in such facet of care. Description: B.SC.(HONS)NURSING 1999-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/64824 Title: Nurses' perceptions of patients' needs post coronary artery bypass grafting Abstract: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a stressful and emotional event for the patient, who faces his/her own mortality and possibly the need for an altered lifestyle. Identifying the needs of patients following an acute cardiac event is an essential step in the development of nursing interventions (Moser et al 1993) to facilitate patients' bio-psycho-social and spiritual adaptation. Thus, the needs of patients who experience CABG surgery are of primary importance to health care professionals (Gaw-Ews 1994). The present small scale explorative study attempts to explore nurses' perceptions of patients' needs post CABG. A convenience sample of 14 registered and enrolled nurses consisting of 4 males and 10 females from the Cardio-Thoracic Surgical unit (CTS) was used. A selfadministered semi-structured questionnaire, based on nurses' views of patients' needs, was completed by 13 respondents, achieving a 95 % response rate. Findings revealed that nurses' perceptions of patients' needs post CABG ranged from the bio-psycho-social, educational and spiritual needs. However, nurses seem to be less aware of the spiritual needs of patients. Although nurses appear to focus on the physical needs (Alimo & Hannah 1987), the psycho-social and educational needs were considered as important too. Furthermore, several factors were identified which seem to influence patients' needs such as fear of pain, dependency on activities of daily living, quality of nursing care, frequent visits and amount of information given. Consequently, patients' needs imply continuous assessment on an individual basis. Description: B.SC.(HONS)NURSING 1999-01-01T00:00:00Z