The purpose of this study was to identify parents' self-reported stressors as they experience their baby's course in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Miles, Funk & Carlson (1993) Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit was used to survey 119 parents of neonatal infants, born at 24 weeks to full term, in the 28-bed level 3 NICU of a mid-Atlantic, Magnet-designated acute care hospital with 665 licensed beds. The newly developed Grosik, Snyder, Cleary and Tidwell NICU External Stressors and Stress Reduction Scale (2006), a 5-point Likert scale, was also used. Intrapersonal and interpersonal stressors were categorized as internal (occurring within the NICU) and extrapersonal (occurring outside the NICU) as external stressors. The findings were used to develop a new practice in the NICU to help reduce parental stressors.

The article describes a secondary analysis of a qualitative study designed to identify factors that influence clients' decisions regarding type of dialysis treatment modality. The original qualitative study was designed to elicit perceptions of clients with end-stage renal disease regarding why, how, and by whom the decision was made about the type of dialysis treatment modality (hemodialysis or continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis) that the client would undergo. Secondary analysis of the original study results revealed that the factors that influenced the decision regarding the type of dialysis treatment modality encompassed the five Neuman systems model variable areas: physiologic, psychologic, sociocultural, developmental, and spiritual.

This study’s purpose was to create an alternative to the traditional environment for surgical patients in the operating room (OR). Acaring-healing environment with nurse caring behaviors was designed according to Watson’s theory of human caring. Aposttest only design with comparison group was employed. The sacred space environment combined soft lighting, warmth, selected music, and an art mural in an OR. Data were collected on 50 patients in the comparison group and 50 patients in the experimental group using the Sacred Space Assessment Instrument. Results showed that a statistically significant difference existed when perception of sacred space and perception of nurse caring were compared by group. However, no statistically significant difference resulted on patient satisfaction by group.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of topically applied black pepper essential oil on easing intravenous catheter insertion (IVC) in patients with no palpable or visible veins compared to a control group (standard nursing practice). Design: Randomized, controlled study. Subjects: One hundred twenty hospitalized patients, who were referred to a hospital vascular team because of difficulty in accessing veins for IVC insertion.Interventions: Topical application of 20% essential oil of black pepper in aloe vera gel or standard nursing care (hot packs with or without vigorous tactile stimulation). Outcome Measures: Pre-and post-test vein visibility and/or palpability and number of attempts at IVC insertion. Results: A higher percentage of patients achieved optimal scoring (vein score = 2) or improved scoring (vein score of 1 or 2) to black pepper intervention than standard nursing care. The black pepper group also reduced the number of patients whose veins were still not visible or palpable after the intervention to nearly half that of the control group ( p < 0.05). The number of IVC attempts following black pepper was also half that of the control group. Conclusion: Topical application of black pepper is a viable and effective way to enhance vein visibility and palpability prior to intravenous insertion in patients with limited vein accessibility; it also improves ease of IVC insertion.

The ultimate outcomes for succeeding in a collegiate prelicensure nursing program are earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and passing the NCLEX-RN®. The Risk Assessment Profile, Strategies for Success (RAPSS) is a criterion-based instrument that incorporates demographic and academic risk indicators. A convenience sample (N = 255) obtained retrospectively from student files was used to determine whether the RAPSS could be used to predict whether completers of a baccalaureate, prelicensure program will pass or fail the NCLEX-RN. Results indicate that the scale does discriminate between candidates who fail and pass, even with as few as three of the 13 items.