Domestic violence is a major health, social, and criminal justice problem in the United States. Although not confined to women, it is a growing concern of women and those who care for women. Nurses are often the first health care provider with whom the battered woman and her family interact. Reports of several studies indicate educational preparation of nurses is inadequate to assure sensitive, quality, and effective nursing care to those who have survived domestic violence. One purpose of this qualitative study was to identify and describe the essential knowledge and skills needed by nurses to provide competent, sensitive care. Interviews were conducted with 13 informants who were considered experts in violence-related care. Their responses were analyzed for categories of response and themes related to their feelings about domestic violence and the essential knowledge and skills nurses need to provide appropriate care. Findings provide data that can form the empirical bases for review of current curriculum content and strategies, indicate needed revisions, and serve as a framework for future curriculum development.

A descriptive study using clinical methods was conducted to identify and describe core and site-specific symptoms reported by 15 patients with cancer of the head or neck who received external radiation therapy. A 45-item Kadiation Syniptom Scale (RSS) was designed by the investigators for this study. Symptoms identified by patients with a mean occurrence of at Ieasr "sometimes" were considered potential defining characteristics and were submitted to a panel of experts for identification o f nursing diagnoses. Eighteen nursing diagnoses with their associated defining characteristics were identified and classified within eight Functional Health Patterns. Half of the nursing diagnoses were formulated within the Nutrilional-Metabolic and Artivity-Exercise health patterns. Four of the health patterns were primarily physiologic; four were primarily psychologic-behavioral. Results of the study describe the nursing needs of patients who receive radiotherapy t o the head and neck and are formulated within a nursing diagnosis/Functional Health Pattern framework. These findings have implications for nursing assessment, nursing interventions. and evaluation of patient outcomes. and findings provide a beginning empiric basis for identifying nursing diagnoses and their associated defining characteristics for cancer patients who receive external radiation therapy.

Domestic violence is of special concern to nurses, as they are often the first health care professionals to interact with battered women. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe nurses' attitudes toward the survivors and perpetrators of domestic violence. A holistic ecological health promotion framework guided this qualitative investigation. Thirteen participants expert in the care of abused women were interviewed using semistructured questions to describe nurses' attitudes toward survivors and perpetrators. Significant statements were identified, clustered, and placed into categories of response. Findings included identification of general themes and specific categories related to attitudes nurses have about battered women and those who abuse and injure them. The significance of this research underscores the importance of nurses' attitudes as influencing factors in their interactions with women and families involved in domestic violence. Application of a health promotion framework encourages a holistic perspective of care for this vulnerable population.

A descriptive study using clinical methodology was conducted to identify and describe core and site‐specific symptoms reported by 15 patients with cancer of the digestive organs who received external radiation therapy. A 47‐item Radiation Symptom Scale was designed by the investigators for this study. Symptoms identified by patients with a mean occurrence of at least “sometimes” were considered potential defining characteristics and were submitted to a panel of experts for identification of nursing diagnoses. Seventeen nursing diagnoses, with their associated defining characteristics, were identified and classified within eight Functional Health Patterns (FHP). Half of the nursing diagnoses were formulated within the Nutritional‐Metabolic and Elimination patterns. Four of the FHPs were related to primarily functional patterns; four were primarily psychological‐behavioral. Results of the study describe the nursing needs of patients who receive radiotherapy to the digestive organs.

A desc riptiue study rising cliiiical inetliodologi/ zim condirc~fcif to identifi and describe cure and sitespecifj'c s yinptonis reported bij 15 patients with cancer if the digestive organs zoho received rstcrnnl mdiatioir therapy. A 47-itein Radiation Syniptoni Scale i(~7s ifesigtred bq tlie investigators jbr this stiidy Si/niptonis identifieif by patients with ii rnean occrrrrmce of at least "sonretivies" Z D C Y~ considtwd poteiz t id defining clin rac terist ics a I i d were sribrnitted to a panel qfesperts for iden t ifim t ion of n ii rsiiig diagnoses. Seuen tecn niirsir I , " diagnoses, with their associated defining cha racf cris t ics, zuere identified and class ified with ii i eight tiinctional Health Patterns (FHP). Half of fhe nursing diagnoses were fornziilatcd within tlie Nutrific,rial-Metabolic and Eliniination patterns. Foiir of the FHPs were related to prirriarili/ functionid patterns; foiir were primarily psyclii)lr)~~ical-belzauior~l. Resiilts of the stiidii descrih tlrc nursing needs ofpatients zuho rccciuc radiotlruapy to the digestiuc organs.