Nursing Summaries

Ember Benson, BN, RN; Catherine Rippin-Sisler, MN, RN;

Kimberly Jabusch, MN, RN; Shelley Keast, MN, RN

Improving Nursing Shift-to-Shift Report" Journal of Nursing Care Quality 22 (2007):

This article pertains to a study commissioned in 2002 by the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. Upon project completion, its findings prompted recommendations for improving interdisciplinary communication in nursing shift-to-shift reports.

The fundamental goal for this project was to design a nursing report that would improve patient care. The shift-to-shift principals and guidelines outlined in this report are useful to nursing in that they provide a framework for the organization, focus, and uniformity of shift-to-shift reports.

Mark Broom RGN, RSCN, DN, MN "Exploring the Assessment Process" Pediatric

Nursing 19 (2007)

This article explores the assessment process in pediatric nursing. Carper's (1978) four "patterns of knowing in nursing" illustration demonstrates how assessment could be expanded to improve nurses' decision making to foster more authentic child and family-centered care.

Carper's four "patterns of knowing in nursing" are empirics, aesthetic, personal, and ethics. When these four patterns are fully integrated qualitative and quantitative data begin to take shape. Upon analyzing the information, the nurse can obtain a better understanding of how to treat and interact with both the child and the child's family.

FCER Points Out Error to Merck; Merck Confirms Change"

This commentary illustrates the issue of problematic wording within the medical community. A Doctor of Chiropractic expressed concern to the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research over improper phrasing written in the Merck Manual.

The bothersome statement written in the Merck Manual was thought to have originated from medical data derived over 30 years ago. This article points the importance of knowing one's own specialty, and having a thorough knowledge of medical terminology so as to correct and prevent medical mishaps.

Mackechnie C, Simpson, R (2006) "Traceable Calibration for Blood Pressure and Temperature Monitoring" Nursing Standard 21, 11, (2006): 42-47

Correct diagnosis and monitoring largely depend on accurate pulse, respiration, blood pressure, and body temperature measurements. Many measurement errors can be minimized by confirming that instruments are calibrated. This article emphasizes to need for instruments to be traceably calibrated to national standards.

Nurses are responsible for taking measurements, so it is imperative that nurses be aware of the issues of measurement precision. Unreliable instruments (due to lack of traceable calibration) can lead to inaccurate measurements resulting in misdiagnosis and poor patient care.