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Aim. This paper is a report of a study to compare Registered Nurses' experiences of acting as personal preceptors for nursing students in the year 2000 with the year 2006 and explores relationships between preceptors' experiences and personal/clinical characteristics. Background. Preceptoring is experienced as stressful and challenging. How successful preceptors are in this role depends largely on the support they receive. Knowledge about preceptors' experiences over time and in relation to a preceptor model is limited. Method. Data were collected by questionnaire in 2000 ( n = 113) and 2006 ( n = 109) with preceptor groups in a hospital in Sweden before and after introduction of a preceptor model. Data were analysed with descriptive and correlational statistics using parametric and non-parametric methods. Findings. Statistically significant improvements were noted in preceptors' experiences between 2000 and 2006. Statistically significantly more preceptors in 2006 reported that they felt prepared for their role and felt support from teachers, colleagues, chief nurses and enrolled nurses. Least improvement was seen in relation to the questionnaire items workload, constructive feedback and support in linking research results to practice. A strong positive relationship existed between preceptors' experiences of the preceptor role and the level of interest in preceptoring. Conclusion. The preceptor model offers a way to support and facilitate preceptors and to develop co-operation between university and hospital. Future research should focus on students' experiences, experiences of first-time preceptors, head preceptors and teachers from a longitudinal perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. This paper is a report of a study to elucidate Registered Nurses' perceptions of their work and professional development 6 years after graduation. Background. Nursing education and health care has rapidly changed in the last two decades. Education and experience are important components in Registered Nurses' ability to promote a high quality of care, but a great deal depends on their work circumstances. This study emphasizes Registered Nurses' view of their work in health care, at a time in their career when they have several years of experience. Method. Data were collected in 2003 from in-depth interviews with 15 Registered Nurses 6 years after their graduation. The interviews were semi-structured and analysed with interpretive content analysis. Findings. The findings revealed two themes and five sub-themes. The first theme, An appropriate but demanding profession, consisted of two sub-themes: 'having found one's niche' and 'growing old in nursing may be difficult'. The second theme, A profession with opportunities and obstacles, consisted of three sub-themes: 'being aware of Registered Nurses' potential', 'having knowledge that is seldom made use of' and 'attaining professional growth is no matter of course'. Conclusion. Keeping Registered Nurses' satisfied and avoiding their dissatisfaction is crucial for both educators and employers. It is essential that employers give priority to Registered Nurses' time with patients and to motivate and support them in professional development. Further intervention studies regarding a change of the balance between obstacles and opportunities are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. This paper is a report of a study to illuminate and interpret the meaning of residents' experiences of encounters with nurses in nursing homes. Background. A large number of older people suffer from illness and become dependent on other people in their daily living. These people are often in need of care in nursing homes. It is assumed that encounters between nurses and residents are of importance in how residents experience care in nursing homes. Method. Twelve residents from three nursing homes in Sweden were interviewed in 2004-2005 about their experiences in encounters with nurses. The interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim. A hermeneutic method was used to describe and interpret the meaning of residents' experiences. Findings. Three themes emerged: 'being somebody', 'being nobody' and 'being in a community'. The encounters had both positive and negative influences on residents, expressed as being somebody and belonging somewhere or being nobody and not being seen as a person or simply being left out of things. Encounters between residents and nurses have a mutual dependency where residents certainly have some influence on the relationship. The nurses have both an influence on the relationship and a professional responsibility for the outcome of encounters with residents. Conclusion. The insights gained from the study can guide nurses in their encounters with residents in nursing homes so that they feel respected as unique human beings and part of a community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Individuals with fibromyalgia (FM) frequently use health care services and experience only short-term improvements. They often feel that health care staff do not take them seriously. This increases the burden of living with the illness. AIM: To describe how men living with fibromyalgia-type pain experienced being patients in the Swedish health care system. METHOD: Narrative interviews with 14 men who fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology criteria for classification of fibromyalgia. Content analysis was used when analysing the data. RESULTS: The results are described using five themes. Theme I 'Feeling afraid of being looked upon as being a whiner' highlights how the men endured a lot of pain before they sought health care, and how difficult it was to find a receptive listener. Theme 2 'Feeling like a guinea pig' shows that the men's feelings were twofold; they wanted examinations, even if these made them feel that they were being exposed to numerous treatments without any cure. Theme 3 'Feeling hopeful' describes the hope for a cure after having been referred to a specialist clinic. Theme 4 'Feeling neglected' illustrates being looked upon as an uninteresting patient and theme 5 'Feeling no recovery' illustrates the pain relief they gained, but not the actual cure. CONCLUSION: Men with FM type pain experienced a long wait before treatment at a specialist clinic as well as no continuity and follow-ups in primary care and general hospitals. Encounters with engaged and skilful staff promoted the men's well-being despite the fact that no cure was available. Not being respected led to a feeling of being neglected despite the care received. Thus, the men had to accept the fact that they would never recover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. In Sweden women with newly diagnosed breast cancer are admitted to surgical wards in order to undergo surgery and receive postoperative care. On these wards, nursing staff take care of women both with newly diagnosed breast cancer and those with cancer in advanced stages. Nurses have to meet the varying needs of patients and their relatives. Aim. To describe nurses' opinions of the need for care and support for women and their relatives in connection with surgery for breast cancer, as well as their own need for support on a surgical ward. Methods. Thirty-one nurses from a surgical ward participated in semi-structured interviews. The interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thereafter a step-by-step, qualitative content analysis was carried out. Results. The nurses described the need to talk and receive information as being the most important among women and their relatives, as well as among themselves. Only a few nurses mentioned the need for physical care among the women. Contact with relatives was described as being almost nonexistent. There was a discrepancy between what nurses described as important needs and how these needs were provided for. Conclusion. This study shows that what the nurses described as being the most important needs, and the way how these needs were provided for, was more often seen from a theoretical point of view with few examples of self-experienced situations in the daily care. Needs among women and their relatives seemed to be not fully known to nurses and therefore, possibly, were not met. Nurses themselves had a pronounced need for support, which was sometimes unsatisfactorily met. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM: The purpose of this study was to illuminate the meaning of lived experiences during the acute phase of an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHOD: Ten women (< 60 years old) afflicted with AMI narrated their experiences during their stay in the coronary care unit (CCU). The interview texts were interpreted using a method with a phenomenological hermeneutic approach, inspired by the philosophy of Ricoeur. The text was divided into meaning units that were condensed and abstracted. Three themes were then extracted from the text. FINDINGS: One theme was 'oneself as vulnerable' with the subthemes: 'the feeling of being dependent upon others', 'the feeling of being insulted' and 'the feeling of being a troublesome person'. Another theme was 'oneself as distanced', with the subthemes: 'not facing the reality', 'captive in an unreal situation', and 'inhibition out of concern for others'. The last theme was: 'oneself as making sense' with the subthemes: 'acquirement of some insight' and 'discovery of a new meaning with life'. CONCLUSION: The reported comprehensive understanding revealed the phenomena guilt and shame. These, in combination with the experience of being in an unreal situation and the withholding of feelings may have led to a deterioration of communication. It seems that relatives and the staff at CCU were not allowed to share the burden of being afflicted with an AMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to illuminate the meaning of skilled nurses' and physicians' lived experiences in their encounters with men suffering from long-term, non-malignant pain of at least 6 months duration. Seventeen nurses and four physicians participated in the study. A phenomenological-hermeneutic method was used. In the analysis three themes, 'needing to be manly', 'struggling for relief from pain' and 'needing human support' emerged. The phenomenon 'confirmation' was especially important in all three themes. This study indicates that confirmation of the theme 'needing to be manly' means that nurses' and physicians' must have such a relationship with these men that they really feel respected. Confirmation of the theme 'struggling for relief from pain' means that the care givers must convince these men that they really believe each unique individual's narratives. Confirmation of the theme 'needing human support' means that nurses and physicians have to behave in such a way that these men are convinced that the caregivers really care about them. When the men felt confirmation they dared to disclose their pain experiences more honestly. This is a preliminary prerequisite for nurses' and physicians' potential to help these men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study, which was undertaken in patients' homes in Sweden, was to describe patients' experiences in the self-management of continuous oxygen therapy and their view of managing their chronic disease. A phenomenological approach was used. Data were collected in interviews and analysis produced four categories. The findings show that the patients need help with relief for different physiological and psychological difficulties and from social isolation. The patients had insufficient resources for daily life. They were restricted to their homes, had mobility problems and were dependent upon a continuous life rhythm. Dependence upon another family member is therefore an important factor. But even with the presence of a significant other, social isolation is prevalent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]