Background: A collaborative project was initiated in Norway between a university college and a hospital in order to improve RNs' and nursing students' research utilization in clinical placements. This paper describes the model (CMBP) that was developed, its first application, and evaluation. Aim: The evaluation aimed at describing nurses' and students' experiences of the CMBP related to collaboration, facilitation, learning, and impact on nursing care. Methods: Thirty-eight students from the second and third year of nursing education, and four nurses answered questionnaires with closed and open ended questions. In addition two of the nurses wrote diaries. Data were subjected to qualitative and quantitative analysis. Findings: Almost all participants reported that collaboration between nursing college and nursing practice had been beneficial. Most students and all nurses reported about valuable learning, increased understanding of research utilization, and improved quality of nursing care. Both students and RNs recommended the CMBP to be used in all clinical placements to support academic learning and increase research utilization in clinical practice. Conclusion: Despite study limitations the findings indicate that the CMBP has a potential to be a useful model for teaching RNs' and students EBP. However, further refinement of the model is needed, followed by a more comprehensive implementation and evaluation. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Background: Scientific knowledge is expected to be used in clinical practice to ensure that patients are given evidence-based nursing care. Therefore, in order to improve nurses’ research utilisation in clinical practice a network had been provided for nurses especially interested in nursing development in eleven wards. These nurses were expected to take on the role of key person (facilitator) for nursing development in clinical practice.Aim: The study was aimed at describing nurses’ interest in nursing research, how network support to ‘facilitator nurses’ could improve development in patient care based on evidence, and what hindering factors for such development could be.Methods: One and a half years after onset of the project a follow-up study was conducted with a questionnaire answered by 75 (64%) nurses, and group interviews with nine facilitators and eleven head nurses.Findings: The nurses’ interest in research utilisation was in general high and in eight wards development work had started. The facilitator nurses had mostly worked without involving their colleagues. Hindering factors for nursing development were related to time, EBP knowledge, involvement and the interest of head nurses and colleagues. Education, work place, previous participation in research projects, and participation in the network impacted positively on nurses’ attitudes to and interest in research.Conclusion and implication for clinical practice: Providing networks to ‘facilitator nurses’ in the ward could be useful for developing nursing care based on research findings. However, support from nurse leaders, involvement of the whole nursing staff, and training in research utilisation are important factors for success.

The aim of this study was to explore the experience of nursing personnel with respect to patient participation in special care units for persons with dementia in nursing homes, with focus on everyday life. The study has an explorative grounded theory design. Eleven nursing personnel were interviewed twice. Patient participation is regarded as being grounded in the idea that being master of one's own life is essential to the dignity and self-esteem of all people. Patient participation was described at different levels as letting the resident make their own decisions, adjusting the choices, making decisions on behalf of the residents and forcing the residents. The educational level and commitment of the nursing personnel and how often they were on duty impacted the level that each person applied, as did the ability of the residents to make decisions, and organizational conditions, such as care culture, leadership and number of personnel.

The aim of the study was to examine patients’ perceptions of side effects, health-related quality of life (HRQL), generalhealth, and nutritional care among patients receiving home enteral tube feeding (HETF) at two occasions after dischargefrom hospital. Three questionnaires, one study-specific, the Short Form 12 (SF-12) and the Health Index (HI), were sent topatients with HETF (n=62) twice, two weeks after discharge from hospital and two months later. Forty patients respondedtwo weeks after discharge and out of these 29 patients also responded after two months. Data were collected in centralSweden from March 2006 to January 2010. Side effects were common at both points of data collection (70% of thepatients after two weeks and 72% after two month). Patients using bolus feeding reported significantly fewer side effectsthan patients using intermittent feeding. HRQL and HI scores for the total group were low at both points of data collection.The bolus feeding group reported significantly higher physical HRQL and emotional HI than the intermittent feedinggroup did. Most patients were satisfied with the information and support they received from the health care team. Thisstudy has revealed that patients treated with HETF experienced side effects limiting their daily life to a great extent.Differences in HRQL related to feeding methods were found. Individualized support and regular controls are needed inorder to meet patient needs. Bolus feeding may be a suitable feeding method to improve well-being.

Background: Research concerning relatives' participation in the everyday care related to persons living in special care units for persons with dementia is limited.

Research questions: To examine relatives' participation in their near one's everyday care, the level of burden experienced and important factors for participation, in this special context.

Design: The study had a cross-sectional design, and data collection was carried out by means of a study-specific questionnaire.

Participants and context: A total of 233 relatives from 23 different special care units participated.

Ethical consideration: The study was approved by the Norwegian Social Science Data Services.

Results: A great majority of relatives reported that they visited weekly and were the resident's spokesperson, but seldom really participated in decisions concerning their everyday care. Participation was seldom reported as a burden.

Discussion: This study indicated that relatives were able to make a difference to their near one's everyday life and ensure quality of care based on their biographical expertise, intimate knowledge about and emotional bond with the resident. Since knowing the resident is a prerequisite for providing individualised care that is in line with the resident's preferences, information concerning these issues is of utmost importance.

Conclusion: This study prompts reflection about what it is to be a spokesperson and whether everyday care is neglected in this role. Even though relatives were satisfied with the care provided, half of them perceived their participation as crucial for the resident's well-being. This indicated that relatives were able to offer important extras due to their biographical expertise, intimate knowledge about and emotional bond with the resident. Good routines securing that written information about the residents' life history and preferences is available and used should be implemented in practice.

BACKGROUND: Collaboration between universities and clinical placements has been highlighted as a weak point of the nursing education. To facilitate a good academic learning environment a clinical supervision model had been developed. The aim of this study was to evaluate to what extent the goals of the model were met after one and a half years of utilisation.

METHODS: A questionnaire was responded to by 30 head nurses, 12 main preceptors, 193 personal preceptors, and 11 clinical nurse lecturers.

RESULTS: Most of the participants perceived that the quality criteria in the model were met to a large extent, the students' individual goals were achieved, and the supervision model contributed to fulfilment of goals, and assessment of the students. The nurse lecturers scored highest and the personal preceptors lowest in most of the questions. The conditions stated in the model were not always fulfilled. The deficiencies found were especially related to education level, time for supervision, and support to the personal preceptors.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite some shortcomings the supervision model was considered by most participants as a valuable tool to be used in an academic nursing education. Improvements of the model in regard to the findings were suggested.

^{Aim The aim of the present study was to describe preceptors' expectations and experiences of participating in group supervision (GS). Background The challenging role of preceptors and their need for support is well known. Therefore, a collaborative project was carried out, providing GS to preceptors to strengthen them in their role. Method Data were collected from 48 preceptors by means of study-specific forms and field notes, and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results Both positive and negative expectations and experiences of group supervision were found, but the positive experiences exceeded the expectations. The group in itself had a significant meaning for the preceptors; their pedagogical and personal competence increased and they became aware of their role as 'bridge-builders'. Conclusions Using GS to strengthen preceptors in their role was found to be successful. The findings provided new arguments for this model as a reflection tool. Implications for nursing management Strengthened preceptors can have an impact on nursing students' learning, and thereby also on future nurses' competence, which is a great concern of nurse managers. By using nurse lecturers as group leaders, the collaboration between the clinical placements and the nursing faculties can be improved.}

Background: A collaborative project was carried out at four bachelor nursing colleges in Sweden and Norway, to support preceptors in the clinical fields by means of group supervision. The aim of this study was to investigate the preceptors' views on their own ability and satisfaction in the role before and after taking part in group supervision during one year and to describe their perception of the supervision model used. Method: Forty-five preceptors participated in the study. Baseline and endpoint questionnaires were used for data collection. Results: Before taking part in group supervision most preceptors expressed that they were content with their ability and knowledge with regards to the preceptor role. Despite this most of them considered that the participation had increased their ability to supervise students, and more than half of them considered that it also had promoted to their personal development. At the end of the project a majority of them had positive experiences of group supervision. Most of the structure and climate factors in the supervision model were considered important and almost all were highly realised. Conclusion: The study showed that group supervision could be a valuable tool to provide support to clinical preceptors in bachelor nursing education. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Aims and objective To explore the role of relatives in the patient participation process for persons with dementia living in special care units in Norwegian nursing homes, with focus on everyday life. Background Studies exploring the experience of relatives of persons with dementia as to their role in the patient participation process are limited. Design The study had an explorative grounded theory design. Method Data collection was carried out by interviews with twelve close relatives. Simultaneously, data analysis was performed with open, axial and selective coding. Results The relatives' role in the patient participation process was experienced as transitions between different roles to secure the resident's well-being, which was understood as the resident's comfort and dignity. This was the ultimate goal for their participation. The categories 'being a visitor', 'being a spokesperson', 'being a guardian' and 'being a link to the outside world' described the different roles. Different situations and conditions triggered different roles, and the relatives' trust in the personnel was a crucial factor. Conclusions The study has highlighted the great importance of relatives' role in the patient participation process, to secure the well-being of residents living in special care units. Our findings stress the uttermost need for a high degree of competence, interest and commitment among the personnel together with a well functioning, collaborative and cooperative relationship between the personnel and the relatives of persons with dementia. The study raises several important questions that emphasise that more research is needed. Relevance to clinical practice Relatives need to be seen and treated as a resource in the patient participation process in dementia care. More attention should be paid to initiating better cooperation between the personnel and the relatives, as this may have a positive impact both on the residents' and the relatives' well-being.