Introduction: Self-medication or nonprescribed drug use is common in developing countries. Self-medication can be defined as obtaining and consuming drugs without the advice of a physician, either for diagnosis, prescription or surveillance of treatment. Descriptive study was conducted to assess the pattern of usage of nonprescribed medication among adults in Delhi, India. Objectives: Objectives of the study were to assess the pattern of usage of nonprescribed medication and identify the side effects with usage of nonprescribed medication and establish the relationship of patterns of usage of nonprescribed medication with selected demographic variables, i.e., age, sex, educational status and monthly family income and to develop and disseminate the information booklet on the hazards of using nonprescribed medication. Methodology: A quantitative approach with descriptive survey design was used to achieve the objectives of the study. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 120 subjects. The study was conducted in Sangam Vihar, New Delhi. The tool used for data collection was a semi-structured interview schedule that was administered to assess the pattern of usage of nonprescribed medications in a selected community of New Delhi. An information booklet on ‘Hazards of Usage of Nonprescribed Medications’ was developed and disseminated. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Introduction: “Chemotherapy Spill Kit (CSK)” is a kit with various configurations and contents designed for safe and fast clean-up of chemotherapy drug spills in accordance with standard guidelines. Thus, nurses can minimize exposure to hazardous drugs with the use of personal protective equipment and careful technique with the use of this kit. Hence, these spill kits should be available wherever chemotherapy is located. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to develop a CSK and validate the kit and assess the acceptability of CSK among the nurses in oncology wards of the selected hospital. Methodology: The conceptual framework of the present study was based on integrating models of diffusion of innovations, which was first proposed by Barbara Wejnert, which consists of characteristics of innovations, characteristics of innovators, and environmental characteristics. Quantitative research approach and methodological research design was used. Tools used for data collection comprised of rating scale criteria to validate the items of CSK by 11 experts from the field of medical-surgical nursing and oncology and to assess the acceptability of CSK among nurses. Non-probability purposive sampling was adopted to select the sample. The study was conducted on 60 nurses working in oncology wards of Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi. Result: The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Content Validity Index (CVI) was used to validate items of CSK. Following validation by the experts, the acceptability of the CSK was assessed. The major findings of the study showed a very positive validation by all the experts with mean CVI score of 0.98, median 1.00, mode of 1.00 and standard deviation of 0.11772. CVI score of more than 0.78 was considered to be valid for this study. From an acceptability perspective, 100% of the subjects found CSK to be highly acceptable.

Introduction: Use of medications is central to modern healthcare, and nearly all patients visiting a hospital will receive one or more medicines during their hospital stay or upon discharge. Medication use is a complex process and includes intervention by several health personnel, for example, physicians, pharmacists, nurses and student nurses to ensure safety of the patient.1.High-alert medicines have been proven to be safe and effective when taken properly. But they can cause injury if a mistake happens while taking them. This means that it is vitally important to know about these medicines and take them exactly as intended.2 Methodology: The research approach selected for the study was quantitative approach with pretestposttest design. Convenient sampling was used for the selection of 60 student nurses from Rufaida College of Nursing to evaluate their knowledge on high-alert medications. The tool developed and used for data collection was a structured knowledge questionnaire on high-alert medications to assess the knowledge of student nurses on high-alert medications. E-module on high-alert medications was developed by the researcher and administered to student nurses. Results: The present study revealed that the e-module was an effective method of teaching in nursing. The mean posttest knowledge score (44.03) was higher than the mean pretest knowledge score (30.23) with a mean difference of (13.8). It indicated gain in knowledge by the student nurses. The obtained mean difference was found to be statistically significant as evident from the ‘z’ value of 8.8193 at 0.05 level of significance. There was no significant association between knowledge of student nurses on high-alert medications with their selected demographic variables like age, educational qualification, percentage in class attendance, marks obtained in previous exam, and area of domicile. Conclusion: E-module on high-alert medications was found to be effective in improving the knowledge of student nurses on high-alert medications. There was significant difference found in the pretest and posttest mean scores of student nurses. It shows that the e-module on high-alert medications was effective in enhancing the knowledge of student nurses on high-alert medications.

In hospital practice, intravascular cannula is used for various purposes like administration of drugs, fluids and to draw out blood. Pain inflicted by the insertion of cannula into the skin is a significant concern. Efforts should be made to assess and manage acute pain related to cannula insertion as, by doing so, nurses can reduce pain, increase patient comfort, satisfaction and improve patient’s outcome. Venous cannulation is painful but is often performed without any analgesia. Cannulation pain has been ranked fifth out of 33 low-morbidity adverse clinical outcomes listed by expert anesthetists, when both clinical importance and frequency were considered. A study was conducted to assess the intensity of pain experienced by respondents following vein flow insertion. Descriptive survey approach was adopted to gather data. Purposive sampling technique was used and the sample comprised 30 patients admitted in surgical ward and undergoing vein flow insertion were chosen as sample subjects. A structured interview schedule and visual analog scale was used to collect the data. The major findings of the study revealed that the respondents undergoing vein flow insertion had moderate to severe degree of pain following insertion. The patients undergoing vein flow insertion have moderate to severe degree of pain following insertion and thus appropriate nursing measures should be taken to reduce the pain.

Nutrition of under-five children is of paramount importance because it can lead to long-lasting effect on the mental and physical health of the children. India faces the burden of diseases in which nutritional deficiencies are most common.1 A study was conducted to assess the knowledge regarding factors causing malnutrition among the mothers of malnourished under-five children. Quantitative approach with a descriptive research design was adopted. Thirty mothers of malnourished under-five children attending IYCF clinic at DDU Hospital, New Delhi, were selected using convenient sampling technique. The tool used was the structured interview schedule. The results of the present study revealed that overall mean knowledge score was 13, which was 43.34% of total score revealing average knowledge of the mothers regarding factors affecting malnutrition

Introduction: Pain management in pediatric population is a very important and crucial aspect of nursing care. Though there is improved understanding of the physiological and psychological effects of unrelieved pain in children, still so many research evidences show that pediatric nurses are having inadequate knowledge, unfavorable attitude and poor practices regarding assessment and management of pain in children. A study was conducted with the objectives to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of pain management guidelines in terms of knowledge, attitude and practices of nursing personnel working in pediatric units, determine the relationship between knowledge and attitude and knowledge and practice and seek association of knowledge and practices with selected variables Methodology: A pre-experimental approach and one group pretest-posttest design was selected. The tools were a structured knowledge questionnaire, attitude scale and an observation checklist. Pain management guidelines were developed based on expert opinion and review of literature. Sixty nursing personnel who met the sampling criteria were selected by purposive sampling. On day 1, pretest of knowledge and attitude ware administered and the pain management practices were observed. On the same day, pain management guidelines were given to them with small group discussion. Demonstration of pain assessment and management during painful procedure was given in small groups. On seventh day, posttest of knowledge and attitude was administered. Posttest practices were observed.

Introduction: The mother undergoing episiotomy has a greater blood loss in conjunction with delivery and there is a risk of improper wound healing and increased pain during early puerperium. The objective of the study was to determine and compare the effect of aloe vera gel and lavender oil on healing of episiotomy wound and pain among postnatal mothers. Methods: An evaluative approach with pre- test post- test design (quasi experimental) was used for this study. Forty mothers who had an episiotomy wound were selected by non-probability purposive sampling technique (twenty mothers in the aloe vera gel group and twenty mothers in lavender oil group).Each group received treatment for two days . REEDA scale, anduniversal pain assessment tool were used. Results: The computed‘t’ value of wound healing (0.623) was lesser than table value (1.96) (t38=1.96, p<0.05) and‘t’ value of pain (2.307) was greater than the table value (1.96) (t38=1.96, p<0.05). Hence it shows aloe vera gel and lavender oil were equally effective in wound healing, whereas aloe vera gel was found to be most effective in reducing pain as the mean post test pain score in aloe vera gel (3.8±1.02) was lower than mean post test pain score in lavender oil group (4.55±0.97). Conclusion: The findings of the study indicated that aloe vera gel is effective in reducing episiotomy wound pain than lavender oil among postnatal mothers.

Standard precautions are meant to reduce the risk of transmission of blood-borne and other pathogens from both recognized and unrecognized sources. They are the basic level of infection control precautions which are to be used, as a minimum, in the care of all patients. Nursing personnel may acquire an infection during the provision of nursing care because of occupational exposure to microorganisms. The main objectives of the study were to assess the knowledge of nursing personnel regarding standard precautions, to assess the practices of nursing personnel regarding standard precautions, develop a planned teaching program on standard precautions and determine the relationship between knowledge and practices of nursing personnel after the administration of the planned teaching program. Research approach selected for the study was quantitative approach with one group pretest-posttest design. Purposive sampling technique was used and the sample comprised of 50 nursing personnel working in a selected government hospital in Delhi. Tools used for data collection were a structured questionnaire to collect personal data and for assessing the knowledge of nursing personnel and a structured observation checklist to assess the practices of nursing personnel. The findings of the study revealed that the mean posttest knowledge score of nursing personnel was significantly higher than the mean pretest knowledge score and the mean posttest practice score of the subjects was significantly higher than the mean pretest practice score. The planned teaching program was effective in enhancing the knowledge and practice scores of nursing personnel regarding standard precautions.

The activities of nurses in wards are different throughout the day as the needs of the children vary with the time of the day. Time spent by nurses in direct care activities has been identified as a determinant of better patient outcome and fewer errors.1,2 Patient satisfaction is also related to the amount of care received. Role of nurses working in pediatric wards are multifaceted as the needs of a hospitalized child are different from an older patient. Information about the amount of time spent on various activities is very important for the nurse manager. It provides them with evidence to maximize productivity by evaluating the appropriate staff development; skill-mix and whether they need job re-allocation and changes in the model of delivery care. Information is needed for evaluating changes in nursing practice following the introduction of new system and to assess effectiveness of the new system. The present study aimed to analyze the activity of nursing personnel working in pediatric in-patient units. The objectives of the study were to assess the proportion of time spent by nursing personnel in various activities in pediatric inpatient units and to compare the proportion of duty time spent by nursing personnel in various activities in different duty shifts. The activities of 41 nursing personnel working in pediatric wards of Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, New Delhi, comprised the sample. An observation checklist was used to analyze the activities. Total 1511 activities were observed during seven days period in the pediatric units, using the work sampling method. Findings showed that most of the nurse participants were engaged in direct care activities (53%), followed by indirect care activities (28%), miscellaneous activities (14%) and least common were unit related activities (5%). Medication, documentation, reporting was the most time-consuming activity in the pediatric wards. The proportion of time spent in all groups of activities were different in morning and evening and time spent for direct care and indirect care was same in the pediatric wards. The nursing personnel in pediatric ward spent most of the time in direct care patient activities more than indirect care patient activities. And the least common time was spent in unit-related activities in pediatric in-patient units in both the duty shifts.

Background: Breast crawl technique is keeping the newborn directly on the mother’s abdomen (nose in the midline of the mother’s chest, eyes at the level of the nipples) soon after birth and allowed to crawl on their own up to the breast and then latch on. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of breast crawl technique to initiate breast feeding in newborn and to find out its impact on newborn and maternal outcome during early postpartum period Methods: The mothers admitted in labor room were selected by purposive sampling technique and random assignment to experimental and control groups was done. The breast crawl technique was introduced to the experimental group after normal labor outcome. Effectiveness of breast crawl technique was assessed by the modified LATCH breast feeding assessment tool and a structured proforma was used to observe time of initiation of breast feeding in newborn. The newborn outcome, temperature and heart rate were assessed at zero, 1 and 2 hours after birth. Blood glucose of newborn was monitored at 2 hours after birth. The maternal outcome, establishment of lactation and maternal infant attachment was assessed by an observation checklist administered 12 hours after delivery. The statistical analysis was done using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The newborn with breast crawl technique had early initiation of breast feeding than the newborn in the control group. The results were statistically better in experimental group and breast crawl technique made a difference in early metabolic adaptation of newborn and promoted early establishment of lactation and maternal infant attachment. Conclusion: Breast crawl technique was effective to initiate breast feeding in newborn and had positive impact on newborn and maternal outcome in early postpartum period.

Thrombophlebitis is a common complication among IV cannulated patients receiving chemotherapy. The main objectives of the present study were to compare the effect of palm fisting exercise on the occurrence of thrombophlebitis among the IV cannulated patients receiving chemotherapy in experimental and control groups and to find an association between the occurrences of thrombophlebitis with selected demographic variables in the experimental group. The quantitative research approach was used. The research design was post-test-only control design. Sample comprised of 60 patients who were newly cannulated in the arm and were receiving chemotherapy for at least two days from the medical oncology ward of Delhi State Cancer Institute, New Delhi, selected by the lottery method and assigned in to experimental and control groups. There was a significant difference of palm fisting exercise on the occurrence of thrombophlebitis among the IV cannulated patients receiving chemotherapy between the experimental and control groups. There was a significant difference of palm fisting exercise on the occurrence of thrombophlebitis among the IV cannulated patients receiving chemotherapy between the experimental and control group at 0.05 level of significance. In experimental group, there was a significant association between the occurrences of thrombophlebitis among the IV cannulated patients receiving chemotherapy with selected variables, viz., age, stages of cancer, duration of illness, concurrent illness, body mass index, size of the cannula, site of the cannula, duration of chemotherapy administration, number of present cycles of chemotherapy and other treatment modalities at 0.05 level of significance. So, palm fisting exercise with soft ball was effective in reducing the occurrence of thrombophlebitis among the IV cannulated patients receiving chemotherapy.

The rapid growth of mobile technologies has been made but with some limitations. The present “Nchemoapp” is developed for student nurses on chemotherapy, focusing in the South Asian context. There is a need for mHealth apps in oncology nursing for student nurses as well as staff nurses. Training should be given about chemotherapy efficacy in order to improve the attitude about chemotherapy among the student nurses as well as staff nurses.

An exploratory study was conducted to assess the potential risk factors and the quality of life of patients with relapse pulmonary tuberculosis in a selected hospital and their DOTS centers of New Delhi. The main objectives of the study were: (i) to identify the potential risk factors of patient with relapse pulmonary tuberculosis in a selected hospital and DOTS centers of New Delhi, (ii) to assess quality of life of patients with relapse pulmonary tuberculosis in a selected hospital and DOTS centers of New Delhi and (iii) to establish relationship between selected potential risk factors of patients with relapse pulmonary tuberculosis such as diabetes mellitus (DM), AIDS, substance use, and socioeconomic status with their risk status. The conceptual framework for the present study is based on Dröes adaptation-coping model. A quantitative approach with exploratory-descriptive research design was adopted for the study. A structured interview schedule was prepared to assess potential risk factors and quality of life of patients with relapse pulmonary tuberculosis. The reliability of the tool established by using Cronbach-Alpha formula for potential risk factors was found to be 0.77 and quality of life of relapse pulmonary tuberculosis was found to be 0.84. Standardized Socioeconomic Scale, Aggarwal et al. 2005, was adopted to assess socioeconomic status of subjects. The study was conducted at Chest Clinic Tuberculosis Hospital, Nehru Nagar and DOTS centers under this hospital, New Delhi, from 7th October, 2014 to 15th October, 2014. Purposive sampling technique was employed to interview 100 subjects. Data gathered was analyzed and interpreted according to the objectives, using both descriptive and inferential statistics

Sleep is a basic human need. It is a state of rest accompanied by altered consciousness. Although the exact function of sleep is unclear, people spend one third of their lives asleep.Proper sleep is important to health as good nutrition. Sleep is required for many reasons: to rest mind and body, to prevent fatigue, to conserve energy, to cope with daily stress. Inadequate amount of sleep decreases the concentration, ability to make judgment, and increases irritability. It promotes proper day time functioning.When people are admitted to the hospitals several things change for example, ordinary daily routines are disrupted by a hospital admission which includes eating habits, elimination pattern and also the sleep-wake pattern.Some commonly seen sleep disturbing factors in the hospitals can be broadly classified into three categories. Environmental factors such as noises made by machines, door footsteps of visitors, very bright or dim light in the rooms.Physical Factors such as physical pain, nausea, coughing, difficulty in breathing, ways of drug administration. Psychological factors such as change in environment, financial burden, care of family members at home, outcome of the disease, fear of death etc. Nurses , because of their 24-hour contact with patients is in the best position to recognize and resolve or alleviate these sleep problems.There are some of the strategies that can be used by nurses to eliminate such factors and promote healthy sleep included in the present article.