TRENDS Seminar
(Topics in Research and Education for Nursing Development in Singapore)
Date:
Venue:
Time:
Monday, 23rd March 2015
Level 2, ALCNS Conference Room
Block MD 11, Clinical Research Centre
National University of Singapore
You are invited!
2.30pm to 4.30pm
Exploring the perceptions of nurses and family care givers on ICU
Patient’s end of life care
First Topic:
Abstract: Its known that an end of life care has been an extremely very sensitive topic
which to be dealt with since the experience of caring for loved ones as they approach death
can be one of deep fulfillments or significant traumas. Nurses play a vital role by
recognizing the burdens of family caregiving, communicating well, assisting with decision
making, helping with caregiver emotions, and acknowledging bereavement.
Besides Nurses, Family Members or Family Care Givers often feel a strong sense of loss as
they witness the physical and cognitive decline of the resident. They will also be surrogate
decision makers and patient advocates that may make them to experience psychological
symptoms like as traumatic stress, anxiety and deep depression.
This study aims to exploring the perceptions of an intensive care nurses and family care
givers who used to take care of dying patients in ICU in a hospital in Singapore.
Descriptive phenomenological approach using semi structured interview has been adopted
for this study.
In this session, Mrs Arunadevi will share more about the proposal of the above mentioned
project.
Speaker: Mrs Arunadevi Ramasamy is a Graduate Research
student at the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies (ALCNS), Yong
Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS).
Before pursing her graduate research studies at NUS, she served as a
lecturer at the Tamilnadu Dr.M.G.R Medical University.
Mrs Arunadevi obtained Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and Master’s
degree in Medical Surgical Nursing at The Tamilnadu Dr.M.G.R
Medical University in India.
Organized by the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, NUS
Second Topic: Let’s talk about sex: From the young people’s perspective
Abstract: Adolescence is a time where a person undergoes rapid and immense changes in
their physical being, thought and emotional processes, and social environment. It is liken
to being born again- a society dictated birth, having to learn new skills and cues to navigate
through life, with the purpose of seeking independence and self-identity.
A phenomenon of a widening gap between puberty and marriage due to increased
education and career pursuits is occurring, leading to possible increase of sexual
experimentation and endeavours occurring during mid adolescence to early adulthood.
Several authors argued that the late teens to early 20s stage was a pivotal and interesting
time of a person’s life that can have a great influence on adulthood.
With the advent of the technological era, young Singaporeans are tech savvy and are able
to navigate the World Wide Web and media efficiently without parental supervision and
likely increasing their knowledge on sexual health subjects. While teenage pregnancy and
abortion rates are on a decline in Singapore, speculation from media and governmental
board is hinting at safer sexual practice rather than abstinence among youths.
It is essential for young people to be well inform of risky social pursuits during their time
at school. Schools are a major part of every young Singaporean and thus serve as a vital
platform for health information dissemination.
This presentation will outline a research proposal of a study to be conducted- to allow
young people to voice, as a major stakeholder, their needs and expectations of their sexual
health education at schools.
Speaker: Miss Sheena Gow is a registered nurse and currently
in her first year of her Graduate Research (PhD) studies with the
Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies (ALCNS), National
University of Singapore. She lived and studied in New Zealand
for the past 8 years. Her experience was in community health
and clinical trial research.
Miss Gow hopes that her PhD research will spark off interest in
expanding the nursing role in school healthcare and community
health. Her research interest is in youth and family health.
Organized by the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, NUS
Third Topic: Nutritional support for older adults cancer patients undergoing
Chemotherapy
Abstract: Many older adults do not achieve sufficient nutritional intake to support their
minimal needs and are at risk or are suffering from malnutrition. Malnutrition is a
common complication of cancer and a major risk factor for adverse outcomes such as poor
treatment response, short survival, chemotherapy-induced toxicity, infection, long hospital
stay, and impaired quality of life. The nutritional needs of older adults with cancer may
differ from those of the healthy population due to hypermetabolism, impaired organ
function, increased nutrient losses and therapy-related malnutrition.
Phase I is a descriptive exploratory study with the aims to identify the older adults with
malnutrition, understand their nutritional needs and patents including their cultural
aspects and beliefs. In completion of phase I study, some of the information collected will
be incorporated in phase II study.
The phase II study is a randomized controlled trial to investigate the effectiveness of the
nutritional intervention for malnourished older adult cancer patients undergoing
chemotherapy in comparison with usual care.
This seminar will share more about important aspects in phase I study.
Speaker: Ms Jeyanthi Anandan is a registered nurse specialised in
oncology care. She has 13 years of clinical experience in private
sector. She has worked in in-patient ward for 7 years, which includes
medical ward, surgical ward and liver transplant unit, and 6 years in
outpatient oncology and haematology clinic.
Ms Jeyanthi has experience in administering chemotherapy,
chemotherapy dilution, supportive management for chemotherapy
patients, and bone marrow transplantation.
She is currently pursuing her graduate research studies with the Alice
Lee Centre for Nursing Studies (ALCNS), National University of
Singapore.
Organized by the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, NUS