Editorial

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec id="j_ajon-2017-001_s_001"><h3>Background</h3><p>The Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association of Western Australia provides information, education and advocacy for people living with MND. The role and function of the personnel who provide this service has not been described in the literature and is therefore poorly understood by both healthcare professionals and the public.</p></sec><sec id="j_ajon-2017-001_s_002"><h3>Purpose</h3><p>To describe the role and function of the West Australian Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA [WA]) Care Advisors (CAs).</p></sec><sec id="j_ajon-2017-001_s_003"><h3>Method</h3><p>Ethnographic observation of seven MNDA (WA) CAs in their normal daily setting. Interviews with end users of CA service (people living with MND and their carers). Analysis of the observations and interview transcripts was undertaken to identify themes.</p></sec><sec id="j_ajon-2017-001_s_004"><h3>Findings</h3><p>The CAs were observed to undertake their supportive role with passion. Clarity around the role and function was ambiguous, even amongst the people in the roles. It is suggested this is due to limited formalised processes and procedures in an organisation that has moved from originally being run by volunteers through to a professional not-for-profit organisation. This in turn led to issues in recruitment and retention, clinical knowledge versus clinical care and demonstrating capabilities against Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) for reporting to funding bodies.</p></sec><sec id="j_ajon-2017-001_s_005"><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Multiple opportunities were highlighted during this study for these service providers to develop robust procedures to record the nature of their work, develop resilience in their work place, and ensure ongoing professional develop processes are engaged.</p></sec></abstract>

Both Sides of the Counter

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Central Pontine Myelinolysis (CPM) commonly presents as a complication of treatment in patients with profound life threatening hyponatraemia. It occurs when the sodium level is corrected too rapidly. Hyponatraemia should never be corrected at a rate greater than 8-10mmol/L of sodium per day. Rapid correction causes extracellular tonicity and will continue to drive water out of the brain’s cells leading to cellular dysfunction.</p><p>Frequent clinical signs include dysphagia, dysarthria, diplopia and acute para/quadraparesis. Patients can also experience locked in syndrome, where cognitive function is intact but all muscles are paralysed with the exception of eye blinking.</p><p>CPM gets its name as it occurs when cell dysfunction causes destruction of the myelin sheath of nerve cells in the brain stem, more specifically the pons. It is associated with poor prognosis and prevention is of primary importance.</p><p>Freddy is a 35 year old freelance graphic designer, fitness instructor and ultra-marathon runner. In October 2011 he competed in the Sahara Marathon in Morocco, a 6 day 255km ultra-marathon. At the end of the third day Freddy was found collapsed and vomiting. He was confused and was suffering severe leg cramps. The next morning Freddy suffered a single convulsive episode and was subsequently transferred to a hospital in Egypt.</p></abstract>

Central Pontine Myelinolysis: A Case Study

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Colin is a neuroscience Registered Nurse originally from the United Kingdom (UK). He had his first seizure in the UK. He and his family emigrated to Christchurch, New Zealand in 2007. Whilst at work on the neuroscience unit, Colin had another seizure resulting in a significant head injury. He was in rehab when the deadly Christchurch earthquake hit. <italic>Both Sides of the Counter</italic> covers his experience as a neuroscience nurse caring for others and then how things can quickly change - as a neuroscience patient with a head injury. This is his story.</p></abstract>

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Pituitary tumors including pituitary adenomas and related lesions such as craniopharyngiomas and Rathke’s cleft cysts present with a wide range of hormonal and neurological signs and symptoms resulting in a variety of referral pathways. A multidisciplinary approach to the diagnostic evaluation and treatment plan is essential to optimise outcomes. The patient is seen by each member of the team, including neurosurgeon, endocrinologist, head &amp; neck surgeon, nurse practitioner and in some instances neuro-ophthalmologist, oncologist, radiation oncologist and interventional neuroradiologist. Appropriate investigations are undertaken and a further meeting arranged at which all opinions are discussed. A reasoned treatment regimen is recommended, taking into consideration the patient’s wishes and overall medical condition. This manuscript describes the team approach currently employed in the Brain Tumor Center and Pituitary Disorders Program at Providence Saint John’s Health Center &amp; John Wayne Cancer Institute. When referring pituitary patients to this centre, health care professionals and patients alike are experiencing the positive benefits received from a patient-centred, multidisciplinary approach.</p></abstract>

Importance of a Multidisciplinary Team Approach for Optimizing Pituitary Surgery Outcomes

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec id="j_ajon-2017-111_s_001"><h3>Purpose</h3><p>In the field of neuroscience nursing in Japan, the “sitting position without back support” (SB) has promoted earlier ambulation, improved level of consciousness, and prevented disuse syndrome in patients with disturbance of consciousness and impaired mobility. This research was conducted with the aim of examining if respiratory function improved using SB on acute patients on ventilation in ICU.</p></sec><sec id="j_ajon-2017-111_s_002"><h3>Method</h3><p>The research design involved daily administration of SB to 10 participants in a controlled trial to compare respiratory function before, during, and after implementation. The measurement indexes were respiratory functions such as tidal volume and lung compliance value and the number of incidences that occurred during implementation, and tools such as APACHE II were used to measure deteriorations of physical condition. Analysis used non-parametric and parametric methods and an alpha level of 0.05 was used for all statistical tests.</p></sec><sec id="j_ajon-2017-111_s_003"><h3>Results</h3><p>Tidal volume and lung compliance value during SB implementation significantly increased, compared to before and after implementation. There were no incidents such as decannulation during implementation, and APACHE II scores were seen to significantly drop after the commencement of SB until discharge from ICU. However, a decline in pulse rate and blood pressure were seen during implementation of SB (4.8%).</p></sec><sec id="j_ajon-2017-111_s_004"><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The sitting position without back support administered to acutely ill patients on a ventilator was effective in improving respiratory function. In the future, there is a need to create a nurse’s assessment guide for implementation of SB and test the SB on a larger population.</p></sec></abstract>

Effectiveness of the Sitting Position Without Back Support

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a disorder of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) that causes fatigue and fluctuating muscle weakness (Hickey, 2009). The physiology of this disease is well understood and there are numerous medically focused articles that outline historical data, randomized controlled trials of treatment options and unusual case studies. The nursing literature about MG is limited and dated.</p><p>The aim of this study was to examine and understand the lived experiences of adults with MG. An interpretive phenomenological approach has been used that applies the research methodology of van Manen (1990). Seven people living with MG were interviewed and their experiences of the disease recorded. Questions were broadly worded about various topics related to MG and were guided by individual experiences. Thematic analysis revealed that MG affects every aspect of a person’s ‘lifeworld’: their sense of time, body, space and their relationships with others.</p><p>The findings of this study highlight three main themes embedded in the data that a person with MG experiences: living with uncertainty, living with weakness and living with change. These experiences have been interpreted and discussed to gain a deep understanding of the meaning of the disease. This study raises awareness of MG for neuroscience nurses and provides a unique view of this disease.</p></abstract>

The lived experience of adults with myasthenia gravis: A phenomenological study

AHEAD OF PRINT

Volume 34 (2024): Issue 1 (May 2024)

Volume 33 (2023): Issue 2 (October 2023)

Volume 33 (2023): Issue 1 (May 2023)

Volume 32 (2022): Issue 2 (October 2022)

Volume 32 (2022): Issue 1 (May 2022)

Volume 31 (2021): Issue 2 (October 2021)

Volume 31 (2021): Issue 1 (May 2021)

Volume 30 (2020): Issue 2 (October 2020)

Volume 30 (2020): Issue 1 (May 2020)

Volume 29 (2019): Issue 2 (May 2019)

Volume 29 (2019): Issue 1 (May 2019)

Volume 28 (2018): Issue 2 (November 2018)

Volume 28 (2018): Issue 1 (June 2018)

Volume 27 (2017): Issue 2 (November 2017)

Volume 27 (2017): Issue 1 (November 2017)

Volume 26 (2016): Issue 2 (May 2016)

Volume 26 (2016): Issue 1 (May 2016)

Volume 25 (2015): Issue 2 (October 2015)

Volume 25 (2015): Issue 1 (May 2015)

Australasian Journal of Neuroscience

Australasian Journal of Neuroscience (AJoN) Journal Scope and Aims  Published bi-annually (May and October), the Australasian Journal of Neuroscience (AJoN), the official journal of the Australasian Neuroscience Nurses Association (ANNA), has published original peer reviewed articles since 1988 making it one of the longest standing neuroscience nursing journals.  The AJoN is an international peer reviewed open access journal that aims to promote the development and exchange of knowledge that reflects the broad and emerging interests of neuroscience nursing and the neuroscience nursing profession. The AJoN is at the forefront of disseminating and communicating knowledge and through the promotion of clinically related scholarship, the AJoN supports and advances the practice and discipline of neuroscience nursing.  The mission of the AJoN is to further the neuroscience nursing profession through representation and the provision of works that best represent neuroscience nursing expertise and experience. Through this provision evidence is translated into neuroscience nursing practice to improve health outcomes for individuals, families, and populations.  Fields of nursing represented in the AJoN include, but are not limited to, neurology, movement disorders, neurosurgical, neuro-intensive, neuro-rehabilitative, neuropsychiatry, neuro-gerontology, neuro-paediatric, neuro-emergency and neuro-trauma. Contributions are also welcome from other healthcare fields on issues and developments that have a direct impact on neuroscience nursing practice.  The AJoN welcomes manuscripts from both new and experienced authors wishing to contribute neuroscience knowledge to nursing practice and research. Both National and International submissions are welcome, with the AJoN supporting the exchange of ideas and experience that represents different practices and cultures.  Submitted original articles should make a novel contribution to neuroscience nursing with examples including advances in neurosurgical and neurological nursing, patient care, complex care interventions, research, policy, professional issues, and theory. Submissions must be of a high quality and the journal accepts various article types including (but not limited to) review articles, systematic reports, case series, case studies, quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research articles, practice updates, guest editorials, clinical trials, quality improvement articles, letters to the editor, commentaries, and the development of new guidelines that provide a unique insight into the field of neuroscience nursing. The journal’s purpose is to advance the field of neuroscience nursing by presenting published works with an emphasis on knowledge that will influence the way neuroscience nursing is practiced, taught, researched, and administrated. This information is applicable to nurses working in clinical, administrative, educational,  leadership and research settings. Each issues contains a variety of papers, commentaries and published works resulting from the National ANNA conference. The target audience of the AJoN includes nurses, student nurses, nurse practitioners, managers, executives, administrators, educators, and higher research degree students as well as allied health professionals.  Topics relevant to the AJoN include the development of clinical research and knowledge, evidenced based practice, leadership, and scientific enquiry. Works that explore the patient and family experience, illness, and recovery within the neuroscience field. Organisational factors including governance, patient safety, role development and models of service delivery. As well as cultural comparisons and evaluations of neuroscience nursing practice across different healthcare sectors, social and geographical settings.  The AJoN offers authors the benefits of a highly respected journal in the field of neuroscience nursing, indexed in a wide range of databases including (EBSCO, Elsevier, MIAR, MtScienceWork, ReadCube, SCILIT and Semantic Scholar). The journal has a truly global readership, rapid manuscript screening and efficient editorial processes. The journal also offers a highly visual format, with full colour figures, images, and tables.  The AJoN Editor is advised and supported by a Board of Reviewers that represent all facets of neuroscience nursing. Submitted papers are reviewed by Reviewers who meet a high standard of academic and clinical expertise. The AJoN will ensure that practice and policy development is evidenced based, research is informed at an advanced level and that readers are challenged to engage in critical debate and critically reflect on the interface between practice, policy, and research. The AJoN team believes that every neuroscience nurse should have the opportunity to grow and develop their practice and career through quality education and professional development. The AJoN is essential reading for anyone with an interest in neuroscience nursing.   Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 

Australasian Journal of Neuroscience

Volume 25 (2015): Issue 1 (May 2015)

Editorial

Both Sides of the Counter

Central Pontine Myelinolysis: A Case Study

Both Sides of the Counter

Importance of a Multidisciplinary Team Approach for Optimizing Pituitary Surgery Outcomes

Effectiveness of the Sitting Position Without Back Support

The lived experience of adults with myasthenia gravis: A phenomenological study

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