A O H N J O U R N A L APRIL 1987. VOL. 45. NO 4

to guide their actions according to relevant higher order principles. . . . The more experienced, educated nurse when given the opportunity is likely to engage in an active, thinking role.” It could then be inferred that the perioperative nurse with an associate degree might more appropriately perform the scrub and first assisting roles. In defining two levels of practice for perioperative nursing, this study offers a wealth of information.

ROGER A. STONE, RN, MS, CNOR 1986 NURS~NG RESEARCH COMMITTEE

H Firth et al, “Burnout and professional depression: Related concepts?” Journal of Advanced Nursing 11 (November 1986) 633-641.

Professional depression is a term that has been used to describe a syndrome found among nurses working in long-stay hospitals for the mentally handicapped. Nurses experiencing professional depression suffer a lack of accomplishment in their work, become overtired, and feel ineffective, disappointed, and angry. Professional depression may lead a nurse to give up trying to change things.

Burnout is a term used to describe many different responses to the stress of constantly dealing with people in need. Responses include exhaustion, absenteeism, pessimism, loss of concern for coworkers. lack of motivation, frequent irritability, and negativism and apathy.

Two hundred nurses from medical units in general, psychiatric, and mental hospitals in one health district in England participated in this study designed to determine the relationship between professional depression and burnout in nurses.

Participants answered questions designed to assess the level of emotional exhaustion, deper- sonalization, lack of personal accomplishment, and professional depression. A factor analysis demonstrated significant relationships between burnout, professional depression, and depressed mood. In addition, a relationship was demon- strated between a depressed mood and both discouragement about work and emotional exhaustion. A relationship between the individual’s personality and discouragement about work was shown. Individuals with a tendency to place blame

upon others or upon themselves reported greater discouragement about work. Also noteworthy was the correlation between burnout and the feeling of receiving little support from the boss, having a poor idea of what was expected on the job, and an unclear perception of one’s authority.

Nursing implications. Perioperative nurses who leave the OR or nursing altogether often give burnout as a reason. The fact that nurses experiencing burnout report that they sense little support from the boss, have a lack of role clarification, and have little authority, may suggest that preventive intervention is appropriate. A conscious effort to praise the nurse for a job well done, to provide a clear understanding of job performance expectations, and an effort to include the staff nurse in meaningful decision making, may help in preventing burnout.

CYNTHIA SPRY, RN, MSN, CNOR CHAIRMAN

1986 NURSING RESEARCH COMMITTEE

M L Armstrong, “Computer competence for nurse educators,” Image 18 (Winter 1986) 155-1 60.

The purpose of this study was to identify the present and future needs for nurse educators to become competent in the use of computers for basic and continuing education programs. The need to be informed about computer applications and be able to implement them in clinical practice, administration, education, and research in nursing has become a recognized requirement for professional practitioners. Computer literacy as an educational goal for all nurses has been a consistent and frequent topic in the nursing literature.

Educators recognize that they must be educated about computer applications in a variety of nursing contexts before they can educate others. It has been suggested that the educators in both formal programs and in-service/staff development settings need to have an awareness of new technologies for health care delivery, as well as skills and positive attitudes about using computers in nursing contexts.

The researchers developed two tools to assess present and future computer competence. The data collection instrument on present computer