Partnerships in mending hearts: nurse and peer intervention for recovering cardiac elders.
As a growing number of older adults recover from cardiac events, volunteer programs have emerged to provide low-cost community support to vulnerable elders. Although an increasing number of studies have described the beneficial relationships between patients and volunteers, little is known about the unique partnership between the advanced practice nurse (APN) and the volunteer peer. The purpose of this article was to explore the interaction between the APN and the peer advisor who provide support for unpartnered elders after myocardial infarction or coronary artery bypass grafting. As part of a larger research study, "Improving Health Outcomes for Unpartnered Cardiac Elders" (R01-NR05205), interactions with peers were recorded by APNs. Essential themes related to working with 20 peer advisors emerged from 30 logs. Findings suggest that establishing the peer support role, acknowledging abilities, and overcoming difficulties are important steps in the relationship. A partnership between healthcare professionals and peer advisors enhances social support for vulnerable elders recovering from myocardial infarction and coronary artery bypass grafting.
Winder
Patricia A
PA
University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, Calif 94143, USA. trisha.winder@nursing.ucsf.edu
Hiltunen
Elizabeth F
EF
Sethares
Kristen A
KA
Butzlaff
Alice
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010379:Peer Group; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012380:Role; D012944:Social Support