Discusses the ERIC system as it relates to nursing education information and materials. Describes ERIC, how to access it, and how to submit materials for possible inclusion into the ERIC database. (JOW)

Case studies show how three nurse educators incorporated intentional humor into their teaching in different ways. Their intention was to convey material in a memorable and enjoyable way. Student reactions were overwhelmingly positive. (Contains 25 references.) (SK)

Nurse educators (n=201) identified their concept of critical thinking and agreement with nonnurse experts (a Delphi panel of academic scholars) on critical thinking items. They agreed on skills and dispositions, but nurse educators were more likely to consider research, problem solving, decision making, and planning as critical thinking…

Based on observation of three teachers, suggestions for including humor in nursing education are offered: developing one's sense of humor, developing a presentation style, and remembering to be sensitive, relevant, spontaneous, and oneself. (SK)

Gives an overview of the development of service learning and places it in the context of nursing education. Describes essential elements: institutional support, faculty interest, community partners, student motivation, orientation, evaluation, and reflection. (Contains 18 references.) (SK)

In a nursing theory course, the final exam consists of a role play in which students assume the identity of a theorist they have studied and answer questions in the context of that role. Questions are designed demonstrate their knowledge of major nursing theories and models and the relevance of theory to practice. (SK)

The answer sheets of 122 nursing students showed that 119 changed at least 1 answer; 93.3% of those who changed answers either gained or did not lose points by changing; changing answers on psychiatric nursing exams made more difference than on medical-surgical tests. However, those who made the smallest number of changes tended to have higher…

Inquiry-based learning (IBL), a flexible holistic adaptation of problem-based learning, was implemented in a nursing curriculum. Comparison of critical thinking test scores for 228 students in their first and 257 in their last semester showed that those with the lowest scores initially benefitted most from IBL; middle and high level scorers did…

Nursing students (n=27) wrote descriptions of the experience of choosing nursing as a career. Influences included intense desire to help others, professional reward, prior work experiences, family and friends in health care occupations, observing nurses in action, something lacking in previous career choices, and fascination with science and the…

Responses from 300 accredited nursing schools indicated that they used eclectic conceptual frameworks for curriculum; the most common component was the nursing process. Associate degree programs were more likely to use simple-to-complex organization. Diploma programs were more likely to use the medical model than baccalaureate programs. Frameworks…

Sophomore nursing students (n=162) examined scenarios depicting typical and atypical signs of heart attack. Examples were structured to include essential and nonessential symptoms, enabling pattern recognition and improved performance. The method provides a way to prepare students to anticipate and recognize life-threatening situations. (Contains…

Role playing is a useful method for teaching cultural competence in nurse-patient situations. Successful implementation depends on identification of objectives and grading criteria, adequate time, guidelines for role specifications, monitoring of the process, delineation of the relationship to theory, and facilitation of constructive analysis.…

Describes a process for teaching nursing research via secondary analysis of data sets from the National Center for Health Statistics. Addresses advantages, potential problems and limitations, guidelines for students, and evaluation methods. (Contains 32 references.) (SK)

Nursing students in preceptored clinical experiences assumed more responsibility, managed time better, and learned to prioritize patients. The partnership benefited hospitals by spreading student clinical supervision across more staff and enabling smaller institutions to participate. (SK)

Interviews with 31 nursing students and 3 teachers identified several benefits from using humor in class: relieving stress, focusing attention, making learning fun, enhancing learning, and strengthening relationships. Students overwhelmingly supported the use of appropriate humor. (Contains 29 references.) (SK)