Guided reflection by six nurses who completed a counseling and health course supported the distinction between using counseling skills and practicing counseling. In a nursing context, counseling means assisting patients in exploring feelings and discovering coping strategies for their focal problems. (SK)

Patients' use of Internet health information raises concerns about reliability, access to information meant for clinicians, and self-diagnosis and treatment. Nurses should become informed and undertake patient education about consumer health informatics. (Contains 25 references.) (SK)

A survey of nursing education programs in England revealed that the teaching of pharmacology is usually integrated into curriculum. Respondents felt insufficient time was devoted to it and that there were opportunities for integrating pharmacology knowledge and patient education in practice settings. (SK)

Computer-assisted learning can be an effective medium for undergraduate nursing education, especially through the use of graphics and self-assessment exercises. It also has benefits for patient care and education. (SK)

A social-behavioral science perspective is relevant to the curriculum for cardiorespiratory nursing specialists. These nurses should be prepared in health promotion and enabling patient self-management. (SK)

Current educational programs for cardiac patients are ineffective because they are teacher focused, assume that increased knowledge produces long-term changes, and neglect patient needs and anxiety. A more effective approach should be based on adult learning principles and identify and use learning needs to personalize educational programs. (SK)

Self-ratings of self-efficacy for engaging patients in health-promotion activities were made by 41 nursing and 60 medical students. Nursing students had significantly higher knowledge and ability scores for counseling patients about exercise, nutrition, and injury prevention. Confidence in knowledge was stronger than counseling ability in both…