A survey of South Dakota nurses received 559 responses (22.4%). Findings included the following: 92.3% rated themselves competent; two-thirds had access to relevant continuing education; fewer than half felt their continuing education needs were being met; and three-fourths had computers at home and/or work but only 17.9% used them for continuing…

Describes a course combining theory and clinical experience in which nursing students complete placements in youth summer camps while participating in intensive theory classes. Explains the value of such placements in developing community relationships and exposing students to public health practice. (SK)

English and nursing departments used writing to learn and critical thinking strategies in a writing across the curriculum programs for nursing students. Strategies were designed to blend with course objectives. Clinical logs and dialog journals were used for recording evolving personal nursing philosophies. (Contains 15 references.) (SK)

To decrease nursing students' anxiety during psychomotor skills testing in learning laboratories, paid peer instructors were trained to assist. Over 3 years, 270 students participated and reported positive outcomes. (SK)

Responses from 184 of 476 male nursing students in Ontario community colleges showed that the two groups with the least role strain had high masculinity scores and those with the most role strain had low masculinity scores on the Bem Sex-Role Inventory. Role strain declined between the first and second years and increased by the third year of…

Discusses the creation of a program of accredited work-based learning (learning at and through work that earns college credit) for emergency nurse practitioners. Highlights the challenges of collaboration with purchasers of education and nonnurse colleagues in creating an appropriate learning environment outside university control. (Contains 28…

The Healing Web model of nursing education was used with 95 nursing students. Compared to 322 in the traditional program, Healing Web students scored higher in caring abilities, leadership, and assertiveness. They identified collaboration and awareness of different nursing roles as benefits of the experience. (SK)

Survey responses from 175 nursing faculty indicated that student attitudes and expectations were the greatest barrier to teaching critical thinking, followed by time constraints and the need to teach for content coverage. Because critical thinking is crucial to nursing practice, faculty development and ways to overcome student resistance are…

The term "knowledge economy" is, as one would expect, primarily a signal for strategists and policy-makers that it is time to take note of a fundamental shift in the role and treatment of knowledge in both the manufacturing and service sectors. The latter includes both health and education. It is important, therefore, that people begin to grasp…

The issue of student attrition (where students leave a programme of study for any reason) is maintaining a high profile across the higher education sector and is a key concern for those delivering nurse education. Many authors have pointed out the cause for concern that student nurse attrition raises and its impact on the higher education…

This descriptive study examined the conceptions and misconceptions students in health professions have regarding older people. The research was conducted in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The findings revealed that students in health professions, as a whole, demonstrated a high degree of stereotypic misconceptions and poor knowledge about aging and older…

Cognitive care training, also known as dementia training, has changed significantly, and negatively, since 1993 in New York State nursing homes. The research reported in this paper examines the employment requirements for cognitive care training and the actual post-employment cognitive care training. The research involved a replication of the…

School nurses need to demonstrate that their practice is based on the best evidence available, which is usually data obtained from research. Evidence-based practice involves combining the best evidence available with nursing expertise and patient and family preferences to determine optimum care. Evidence-based practice guidelines are developed by…

Context: Research has demonstrated substantial differences between end-of-life care in rural and urban settings. As the end of life approaches, rural elders are less likely to be hospitalized, to be placed in an intensive care unit, or to have a feeding tube, compared to their urban counterparts. These differences cannot be fully explained by…

Purpose: Advance directives are important planning and decision-making tools for individuals in nursing homes. Design and Methods: By using the nursing facility Minimum Data Set, we examined the prevalence of advance directives at admission and 12 months post-admission. Results: The prevalence of having any advance directive at admission declined…