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)

Migrant Health Service, Inc., was established to address the health needs of migrant farmworkers and their families. Ten satellite nurse-managed centers and two mobile units use a voucher system to provide financial support for clients. The centers also provide clinical experiences for nursing students. (Contains 22 references.) (JOW)

Review of professional nursing statements, federal policy, and recommendations for protection of human research subjects resulted in a topic and content outline for research ethics training for nurses. Suggestions for continuing education programs on research ethics were formulated. (SK)

This white paper from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing depicts the current environment of nursing practice, including supply and demand. It describes work environments that support professional practice and outlines eight indicators for the practice environment. Contains 48 references and an appendix with suggested questions for…

Nursing students (n=24) took conventional individual unit and final exams; 25 others used collaborative testing for units and individual final exams. Overall comprehension was equivalent; collaboration improved unit exam scores. There was indirect evidence that collaboration altered test-taking skills. (SK)

According to responses from 76 percent of 200 nurses surveyed, nurses who earn doctorates in any field are likely to go on to conduct nursing research. What seems more important than type of degree is whether the nurses were exposed to computers or participated in faculty research as doctoral students. (Author)

Assessed decision-making capability and preferences regarding advance directives of 39 nursing home residents and proxies. Most patients willingly stated preferences; over one-half opted to forego burdensome measures when death appeared imminent. Decisionally capable patients were more likely to forego life-sustaining measures than those of…

Compared demented patients in special care units in four nursing homes with demented counterparts in same facilities who were not placed in special care units. Results suggest that two groups differ in level of cognitive impairment, behavior, and functional and physical status. No deleterious or beneficial effects were associated with special care…

If nursing education commits itself to preparing public health nurses for leadership in public health, it will be committing itself to self-examination, redirection, and change that will reflect the crucial balance between nursing and public health at all levels. (JOW)

Surveyed 577 nurses and nurse's aides working in long-term care facilities to examine abuse of nursing home residents by staff. Respondents indicated that abuse did occur and significant minority of respondents reported having themselves committed physically or psychologically abusive actions. Findings suggest that abuse may be common part of…

Summarizes the history and present status of the doctoral degree in nursing. Surveys critical issues, such as terminal versus first professional degree, academic versus professional focus, and the relationship of the doctoral degree to a master's degree. (Author/JOW)

Increased admissions from hospitals to nursing homes over six-month period resulted in reduced number of hospital nonacute patients requiring long-term care placement. Nursing homes shifted admissions patterns to accept more persons from non-hospital settings, hospital admissions declined, and number of nonacute patients in hospitals increased.…

Portfolio workbooks combine reflection, planning, critical incident analysis, and integration of theory and practice. They provide a comprehensive record of student learning and develop autonomy and decision-making skills. A precondition for effective use is teacher commitment to student-centered learning. (SK)

This primer on budgets for nursing schools includes the budgetary process; budgeting techniques; and information about various types of budgets, such as the open-ended budget, incremental budget, quota budget, and alternate-level budget. Questions about budget structure, revenue sources, and budget management and evaluation are answered. (JOW)

Despite recent criticisms of andragogy and a shift toward critical pedagogy in the current sociopolitical climate, andragogy is supported by literature and research. The more central role it gives students in their own educational processes and its compatibility with the concept of care make it a suitable underpinning for nursing education. (SK)