Examines the relationship between resident characteristics and time participating in activities. For the 2,672 nursing home residents studied, measures of resource use, cognitive abilities, depression, sense of initiative/involvement, activity repertoire, location preferences, and gender were all found to be significant in explaining the amount of…

Includes "Meeting the Needs of the Aging Network" (Browdie); "In Nursing, a Study in Contradictions" (Morrissey); and "In Geriatrics, the Team Approach" (Heinemann). (JOW)

Surveyed 90 administrative and nonadministrative social workers employed in nursing homes who identified their level of influence in 5 spheres of organizational decision making. There were few differences between the two groups. However, among directors, number of full-time equivalent social workers, type of institution ownership, and length of…

An intensive summer doctoral program in nursing was assessed using data from 20 summer students and 10 faculty, as well as 34 regular students and 11 faculty. Summer students found the program satisfying but stressful; program interventions did not affect stress levels. Regular and summer students differed in long-term goals. (SK)

A plan for revising nursing education proposes (1) direct transfer linkage to improve associate/bachelor's degree articulation; (2) partnerships for student transfer between junior and senior colleges; and (3) a terminal nurse associate program to prepare for long-term nursing home care. (SK)

Sixty-six responses from 612 students who withdrew from nursing programs highlighted academic/institutional and personal factors. Recommendations for retention include student tracking, support groups, upper-class student mentoring, internships, counseling services, and information dissemination. (SK)

A study validated findings from two previous studies investigating the relationships between admission selection variables and achievement in baccalaureate nursing programs and performance on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Results suggest that students' prenursing grade point average and American…

Nursing researchers need to determine whether their priorities are congruent with societal need. Increased interaction with the public can provide vital decision-making data and inform debate on public financial support for research. (SK)

Empowering teaching strategies encourage leadership, critical thinking, problem solving, and collegiality and discourage passivity, isolation, and subordination. Empowerment prepares nurses for professional practice in hospitals. (SK)

The authors argue for the necessity of integrating general education and professional preparation and present a conceptual framework for professional preparation. They identify areas where interdisciplinary cooperation can provide meaningful educational experiences for nursing students. (SK)

Examined nursing homes that have both special care units and traditional units to determine factors that cause homes to place cognitively impaired residents on specialized units. Wandering, other problem behaviors, and Medicaid status were not significant predictors of placement. Logistic regression results indicated that functional status was…

The Clinical Learning Spiral incorporates reflective processes into undergraduate nursing education. It entails successive cycles of four phases: preparative (briefing, planning), constructive (practice development), reflective (debriefing), and reconstructive (planning for change and commitment to action). (SK)

Tested U.S. nursing home case-mix system, Resource Utilization Groups, Version III (RUG-III) in Japanese long-term care facilities. Measured staff time and resident characteristics for 871 patients. Found acceptable reliability for items defining RUG-III, and system explained 44% of variance in wage-weighted staff time (cost). Japanese and U.S.…

A bias toward teacher education's model of professional development rather than medicine's has hindered nursing education in using Medicare for clinical teaching. Health care reform provides opportunities for nurse educators to fund graduate programs by assuming an entrepreneurial role. (SK)

Analyzed the sociodemographic characteristics of nonnurse college graduates (n=166) who pursue baccalaureate degrees in accelerated nursing programs. Found that accelerated programs are an efficient use of resources and an effective way to increase the supply of nurses. (JOW)