Discusses the decision by Florence-Darlington Technical College to waive its Scholastic Achievement Test entrance requirement for nursing degree applicants over 24 years old who could successfully complete the science component of the associate degree nursing curriculum. Discusses effects of the policy change on grades, attrition rates, and…

Reflective tutorials used in supervising nursing student teachers raised several questions: What is the link between reflection and quality of practice? Can tutorials be used for assessment as well as personal development? Is reflection dependent on context? and How do the roles of supervisors and students change? (SK)

A project brought together 10 nursing students and 7 pharmacy students to learn and practice collaborative professional skills. Students met weekly to present joint case conferences to professional peers, practice negotiation and collaboration skills, and demonstrate the critical thinking processes essential and unique to their professions. Both…

Urges community colleges to develop health care training programs specific to the employment needs of a community. Examines issues related to health care credentialing and program accreditation. Reviews the wide range of nursing programs that community colleges can provide as continuing education or for college credit. (DMM)

A qualitative study looked at role stress in 11 nondoctorally prepared undergraduate nursing faculty in a southern university school of nursing with a doctoral program. Faculty reported that role stress and strain affect both their teaching and their decisions to remain in academia. (JOW)

A nursing class taught through distance education is discussed from the perspectives of the telecommunications faculty, on- and off-campus nursing faculty, and the department head. Review of course grades shows that off-campus students (n=26) earned higher grades than on-campus students (n=24). On-campus students rated teacher effectiveness more…

A discussion of nursing education looks at the evolution of the profession in the context of changing health care needs, changing expectations for nursing practice, traditional and new program types, growth of graduate study in nursing, and new roles for nurses as health care delivery systems adapt to changing needs. (MSE)

In this theme issue, 18 articles discuss the motivation for and benefits of working with old and dying people, nursing homes, ethical issues, and the training of home health care workers. Employee recruitment and retention and the economics of health care for the frail elderly are also addressed. (JOW)

Examined burnout among nursing assistants (n=245). Found that both stressor and appraisal variables influenced feelings of burnout. Stressor variable, frequency of disturbing patient behaviors, best explained feelings of reduced Personal Accomplishment. Appraisal variable, reaction to patient behaviors, best explained Emotional Exhaustion. Found…

Monitored room changes in four nursing homes over one-year period. Used participant observation; repeated interviews with residents, family members, and nursing home staff; and event analyses to develop detailed case studies of room change decision-making process. Resulting model of room change process and factors influencing process involved five…

Three theories of commitment were tested by surveying 92 nursing students 3 times during their first year. The social exchange approach and unmet expectations about nursing careers influenced commitment during the latter eight months. The circumstances surrounding the decision to enter nurse training (behavioral approach) predicted commitment only…

Nursing staff (n=166) in four nursing homes participated in quasi-experimental study to measure knowledge and attitudes about urinary incontinence and compliance with toileting protocols. Intervention group (n=96) showed slight increase in knowledge; their attitudes remained positive over four testing times. Compliance with protocol was only 72…

Examined relationship between place of residence and use of formal services prior to entering nursing home among older persons (n=131) within 30 days of admission. Found no residential differences in percent reporting use of formal services, number of services received, kinds of services used, or average length of time services had been received.…

Describes a nurses' training program in Germany that adapted self-instructional learning material for use by networked universities for distance education. Topics include testing, evaluation, and revision of the learning modules; adaptation in distance education; and empirical evidence for the process of adaptation. (LRW)

A community service project involved nursing faculty and students in providing primary health services. One core activity had nursing students conducting vision screening for preschoolers in at-risk populations. (SK)