As practical nursing continues to expand, major trends are underway concerning: practical nursing programs offered under the auspices of Vocational-Technical Education, program growth at the high school level, core curricula which allow students lateral movement, and exploratory programs in the health occupations. (DS)

Reports a research study which attempts to show the degree to which a licensing examination measures on the job performances as well as to show any measurable disparities between the licensing examination and on the job perofrmance. (SB)

Waiver nurses prove to be a highly motivated group not requiring rigid classroom structure. A source of womanpower well worth saving, in the opinion of Colorado educators. (Editor)

The literature on "organizers" by Ausubel, Earl, and Tyler provides clues to help teachers and students relate what has been learned in one subject to what is being learned in another. Problems of integration in a curriculum for student nurses are examined, and a solution to these problems is described. (RM)

Vocational and technical education researchers need to be aware of the uses and limits of various statistical models. The author reviews the Rasch Model and applies it to results from a nutrition test given to student nurses. (Author)

This study investigates the characteristics and attitudes of nurses who have been in the work force from three to five years. It uses a randomly selected national sample and compares diploma, associate degree, and baccalaureate graduates. It focuses on the group with the highest turnover rate. (SSH)

A pilot program at the University of California, Davis, that incorporated skilled nursing facility training into the required curriculum of their primary care internal medicine residency is described. The goal was to increase the residents' knowledge in the care of geriatric patients. (MLW)

Proposes a grading system for nursing education, consisting of (1) a within-class component, based on mastery testing and criterion-referenced assessment to develop academic knowledge and clinical skills; and (2) a between-class component, based on norm-referenced assessment to provide a statistically sound class ranking. (SK)

The authors have developed a step-by-step plan designed to assist nurses to successfully integrate patient teaching into their practice. This plan includes an overview of patient teaching, identifies barriers to patient teaching, and presents a specific framework for establishing an effective program to minimize these barriers. (SSH)

This study determined the predictive validity of the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory relative to that afforded by the American College Testing Program's (ACT) Assessment composite score in forecasting academic success in a three-year, hospital-based nursing diploma program, as measured by…

Investigated the learning outcomes of 83 nursing students randomly assigned to a computer assisted instruction (CAI) group or to a group taught with printed programmed instruction (PI). Findings suggest that CAI can be as effective as more traditional instruction in teaching both factual content and application of learned material. Fourteen…

The author advocates the involvement of nursing school faculty in continuing education for nurses. Among the benefits to the teacher is the opportunity to integrate theory with practice and bridge the gap between nursing education and nursing service. (SK)

Within academic health centers there exists a well-established "pecking order" influencing daily life and reflecting fundamental relationships between medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, and allied health. Relationships between individual professionals and between schools within a center are examined for clues to possible change. (MSE)

A study was done to determine how school nurse practitioners apply skills learned in training programs to their daily activities and to provide a greater understanding of their relationship to consulting physicians. Results indicate that the nurses' perceptions provide useful data on time allocation but do not give a good estimate of patient care…