Surveyed nursing home administrators (n=124) to determine mental health problems of residents, mental health issues of staff, mental health professionals used as consultants, and intervention programs to improve mental health environment of facilities. Results identified combative and demanding behaviors, depression, and confusion as difficult…

Covers the following topics: aging of the Japanese population, restructuring social customs, age norms in adulthood, intergenerational interaction outside the family, continuing education for seniors, University of the Air, public library services to the elderly, nursing curricula for an aging society, preretirement education and life planning,…

Notes that Denmark and Sweden have achieved reduction in institutionalization of elderly individuals by increasing home care and housing with services and adaptation. Describes innovative model of nursing home care in Denmark--a self-care model that fosters independent living and decision making as long as possible. (Author/NB)

"Schools and Businesses Need to Work together to Close the 'Job Skills Gap'" (Cortina) discusses Los Angeles efforts to implement recommendations of the Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills. "Employer-Sponsored Education Is a Win-Win Situation for Both Businesses and Employees" (Lipshutz) describes a…

A survey of Israeli first-year college students enrolled in occupational therapy (55), special education (33), nursing (88), and physical therapy (44) found significant differences in the work values of those in therapy-oriented versus service-oriented fields. For occupational therapists, job-related aesthetics were most important, management…

Developed a needs-assessment model and validated the model with five groups of stakeholders connected with an undergraduate university nursing program in Canada. Used focus groups, questionnaires, a hermeneutic approach, and the magnitude-estimation scaling model to validate the model. Results show that respondents must define need to clarify the…

Offers a critical perspective on American feminist Donald Schon and on reflective practice as a pedagogy. Reflexivity's scope in the U.K. has been constrained by its context--professions with large female workforces (nursing, teaching, and social work), where autonomy is limited and orthodoxy predominates. More research is needed. Contains 49…

Comparison of the perceptions of 55 student nurses whose curriculum emphasized academics over clinical practice with those of 39 in a revised curriculum emphasizing theory-practice links found only modest evidence that the newer curriculum improved student perceptions of their preparation for clinical placement. (SK)

Reports on the prevalence of behavior disorders in a sample of residents (N=360) in adult day health care programs. Findings indicate relatively high rates of behavior disorders. Most prevalent were the affective disorders (seeking reassurance, depression, crying) and verbal-vocal agitation. Differences between formal and informal caregivers'…

Describes the Mental Health Consultation Team at the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center nursing home. The team is an interdisciplinary group of mental health professionals and primary care providers. Cooperation among these professionals has decreased the demands for formal psychiatry and psychology consultations while increasing mental…

Describes an 11-week course given at a nursing home to nursing home aides that focused on abnormal psychology and behavior intervention skills. Discusses the course goals, class composition, and course description. Addresses the problems and issues encountered with teaching this course to a nontraditional population in an unconventional setting.…

Describes how Holy Family College in Northeast Philadelphia, an "Implementing Urban Missions" grantee, created and maintained an urban nursing center. Discusses the challenges of translating one department's experience with a community partnership into the context of other academic departments. (EV)

Components of a framework for assessing web-based nursing courses are described: faculty support, learner support, educational practices, use of technology, and outcomes. Use of the framework as a guide for best teaching and learning practices in a web-based environment is discussed. (SK)

Examines the relationship between class attendance in a nursing course and its effect on grades achieved. Studies nine classes, and finds a definite relationship between attendance and grades. Suggests that multiple factors beyond absenteeism significantly influenced the grades achieved in other classes. (VWC)

Examined stereotypes held by U.S. student nurses before and after participating in an educational experience in Russia. The experience was intended to prepare them to be effective nurses in multicultural health care settings. Data from student interviews indicated that the experience changed students' stereotyped attitudes about Russian culture…