[Exploration of characteristics of a competent nursing faculty member: a qualitative study]

Introduction: The aim of nursing education is training of competent nurses who have knowledge, attitude and necessary skills for maintaining and promoting people health. So, nursing faculty member role in individual and professional development is not deniable. The purpose of this study is exploration of characteristics of a competent nursing faculty member

Methods: This is a qualitative research which was done using content analysis method. Data were collected through interviews. The study was initiated with purposive sampling and continued by theoretical one. 24 participants were interviewed during 2 months in Nursing faculty. Constant comparative analysis method was utilized for data analysis

Results: Data analysis has shown that 7 categories including: scientific background, educational skills, individual and emotional characteristics, professional ethics, supportive and management characteristics as secondary codes, and "A nursing competent faculty member as a complete human" as the main code were extracted from data which all participants confirmed them

Conclusion: In this study the characteristics of a competent nursing faculty member were recognized deeper. Since the main code "A nursing competent faculty member as a complete human" as a new and deep spiritual finding can emphasizes on the placement of nursing discipline. Considering the study findings can bear in mind that all nursing masters should pay attention to them and have a comprehensive plan to achive them. On the other hand, applying characteristics of a competent nursing faculty member as a guider in nursing menagement and education is recommended

[Effect of concept mapping on approach to learning among nursing students]

Most of the recent studies in nursing education have been focused on outcomes of learning. Conventional clinical nursing education, which emphasizes on skill acquisitions, may not encourage students to adopt meaningful or deep learning approaches. This study examined the effect of Concept Mapping on learning approaches among nursing students. In this quasi-experimental study, 53 nursing students were randomly divided into two control [n=25] and experimental [n=28] groups. We taught concept mapping for the nurses in the experimental group to use it in caring patients and learning clinical skills. The control group received traditional nursing care plan lessons. Before and at the end of the intervention, the students' approach to learning was assessed using the Study Process Questionnaire. Data was analyzed using independent t test. No statistically significant difference was found between the control and experimental groups on demographics, surface and deep approaches to learning at the beginning of the study [P>0.05]. Deep approach to learning increased significantly in the experimental group after the intervention [P=0.03]. There was also statistically significant difference in the deep approach to learning between two groups [P=0.02]. No statistically significant difference was found in the surface approaches to learning between two groups. The results of this study provided empirical support for the use of concept mapping as a meta cognitive intervention to increase students' meaningful learning and academic achievement

[Healthy behaviors of female teenagersliving in orphanage centers and living with their families]

Healthy behaviors of teenagers are effective on the community development. This study was carried out in order to compare healthy behaviors of female teenagers living with their families and in orphanage centers in Tehran. This was a cross-sectional study. The subjects were consisted of 110 female teenagers that 55 of them dwelled in the orphanage centers and the remaining lived with their families. Both groups were studying at the same schools. Samples were selected using stratified random sampling method. Questionnaire was used to gather data. The data were analyzed by descriptive and analytical statistical methods in SPSS software. There were statistically significant differences between two groups in nutrition [P < 0.0003], sleep and rest [P < 0.001], physical exercise [P < 0.0013], and individual health [P < 0.001]. Total score of health behaviors were 112.3, and 87.8 in family group and orphanage group respectively [P < 0.001]. The average score of health behaviors in girls that reside in orphanage centers was lower than the score of them who lived with their families. This shows the necessity of planning educational and managerial tools to improve their healthy behaviors

[ study on waiting time and length of stay of attendants to emergency department of Vali-e-Asr Hospital, Arak-Iran]

Delivery of immediate medical interventions appropriate to the severity of clinical status of patients is a main public expectation of emergency departments. Waiting time and length of stay are the key measures to assess the quality of care in emergency departments. This study is done to investigate the waiting time and length of stay of attendants to emergency department of Vali-e-Asr Hospital, Arak-Iran. This analytical cross-sectional research was conducted in a general emergency department of a teaching hospital in Arak to assess the waiting time and length of stay of patients. In the first stage of the study all attendants during a 6 weeks period were classified regarding to the severity of their clinical status by an educated nurse and a general practitioner using a three category scale [guideline] presented by ministry of Health and Medical Education [2001]. Also waiting time for a general practitioner visit was measured and documented by the resident general practitioner. In the second stage, a sample of 100 documents of patients in group 1 and 2 admitted for specialist visit were assessed for the waiting time and length of stay in emergency department. Mean of waiting time according to patients clinical status and the specialty of the first physician were analyzed by t-test and ANOVA [p = 0.05]. During a 6 weeks period, of 1963 patients, 179[9.1%] were categorized as emergent [category 1], 391[19.9%] urgent [category 2] and 1393 [71%] non urgent. The mean waiting time for general practitioner visit was 5 minutes. The median and mean of waiting time for specialist visit in group 1 and 2 of patients were 225 and 262 +/- 156, 220 and 227 +/- 153 minutes, respectively. The median and mean of length of stay was 1 and 2 days, respectively. No differences were found between waiting time of various specialties visit in patients of categories 1 and 2. Regarding the long waiting time for specialist visit, using triage in emergency departments is necessary. This needs planning and organization for the presence of specialists in the hospital, over the time. Also regarding the large number of nonurgent patients, 24 hours presence of a general practitioner is necessary