[Evaluation of students' clinical skills: Agreement of self-assessment and clinical teacher assessment scores]

Introduction: The most essential part of any training program is evaluation, because by doing so, the shortcomings of the program can be realized and dealt with. Clinical evaluation of students is one of the fundamental challenges in clinical nursing education. Nowadays, self-evaluation is proposed as a useful method along with student evaluation by teacher

Objective: This study was performed to determine the agreement between self and clinical teacher evaluation of nursing students' clinical skills

Methods: In this descriptive cross -sectional study, 79 nursing students from of two to eight semester were chosen by stratified systematic random sampling method. At the end of the training, students' clinical skills were evaluated by themselves and clinical teachers. The data gathering instruments were evaluation forms used in college of nursing. Descriptive and inferential statistics [Variance analysis, Spearman correlation and inner group correlation square] were used for data analysis

Results: Based on study results, there was no significant difference between self and clinical teachers' evaluation in general and specific-general items. Also a high agreement and correlation were found between two assessment methods [P=0.0001, ICC= 0.916]

Conclusion: According to significant correlation between two different methods of assessment, it is suggested to increase the accuracy of clinical assessment scores and student satisfaction, self-assessment be used in addition to clinical teacher assessment. Perhaps this method may promote clinical evaluation methods

[Residual Aluminum from application of Alum and Polyaluminum Chloride in removal of turbidity from turbid water]

Different coagulants including aluminum sulfate [Alum] and Polyaluminum Chloride [PAC] are used for water clarification process and deposition of colloidal particles. The use of coagulants causes some residual aluminum in water. The residual aluminum higher than 0.2 mg/l, has adverse effects on human health and environment. This study was conducted to determine the amount of residual aluminum by applying Polyaluminium chloride and aluminum sulfate for turbidity removal from turbid water. In this laboratory study, the experiments were run by using synthetic water having low [10-30 NTU], medium [100-130 NTU] and high [200-230 NTU] initial turbidities. Synthetic turbid water was prepared by adding stock kaolin suspension into distilled water. Samples of 1 liter of water were poured on 6 Jars. After adjusting of pH, coagulant was added into each beaker at various doses and agitated at 100 rpm for 30s. The mixing speed was then reduced to 20 rpm and kept for another 15 minutes. The suspensions were left for sedimentation and after 30 minutes of sedimentation, clarified samples were collected from the top of the beakers. Residual turbidity and residual aluminum was measured. The residual turbidity was measured using a Turbidimeter according to Nephlometric method. The residual aluminum was determined by Eriochrome cyanine R method. Residual alminium in low, medium and high turbidities was 0.006 mg/l, 0.05 mg/l and 0.07 mg/l by applying Polyaluminum Chloride and 0.065 mg/l, 0.15 mg/l and 0.22 mg/l by applying alum, respectively. There was a significant correlation between dosage of Alum and Polyaluminum Chloride with residual aluminium [P<0.05]. Polyaluminum Chloride due to low sensitivity to pH variation and less residual aluminum in treated water is more suitable than alum coagulant and could be used as a recommended water coagulant

[Human love or professional knowledge?]

Disease or injury affects not only specific structures and physiological or psychological mechanisms but also integrated human functioning. When integrated functioning is seriously affected, the ability of an individual disturbs permanently or transiently for self-care. Vegetative state is one of severe and periodic states of unconsciousness and complete unawareness of self and surrounding environment. The patient loses his self-care ability and requires a complete compensative care system. The aim of this case report was to describe a successful long-term dependent care of a vegetative patient by family members according to Orem's theory. Qualitative and quantitative data were gathered by interviewing with care givers, observing nursing care and examining the patient. The case was an Iranian 34-year-old injured man in persistent vegetative state for 17 years after an explosion leading to head injury at war. His immediate care giver was his 58-year-old father with primary education. In physical examination, his integumentary, respiratory, and urinaiy systems were normal. Laboratory tests including blood cell counts, urinalysis, urine culture and electrolytes were also normal. Immobility complications [bedsore, contractures..], malnutrition and infections were not found. This study confirms the healing nature of family care that ensures living by love and hope. According to Orem [2001], love is a positive human emotion that moves people beyond their situations. Benevolence as an active part of a perfect love enables nurses [care givers] to unite with their patients and this helps to realize specific life situations and to struggle to solve them. In critical conditions, the family power dominated by human love should be considered more than before by formal providers of care to empower family role. In addition, with respect to the role of human emotions in providing complete and effective care, developing humanistic attitudes and emotions should be of great concern in nursing education because caring needs not only professional knowledge but also human love, emotions and attitude

[ experiences of patients with Multiple Sclerosis]

Multiple Sclerosis [MS] is one of the chronic diseases that involves central nervous system and often affects young adults in the prime of life. Multiple Sclerosis as a chronic disease isn't curable and makes the patients disable. It affects the patients' and their families' life and disturbs their life styles in different way. There are highly variable and unpredictable changes in multiple sclerosis and it is one of the most life-altering disease. It strikes in the prime of the life and makes frequent incurable progressive disabilities. Because MS is such a complex, multifaceted disorder, nurses who care for people with MS are faced with numerous clinical changes. Therefore, well-informed nurses can evaluate and explain the disease process and help the patients to improve quality of life. The qualitative phenomenological research was employed. There were participants chosen amongst the patients referring to Isfahan Multiple Sclerosis Society. The sampling method was purposeful and continued until data saturation. A total of 14 participants were chosen in the end. The data were collected by in-depth interviews and data analysis was done by collaizi method. The findings of this study showed four core concepts expressing participants' experiences, including: physical experiences of the disease spiritual experiences of the disease. Psychological experiences of the disease and social experiences of the disease. Patients with MS experience psycho-spiritual, social and physical problems in their whole of body. Nurses' appropriate understanding of these problems can make a suitable rehabilitation plan for the patients and their families. Consideration of above issues is suggested any educational planning for nurses