Reimagining a children's palliative care educational programme for registered nurses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Children with life-limiting conditions are a unique population with multiple health and social care needs. Key literature indicates the need for education to support registered nurses providing care, including palliative care, to these children. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a palliative care programme was converted to an online programme, adopting a blended approach between national and regional facilitators. OBJECTIVES: To assess nurses' satisfaction with a re-designed palliative care programme centred around the care of children with life-limiting conditions, including their perceptions of the online format. DESIGN AND METHODS: A descriptive correlational design and online survey was used to explore the participants' perception of the content and online delivery of the Care of the Child with a Life-Limiting Condition programme. Nine sessions, comprised of five national and four regional webinars, were delivered. RESULTS: Attendees registered (n = 169) from throughout the Republic of Ireland, with 130 attending all webinars. Attendees stated online delivery of education increased their accessibility to highly qualified experts. The short, concise nature of sessions was well received. Online delivery and recorded sessions contributed to convenience with the ability to access and process information in attendees' own time being welcomed. However, the negative impact of losing face-to-face interactions was noted, including the opportunity to build relationships with colleagues caring for children with life-limiting conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that the redesigned online programme contributed to participants' knowledge, encouraged participation and increased accessibility. An e-Learning model enables specialised education to be more equitable and accessible, ensuring regional areas are not disadvantaged due to geographical remoteness from tertiary educational centres. However, the lack of face-to-face contact was acknowledged as a hindrance to socialisation and networking. When developing future programmes, focus should be put on creating opportunities for networking and social development to compensate for the lack of face-to-face contact.

A New Framework for Practice-Academic Partnerships During the Pandemic-and into the Future.

ABSTRACT: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many health care facilities closed their doors to nursing students, depriving them of the experience of caring for patients, a foundation of nursing education. The purpose of this article is to report on how the National Council of State Boards of Nursing convened nurse leaders from around the country to explore this problem and develop possible solutions.Coming together virtually, these leaders recommended a national model, the practice-academic partnership, to provide nursing students with in-person clinical experiences during the pandemic. This model is unique in its recognition of the important role of nursing regulatory bodies in these partnerships. The practice-academic partnership model creates clinical education opportunities for students during a public health crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, the model could be applied to meet the chronic challenges nursing education programs have often faced in securing clinical sites, even in the absence of a global or national public health emergency. We provide the context in which the practice-academic partnership model was developed, along with keys to its successful implementation and suggestions for its evaluation. We also discuss the implications of using this model once the pandemic ends.

Ambulatory Care Simulation: A Collaboration Between MSN and BSN Students.

BACKGROUND: A university school of nursing initiated a pilot project to include Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) students in two existing Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) student scenarios. The result was a valuable collaboration among the student learners. METHOD: Using a Zoom platform, students were introduced to their patient in a telehealth scenario. Students then encountered the same patient in an urgent care setting. The BSN student assessed the patient, then reported to the MSN student. The MSN student provided feedback and treatment orders. Individual BSN and MSN student pairs debriefed immediately after their scenarios and again at the end with other students and faculty. RESULTS: Evaluation was conducted using an adaptation of the Modified Simulation Evaluation Tool (SET-M) and free-text questions developed by nursing faculty. Both SET-M responses and written comments indicated students were satisfied with the simulation experience, and students' confidence and skills in communication and collaboration improved. CONCLUSION: This simulation was beneficial for both MSN and BSN students and will become an ongoing addition to the simulations. [J Nurs Educ. 2021;60(5):293-297.].

COVID-19 pandemic and remote teaching: transition and transformation in nursing education.

Remote teaching (RT) was the only option left to educators to continue education with public policy of lockdowns and social distancing during COVID-19 pandemic. RT is the online mode of instructional delivery. Globally it has become mandatory for all nurse educators to switch to RT mode. Many factors have been identified for effective implementation of RT, of which the major elements are choice of online teaching mode, pedagogy to choose the platform or technology, faculty preparedness, and the learner motivation and expectations. The dire need to meet the educational objectives demanded sudden transition to online mode. The paradigm shifts to RT brought many challenges and pragmatic guidance for teachers and institutions Remote teaching is flexible, student centered and feasible with opportunities to develop technically empowered faculty and coherent digital education strategies. However, tackling threats like academic integrity, inequity in accessibility and limited faculty preparedness necessitates attention. RT being flexible tool is weakened by low self-motivated students and low connectivity with digital inequity and security issues. The challenges opened opportunity to enhance faculty technical competency and learning management system.

Virtual Interprofessional Learning Due to COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated sweeping changes in a neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) program's approach to distance-accessible learning. Prioritizing student learning and safety, we developed a new alternative model for individualized simulation. METHOD: The scenario created for a student to deliver an unexpected diagnosis of trisomy 21, or Down syndrome, to a postpartum mother was redesigned to take place using web-conference technology. RESULTS: We successfully transitioned the planned in-person individualized simulation for NNP students delivering an unexpected diagnosis to a web-conference environment and added nurse-midwifery (NM) students. CONCLUSION: This simulation presented an authentic clinical situation encountered in practice, supporting the specialty-specific competencies for the NNP, NM, and core competencies for interprofessional collaborative practice. The web-conference platform is an effective strategy for simulation. Advanced practice nurses completing individualized simulation through technology are uniquely poised to leverage these skills as telemedicine increasingly influences their future clinical practice. [J Nurs Educ. 2021;60(6):346-351.].

Building bridges and capacity for Black, Indigenous, and scholars of color in the era of COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter.

BACKGROUND: There is a critical need to increase diversity in the nursing workforce to better address racial health disparities. PURPOSE: To provide academic institutions with practical recommendations to foster a collaborative environment and essential resources for and in support of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) scholars. METHODS: We examine the experiences of three Black nurse scholars, at a research-intensive university in an urban area during the COVID-19 pandemic and civil unrest in the United States. FINDINGS: Findings suggest barriers exist, which negatively impact workplace climate, collaboration and mentoring for BIPOC nursing scholars. Guided by a Black feminist perspective and utilizing existing literature, we recommend strategies to enhance workplace climate, to develop culturally aware collaboration, and to center mentoring as the foundation for BIPOC nurse scholar success. DISCUSSION: This article acknowledges that a crucial step in addressing health disparities is successful support of and collaboration with BIPOC nurse scholars.

Faculty perspectives on transitioning public health nursing clinical to virtual in response to COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for public health nursing as an integral part of a strong public health workforce. However, it has also created challenges in preparing future nurses as much of nursing instruction, including clinical experiences, needed to urgently transition learning to a virtual environment. This paper describes the process faculty experienced during spring 2020 to quickly transition public health nursing clinicals from in-person to virtual learning in response to COVID-19. Further, faculty lessons learned are shared and include the importance of creating a supportive team dynamic, embracing innovation, continuing to engage with community partners, and adapting to meet emerging student needs during the evolving pandemic. The process and lessons learned may act as a guide for other nursing programs as we continue to navigate nursing education during this and future pandemics.

COVID-19 pandemic, emergency remote teaching and Nursing Now: challenges for nursing education.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss remote activities in nursing education in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic for strengthening nursing from the perspective of the "Nursing Now" campaign. METHOD: Theoretical-reflective study based on literature and critical analysis. DISCUSSION: Reflection about the measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic and suspend in-person classes, the adoption of alternative forms of teaching, especially online ones, and their repercussions on nursing teaching strategies. There were difficulties regarding the quality of education, unequal access, and lack of knowledge from professors. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: The negative impact that emergency distance teaching had on the education of nurses stands out, in contrast to the world movement for the valuing of nurses. The legacy of this crisis must be taken advantage of through the better use of technological resources and their incorporation in teaching, having as a certainty that the distance teaching model does not encompass the totality of nursing education.

Transition of a Collaborative In-Person Health Care Innovation Course to Online Learning.

BACKGROUND: As COVID-19 forced in-person courses to transition online, an active learning course focused on design thinking in health and health care embraced the challenge. Lessons learned, mistakes made, and thoughts on the future of online education in nursing are discussed. METHOD: During the online transition, it was thought the flipped-classroom approach would transition well using the same design thinking methodology taught in the course. Because the course promoted rapid innovation and iteration, such a challenge served as a call to action, and the course became a valuable real-time case study. RESULTS: Based on student surveys, the overall quality of the transitioned course increased slightly compared with the previous semester's in-person course, indicating schools of nursing can innovate both the way students are taught as well as what students are taught. CONCLUSION: Rather than mourn the loss of in-person learning, the newfound possibilities of virtual education should celebrated. [J Nurs Educ. 2021;60(5):298-300.].

Virtual Education During COVID-19: Exploring Factors Associated With E-Learning Satisfaction Among Saudi Nursing Students.

BACKGROUND: Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, education and learning processes have been shifted to a completely virtual, online format. Students' satisfaction has been linked to better learning outcomes. PURPOSE: The purpose was to determine factors associated with students' satisfaction with e-learning among Saudi nursing students. METHODS: A cross-sectional, correlational descriptive study was conducted among 139 nursing students from different nursing programs in Saudi Arabia using a self-reported online survey. RESULTS: Previous experience with and readiness for e-learning influenced students' overall satisfaction with e-learning and satisfaction with assessment. Only readiness for e-learning was associated with satisfaction with teaching and generic skills and learning experiences. CONCLUSIONS: This study may enhance faculty members' understandings of factors influencing students' satisfaction with e-learning. Therefore, the urgent national distance education plan may need further development to meet students' needs.

Integrating Home Care: An Innovative Approach for Simulation Learning.

BACKGROUND: The nature of a nurse's job is changing dramatically. Nurses are assuming expanded roles for a broad range of patients in community-based care. Nurse educators have a responsibility to teach nursing students about the needs of patients and families in the home care setting. METHOD: To describe how the creation of a home care video series and a medication reconciliation simulation scenario were used as a teaching strategy in a simulation center. RESULTS: The teaching strategy supported senior-level nursing students' understanding of the complexity of home care nursing and the nurse's role and responsibilities in care coordination, care transitions, and interprofessional practice. CONCLUSION: The home care video scenario was received favorably by nursing students. Additional simulation video scenarios are needed that address the health disparities among underrepresented and vulnerable groups. There is potential to offer the simulation in a virtual-online format during the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing mandates. [J Nurs Educ. 2021;60(3):172-176.].