Nursing Faculty Experiences Transitioning to a Virtual DNP Residency During COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic created many academic challenges. Shelter in place orders forced educational institutions to move on-ground learning to an online format. This necessitated transitioning traditional in-person events such as nursing residency to a virtual occurrence. Currently, there is a paucity of research to assist with transition to the virtual environment. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to explore faculty experiences transitioning to a virtual Doctor of Nursing Practice residency. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive design was used to explore faculty experiences with virtual residency. The sample included 11 nursing faculty. Data collection consisted of answering demographic and open-ended questions through an anonymous survey. RESULTS: Content analysis revealed two themes: (1) Essence of Residency was Missing and (2) Virtual Residency was an Acceptable Alternative. CONCLUSION: Based on these themes, recommendations for virtual residency improvement were identified that would be beneficial to both faculty and students, providing a better environment and enhanced virtual experience. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Results from this research begin building a foundation of knowledge for best practices when creating an academic nursing virtual event. Recommendations focus on ways to form a better virtual community, promote a relaxed scholarly environment, and uphold academic standards.

Incivility in the Online Classroom: A Guide for Policy Development.

The growth of online education has created a learning environment that permits nontraditional students the opportunity for degree completion without the burden of relocation. Given the shortage of nurses at all educational levels, many institutions of higher learning have created online programs to meet the needs of both the student and the profession as a whole. Although convenient for the student and beneficial for the nursing profession, the online learning environment can present numerous challenges. Among these challenges are acts of student incivility-creating a difficult work environment for faculty and, at times, negatively affecting other students. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to review problems associated with student incivility and share the experience in creating as well as implementing a professionalism policy that addresses student incivility. Recommendations for policy creation are summarized.

Information Technology Strategies for Honor Society and Organization Membership Retention in Online Nursing Programs.

Membership retention in an honor society or organization is of utmost importance for sustainability. However, retaining members in organizations that serve online education nursing students can be a challenging task. Understanding the importance of creating a sense of community to promote retention within an honor society chapter, nursing faculty at a small private university implemented different online approaches. This article highlights successful information technology strategies to promote membership retention in organizations for online nursing students.

Parental experience caring for cleft lip and palate infants with nasoalveolar moulding.

AIM: The aim of this study was to explore the experience of parents caring for an infant with a cleft lip and palate receiving nasoalveolar moulding. BACKGROUND: Nasoalveoral moulding is a pre-surgical orthopedic appliance used to approximate an infant's cleft lip and palate, mould the nose and reduce surgical correction. Use of nasoalveolar moulding can be intensive, costly and lengthy requiring parental commitment to the process since it involves several months of weekly visits for appliance adjustment. Although extensive research has been conducted on surgical outcomes after use, little evidence exists pertaining to parental experiences caring for an infant undergoing the nasoalveolar moulding treatment process. DESIGN: The qualitative design phenomenology was used to best capture parents' lived experiences. METHODS: Eight mothers and four fathers participated in informal, semi-structured interviews during the months of April-May 2010. RESULTS: Four themes were identified: (1) You do what you have to do; (2) We weren't left alone in the dark; (3) It's just amazing to see the difference; and (4) It's like nothing ever happened. Findings indicated that despite some difficulties, parents' were dedicated to the treatment process and expressed the benefits exceeded any additional work nasoalveolar moulding required. CONCLUSION: Multiple recommendations to assist parents with the nasoalveolar moulding treatment process were identified. Improving nasoalveolar moulding education and providing support can substantially improve challenges that are experienced by parents throughout this process - strengthening the importance of their role for successful nasoalveolar moulding outcomes.

Symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, nonsyndromic orofacial cleft children, and dopamine polymorphisms: a pilot study.

PURPOSE: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common childhood neurobehavioral disorder characterized by inattention, poor impulse control, and motor restlessness. Risk factors include familial stressors, anxiety disorders, learning disabilities, abnormal brain development, heritability, and dopamine polymorphisms. Children with an orofacial clefting (OFC) history are at increased risk of familial stressors, anxiety disorders, learning disabilities, and abnormal brain development. Given this overlap, we present a conceptual model proposing that children with OFC may be more likely to exhibit ADHD symptoms than children without and explore this relationship using pilot data. DESIGN: This cross-sectional pilot study included 29 children with OFC or a first-degree relative with OFC recruited through a cleft research registry. METHODS: The Disruptive Behavior Disorder Scale was used to collect data on children's ADHD symptoms. Saliva or whole blood samples were collected from children and parents for DNA analyses. ADHD-associated dopamine polymorphisms within the DRD4, DRD2, and DAT1 genes were genotyped. We tested for associations between presence of OFC and dopamine polymorphisms. Mixed-effects models tested whether children with OFC and dopamine polymorphisms had more ADHD symptoms. RESULTS: The DRD4 4-repeat allele was associated with increased inattentive ADHD symptoms (p = .03). Having the DRD2 Taq1A1 allele and OFC predicted fewer (p = .02) inattentive ADHD symptoms. Children with OFC were significantly less likely to have the DAT1 10-repeat allele (p = .04). CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that further investigation among a larger sample of children with OFC is warranted, particularly for relationships with inattentive ADHD.