Demystifying the Technology Barriers of Nurse Educators.

BACKGROUND: Technology is pivotal in nursing education, with methods such as the flipped classroom, active learning, and patient simulation becoming integral. Despite this, persistent barriers hinder technology's full integration. METHODS: An online survey collected data from nursing faculty members (n = 1761) in prelicensure nursing programs. The survey assessed their views on technology, barriers, training needs, and importance in classroom and simulation settings. RESULTS: Participants highlighted financial support, commitment, and administrative support as critical for technology adoption. Statistical analysis of the results revealed differences in the rankings of the importance of technology, emphasizing the significance of these factors. Additionally, time in the classroom was noted as a significant barrier. CONCLUSIONS: Technology's role in nursing education continues to expand. Overcoming financial constraints and enhancing faculty buy-in are essential for successful technology integration, ultimately, improving informatics competencies and advancing technological nursing education.

A co-created multimethod evaluation of recovery education in Ireland.

BACKGROUND: This paper aims to explore the impact of recovery education on recovery knowledge, attitudes and the quality of life of students undertaking recovery education, contributing to the evidence base in relation to the impact of recovery education. It also explores the experiences of all stakeholders involved in the co-facilitation, delivery and participation in recovery education. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: This study evaluates the experiences of stakeholders involved in the co-facilitation, delivery and participation in recovery education across four recovery colleges in Ireland. Participants included students undertaking recovery education, peer educators, education facilitators, recovery college coordinators and practitioner/service providers. DISCUSSION: Findings from the quantitative survey when compared with extant literature suggest that students had a good understanding of recovery education. The social aspect of empowerment for growth and wellbeing was identified through themes relating to co-production and facilitating student learning. Support for equitable access to recovery education, including co-production for both the public and staff, was identified as a challenge for the future. CONCLUSION: The findings from both the qualitative and quantitative components of the study show the positive impact of recovery education on stakeholders while acknowledging the need for ongoing support for people working in recovery education and the development of services. In particular, there was a high level of recovery knowledge found in students undertaking recovery education. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: This study utilised a co-created study design. From inception a steering group comprising stakeholders (peer educators, recovery education facilitators including past recovery college students and nonpeer staff involved in the co-production of recovery education) directed the conduct of the evaluation. This steering group participated in an iterative process of information sharing, suggestions for evaluation process and language.

A Collaborative Simulation: Navigating Care and Advocacy for Diverse Patients in Crisis.

BACKGROUND: Collaboration and cultural competence are essential to nursing practice. Simulation-based training allows students to explore sensitive topics safely while surveying their own biases. METHOD: Faculty created a collaborative simulation involving baccalaureate nursing students based on a transgender adolescent with suicidal ideations and a controlling parent. RESULTS: Three themes emerged during debriefings: empathy, communication, and safety. The faculty found this experience was ideal for students to process their perceptions while fine tuning soft skills needed to create a safe and inclusive environment. CONCLUSION: Nurse educators should tailor simulation-based experiences to incorporate didactic concepts such as collaboration, ethics, diversity, and conflict management to afford students an opportunity to learn skills needed to provide safe and inclusive care. [J Nurs Educ. 2024;63(6):399-401.].

Esophagram should be performed to diagnose esophageal perforation before inter-hospital transfer.

Background: Early recognition of esophageal perforation may prevent morbidity and mortality, and accurate diagnostic imaging facilitates triage. Stable patients with suspected perforation may be transferred to higher levels of care before appropriate work-up and diagnosis confirmation. We reviewed patients transferred for esophageal perforation to critically analyze the diagnostic workflow. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients transferred to our tertiary care institution from 2015-2021 for suspected esophageal perforation. Demographics, referring site characteristics, diagnostic studies, and management were analyzed. Bivariate comparisons were performed using Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney tests for continuous variables and chi-squared or Fisher's exact tests for categorical variables. Results: Sixty-five patients were included. Etiology of suspected perforation was spontaneous in 53.8% and iatrogenic in 33.8%. Most patients were transferred within 24 hours from time of suspected perforation (66.2%). Transferring sites included seven states and were 101-300 miles (32.3%) or >300 miles (26.2%) away. CT imaging was obtained in 96.9% before transfer, most commonly demonstrating pneumomediastinum (46.2%). Only 21.5% of patients had an esophagram before transfer. Following transfer, 36.9% (n=24) were ultimately not found to have esophageal perforation, demonstrated by negative arrival esophagram in 79.1%. In patients with confirmed perforation (n=41), 58.5% had surgery, 26.8% endoscopic intervention, and 14.6% supportive care. Conclusions: After transfer a proportion of patients were ultimately found to not have esophageal perforation, typically demonstrated by negative esophagram upon arrival. We conclude that a recommendation of performing esophagram at the presenting site, when possible, may prevent unnecessary transfers, and will likely reduce costs, conserve resources, and decrease management delays.

The Current Clinical Trial Landscape for Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Narrative Review.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a skin disease resulting from chronic, recurrent inflammation around hair follicles, characterized by proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, IL-17, IL-23, and TNF-α. While adalimumab, a TNF-α targeting human IgG monoclonal antibody, is the only approved treatment for HS, there are many other therapies being investigated now targeting other key players in inflammatory pathways such as the cytokines listed above, C5a in the complement pathway, and Janus kinase (JAK). This review discusses current clinical trials for biologics and small molecules, procedures, and wound dressings undergoing study in hidradenitis suppurativa.

Long-Term Patient-Reported Symptom Improvement and Quality of Life after Transthoracic Diaphragm Plication in Adults.

BACKGROUND: Open and robotic-assisted transthoracic approaches for diaphragm plication are accepted surgical interventions for diaphragm paralysis and eventration. However, long-term patient-reported symptom improvement and quality of life (QOL) remains unclear. STUDY DESIGN: A telephone-based survey was developed focusing on postoperative symptom improvement and QOL. Patients who underwent open or robotic-assisted transthoracic diaphragm plication (2008-2020) across three institutions were invited to participate. Patients who responded and provided consent were surveyed. Likert responses on symptom severity were dichotomized and rates before and after surgery were compared using McNemar's test. RESULTS: Forty-one percent of patients participated (43 of 105 responded, mean age 61.0 years, 67.4% male, 37.2% robotic-assisted surgery), with an average time between surgery and survey of 4.1 ± 3.2 years. Patients reported significant improvement in dyspnea while lying flat (67.4% pre- vs 27.9% postoperative, p < 0.001), dyspnea at rest (55.8% pre- vs 11.6% postoperative, p < 0.001), dyspnea with activity (90.7% pre- vs 55.8% postoperative, p < 0.001), dyspnea while bending over (79.1% pre- vs 34.9% postoperative, p < 0.001), and fatigue (67.4% pre- vs 41.9% postoperative, p = 0.008). There was no statistical improvement in chronic cough. 86% of patients reported improved overall QOL, 79% had increased exercise capacity, and 86% would recommend surgery to a friend with a similar problem. Analysis comparing open and robotic-assisted approaches found no statistically significant differences in symptom improvement or QOL responses between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients report significantly improved dyspneic and fatigue symptoms after transthoracic diaphragm plication, regardless of open or robotic-assisted approach. The majority of patients report improved QOL and exercise capacity.

Public Health Surveillance and Reporting for Human Toxoplasmosis - Six States, 2021.

Toxoplasmosis is caused by infection with the zoonotic parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Although disease tends to be mild (e.g., self-limiting influenza-like symptoms) or asymptomatic in immunocompetent persons, toxoplasmosis is more severe in immunocompromised persons, who can develop potentially fatal encephalopathy (1). In addition, primary infections acquired during pregnancy might result in a range of adverse outcomes, including fetal ocular infection, cranial and neurologic deformities, stillbirth, and miscarriage (1,2). An estimated 11% of the U.S. population aged ≥6 years are seropositive for toxoplasmosis, based on analysis of sera collected through the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey during 2011-2014 (3). Toxoplasmosis is not a nationally notifiable disease in the United States, and currently no national public health surveillance data are available; however, it is reportable in eight states. To better understand how surveillance data are collected and used, reviews of state-level toxoplasmosis surveillance were conducted during June-July 2021 using semistructured interviews with health officials in six states (Arkansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin) where toxoplasmosis is currently reportable. Why or when toxoplasmosis became reportable could not be determined, and many of the states had limited capacity to respond to reported cases. Case definitions varied considerably in terms of clinical description, laboratory criteria, and case classification (i.e., confirmed, probable, or suspect), limiting disease estimates and comparisons among states. Implementation of a standardized case definition would help ensure that cases are counted consistently, enabling better use of surveillance data to characterize disease. Identifying newly acquired cases is challenging because most acute cases among immunocompetent persons (including pregnant women) are asymptomatic, disease among immunocompromised persons is likely reactivation of latent disease, and congenital infections might not manifest until later in life.

Implementation of a Low-Dose, High-Frequency Cardiac Resuscitation Quality Improvement Program in a Community Hospital.

BACKGROUND: In 2015 the American Heart Association launched the Resuscitation Quality ImprovementⓇ (RQIⓇ) Program to address the urgent need to improve in-hospital cardiac arrest survival through a novel competency-based model for health care provider (HCP) cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training. This innovation differs from the traditional Basic Life Support (BLS) training model by providing self-directed, low-dose, high-frequency CPR skill activities with the objectives of skills mastery and retention. A program implementation study was conducted at the first hospital in the state of Illinois to adopt RQI in 2016. METHODS: The study was designed to evaluate implementation of the RQI program, CPR performance during RQI simulation sessions, and participant impressions at a community hospital. Quantitative data were evaluated based on psychomotor compression and ventilation performance. Quantitative and qualitative data were evaluated based on a perceptual CPR confidence and program satisfaction survey. RESULTS: Statistical analysis demonstrates significant improvement in HCPs' quarterly psychomotor CPR skill performance over a one-year period in first compression score, and first and highest ventilation score per quarterly session. The number of attempts to pass the ventilation skill session decreased between the first and fourth quarter. Survey results of HCPs' program perceptions 30 months post-RQI implementation indicate satisfaction with the RQI program and an increase in CPR skill confidence. CONCLUSION: Findings demonstrate that the RQI program for ongoing verification of BLS skill and knowledge provides improvements in HCPs' CPR psychomotor competence and confidence/satisfaction using an efficient and sustainable method at a community hospital.