Cultural diversity and conflict in the health care workplace.

Cultural diversity issues affect the health care workplace and nursing practice. The Lowenstein-Glanville conflict model can be used for assessing and intervening in racial and status conflict in hospital settings. Implications for nursing practice include recognizing that cultural diversity will continue to grow in the health care workplace. Nurses must increase sensitivity, become aware of cultural nuances and issues, and make cultural assessment a routine part of their assessment and planning, not only for patient care, but also with their co-workers and subordinates.

Professional support: an essential component in a cardiovascular risk reduction program.

1. A comprehensive cardiovascular risk reduction program includes cardiovascular risk reduction factors combined with professional support and the importance of health as an attainment of life goals. 2. This study revealed significant reduction in weight, serum glucose, and diastolic blood pressure levels following participation in the program. 3. Professional support, or continuing interaction with health professionals, assisted consumers to continue motivation and reinforce health promoting activities.

Discharge planning. A study of nursing staff involvement.

Discharge planning places the nurse in a pivotal position in the care process. In this study, although most nurses acknowledged the importance of a nursing leadership role in the discharge-planning process, many were confused about how discharge planning was accomplished in their hospitals. Feedback about effectiveness of discharge planning was almost nonexistent, and resources were not easily accessible. Nurses must become more effective in this role. Nursing administrators must establish organization mechanisms to encourage nursing participation in discharge planning, and provide ongoing support.

Clinical case studies: a strategy for teaching leadership and management.

In the realities of clinical practice, BSN students are expected to demonstrate both clinical and managerial skills. Presenting leadership and management content through the use of complex patient situations in a clinical case study approach can assist in preparing them. This approach demonstrates to students that leadership and management is an integral part of professional practice.

Perspectives on academic dishonesty.

Academic dishonest behaviors, such as lying, cheating, and plagiarism, are destructive and must be recognized and addressed early in the development of professional nurses. Faculty must be concerned with the relationship between student integrity in the classroom and clinical or professional behaviors. The authors discuss student motivation and attitudes toward unethical practices, faculty responses, and responsibilities when these incidents arise, and strategies for preventing academic dishonesty.

Seminar methods for RN to BSN students.

Registered Nurse (RN) students entering a bachelor of science in nursing program (BSN) often view themselves as competent nurses who practice in a professional manner. It is not always clear to these students why the baccalaureate degree is considered the foundation for professional nursing. This creates a challenge for faculty to develop teaching strategies that increase understanding of professional roles and responsibilities, foster appreciation for the different levels of nursing practice, and promote incorporation of theory and research into all aspects of nursing. The authors present three strategies that were used successfully in a seminar series for RNs enrolled in a BSN completion program.