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.].

Implementing Health Policy Initiatives: An Effective Breastfeeding Teaching Strategy for Prelicensure Nursing Students.

BACKGROUND: Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months is recommended by all health professional organizations. However, women cite lack of support from health professionals as a barrier to breastfeeding. Foundational nursing education does not prepare students (future nurses) to support breastfeeding women. Therefore, an evidence-based breastfeeding curriculum "toolkit" supporting health policy was developed and implemented. OBJECTIVE: The study was performed to determine the effectiveness of the toolkit education compared with standard education in an associate degree nursing program. METHODS: A pretest-posttest survey design with intervention and comparison groups was used. Students (N = 102) completed pre- and posttests. A 15-item survey derived from Marzalik's (2004) instrument was used to measure nursing student knowledge about breastfeeding. RESULTS: The mean number of pretest questions correct were statistically the same for the control and intervention groups. Both groups showed growth in their posttest scores, however the intervention group scored significantly higher on the posttest (intervention mean = 12.34, control mean = 10.73, t value (100 df) = -4.12, p < .0001). CONCLUSION: The toolkit provides a curriculum that demonstrated enhanced student learning about breastfeeding. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Use of a reliable intervention like this breastfeeding toolkit is essential in the development of nurses who can provide effective breastfeeding support.

Assessing Intercultural Development Pre- and Post Education Abroad.

BACKGROUND: There is a need to identify objective measures for growth in the development of intercultural competence for students who engage in education abroad programs of study. The Intercultural Development Inventory® (IDI) identifies the participant's orientation on the Intercultural Development Continuum™ (IDC). METHOD: Students completed the IDI 4 weeks prior to departure and 8 weeks upon completion of an education abroad program. Students were debriefed by an IDI-qualified administrator. RESULTS: Group results suggest that students perceived they were further along in the IDC than their actual developmental orientation score revealed. CONCLUSION: The IDI has promise as a way to measure intercultural development. The IDI enhances preparation of students for participation in an education abroad program. [J Nurs Educ. 2018;57(12):747-750.].

Implementing a Breastfeeding Toolkit for Nursing Education.

All health professional organizations recommend exclusive breastfeeding for at least 6 months, with continued breastfeeding for 1 year or more after birth. Women cite lack of support from health professionals as a barrier to breastfeeding. Meanwhile, breastfeeding education is not considered essential to basic nursing education and students are not adequately prepared to support breastfeeding women. Therefore, a toolkit of comprehensive evidence-based breastfeeding educational materials was developed to provide essential breastfeeding knowledge. A study was performed to determine the effectiveness of the breastfeeding toolkit education in an associate degree nursing program. A pretest/posttest survey design with intervention and comparison groups was used. One hundred fourteen students completed pre- and posttests. Student knowledge was measured using a 12-item survey derived with minor modifications from Marzalik's 2004 instrument measuring breastfeeding knowledge. When pre- and posttests scores were compared within groups, both groups' knowledge scores increased. A change score was calculated with a significantly higher mean score for the intervention group. When regression analysis was used to control for the pretest score, belonging to the intervention group increased student scores but not significantly. The toolkit was developed to provide a curriculum that demonstrates enhanced learning to prepare nursing students for practice. The toolkit could be used in other settings, such as to educate staff nurses working with childbearing families.

Midwifery education in the U.S. - Certified Nurse-Midwife, Certified Midwife and Certified Professional Midwife.

US midwifery education is provided through graduate education for the CNM/CM and didactic education with apprenticeship for the CPM. Clinical practice varies throughout the country depending on the credential held and current state legislation. A lack of clinical sites for midwifery education is a significant challenge to all programs and a barrier to meeting the national maternity care provider shortage.