A Conceptual Model for Professional Identity in Nursing: An Interdependent Perspective.

The purpose of this initiative was to define the development, verification, and evolution of the conceptual model for Professional Identity in Nursing. This action research design occurred over two phases, utilizing observations, a modified Norris process for model development, and focus groups. Analysis consisted of conventional content analysis and the Fawcett method for conceptual model analysis and evaluation. The model was modified, and results are presented based on the model's philosophical underpinnings, content, socialness, and evolution. The model resonates with nurses both in the United States and internationally. The interdependency shown in the model encourages collaboration, accountability, and sustainability within the profession and society.

Assisting Learners to Understand and Incorporate Functions of Clinical Judgment Into Nursing Practice.

BACKGROUND: Mastering clinical judgment (CJ) skills is an essential competency for nurses in all health care environments. PROBLEM: Complexities of the health environment combined with the intricacies of nursing practice can pose potential risks to client safety. APPROACH: Over a 2-year period, a 3-phased approach using (1) survey results from nurses in education and practice, (2) discussion forums, and (3) a series of think tanks that comprised nurse educators resulted in the development of the Guide for CJ. OUTCOMES: The Guide for CJ provides nurse educators with an evidence-based resource to promote CJ skills in nursing students. The environmental and individual factors and expected nurse responses and behaviors contained in the Guide are well-aligned with the cognitive operations contained in the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Action Model. CONCLUSIONS: Educators may use the Guide to support faculty development and operationalize CJ to develop a variety of learning strategies for use in multiple learning environments.

Concept-Based Curricula: A National Study of Critical Concepts.

As nursing education struggles to address a rapidly changing health care system, overcrowded curricula, and an increased focus on clinical reasoning skills, many programs have adopted or transitioned to concept-based curricula (CBCs), which are structured around key concepts and exemplars. Despite CBC's promised benefits, the process of developing a CBC framework may pose a challenge to programs. To address this barrier, a national study was conducted to develop a representative list of concepts and exemplars. This initiative expands on prior work by suggesting a leveled approach to positioning exemplars within a curricular sequence.

The use of peer leadership to teach fundamental nursing skills.

A peer leadership course provided undergraduate nursing students an opportunity to develop nursing skills while growing in areas of professional socialization, communication, collaboration, organization, and leadership. Junior and senior students served as peer leaders while observing, coaching, and reinforcing the learning of sophomore students in a fundamentals of nursing laboratory course. The authors describe the benefits of the peer leadership course.

Integrating preventive care and nursing standardized terminologies in nursing education: a case study.

This study investigated the development of a community-focused curriculum integrating primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention and nursing standardized terminologies as an organizing infrastructure. This is a case study of the curriculum redesign of the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, Loyola University Chicago. Faculty developed a conceptual framework integrating core concepts into curriculum design, course content, and clinical applications. A coherent curriculum was designed using a community-focused approach; primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies; and standardized terminologies as the organizing infrastructure to teach and apply nursing practice. The curriculum provides a meaningful correlation between the classroom and clinical experience. Students journey with their patients throughout the health care experience, applying nursing concepts using standardized terminologies. Clinical experiences provide students with the opportunity to transfer knowledge to the health experiences of patients in their care. Patient encounters, whether at the primary, secondary, or tertiary level of prevention, are used to assist students in developing critical thinking skills through the use of standardized nursing terminologies.