Curriculum restructuring using the practice-based Omaha System.

Nursing programs across the country are reviewing and revising their curricula in search of the best ways to prepare nursing students for clinical practice in the 21st century. Because of compatibility with healthcare trends, program philosophy, and university functions, one baccalaureate program chose to organize curricular content using the structure of the practice-based Omaha System. The authors share the experiences of this process.

Culture sensitivity in assessing urban Native American parenting.

Assessing urban Native American (NA) parenting remains a challenge for public health nurses. This study explored the effectiveness of using the NCATS and HOME instruments with urban NA mothers and their children. Scores for 63 sets of mothers and their children age 3 months to 3 years on the home observation for measurement of the environment (HOME) and nursing child assessment teaching scale (NCATS) instruments were compared with norms for those instruments. Scores were lower than the norms on the play and involvement subscales of the HOME, and higher than the norms on the total parent, clarity of cues, response to parent, and total child subscales of the NCATS. Analysis of responses to specific items indicated that these mothers were unlikely to structure and intervene in children's activities and likely to use nonverbal parenting techniques. Findings supported the usefulness of these instruments with NA parents when accompanied by discussion of findings with them, and nurse awareness of common family structures and traditional values.

Master's degree nursing education: state of the art.

This study examines the state of the art in master's nursing education in the United States in light of projected national trends in the health care delivery system. The specific questions addressed are: What are the general characteristics of master's programs, including admission requirements and prerequisites, program requirements, major and minor areas of clinical concentration, functional role preparation, and career mobility options? What is the curricular organization, particularly with respect to required core courses? Is there a difference between master's programs in schools with a doctoral program in nursing and those with master's programs only? Is there a difference between master's programs with public support and master's programs with private support? Data were collected from 175 accredited master's programs in 1990. Study results and the projected trends derived from Nursing's Agenda for Health Care Reform, Healthy People 2000: National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives, and Healthy America: Practitioners for 2005 provide the foundation for recommendations. Recommendations are organized around communication and curricular issues that master's nursing education needs to address as the profession approaches the 21st century.

Recruiting into nursing: how the physician can help.

Multiple reasons for the current nursing shortage in the state and nation are examined. The article describes how the University of Oklahoma College of Nursing has endeavored to meet this growing demand for nurses through the development of a number of innovative options for students pursuing a nursing career. Among the special features of the program which are related are advanced placement for associate degree, diploma, and licensed practical nurses; credit by examination for selected beginning nursing courses; and flexible part-time scheduling. A number of useful strategies are provided which physicians can use to help recruit qualified individuals into nursing.