ABSTRACT
AIM: To explore the strategies used by nursing students in passing the nursing licensure examination. DESIGN: This study uses a classic grounded theory design to explore the social processes influencing a nursing license examination. METHODS: Eight graduate students participated in this research study and were interviewed in-depth twice. The Classic Grounded Theory method of Glaser was applied to collect and analyse the data until saturation was reached. RESULTS: The findings revealed that students who passed the nursing licensure examination described the strategies as a preliminary model comprising a core category, Reviewing (Phase 1), which consisted of two sub-categories: Entering Time and Reviewing Styles. Additionally, two other main categories emerged: the Tutoring category (Phase 2) and the Testing Practice category (Phase 3). It was observed that each course (subject) does not necessarily follow a specific order in traversing these phases; they may move back and forth between them until the conclusion of the examination. Furthermore, it was found that the time allocated to Entering Time and completing the three phases significantly influences the successful passing of the nursing licensure examination.
Subject(s)
Licensure, Nursing , Students, Nursing , Humans , Grounded Theory , LicensureABSTRACT
One of nursing students' auscultation critical skills is listening to a child's breathing sounds. Previously, learning this skill required a SimBaby, which was insufficient, causing nursing students to lack proficiency. Therefore, a CHIld Model (CHIM), an innovation emulating breathing sounds, has been invented based on Gagné's learning theory to solve this insufficiency. This article reports on the CHIM invention, consisting of hardware, software, and programming, and its effect on nursing students' breath-sounds examination skills and satisfaction. First, the CHIM was assessed for quality and satisfaction by experts. The results were good in quality and had the highest satisfaction for application in actual use. Second, the CHIM was assessed for auscultation skills and satisfaction among nursing students. Forty-four junior nursing students participated. Next, they were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. Then, both were taught the same about respiratory problems with the SimBaby, except the experimental group had training with the CHIM. After that, both groups' auscultation skills and satisfaction in the experimental group were examined. Finally, the statistical analysis showed that after the intervention was applied, learning with the CHIM was better than without, with the highest satisfaction level. As intended, the CHIM can help effectively enhance students' learning and proficiency.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The association between air pollution and cardiovascular diseases is well known, but previous studies only assessed mortality and hospital admissions in North America, Europe, and Northeast Asia. Few studies have been conducted in less-developed countries in regions with a tropical climate. This study evaluated whether short-term exposures to fine particulate matter (PM(10)) and ozone (O(3)) were associated with hospital visits for cardiovascular diseases (CVD; ICD-10th, I00-I99) in central Bangkok, Thailand. METHODS: Data from hospital records were obtained from 3 major government hospitals. All hospital visits were stratified by age group and category of CVD. Daily PM(10) and O(3) levels reported by the Pollution Control Department from April 2002 to December 2006 (1736 days) were used in a time-series analysis with a generalized additive model procedure. RESULTS: Exposure on the previous day to PM(10) and O(3) had a positive association with hospital visits for CVD among elderly (>or=65 years) individuals. The increase in CVD hospital visits in this age group was 0.10% (95% CI, 0.03-0.19) with a 10 microg/m(3) increase in PM(10), and 0.50% (95% CI, 0.19-0.81) with an increase in O(3). CONCLUSIONS: In central Bangkok, a short-term association was observed between increases in daily levels of PM(10) and O(3) and the number of daily emergency hospital visits for CVD, particularly among individuals aged >or=65 years.
