Design and Implementation of a Nursing Capstone Across a Multisite Health System.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic created profound effects in nursing education. Using a robust academic-practice partnership, a college of nursing and a health care organization collaborated to launch Jefferson Capstone Experience (JCE), an education delivery model that included a one-to-one, 108-hour clinical preceptorship between an experienced RN and an undergraduate nursing student. METHOD: The expedited design, implementation, and evaluation of JCE is described. The mixed-method program evaluation included surveys, interviews, and focus groups with students, faculty, and preceptors. RESULTS: Students and preceptors reported high levels of satisfaction with JCE. All parties emphasized the importance of clear and timely communication, academic practice collaboration, and organization. A significant number of capstone graduates accepted a position with a capstone clinical partner. CONCLUSION: Although the logistics of planning and implementation were challenging, an immersive and largely positive experience was created for undergraduate students, which created a robust hiring pipeline of new-to-practice nurses. [J Nurs Educ. 2024;63(5):292-297.].

Community, Public, and Population Health Content in Nursing Curricula: National Survey Results.

BACKGROUND: Policy, societal, and system changes are prompting nursing programs to expand population health content in curricula. This study examined the current state of community, public, and population health (CPPH) education in nursing curricula throughout the United States. METHOD: This descriptive study examined CPPH education in nursing programs nationally. A survey was developed and distributed to nursing programs from January to May 2021. RESULTS: CPPH content integration occurred across all program levels, and the majority of the participants were involved in the development of CPPH-specific curriculum. Programs experienced reductions in CPPH curriculum due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), lack of experienced faculty, budget constraints, and an emphasis on acute care. CONCLUSION: The continuation of CPPH education in current nursing curricula is critical. National and academic nursing organizations must continue to monitor CPPH content in nursing curricula to assure a competent CPPH nursing workforce. [J Nurs Educ. 2024;63(5):282-291.].

The Effect of Interprofessional Education on Student Readiness for Collaborative Practice.

BACKGROUND: Health care reform promotes interprofessional patient-centric health care models associated with improved population health outcomes. Interprofessional education (IPE) programs are necessary to cultivate collaborative care, yet little evidence exists to support IPE pedagogy within nursing and other health science academia. METHOD: This quasiexperimental study examined differences in pre- and posttest Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) scores following an IPE intervention. The IPE intervention consisted of a video presentation and a debriefing session after a simulated interprofessional collaborative patient care conference that introduced baccalaureate nursing and health science students to the roles and responsibilities of clinicians in team-based primary care. Pre- and postintervention RIPLS scores were analyzed. RESULTS: Pre- and postintervention RIPLS scores increased across all subscales, with distinct variation between nursing and health science student subscales. CONCLUSION: This IPE intervention had positive effects on students' readiness for interprofessional learning. Additional research is warranted to support health science pedagogy. [J Nurs Educ. 2024;63(5):304-311.].

Empowering Nursing Students to Adopt and Embody Strengths-Based Nursing and Healthcare.

This paper presents an international academic partnership in teaching and research with two case studies. The cases explore the integration of Strengths-Based Nursing and Healthcare (SBNH) and SBNH-Leadership (SBNH-L) in nursing science programs. SBNH values and foundations were integrated within an undergraduate-level community health course in Canada and SBNH-L was introduced into a graduate-level program in Brazil. Both cases comprise active learning activities promoting the uptake of the values and foundations of SBNH and the capacity to identify strengths and innate capacities. This paper synthesizes the issues and provides recommendations to enhance teaching-learning strategies to support SBNH adoption by students to support the humanization of healthcare. International partnerships in education and research and facilitating factors are discussed.

Learning Environments in Undergraduate Nursing Education During COVID-19: A Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic radically changed nursing education. PURPOSE: To map the existing literature on learning environments (LEs) in undergraduate nursing education during COVID-19 and identify the LE elements based on the 4 domains of Gruppen's conceptual framework: personal, social, organizational, and physical and virtual spaces. METHOD: Eligible articles were reviewed using the Joanna Briggs framework. RESULTS: The search retrieved 5003 articles, of which 80 met the inclusion criteria. Most studies were cross-sectional and conducted in the United States. Of the studies included, 68 studies focused on the personal component of students, 67 investigated physical and virtual space components, 19 examined the social domain, and 15 examined organizational aspects. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly influenced the LE of nursing students. Based on the current review of LE in nursing education, nurse educators and researchers can develop interventions to maintain the quality and accessibility of nursing education in future crises.

Practical Implications of Online Learning with Nurses During Coronavirus Disease 2019.

This study explores how teaching practices were impacted by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a fully online nursing program. In-depth interviews were conducted of faculty in an online nursing program. The findings of the study suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic was challenging for the faculty members, but still they considered it an opportunity for personal and professional growth; they used this disruption to humanize their teaching practices by focusing on self-care to support their students in the challenging times of a global pandemic. The members also mentioned institutional support was crucial for their perseverance, growth, and job satisfaction.

An Innovative Academic/Practice Partnership to Support Nursing Workforce Needs and Student Clinical Education.

ABSTRACT: Innovation is needed to solve nursing workforce issues during times of crisis. A collaborative effort between a hospital system and several universities resulted in the Bridge to Professional Practice Program that was implemented during a period of high patient volume and nursing student downtime. The program provided support for staffing needs and clinical hours to promote readiness for practice for students. The program evaluation outcomes and recommendations for improvement are addressed.

The Nursing Baccalaureate Dual Enrollment Model: Outcomes for A Community College and University Partnership.

The dual enrollment model in which universities collaborate with community colleges to provide the prelicensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) education has been identified by the National Academy of Medicine as one of 5 viable academic progression models for transforming nursing education. The New Mexico Nursing Education Consortium (NMNEC) is a successful example of the dual enrollment model, which began in 2015 with one partnership. By 2018, 3 universities and 5 community colleges had partnered to offer the BSN jointly with the community college locations. In this retrospective, descriptive study, the 2 program types were compared to assess for differences in demographic and academic characteristics as well as program outcomes for the BSN graduates (n = 1018) from 2015 to 2018. The results of the analysis show that NMNEC has been successful in increasing the total number and diversity of BSN graduates for New Mexico. Importantly, NMNEC serves as an exemplar academic-practice partnership model because the success of the consortium would not have been possible without the involvement of practice partners. The outcomes from this study support academic-practice partnerships as instrumental in developing a better educated and more diverse nursing workforce that will improve patient outcomes and strive for health equity.

Improving mental health education in nursing school.

ABSTRACT: Nurses are at the forefront of providing care to individuals with mental illness in various healthcare settings, yet the World Health Organization and others have found that many nurses are inadequately prepared to provide mental health care. This article discusses the nurse's role in providing care to individuals with mental illness and the importance of integrating more mental health education into undergraduate nursing curricula.

Developing and piloting a simulated placement experience for students.

COVID-19 and rising student numbers are affecting healthcare education, particularly access to clinical placements. As healthcare education is increasingly supported by technology and non-traditional teaching methods, educational experiences gained through clinical placement also require new approaches. This article explores and discusses the use of a simulated clinical placement for a dietetic student cohort. During this virtual placement, students were able to explore and experience a virtual clinical setting and immerse themselves in a placement experience. A vast range of virtual resources were linked to the online placement portal, including statutory and mandatory training, dietetic resources, patient journeys and interprofessional communication. Advantages of this approach include that all students experience a given situation, unlike in traditional placements where workloads, variety and engagement vary; there is also no risk to patient safety. The aim is to enhance the learning experience to create effective, efficient clinicians. This virtual placement for dietetics is part of a bigger project to develop and evaluate the use of a virtual placement framework in a range of professions. The concept of virtual placement may have been brought forward by the COVID-19 crisis but was inevitable with the move to more technology-enhanced learning tools.

Innovative approaches to teaching vascular access to nursing students in the COVID-19 era.

PURPOSE: For the student nurse, peripheral venous cannulation is one of the most stressful skills to be learned. Although some healthcare employers/establishments offer courses on vascular access and infusion nursing as part of their onboarding programs, ultimately educational institutions should share the responsibility to ensure that graduating nurses can provide safe infusion therapies. METHODS: An innovative vascular access and infusion nursing (VAIN) curriculum was created and mapped onto the entry to practice undergraduate nursing program at McGill University in Montréal, Québec, Canada. This presented an opportunity to implement new teaching approaches. RESULTS: Students experienced multiple new teaching approaches including multimedia and experiential learning and live simulation to ensure acquisition of knowledge and psychomotor skills. The teaching approaches had to be rapidly modified with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: The VAIN curriculum emphasizes simulation and directed practice, seeking to increase competence, confidence, and knowledge. The pandemic underscored the need for flexibility and creativity in content delivery.

Cultivating Student Belonging and School Connectedness.

The effect on students from the COVID-19 pandemic, violence related to racism, and loss of customary school routines may cause loss of both school connection and a sense of belonging. School nurses can positively influence student belonging and school connection as they encounter students throughout in-person school and virtual school environments. School nurses build connections with students whom they know and outreach to students whom they identify as vulnerable in the areas of belonging and school connectedness. With a mind-set of the Framework for 21st Century School Nursing Practice and in collaboration with a school team implementing a multitiered system of support, school nurses intentionally outreach and cultural sensitivity to grow positive school climate that benefits students.

Undergraduate nursing students' perceptions on nursing education during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic: A national sample.

BACKGROUND: In 2020, nursing educational programs were abruptly interrupted and largely moved online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. PURPOSE: To explore nursing students' perspectives about the effects of the pandemic on their education and intention to join the nursing workforce. METHODS: Undergraduate nursing students from 5 universities across 5 United States regions were invited to participate in an online survey to elicit both quantitative and qualitative data. FINDINGS: The final sample included quantitative data on 772 students and qualitative data on 540 students. Largely (65.1%), students reported that the pandemic strengthened their desire to become a nurse; only 11% had considered withdrawing from school. Qualitatively, students described the effect of the pandemic on their psychosocial wellbeing, adjustment to online learning, and challenges to clinical experiences. CONCLUSION: Findings highlighted the need to develop emergency education preparedness plans that address student wellbeing and novel collaborative partnerships between schools and clinical partners.

The mediating effect of academic engagement between psychological capital and academic burnout among nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Almost all universities have been forced to close and change to online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been a big challenge for students. There is little knowledge about the academic burnout among nursing students in these difficult circumstances, especially in traditional Chinese medicine universities, and the relationship between the burnout and their psychological capital and academic engagement. OBJECTIVE: The aim is to describe academic burnout and clarify the relationships between academic burnout, academic engagement, and psychological capital among nursing students in traditional Chinese medicine universities. DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive study. SETTING: The study sampled a four-year undergraduate traditional Chinese medicine university in Jian, Shandong Province, China. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sampling method was used to select 733 nursing students from April to June 2020. METHODS: The Academic Burnout Scale, the Positive Psychological Capital Scale, and the Academic Engagement Scale were used for data collection, in addition to social-demographic data. Path analysis was used to clarify the relationships among academic burnout, academic engagement and psychological capital. RESULTS: Of all the study participants, 39.29% had a certain degree of academic burnout. Academic engagement and psychological capital were negatively correlated with academic burnout among nursing students in traditional Chinese medicine university. Psychological capital was positively correlated with academic engagement. CONCLUSION: Nursing students had a certain degree of academic burnout. Academic engagement played a partial mediated role in the relationship between psychological capital and academic burnout.

Planning and implementing a practice/academic partnership during COVID-19.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing programs were challenged to continue educating students at practice sites, and educational institutions limited or eliminated face-to-face education. The purpose of this article is to report on a university and community college nursing program and an academic medical center that implemented an academic-practice partnership with the goal of creating opportunities to continue clinical experiences for nursing students during the pandemic. Principles and implementation of this successful partnership provide direction for other nursing programs and practice settings that may continue to have challenges in returning students to clinical and keeping them in clinical as the pandemic continues.

COVID-19 updates: Real-time epidemiology for BSN community/public health nursing course.

Teaching nursing students about epidemiology is often a daunting task, with many lacking the knowledge and application of and interest in epidemiological elements. Baccalaureate science nursing (BSN) essentials state that BSN nursing students need educational applications for health promotion and disease prevention for effective population-based communities. The COVID-19 pandemic data have allowed for real-time analysis and synthesis of live application of data which meets the specific requirements on current and future epidemiological problems. Nursing students can monitor weekly trends through disease surveillance and application to the surrounding community, providing for effective critical thinking and clinical judgment. Comparing weekly changes in data assists in developing interest on applying this information for practice. Discussion about background evidence, valid national, regional, and local websites, specific implementation steps, and overall student reflection feedback will be discussed.

Nursing student experiences of remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a sudden transition to remote learning. These circumstances presented many challenges for higher education faculty and students around the world but especially for nursing education programs which are traditionally conducted in a face-to-face learning environment that includes hands-on experiential learning. METHODS: Guided by Meleis' Transition Theory, a qualitative descriptive design was utilized to explore prelicensure nursing students' experiences of the transition to remote learning during the Spring 2020 semester. Participants were recruited from one baccalaureate program in the Pacific Northwestern United States. Interviews were conducted and transcribed using a web conferencing platform. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi's phenomenological reduction. RESULTS: Eleven students participated. Interviews revealed four overarching themes: technological challenges, academic relationship changes, role stress and strain, and resilience. CONCLUSION: The sudden transition to remote learning resulted in a number of challenges for nursing students. Despite these challenges, students demonstrated a remarkable sense of resilience and perseverance. Faculty have an opportunity to address student stressors and design remote courses in such a way to facilitate student engagement and community building.

Academic-Practice Partnership in Rural Maryland: Opportunities for Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Training and Employment.

This case study describes how an innovative, triple-win, academic-practice partnership model can be used to deepen the clinical expertise of advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) students and improve rural Americans' access to quality patient care. It features the experience and strategies used by a school of nursing and a local rural hospital system collaborating to provide clinical experiences for APRN students pursuing doctor of nursing practice degrees.