Asynchronous Peer Review Feedback in an Undergraduate Nursing Course: What Students Can Teach Each Other About Writing.

BACKGROUND: Because patient care depends on nurses' ability to effectively communicate, nursing students need opportunities to develop written and oral communication skills through low-stakes activities. However, content-intensive classes and clinical schedules are obstacles to explicit writing support. Online asynchronous peer review can be an effective solution. PURPOSE: Students participated in an online asynchronous peer review intervention. Students reported their perceptions of the peer review and subsequent revisions. METHODS: The authors developed a peer review activity, designed to guide students to give online asynchronous feedback. Students evaluated its effectiveness and value through pre- and posttest surveys. RESULTS: Ninety-four percent (n = 68) of participants reported peer review as beneficial to the writing process, with 74% reporting they revised their writing in meaningful ways. Students felt peer feedback was useful, positive, valid, and reliable. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that even when delivered asynchronously online, peer review can support nursing students' writing process and scaffold content learning.

A Diabetes Screening and Educational Event in Rural Alabama.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is an increasingly urgent public health issue in the United States. Prevention through early detection and education can help decrease the prevalence and complications of the disease. A nursing faculty member and a postgraduate year one pharmacy resident collaborated to provide diabetes screening and education at a local festival in rural Alabama. The prevalence of diabetes in Alabama is approximately 1.6 times higher than the national average. A glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) test is the gold standard for diabetes diagnosis and is relatively quick and inexpensive. At the event, 38 participants received point of care HbA1c testing, results, and counseling. Seven participants had an HbA1c level of 5.7% to 6.4%, which indicates prediabetes, and one participant had an HbA1c level of 6.5% or higher, which indicates possible diabetes mellitus. Many patients were surprised by their results and by the simplicity of the test. The purpose of this article is to describe a cost-effective interdisciplinary educational event to increase diabetes awareness in a rural community.