Traditional and Accelerated Baccalaureate Nursing Students' Self-Efficacy for Interprofessional Learning.

AIM: The aim of the study was to examine self-efficacy among traditional and accelerated nursing students with regard to interprofessional learning. BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization and other organizations recognize the need for interprofessional education to prepare health care providers for collaborative practice. Graduates of baccalaureate nursing programs require competence in interprofessional collaboration and communication. METHOD: Traditional (n = 239) and accelerated (n = 114) nursing students' self-efficacy was measured utilizing Mann et al.'s Self-Efficacy for Interprofessional Experiential Learning Scale. RESULTS: Accelerated students averaged significantly higher than traditional students on the interprofessional team evaluation and feedback subscale (p = .006) and overall self-efficacy (p = .041). CONCLUSION: Awareness of possible differences between traditional and accelerated nursing students with regard to self-efficacy may help faculty develop effective interprofessional learning experiences for students in each cohort. Although results cannot be generalized, findings from this study provide evidence to guide the selection of learning strategies.

Legalization of marijuana for non-medical use: health, policy, socioeconomic, and nursing implications.

The legalization of marijuana is a controversial issue with implications for health care providers, policy makers, and society at large. The use of marijuana for medical reasons is accepted in many states. However, legal sale of the drug for non-medical use began for the first time on January 1, 2014, in Colorado, following a relaxation of marijuana restrictions that is unprecedented worldwide. News reports have indicated that sales of the drug have been brisk. Marijuana-infused food products have been unexpectedly popular, exceeding sales projections. Marijuana use is associated with numerous physical and mental disorders and could result in addiction. Evidence suggests its potency has increased since the 1980s. Colorado has established regulations regarding the sale of marijuana for non-medical use, but concerns still exist. The current article offers a discussion of the health, public policy, socioeconomic, and nursing implications of the legalization of marijuana for non-medical use.

Finding the right words: the experience of new nurses after ELNEC education integration into a BSN curriculum.

INTRODUCTION: Palliative care is an important aspect of nursing when comfort and quality of life are the patient goals. Literature about practicing nurses, whether new graduates or more experienced, suggests they feel unprepared for end-of-life care. The End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) developed a comprehensive program of teaching care of the dying to nurses and nursing students throughout the United States. PURPOSE OF STUDY: Researchers conducted this phenomenological study to explore the lived experiences of recent graduates who received ELNEC education content in their nursing programs and who cared for a dying patient within the first year of clinical practice. METHODOLOGY: Using open-ended semi-structured questions, researchers conducted taped interviews with a convenience sample of 12 recent graduates to capture the nurses' narratives. The stories of these new nurses highlighted issues they encountered and interventions they implemented to address these issues. Colaizzi's method of content analysis was employed. FINDINGS: Final themes that emerged were facilitating a good death, realizing intrinsic rewards, learning through impressionable experiences, and maintaining balance. CONCLUSIONS: This research revealed the experiences of new nurses who received ELNEC education in their nursing programs and who cared for dying patients within the first year of practice, highlighting issues they encountered and interventions they implemented to address these issues. Stories from these participants' lived experiences offer helpful insight into the challenges of implementing EOL care in clinical practice as they supported patients and families through the dying process.

Loss of a companion animal: understanding and helping the bereaved.

Pet owners may face numerous animal losses in a lifetime. Grief following pet loss is often misunderstood and devalued. Nurses are likely to encounter patients and families mourning the loss of a companion animal. This article outlines the grief process and offers practical suggestions for assisting those who are bereaved.

Preventing unsafe alcohol consumption on the 21st birthday: roles for nurses.

Because of its legal significance, the 21st birthday is considered a milestone event. Research reveals that turning 21 is an occasion that is often marked by the ingestion of excessive, perhaps even lethal, amounts of alcohol. Peer pressure and lack of knowledge about the potentially life-threatening effects of alcohol overconsumption can make this birthday a perilous event. Birthday rituals have developed that encourage reckless consumption. Literature addressing the prevalence of excessive drinking among college students is abundant. However, the authors found minimal literature addressing the potential contribution of nurses toward the reduction of unsafe alcohol consumption among young adults celebrating their 21st birthday. This article provides a brief review of the physiological effects of alcohol and practical suggestions for promoting safety among young adults celebrating this milestone birthday.

The influence of end-of-life education on attitudes of nursing students.

Palliative care is an important aspect of nursing when comfort and quality of life are the patient goals. The End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) developed a comprehensive program of teaching care of the dying to nurses and nursing students. This pretest-posttest study evaluated the influence of the integration of the ELNEC curriculum into a baccalaureate nursing program on students' attitudes toward care of the dying. The Frommelt Attitudes toward Care of the Dying Scale for nurses (FATCOD) was administered to traditional and accelerated baccalaureate students before and after exposure to a nursing curriculum that integrated essential ELNEC elements. Multiple regression analyses indicated that no previous experience with death and an age of 18-22 accounted for the most variance in attitude change. The findings suggest that integrating the ELNEC curriculum throughout a baccalaureate program positively affects the attitudes of nursing students toward the care of patients who are dying.

Educating nursing students about the dangers of drinking games.

Alcohol abuse is a serious problem among college students, and drinking games are a common, yet risky practice in this population. This article provides a description of different types of drinking games along with a discussion of the risks of participation, factors that may lead college students to participate, interventions that may help reduce student participation, and reasons why nurse faculty should consider incorporating information about drinking games into their curricula.

Promoting smoking cessation among nursing students: how faculty can help.

Cigarette smoking is a major health issue in the United States. Research has shown that more than a quarter of young adults aged 18-24 are smokers, and there has been a recent rise in the prevalence of cigarette smoking among college students. Many researchers have investigated smoking among nursing students, in the United States and worldwide. This article provides an overview of these research findings and a discussion of interventions that may help promote smoking cessation. Nurse faculty are encouraged to take a lead in smoking cessation efforts.

Comfort levels of nursing students regarding clinical assignment to a patient with AIDS.

For educators, preparing nursing students for the care of persons with AIDS is an important responsibility. A review of the literature suggests that many nursing students are fearful of occupational transmission of HIV and that educational interventions may improve the students' attitudes toward caring for patients with AIDS. The author administered Form A of the Nursing Care Comfort scale to a sample of 122 baccalaureate students. Findings revealed variations in comfort levels relative to specific nursing skills.

Incorporating concepts of end-of-life care into a psychiatric nursing course.

Providing quality care to patients who are at the end of life is recognized as an important aspect of health care. Nurse educators are in a unique position to influence future care by imparting essential information on this topic to students during their basic nursing education. The author offers support for the suggestion that select end-of-life concepts be included in psychiatric-mental health nursing courses and presents suggestions for incorporating such concepts into psychiatric nursing clinical learning experiences.

Comfort levels of nursing faculty regarding student assignment to a patient with AIDS.

Introduction. AIDS is a major public health concern. A review of the literature suggests that many nursing faculty members may have little experience caring for patients with AIDS and that relatively little research has been conducted to examine the reactions of nursing faculty to the care of these patients. Purpose. This study, based on Peplau's interpersonal theory, was designed to examine the comfort levels of clinical nursing faculty regarding student assignment to a patient with AIDS. Methods. The survey method was utilized. A non-random sample of nursing faculty was asked to complete the Nursing Care Comfort Scale and a biographic questionnaire. Nursing faculty invited to participate in the study were those who provided on-site clinical supervision to non-RN baccalaureate nursing students. The nature of clinical supervision lay within the scope of the Nursing Care Comfort Scale. The sample was drawn from three baccalaureate programs in the northeastern region of the United States. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Data/results. Data analysis showed that the vast majority of faculty members surveyed had cared for a patient with AIDS and that they were comfortable anticipating the supervision of a nursing student assigned to provide care to a patient with this diagnosis.

Psychiatric nursing recruitment. Roles for educators and nursing staff.

Recruiting new nurses to a relatively unpopular specialty in the midst of a nursing shortage is challenging. However, the literature offers educators and clinical nursing staff important insight regarding the promotion of student interest in psychiatric nursing. Clearly, a collaborative effort is needed. Educators and clinicians should work together to provide students with a satisfying psychiatric nursing experience. Through a combination of effective, intellectually stimulating classroom instruction and positive, welcoming clinical experiences, educators and clinical nursing staff may increase the number of nursing graduates who pursue this rewarding specialty.