Teaching international nursing students: challenges and strategies.

Cross-cultural education presents many challenges and focuses attention on the significant differences in teaching and learning styles around the world. In 1995, the George Mason University College of Nursing and Health Science embarked on the Saudi-US University Project, an effort that brought these theoretical differences to life. The stark contrast between the Saudi Arabian and Western cultures provided administration, faculty, and students the opportunity to develop creative strategies to accommodate learning across cultures.

Partnership for a nurse practitioner-directed student health primary care center.

Since 1991, the George Mason University Student Health Center (SHC) has been a primary health care center directed by College of Nursing and Health Science (CNHS) nurse practitioner (NP) faculty. This model was planned and implemented through a partnership between the CNHS and Student Services. From September 1991 until the present, the number of student visits has more than doubled, and the offered services have tripled without a comparable increase in budget and with minimal expansion of space. The student population now has access to comprehensive quality primary care services on-site at a relatively small investment per student. The focus of care goes beyond simply managing current health care needs by emphasizing prevention of future health problems, wellness, and quality of life. In addition, negotiations with surrounding specialists have resulted in a prompt and cost-effective referral system as needed by conditions exceeding the capabilities of the SHC providers. Responses to student surveys regarding the quality, availability, and cost of care, as well as the process involved in receiving that care, indicate the highest level of satisfaction among students using these services. The CNHS has a fertile, convenient faculty practice site as well as several clinical placements for NP as well as undergraduate students. This NP faculty-directed SHC offers a cost-effective, consumer-responsive alternative for delivering primary care services to the members of the university community.

Spanning the distance and resource gaps in health promotion and health education programs.

Traditionally, health care/health promotion professionals have relied on a face-to-face format for their teaching and are now becoming increasingly involved with new and creative ways to use microcomputers in educational technology. These methodologies have their limitations. Each is limited by the number of participants who can be reached at a given time, the availability of local experts, the existence of the necessary hardware and software, and accessibility due to special characteristics of the audience. These limitations often dictate what presentations health professionals can offer, what media can be used, and which groups will attend. Health care/health promotion professionals must not lose sight of readily available, nontraditional, cost effective methods that serve to enhance high level wellness in a broad and diverse population. The alternative health promotion delivery systems of radio, audioconferencing, and teleconferencing, as discussed in this article, can be used in a variety of settings (school, university, community, and worksite), applied to all levels of health promotion and education (elementary through university education and community/worksite offerings), and can increase awareness of additional methods of communication of health-related information by health professionals.

The receptivity to and the feasibility of patient education for patients of private practice, primary care physicians.

This article describes a study of the receptivity to and the feasibility of a patient education service for patients of private practice, primary care physicians. A stratified (by medical specialty), random sample of 400 private practice, primary care physicians in the State of Maryland was selected from the State medical society roster. In addition, a random sample of 800 health care consumers was selected from a listing of residents in a five county area of Maryland. Questionnaires were developed, pilot tested, revised, and eventually mailed to the physician and consumer samples. Completed questionnaires were obtained from 140 physicians and from 314 consumers. Results indicated that both physicians and consumers were receptive to patient education in the private practice medical setting. Based upon the findings, recommendations are offered regarding the manner in which patient education in a private practice medical setting should be organized.

A portable, self-instructional stress management program for college students.

This article describes the process used to develop a stress management program for college students and the program that resulted. Based on a needs assessment and piloting of the program, a portable, modular self-instructional program was developed. The program consists of five instructional stations: Assessment; The Nature of Stress and the Skill of Cognitive Restructuring; The Effects and Consequences of Stress and Time Management Skills; Relaxation Skills; and Planning For Stress Control. Feasibility in administering the program was of particular importance, so the program was portable. It can be transported to residence halls, student unions, or other gathering places, and it does not require a trained professional to be present. Included are two videotapes and two slide/audiotapes produced by the program's developers, one relaxation tape (guided imagery), and handout materials.

Assessment of thyroid function during pregnancy.

Serum levels of thyroid stimulating hormone and of the two thyroid hormones were compared in pregnant women and in non-pregnant control subjects. Circulating levels of thyroid stimulating hormone did not alter significantly throughout pregnancy. Total thyroxine and triiodothyronine concentrations increased markedly during the first and second trimesters, associated with a progressive increase in the thyroid binding capacity of serum proteins. Urinary triiodothyronine and thyroxine excretion during the third trimester of pregnancy was comparable to that found in non-pregnant euthyroid females and, it is concluded, provides the simplest method of assessing thyroid function during pregnancy.