The Physician Is on Campus: Improving Communication and Collaboration Between Future Nurses and Physicians Through Simulation.

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this project was to determine if physician participation in simulation affects students' perceptions of nurse/physician communication and collaboration. Fifty-five students participated in six groups. Three groups had a physician present and involved during their eight-hour pediatric simulation; the others continued with current practice, which involved phone contact with an individual posing as a physician. There was a statistically significant difference in two items on the Nurse Attitudes About Communicating and Collaborating With Physicians tool when pre- and post-simulation means were compared. Findings are consistent with previous research, indicating simulation-based learning can improve students' perceptions of nurse-physician collaboration.

"Writing Right": A Workshop Approach to Improving Nursing Students' Writing.

Introduction: Effective communication is an essential skill for the professional nurse. Previous research demonstrates that nursing students lack skills in written communication, and there is limited time in the nursing curriculum to provide needed instruction. To address this issue, a writing workshop was provided for students at a regional state university. Methods: Nursing faculty developed and led four identical in-person sessions of the workshop over the course of one semester. Before and after each workshop, students completed the same quantitative survey. Results: Data indicate that students' knowledge and confidence of American Psychological Association (APA) format increased significantly as a result of the workshop. Conclusion: A workshop approach is a useful strategy to address the writing needs of nursing students.