Integration of military and veteran health in a psychiatric mental health BSN curriculum: A mindful analysis.

The military and veteran populations in the U. S. state of Hawaii have a strong presence in the local communities. It was this substantial presence that provided the impetus to integrate military and veteran health into a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) curriculum. This exploratory study investigated the relationship between the integration of military and veteran health into a psychiatric mental health BSN curriculum and nursing students' understanding of the many facets of military veterans' health. The concepts related to military and veterans' health was infused in didactic, seminar, simulation and clinical instruction. Examples of approaches to teaching include guest speakers from military clinical partners, inclusion of military/military families in simulation, the reading of evidence-based articles focusing on the military and veteran population, use of identification of problem based learning and clinical placements in hospital(s) and community agencies specific to servicing military and veterans and their families. Students were encouraged to record their reflections which provided some insight on the value of integration of this important segment into the curriculum. Classroom discussions and reflections were analyzed using an exploratory method of inquiry by categorizing themes which revealed some biases about the military and veteran population and how working with this population helped students to understand their health needs. Although the data is limited, it an important foundation for further exploration into the significance of the integration of military and veterans' health in a psychiatric mental health BSN nursing curriculum. The recommendation is to further include military and veterans' health across the curriculum in order to help future nursing graduates understand and evaluate their role in working with this distinctive population, recognize challenges and opportunities in working with this population and identify available evidence-based resources to inform their practice.

Exploring the emotional intelligence of Florence Nightingale.

OBJECTIVE: Emotional intelligence (EI) within nursing appears to be a growing interest as evidenced by the expanding number of literature reviews conducted on the subject. The inquiry for this historical research is to understand the work and characteristics of Florence Nightingale and EI. METHODS: The assumption is that nurses who are emotionally intelligent are the most likely to not only survive the nursing profession but to thrive and make compassionate future leaders. Nightingale's letters, pictures and other writings were used to evaluate her viewpoints as an inspirational nurse and leader. RESULTS: Nightingale was a catalyst for change; internally motivated to be a great nurse and had the zeal to develop others as well. CONCLUSIONS: Exploring Nightingale's characteristics of EI such her confidence, determination, integrity and compassion, her teachings and beliefs can transcend time to mold successful nurses more than a century later. "The voice of a leader. It is as resounding as the heart it encourages, as far-reaching as the change it invokes. It is tuned by its keen sense of the voices around it and speaks back in a language they can understand. Its breath enters all that truly hear it, and when it no longer speaks, it can still be heard."-Mae Taylor Moss.