Food insecurity in baccalaureate nursing students: A cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Food insecurity, the limited or uncertain availability of food, is reported in college students, but little is known about its prevalence in nursing students. Nursing students have extensive required clinical hours limiting their ability to work and spend money on academic and living expenses before spending on food. PURPOSE: To estimate the prevalence of food insecurity and characterize its relationship to social support and first-generation status among nursing students at a public university. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey study design was used to assess food security and social support in full-time nursing students (n=55). RESULTS: The prevalence of food insecurity reported by the survey respondents was 60%. Statistically significant correlations between food security and social support scores were found; as food security worsened, so did social support. Food-insecure students had lower grade point averages, and first-generation students (p=.001) reported food insecurity more frequently than did other participants. CONCLUSIONS: Findings support that food insecurity is negatively associated with academic performance, and level of social support may impact food insecurity in nursing students. Nursing programs should consider early assessments of cohorts to increase the potential for early intervention with food-insecure students. Collaboration with university-based food pantries and student engagement in hunger initiatives through the Student Nurses Association can support early interventions.

Faculty Perceptions of Workload: A Human Factor's Approach to Instrument Development.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Research revealed nursing faculty members' perceived workload measures do not adequately capture the complexity of their workload. Using a human factors approach to address the multiple complex dimensions from the subjective perception of the worker, the Nurse Faculty Workload Assessment (NFWA) was developed. METHODS: Survey data from 565 faculty members were used to establish the instrument's psychometric properties. RESULTS: NWFA Sections 1, 2, and 3 demonstrated reliability and internal consistency. Findings supported interrelationships between activity complexity, performance circumstances, and individual characteristics described in human factors workload literature. CONCLUSIONS: The NFWA provides a tool for administrators to evaluate faculty perception of workload expectations. Further study is needed to refine the NFWA and to compare the perception of faculty regarding workload using various workload formula calculations in various nursing programs.

Development of a Subjective Workload Assessment for Nurses: A Human Factors Approach.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Research has revealed nurses' perception that traditional workload measures do not adequately capture the complexity of workload. Using a human factors approach to address the multiple and complex dimensions from the subjective perception of the worker, the Subjective Workload Assessment for Nurses (SWAN) was developed. METHODS: Survey data from 188 medical-surgical registered nurses were used to establish the instrument's psychometric properties. RESULTS: SWAN Sections 1, 2, and 3; General Information Form Section 1; and the Nursing Texas Load Index demonstrated internal consistency with this sample. Findings supported interrelationships between activity complexity, performance circumstances, and individual characteristics described in the literature. CONCLUSION: Further study is needed to refine the SWAN and to establish psychometric properties with nurses in other practice areas.

Navigating the waters of interprofessional collaborative education.

The increasing emphasis on interprofessional practice to improve the quality and safety of health care delivery led the nursing faculty of a small liberal arts university to explore a unique collaborative educational initiative with School of Business Administration faculty. As the School of Nursing was developing a master's of science in nursing administration option, the School of Business Administration was creating an undergraduate health care administration concentration. Both disciplines were examined for common competencies, courses that could be shared were identified, and the initiative was launched. The response from students has been overwhelmingly positive. The ability to examine health care issues from both business and clinical perspectives has enriched the learning environment and broadened the views of students in both majors. Challenges faced and lessons learned are discussed. Recommendations for evaluating and strengthening the partnership are identified. Advice and encouragement are offered to others considering similar nonclinical collaborative opportunities.

Differences between weekend and weekday nurse work environments and patient outcomes: a focus group approach to model testing.

DESIGN: This focus group study was exploratory and descriptive. PURPOSE: To identify differences between weekend and weekday nurse work environments that might explain higher rates of neonatal mortality among babies born on weekends. SAMPLE: The convenience sample consisted of 14 nurses from labor and delivery and neonatal intensive care units in 4 hospitals in 3 Texas cities. METHODOLOGY: Focus group sessions were audiotaped and then transcribed verbatim. Responses were analyzed inductively and then compared to the model of Organizational Support of Nursing Care presented by Aiken, Clarke, and Sloane. RESULTS: The focus group responses fit the model moderately well. However, there were additional constructs found in the data that went beyond the model. Additional constructs included patient need/demand, nurse characteristics/skill level, and external motivating and inhibiting factors. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses identified significant differences between weekend and weekday work environments such as less direct supervision and problems getting physician backup for emergencies on weekends. They gave examples where they felt weekend work environments resulted in both negative and positive patient outcomes. The nurses made no real distinction between night shift and weekend environments. The knowledge gained can be used to design effective strategies to improve the process of care and patient outcomes on weekends.