Addressing psychosocial care using an interactive Web site for combat-wounded patients.

PURPOSE: The aims were to examine military nurses and combat-wounded patients' evaluation of a cognitive behavioral intervention Web site called Stress Gym. DESIGN AND METHODS: The use of the intervention was a proof-of-concept design with 129 military nurses and combat-wounded patients in military medical treatment facilities (MTFs). The nurses and patients logged on to Stress Gym, reviewed the nine modules available, and completed a short evaluation of the Web site. FINDINGS: The evaluation of the military nurses and patients was high. There were no significant differences in the evaluation based on military services, sex, deployment, and education levels. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The strength of Stress Gym is that it enables all military members to learn about and get help with problems such as stress, anxiety, anger, and depressive symptoms anonymously and in private. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Stress Gym is a versatile tool that can help nurses address the psychosocial needs of their patients by encouraging its use and including it in treatment protocols.

Ethnic diversity in the nurse workforce: a literature review.

In the 2000-2003 New York State Nurses Association Strategic Plan, the Board of Directors called for an assessment of the progress made toward achieving an ethnically diverse nursing workforce as reflected in the literature. In this paper the authors have responded to that request and offer a snapshot of progress as well as standstills in the journey toward diversity. Although the literature has tended to focus on cultural competency of the healthcare worker, and includes numerous calls for action to diversify the nurse workforce, very little scholarly work has been conducted that rigorously evaluates such diversification activities. The purpose of this literature review is to explore existing scholarly work in ethnic diversity at three levels: in the general workforce, the healthcare workforce, and the nursing workforce. The authors explored the literature as it addresses two aspects: academic and career factors influencing diversity; and recruitment, retention, and other strategies employed to diversify the workforce. By exploring the existing research, gaps can be identified in order to either direct further research, or target funding to recruitment strategies to effectively enhance a more ethnically diverse nurse workforce.