A celebration of cultures in a long-term care facility. A day of cultural awareness may help staff and residents forge stronger relationships through greater understanding.

Cultural interaction is older than the spice route. Groups of people require little encouragement to share "how we do things back home," as well as favorite foods, customs, and beliefs. This interchange is important in decreasing myths and stereotypes that occur between cultures. Identification of differences is an essential as the discovery of how people are alike. The acknowledgement of sameness promotes unity, but recognition of differences promotes cooperative effort. There is enormous strength in cultures working together, supplementing the limitations and talents of each other. This celebration of cultures was our attempt to encourage staff-resident interactions and strengthen relationships among staff, residents, and all departments. Although several years have passed, staff still speak of Cultural Awareness Day as having been a positive force in promoting good relationships. The day provided entertainment and valuable lessons for all.

Debriefing: a therapeutic intervention.

An injured soldier may not have the benefit of the mental health interventions available to other combatants. A team of psychiatric liaison nurses report on the therapeutic effects of debriefing in the treatment of the traumatically injured soldier. Debriefing not only affords an opportunity for the patient to share thoughts and feelings about the trauma, but provides additional data regarding effective coping mechanisms. This information also assists the health care team to identify individuals at risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder. Patient teaching can then be directed toward helping each individual recognize the signs and symptoms of stress unique to him/her and mobilize a plan for obtaining assistance. Debriefing also assists the treatment team in identifying a soldier's specific information deficits regarding the system, i.e., medical boards and convalescent leaves.

Debriefing: from military origin to therapeutic application.

1. The objective of the debriefing process is the prevention of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Risk factors for PTSD can be classified into three categories: premorbid personality, the environment, and the trauma itself. 2. Nurses are in a position to intervene using debriefing at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of prevention. 3. Debriefing, individually and in groups, is an effective intervention in preventing the adverse reactions incurred by a traumatic stressor. The use of a debriefing model counteracts the tendency to suppress the powerfully affective component of the traumatic experience.

Interface of psychiatric clinical specialists in a community hospital setting.

In the beginning a question was posed, "Is clinical specialization an effective nursing role in the general hospital setting? In conclusion, we believe that the experience has shown it is, when certain factors are operating. These factors are a supportive nursing administration coupled with our collaborative efforts. The most significant of these changes has been strengthening nursing identity through peer support and the nurse-to-nurse consultation process.