Development and implementation of virtual clinical skills experiences for psychiatric nurse practitioner students.

ABSTRACT: The educational preparation of nurse practitioner (NP) students includes didactic content and clinical experiences. These clinical experiences can be via clinical rotations or simulation. Although there is no specific list of clinical skills to prepare NP students for professional practice, the National Organization for Nurse Practitioner Faculties identifies core competencies for the basic education of NP students. These core competencies can be fulfilled through simulated clinical experiences. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many institutions had to develop alternate methods of facilitating simulated clinical experiences for their NP students. Because of national, state, and university guidelines to transition all face-to-face educational activities to a virtual format, a Southeastern university simulation program developed and implemented virtual clinical skills experiences for psychiatric mental health NP students. Based on student survey results, the utilization of standardized patients in this virtual clinical skills experience proved beneficial and improved NP students' interviewing and communication skills via a telehealth format.

Presentation, Management, and Women's Health Implications of Pilonidal Disease.

Many people think of pilonidal disease (PD) in its acute presentation, which is an abscess at the gluteal cleft that is warm and tender with purulent drainage. In this article, we describe how PD is an acute, chronic, and recurring disease that requires clinicians to be vigilant in assessments, treatments, therapies, referrals, and patient education. Because PD is more common in men than women, it is often misdiagnosed and undertreated in female patients. Its impact on an individual's life, work, and health, however, cannot be underestimated. Obtaining an accurate diagnosis and appropriate care can positively impact quality of life for people with PD.

A Call to Change the Narrative on Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause.

Genitourinary syndrome of menopause affects up to 54% of postmenopausal women. Historically, women have been led to believe that symptoms such as vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, and vaginal itching were manifestations that they would just have to live with, but now, more than ever before, treatment options are available. More importantly, nurses are in a position to change the narrative of genitourinary syndrome of menopause by normalizing the conversation about menopause and its sequelae of genitourinary symptoms.