Development and Implementation of an Academic and Professional Nursing Organization Partnership to Enhance Leadership Skills and Knowledge About HIV-Related Nursing Care Among Diverse, Prelicensure, Clinical Nurse Leader Scholars.

ABSTRACT: Historically, racial discrimination, few role models, and a general lack of support both in academic and professional contexts has hindered the education and career advancement of minority nursing students. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), in its G uiding Principles for Academic-Practice Partnerships , describes the creation of an academic-professional nursing organization partnership to address barriers to the success of nursing students from underrepresented groups. In keeping with the AACN's guiding principles, the University of Maryland School of Nursing and the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (ANAC) developed a partnership to deliver a multifaceted program for prelicensure, second-degree, Master of Science in Nursing, Clinical Nurse Leader Scholars which prepares them to address the health care needs of people living with HIV/AIDS and bolsters student leadership knowledge and skills. The objective of this article is to describe the program components, outcomes, and lessons learned from this academic-professional nursing organization partnership. The approach described may be useful for future partnerships designed to enhance leadership experiences and skills for minority nursing students and will hopefully be used to advocate for their success.

Assessment of a Chronic Disease Self-Management Program to Increase Physical Activity of Adults With Severe Mental Illness.

Individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) experience excessive co-morbidities and early mortality. Self-management programs have the potential to increase physical activity levels of individuals with SMI and reduce the incidence of co-morbidities. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to assess a chronic disease self-management program (CDSMP) to increase physical activity of adults with SMI measured by daily steps tracked with a pedometer. Results of data analysis indicated no statistically significant difference in steps across the six-week program. However, findings suggested that individuals with SMI are capable of using a pedometer and tracking steps on a daily basis.

Barriers to supported employment for persons with developmental disabilities.

Nurses have long played a role in caring for persons with developmental disabilities (DD) and therefore require an understanding of the issues of quality of life for this population. Meaningful employment is important to life quality and a challenge for persons with DD. This retrospective study examined supported employment barriers for 112 adults with mild to moderate DD. Inattention, interpersonal, and behavior problems were frequent barriers (37.5%) to maintaining employment. Poor attendance, inadequate work quality, or interpersonal problems were responsible for 20.8% of involuntary employment terminations. An understanding of work-related issues for people with DDs may assist nurses to better address the psychosocial needs of this population.

Barriers to community integration for participants in community-based psychiatric rehabilitation.

This pilot study examined barriers to community integration for adults with serious mental illness (SMI) enrolled in a community-based psychiatric rehabilitation program. Program staff administered a self-report scale to 135 adults (mean age = 43.3 years, 53% men, 65.1% White). Staff completed the same measure. Individuals with mental illness and staff differed significantly in their reports of the type, number, F (1, 73) = 29.25, P < .0001, and severity (F (1, 176) = 43.53, P < .0001) of barriers to community integration. Clinicians should assist adults with SMI to identify relevant barriers, and participate in treatment planning and outcome evaluation.

More than just menstrual cramps: symptoms and uncertainty among women with endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the frequency, severity, interference with daily life, and symptom distress associated with endometriosis and to explore the relationships among symptoms, emotional distress, uncertainty, and preference for and adequacy of information. DESIGN: A descriptive, cross-sectional correlational study. SETTING: Data were collected at a conference of the Endometriosis Association in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 298 women attending an educational program. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Endometriosis symptoms and symptom distress, emotional distress, and adequacy of information were assessed using author-developed scales. Preference for information was measured by a revision of the Krantz Health Opinion Survey Information Subscale. Uncertainty was assessed using the Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale-Community Form. RESULTS: Women experienced multiple symptoms associated with varying levels of distress, including symptoms not typically associated with endometriosis. Participants sought out information but were undecided about whether they had sufficient information about the disease. Uncertainty about endometriosis was relatively high and associated with emotional distress and lack of information about the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Reported symptoms demonstrate the complexity and impact of endometriosis. Women's preference for information and experience of emotional distress and uncertainty suggest the need for information and support. Prospective, controlled studies on the impact of endometriosis and interventions to inform and support patients are needed.