Developing an Effective Professional Panel.

Plenary panel planning and implementation, carried out by temporary teams, are described for nursing organizations and professional development across settings. The conference or meeting theme and objectives frame panel member selection and moderator focus. Panelist conversations highlight different career trajectories and connect with attendees. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2020;51(3):100-102.].

Innovative PhD-DNP Faculty Collaboration to Advance Baccalaureate Student Population Health Competencies.

Entry-level nurses require health promotion, chronic disease self-management, care coordination, data utilization, and evidence translation competencies to address complex population health needs. An innovative PhD-DNP faculty collaboration implemented a descriptive survey design to evaluate simulation-based strategies using an unfolding chronically ill adult case to address population health. Results showed the PhD-DNP faculty team was effective in developing clinically meaningful learning experiences to assist baccalaureate students to develop population health competencies. This project provides strong evidence supporting the value and positive impact of engaging faculty from research and practice for future educational research.

Simulation Innovation to Redesign the Baccalaureate Curriculum to Address Population Health.

Prelicensure nursing curricula need to be redesigned to integrate and achieve key population health competencies. Nursing students in generic and second-degree programs had improved learning outcomes and significant increases in population health competencies across the curriculum using simulation-based learning activities developed through an academic-practice partnership. Simulation is an effective, interactive strategy that enhances student knowledge, skills, and competencies in addressing population health.

New Careers in Nursing Scholar Alumni Toolkit: Development of an Innovative Resource for Transition to Practice.

The transition from student to professional nurse is challenging and may be more difficult for underrepresented minority nurses. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation New Careers in Nursing (NCIN) program supported development of a toolkit that would serve as a transition-to-practice resource to promote retention of NCIN alumni and other new nurses. Thirteen recent NCIN alumni (54% male, 23% Hispanic/Latino, 23% African Americans) from 3 schools gave preliminary content feedback. An e-mail survey was sent to a convenience sample of 29 recent NCIN alumni who evaluated the draft toolkit using a Likert scale (poor = 1; excellent = 5). Twenty NCIN alumni draft toolkit reviewers (response rate 69%) were primarily female (80%) and Hispanic/Latino (40%). Individual chapters' mean overall rating of 4.67 demonstrated strong validation. Mean scores for overall toolkit content (4.57), usability (4.5), relevance (4.79), and quality (4.71) were also excellent. Qualitative comments were analyzed using thematic content analysis and supported the toolkit's relevance and utility. A multilevel peer review process was also conducted. Peer reviewer feedback resulted in a 6-chapter document that offers resources for successful transition to practice and lays the groundwork for continued professional growth. Future research is needed to determine the ideal time to introduce this resource.

Attaining baccalaureate competencies for nursing care of older adults through curriculum innovation.

This new curriculum promotes up-to-date, evidence-based plans of care for older adults in acute care, long-term care, and community settings. Geriatric-specific content is a curricular thread and strong focus. Students have responded positively to the many opportunities they have to learn about the unique needs of older adults in multiple settings. Fortunately, we have several geriatric nurse practitioners on faculty along. Our students observe experts who are committed to promoting safe, quality, compassionate care to older adults in action on a daily basis.

Long-term follow-up study of uncertainty and psychosocial adjustment among implantable cardioverter defibrillator recipients.

BACKGROUND: Sudden cardiac death is an international health issue. Implantable defibrillators have been effective in the secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death and are increasingly being utilized for primary prevention in individuals without a prior history of cardiac arrest or sustained ventricular tachycardia. Although it has been well documented that some recipients experience psychological distress and have difficulty in adjusting to the device, long-term data on psychological outcomes are limited. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to determine: (a) if there is a long-term relationship between uncertainty and psychosocial adjustment among implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) recipients; and (b) if changes in uncertainty and/or adjustment occur over time. DESIGN: A longitudinal, descriptive, correlational design was used for this long-term follow-up study (M=9.4 years, SD=.23). SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-four patients from 4 major teaching hospitals in New England who had participated in an investigation of uncertainty and adjustment at 1 and 8 weeks following an initial ICD implant between 1996 and 1997 were solicited. From the original sample, 41 patients had expired (44%) and 5 had heart transplants (5%). Two individuals chose not to participate. Twenty-five persons (27%) were not found despite numerous attempts to locate them. The final sample included 21 subjects (22%). METHODS: Following university institutional review board approval, a mail survey was administered using the Dillman method. Instruments included a demographic data questionnaire, the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale-Self-Report and the 2-factor version of the Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale. RESULTS: The final sample primarily included educated, married, white males. Uncertainty and adjustment levels did not change significantly over time. Early adjustment explained 40% of the variance in overall adjustment at long-term follow-up (P=.010). Men experienced significantly more uncertainty overall [t(19)=2.925, P=.009] and complexity related to living with the device [t(19)=3.62, P=.002]. CONCLUSIONS: Patients should be screened for psychological distress prior to device implantation so early intervention can be provided. Qualitative research is recommended to determine whether gender specific needs related to living with an ICD exist. More quantitative, long-term longitudinal data are also needed.

Uncertainty as a predictor of adjustment to an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

Although the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) has reduced the risk of sudden cardiac death, some recipients experience uncertainty and adjustment problems related to the device. The study's purpose was to test hypotheses that predicted defibrillator recipients with greater uncertainty would have less psychosocial adjustment overall; less adjustment in the domestic, social, and vocational environments and in sexual relationships; and have more psychological distress at 1 and 8 weeks following hospital discharge. A repeated measures, correlational survey design was used with 94 adult defibrillator recipients from 4 hospitals. The Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale, Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale Self-Report, and demographics were completed at both time points. The sample was predominantly white, male, and married. There were no gender differences and younger adults had more adjustment problems than older adults. Results supported all but 2 hypotheses as participants had less psychosocial adjustment overall, less adjustment in all domains except vocational environment, and more psychological distress at 1 and 8 weeks after discharge. In conclusion, ICD recipients with greater uncertainty were at greater risk for psychosocial adjustment problems during the first 2 months and may require interventions, particularly younger adults.

Exploring uncertainty and psychosocial adjustment after cardioverter defibrillator implantation.

BACKGROUND: Sudden cardiac death is a leading cause of death in the Americas and Europe. Although the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) has decreased mortality from sudden cardiac death, it may be associated with psychosocial adjustment (PSA) problems and be a source of uncertainty for some recipients. The purpose of this study was to explore uncertainty and PSA among first-time ICD recipients during the first 2 months after hospital discharge. METHODS: Ninety-four adult, first-time ICD recipients recruited from 4 New England hospitals were studied at 1 week (S1) and 8 weeks (S2) after hospital discharge using a repeated-measures, correlational survey design. Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale, Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale, and a demographic questionnaire were administered. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including Pearson correlations, repeated-measures analysis of variance, multivariate canonical analysis, multiple regression, hierarchical regression, and 1-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: There was no change in the nature or level of uncertainty over time. Uncertainty at S1 explained a significant amount (39%) of the variance in overall PSA at S2. Psychosocial adjustment domains at S1 explained a large proportion (62%) of the variance in overall PSA at S2. Education, employment status, and functional status were related to uncertainty. Younger recipients, people with a lower functional status, and those with disability had more PSA problems. Time since discharge was not correlated with uncertainty or PSA. Uncertainty was a strong predictor of PSA at both S1 and S2. CONCLUSIONS: First-time ICD recipients who have greater uncertainty or less PSA at 1 week after hospital discharge may have more PSA problems during the first 2 months after implant. Age, education, and severity of illness may influence uncertainty and/or PSA. Further research is needed to determine the relationship between uncertainty and PSA over time.