Teaching undergraduate nursing research from an evidence-based practice perspective.

We revised the undergraduate nursing research course using levels of evidence as the template with which to organize the course content and learning activities. A primary purpose in restructuring the course using an evidence-based practice framework was to increase student interest and engagement, and to promote the development of practitioners who will continue to learn about and use research. Learning to systematically locate, evaluate, and use the best available research is the hallmark of evidence-based practice and quality improvement initiatives. Students developed these skills as they sought the answer to a specific clinical problem. One of the most significant outcomes of this approach was students' ability to integrate previously fragmented components of research knowledge and to see the relevance of research evidence for providing excellent patient care.

Teaching around the cycle: strategies for teaching theory to undergraduate nursing students.

A teaching technique applied to teaching nursing theory in an undergraduate nursing program is presented. This technique acknowledges a variety of learning styles to facilitate student learning. Activities highlight the importance of acquiring a variety of knowledge acquisition and information-processing skills required in a profession. Students use critical thinking, communication, group process, and research analysis skills to learn and apply information about theory. The methods and activities have been developed over four years and implemented in small classes of eight students and in classes as large as 140 students with equal success.

Transitional health care for offenders being released from United States prisons.

Ex-offender managed health care can enhance post-release continuity of care by increasing access, decreasing acute-care episodes, controlling the spread of communicable diseases, and reducing the financial impact on public health-care systems. This study describes transitional health care for inmates with AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), hepatitis, mental illness, and substance abuse. The relationship between size of prison system and coordination of care was also investigated. A mail survey was completed by 33 chief medical officers of prison systems in the United States. Transitional health-care programs for ex-offenders vary widely and no significant relationship was found between number of inmates released per state annually and state coordination of transitional health care for supervised ex-offenders. All respondents reported some type of transitional health-care planning, usually either 1 month or 6 months prior to release. This included provision of post-release medication, referral to community health agencies, scheduling of appointments, and instruction in prevention of transmission. The majority of respondents reported that transitional health-care planning was coordinated by registered nurses. Specific measures for inmates with HIV/AIDS,TB, mental illness, and substance abuse were reported. Information about existing transitional health-care programs can help nurses and other health-care providers identify trends in transitional health-care planning and ensure continuity of care for released offenders.

Testing the relationship between job stress and satisfaction in correctional nurses.

BACKGROUND: Correctional nurses function in a high stress environment due to the nature of their clients and the primacy of environmental security. Job stress and satisfaction are theorized relational concepts that influence intent to stay and turnover as described in the anticipated turnover model. An increased understanding of the nature and sources of stress and satisfaction provides necessary information about correctional nursing. OBJECTIVE: To (a) replicate an earlier study of correctional nurses to determine whether similar findings could be duplicated in a study of prison nurses from another state and (b) test the concepts of stress and satisfaction as represented in the anticipated turnover model. METHODS: Using the Index of Work Satisfaction and the Nurse Stress Index, a correlational mail survey was designed to assess job stress and satisfaction among 454 nurses in a northeastern state prison system. RESULTS: Overall stress scores were not significantly different from the original study despite differences in demographic characteristics. Highest to lowest mean scores on actual sources of satisfaction include physician-nurse interaction, autonomy, professional status, task requirements, organizational policies, and pay. Satisfaction scores were significantly higher in the original study. An inverse relationship exists between job stress and satisfaction among correctional nurses. Job stress was a significant predictor of job satisfaction, supporting the theorized conceptual relationship between job stress and job satisfaction as described in the anticipated turnover model. DISCUSSION: Stress levels and the top two sources of stress were essentially the same for both groups of correctional nurses. Sources of satisfaction are ranked similarly but subscale and overall scores indicate that the nurses in the replication study were more dissatisfied. Findings validate the theoretical proposition in the anticipated turnover model that job stress is a major predictor variable in explaining job satisfaction.

An analysis of the relationship between job satisfaction and job stress in correctional nurses.

Stamps and Piedmonte's Index of Work Satisfaction and Harris's Nurse Stress Index were completed by 287 registered nurses employed in state prison health care facilities in order to assess job satisfaction and job stress among correctional nurses. Correctional nurses' expectations about job satisfaction were influenced by pay and autonomy. This finding was consistent with studies of hospital nurses. Important sources of job satisfaction were professional status and interaction with employees. Analysis of differences between expectations and sources of job satisfaction may provide understanding of career benefits and sources of dissatisfaction. Time pressures and organizational support and involvement were sources of stress. Multivariate analyses showed an inverse relationship between stress and job satisfaction. Information about job satisfaction and work stress and their correlates may be used to develop strategies to improve the recruitment and retention of correctional nurses.