The Use of Standardized Patients as an Educational Strategy in Baccalaureate Psychiatric Nursing Simulation: A Mixed Method Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Prior psychiatric simulation experiences required our nursing students to role-play in an unknown area of nursing. Students confidence, clinical satisfaction, and use of clinical skills were negatively impacted leading to unmet course objectives. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this pilot study was to strengthen our baccalaureate senior nursing students' simulation experience in their psychiatric nursing course with the use of standardized patients (SPs) instead of student role-play and measure the impact of this strategy on students' learning, satisfaction, and confidence in an unfamiliar area of nursing. METHODS: A mixed method explanatory sequential design was used. Participants consisted of a convenience sample of senior nursing students enrolled in their psychiatric nursing course. A quantitative simulation tool and a four-item questionnaire were analyzed after completion of the simulations (n = 47). RESULTS: Findings of this study identified greater than 80% of students had increased level of learning, confidence, and satisfaction with the SP simulation experience. Nurse faculty were able to overcome simulation barriers, that is, a patient hearing voices, non-verbal signs of depression, and evaluate students meeting course learning outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study highlight students' positive simulation experiences. Using SPs as an educational strategy can be effective for students to reach competency, achieve higher knowledge, and improve confidence. It is believed the use of SPs as a simulation strategy in psychiatric nursing will assist students with clinical judgment and better prepare them to meet the needs of vulnerable persons with psychiatric conditions.

Caregiving for Aging Parents as a Source of Blessing: A Secondary Analysis.

ABSTRACT: This phenomenological secondary analysis of original research explored how adult caregivers of aging parents define the concept of being blessed. The disadvantages of caregiving dominate literature, but few research studies focus on positive aspects where caregivers emerge emotionally optimistic. Study participants expressed being blessed, such as being thankful, gaining a sense of peacefulness, reward, and meaningfulness. A conceptual definition of being blessed is proposed.

Dietary supplement adulteration - knowledge, attitudes, and practices of California health care professionals: A cross-sectional survey study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices surrounding dietary supplements (DS) among California health care professionals (HCPs) and assess factors contributing to the frequency with which HCPs discuss DS with patients. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, an online questionnaire was distributed to HCPs in California from December 2021-April 2022 via professional membership email listservs. RESULTS: Among 514 HCPs, overall knowledge of DS did not vary significantly by professional group, and 90% had received little to no DS education. Pharmacists (OR = 0.328, p = 0.0001) and those with less reported DS education (OR = 0.58, p = 0.0045; OR = 0.075, p = 0.0097) had a decreased likelihood of initiating conversations about DS more frequently. Females (OR = 2.5, p < 0.0001) and those with a higher knowledge score (OR = 1.2, p = 0.0297) had an increased likelihood of initiating conversations about DS more frequently. CONCLUSIONS: HCPs acknowledge the clinical significance of DS adulteration and would benefit from additional informational resources to reduce the adverse effects associated with adulterated supplements. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: HCPs initiate more conversations about DS use when they are more informed and will gain from staying up to date on DS-related information to encourage more patient communication.

Benefits, companion animal zoonotic disease prevalence and public perceptions of pet ownership among people experiencing homelessness in northern California.

California has the highest proportion of unhoused individuals in the country, and up to 25% of unhoused individuals own pets, providing substantial benefits but unique challenges including access to housing, transportation and unfounded grounds for social stigmatization. Unhoused individuals and pets may also be at risk for diseases due to impaired access to sanitation facilities. The purpose of this cross-sectional survey was to evaluate differences in perceived benefits, challenges and public perceptions among pet owners of varying housing security and the prevalence of diseases among their pets. Questionnaires were administered to housed and unhoused pet owners and pet blood screened for rickettsiosis, bartonellosis, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, borreliosis, West Nile fever and heartworm. Among 147 canine and 16 feline blood samples, seropositivity of ectoparasitic diseases did not vary by housing status. Among 45 housed and 56 unhoused owners, unhoused owners were significantly more likely to report protective benefits, challenges obtaining housing, finding a flea on their pet, using bottled water for their pet and their pet sleeping in their bed. Housed owners were significantly more likely to report companionship and entertainment benefits, challenges with pet sitting and consistently administering parasite preventatives. Similar (96-98%) percentages stated they would not give up their pet for better housing and 31% of housed pet owners believed that people should not own pets if they do not have secure housing. Social stigma against unhoused pet owners is present within the community, requiring education to change public perception and guide policy regarding housing for pet owners experiencing homelessness.