Advancing the practice of nursing through specialty fellowship development for pediatric nurse practitioners.

Fellowship training for physicians has historically been a training model for physicians to specialize their practice and develop research skills following medical school and residency. Advanced practice registered nurses, specifically nurse practitioners (NPs) practice in primary care, acute care, and specialty settings across the lifespan. Fellowship programs have emerged as a way for NPs to specialize their practice and meet the needs of an expanding health care system. This article describes the design, implementation, and outcomes of two similar yet distinct specialty NP fellowship programs: one in Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics and one in Pediatric Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Training nurses in a competency framework to support adults with epilepsy and intellectual disability: the EpAID cluster RCT.

BACKGROUND: People with an intellectual (learning) disability (ID) and epilepsy have an increased seizure frequency, higher frequencies of multiple antiepileptic drug (AED) use and side effects, higher treatment costs, higher mortality rates and more behavioural problems than the rest of the population with epilepsy. The introduction of nurse-led care may lead to improvements in outcome for those with an ID and epilepsy; however, this has not been tested in a definitive clinical trial. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether or not ID nurses, using a competency framework developed to optimise nurse management of epilepsy in people with an ID, can cost-effectively improve clinical and quality-of-life outcomes in the management of epilepsy compared with treatment as usual. DESIGN: Cluster-randomised two-arm trial. SETTING: Community-based secondary care delivered by members of community ID teams. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were adults aged 18-65 years with an ID and epilepsy under the care of a community ID team and had had at least one seizure in the 6 months before the trial. INTERVENTIONS: The experimental intervention was the Learning Disability Epilepsy Specialist Nurse Competency Framework. This provides guidelines describing a structure and goals to support the delivery of epilepsy care and management by ID-trained nurses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was the seizure severity scale from the Epilepsy and Learning Disabilities Quality of Life questionnaire. Measures of mood, behaviour, AED side effects and carer strain were also collected. A cost-utility analysis was undertaken along with a qualitative examination of carers' views of participants' epilepsy management. RESULTS: In total, 312 individuals were recruited into the study from 17 research clusters. Using an intention-to-treat analysis controlling for baseline individual-level and cluster-level variables there was no significant difference in seizure severity score between the two arms. Altogether, 238 complete cases were included in the non-imputed primary analysis. Analyses of the secondary outcomes revealed no significant differences between arms. A planned subgroup analysis identified a significant interaction between treatment arm and level of ID. There was a suggestion in those with mild to moderate ID that the competency framework may be associated with a small reduction in concerns over seizure severity (standard error 2.005, 95% confidence interval -0.554 to 7.307; p = 0.092). However, neither subgroup showed a significant intervention effect individually. Family members' perceptions of nurses' management depended on the professional status of the nurses, regardless of trial arm. Economic analysis suggested that the competency framework intervention was likely to be cost-effective, primarily because of a reduction in the costs of supporting participants compared with treatment as usual. LIMITATIONS: The intervention could not be delivered blinded. Treatment as usual varied widely between the research sites. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, for adults with an ID and epilepsy, the framework conferred no clinical benefit compared with usual treatment. The economic analysis suggested that there may be a role for the framework in enhancing the cost-effectiveness of support for people with epilepsy and an ID. Future research could explore the specific value of the competency framework for those with a mild to moderate ID and the potential for greater long-term benefits arising from the continuing professional development element of the framework. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN96895428. FUNDING: This trial was funded by the NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 22, No. 10. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Evaluación clínica objetiva y estructurada (ECOE) en la maestría de Enfermería Ginecobstétrica y Perinatal: una sistematización de la experiencia / Objective and structured clinical evaluation (ECOE) in the masters of Gyneco-Obstetrical and Perinatal Nursing: a systematization of experience / Avaliação clínica objetiva e estruturada (ECOE) em Enfermagem gynecobstetric e Perinatal mestre: experiência sistematizar

ResumenEn busca de la excelencia profesional, la maestría en Enfermería Ginecológica, Obstétrica y Perinatal de la Universidad de Costa Rica, se mantiene a la vanguardia respecto de los procesos de enseñanza y aprendizaje. La inclusión de la simulación clínica forma parte de estas innovaciones educativas desde el año 2012; sin embargo esta es la primera vez que se incluye los procesos evaluativos de tipo ECOES los cuales, en experiencias internacionales, han demostrado pertinencia en el cumplimiento de los objetivos de enseñanza. Esta experiencia se sistematiza, según los cinco tiempos que Óscar Jara establece en su libro Para sistematizar experiencias, con el objetivo de definir la pertinencia del ECOE en cuanto a cumplir los objetivos de aprendizaje del curso. La profesora del curso y la autora recopilaron la experiencia en un diario de registro que incluye la elaboración de los escenarios, y la creación de las rubricas de evaluación. Además las estaciones fueron grabadas. La evaluación se llevó a cabo con la totalidad de estudiantes matriculados, en el curso de Enfermería Ginecoobstétrica y Perinatal I. Se estableció tres estaciones que permitirían evaluar aspectos teóricos, habilidades técnicas y sociales en la atención de las personas. Además, se creó rúbricas de evaluación, basadas en guías clínicas procedimentales y en protocolos de atención de la seguridad social costarricense. Se concluye que la experiencia demuestra clara pertinencia de los ECOEs, para evaluar la aplicación de conocimientos teóricos y habilidades psicomotoras, sociales y de comunicación en estudiantes que cursan la maestría y evidencia su preparación para continuar con los niveles más complejos de la carrera.

AbstractIn search of professional excellence, the master's degree in Gynecological, Obstetrical and Perinatal Nursing at the University of Costa Rica remains at the forefront of teaching and learning processes. The inclusion of clinical simulation is part of these educational innovations since 2012. However, this is the first time that includes ECOES evaluation processes which, in international experiences, have demonstrated relevance in the fulfillment of teaching objectives. This experience is systematized, according to the five times that Oscar Jara establishes in his book. To systematize experiences, with the objective of defining the relevance of the ECOE in terms of meeting the learning objectives of the course. The course teacher and the author collected the experience in a log diary that includes the elaboration of the scenarios, and the creation of the evaluation rubrics. In addition, the stations were recorded. The evaluation was carried out with all the enrolled students, in the course of Gyneco-Obstetric and Perinatal Nursing I. Three stations were established that would allow to evaluate theoretical aspects, technical and social skills in the attention of the people. In addition, evaluation rubrics were created, based on procedural clinical guidelines and Costa Rican social security care protocols. It is concluded that the experience shows a clear relevance of the ECOEs, to evaluate the application of theoretical knowledge and psychomotor, social and communication skills in students who are masters and evidence their preparation to continue with the most complex levels of the career.

ResumoProcurando por excelência profissional, especialização em Enfermagem Ginecológica, Obstétrica e Perinatal mestre da Universidade da Costa Rica, continua na vanguarda no que diz respeito ao ensino e aprendizagem. Incluindo simulação clínica faz parte dessas inovações educacionais desde 2012; no entanto esta é a primeira vez que tais processos de avaliação que incluem ECOES em experiências internacionais têm mostrado relevância no cumprimento dos objectivos de ensino. Esta experiência é sistematizado como cinco vezes Óscar Jara afirma em seu livro de sistematizar experiências, com o objetivo de definir a relevância da OSCE na prossecução dos objectivos de aprendizagem do curso. Professor do Curso e autor reuniu experiência em um diário de bordo, que inclui o desenvolvimento de cenários e criando rubricas de avaliação. Além disso estações foram registrados. A avaliação foi realizada com todos os alunos inscritos no curso e Enfermagem Gynecoobstetric Perinatal I três estações que permitem avaliar competências teóricas, técnicas e sociais para lidar com pessoas foi estabelecida. Além disso, as rubricas de avaliação com base em diretrizes clínicas e protocolos processuais atenção da segurança social da Costa Rica foi criado. Concluise que a experiência mostra clara relevância de ECOES para avaliar a aplicação de conhecimentos e psicomotoras competências teóricas, habilidades sociais e de comunicação em estudantes perseguir mestrado e preparar provas para avançar para níveis mais complexos da corrida.

Reducing barriers to nursing certification: an analysis of perceptions and impact of PNCB's No Pass, No Pay Program.

The number of board-certified RNs in the United States continues to increase, but cost and fear of failure inhibit many from seeking certification. In 2009, the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board developed a no-risk program called No Pass, No Pay (NPNP) for its Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN®) exam. In 2012, 49% of the 2299 nurses earning CPN certification did so through NPNP. This article explores program structure, successes, and findings from 2011 stakeholder surveys of NPNP hospital leaders, NPNP program facilitators, and nurses who attained CPN certification through NPNP. Aspects of NPNP may prove applicable to other certification boards.

[Future nursing opportunities - professionalisation and restructuring of scope of duties]. / Zukunftschance Pflege - von der Professionalisierung zur Restrukturierung des Aufgabenfeldes.

Demographic trends and expected changes regarding future health care require substantial structural reforms of the German health care system. It is generally assumed that nursing education and training as well as curriculum development and also the competencies of professional nurses must adapt to the changing demands of health care supply. Moreover, the expected shortage of general practitioners demands solutions for easing their growing workload, which will include the assignment of certain services to health care professionals which perform these services autonomously or in behalf of the practitioner. Consequently, nurses have to expand their scope of skills and expertise. In order to prepare nurses for their new and extended roles, different curricula for professional and academic educational programmes are currently developed. If nurses are to perform additional tasks, it is essential to delegate some of their regular duties to health care assistants. Consequently the latter must be included in the reform process since their current range of duties will be modified as well.