A Pilot of a Brief Positive Parenting Program on Children Newly Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Disruptive behaviors can be of comparable or greater concern to parents than the core symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Provision of effective interventions to address these behaviors within the first year of initial diagnosis holds great potential for improving the child's, parents', and family's functioning. We piloted a four-session, manualized, positive parenting program on 21 parents of newly diagnosed children ages 2 through 12 years using a mixed methods design. Seventy-five percent of parents completed four sessions, with 100% reporting high levels of service satisfaction. Preliminary results indicated clinically and statistically significant reductions in child maladaptive behaviors, as well as improvements in parental and family functioning. Practitioners and parents identified several potential implementation adaptations, including additional sessions to focus on ASD education and real-time parent-child interactions. Taken as a whole, these data suggest that a brief positive parenting intervention may be a feasible way to improve child, parent, and family functioning during the first year of ASD diagnosis. Findings point to the need for additional research to determine treatment efficacy and to assist with the identification of moderators and mediators of effects.

Psychosocial Outcomes of Participating in Pediatric Diabetes Camp.

OBJECTIVE: There are approximately 18,400 youth who are newly diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in the United States each year. Because of the potential for hypoglycemia, frequent need to monitor blood glucose, and other medical care associated with T1DM, children may not be able to participate in the typical summer camp experience. The aims of this study were (1) to evaluate the impact of camp on the child's attitude toward their illness, (2) to evaluate the child's confidence in self-care management of their diabetes, (3) to assess the child's perception and satisfaction with the camp experience, and (4) to evaluate the perception of camp experience by the parents. DESIGN AND SAMPLE: Thirty-eight parent-child dyads participated in a pretest, posttest quasi-experimental research study evaluating the benefits of a camping experience for the child with T1DM. RESULTS: Pre- and postcamp comparisons revealed improved attitude toward illness and improved self-efficacy after the camping experience. CONCLUSION: Results of the study support the psychosocial benefits of a camping experience for children with T1DM. Findings from the study can be used by health care providers as evidence to support the benefits of sending children with T1DM to residential summer camp.

Views of the United States healthcare system: Findings from documentary analysis of an interprofessional education course.

As the healthcare system of the United States becomes more complex, collaboration among health professionals is becoming an essential aspect in improving the health of individuals and populations. An interprofessional education course entitled "Health Care System and Health Promotion" was developed to allow health profession students to work and learn together about issues related to healthcare delivery, health promotion, and the effect of policy issues on key stakeholders in the system. A qualitative document analysis research design was used to evaluate the effect of this interprofessional course on students' views of the current healthcare system of the United States. Fifty-nine student articles were analysed using document analysis. Health professions represented in the sample included occupational therapy, physical therapy, athletic training, nursing, and radiation therapy, nuclear medicine technology, and magnetic resonance imaging. Eight themes were identified including: increased personal awareness, the need for a system change, concern for access, affordability of healthcare, vision for future practice role, need for quality care, the value of interprofessional collaboration (IPC), and the importance of disease prevention. The results of the study suggest that healthcare education can benefit from the integration of Interprofessional Education (IPE) courses into their curriculum especially when teaching content common to all healthcare professions such as healthcare systems and health promotion.

Silver linings.

The purpose of this interpretive phenomenological study was to gain a better understanding of the experiences of 11 mothers of preschool children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Mothers were interviewed three times over a 6 week period. Interviews were analyzed using interpretive methods. This manuscript highlights one particular theme-a positive perspective mothers described as the "silver lining." This "silver lining" represents optimism despite the adversities associated with parenting a child with ASD. A deeper understanding of this side of mothering children with ASD may help health care providers improve rapport, communication, and result in more authentic family centered care.

Effectiveness of high-fidelity simulation for pediatric staff nurse education.

A pre-test post-test control group design was used to compare the effectiveness of high-fidelity simulation (HFS) with traditional static mannequins as a teaching strategy for pediatric staff nurse education. Thirty-three nurses from a metropolitan pediatric Magnet hospital completed the study that evaluated knowledge retention, skill performance, and team confidence during the American Heart Association's (AHA) Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition and Stabilization (PEARS) course. Written exams, competency and skill performance measures, and the Mayo High Performance Teamwork Scale (MHPTS) were used to compare the outcomes between the two groups. Results indicated that knowledge retention was maintained, skill performance improved, and teamwork performance scores increased in the experimental group. This study provides a foundation supporting the use of HFS as an effective teaching modality when educating pediatric staff nurses in the identification and intervention of the deteriorating pediatric patient.

Deaths From Drug Overdoses What School Nurses Need to Know.

Drug overdose deaths in pre-teen and adolescent students have risen over the past several years, causing increasing concerns in our society, along with concerns over the rise in availability of more counterfeit pills and illegally manufactured fentanyl. School nurses interface regularly with pre-teen and adolescent students and therefore are in a position to recognize students at risk for illicit drug use and provide important education to students, staff, parents, and the community. The purpose of this article is to briefly discuss risk factors for opioid misuse and to provide recommendations for interventions school nurses can use, including collaboration with other school and community leaders, to help prevent opioid overdose and death in pre-teen and adolescence.

The Role of the School Nurse in Addressing Climate-Associated Illnesses: Heat.

Extremely hot or humid days are anticipated to continue, occur more often, and intensify over time. School-age children are especially vulnerable to extreme heat. The primary acute health effects of heat on children can range from heat exhaustion to heatstroke. The purpose of this article is to raise awareness of the impact some acute heat-related illnesses have on school-age children's health and to provide school nurses with information on the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses as well as prevention tips to share with parents and school administrators. This is the fifth article in a series meant to inform school nurses about illnesses linked to the climate and provide them with the tools they need to safeguard children' health.

"Make-up" Examinations: Comparison of on-Time and Late Examination Student Scores.

BACKGROUND: Nursing faculty may have concerns about unfair advantages and inflated examination grades when students take an examination late. PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to compare make-up examination scores with on-time examination scores to determine whether scores were higher in students who took an examination late. METHODS: A descriptive, comparative study using retrospective examination scores from a large nursing program was analyzed. Late examination scores were compared with the student's individual on-time examination average and the class's average of on-time examination scores. RESULTS: A total of 156 examinations were taken late. There were no statistically significant differences between students' late examination scores when compared with the student's on-time examinations or the class average of the examination. CONCLUSION: Students do not appear to gain an advantage when taking an examination late. Findings may assist faculty in developing policies for taking make-up examinations.

Using simulation to teach child injury prevention to mothers recovering from substance abuse.

A paucity of literature regarding strategies for injury prevention in children for mothers with substance abuse exists. Substance abuse propagates distractions such as inattention; therefore, these mothers should be targeted for injury prevention education. A quasi-experimental design compared the results of traditional classroom teaching with an innovative home hazard simulation activity to teach injury prevention to mothers recovering from substance abuse. Study results identified a need to employ multiple modalities when teaching injury prevention. Information obtained from this research suggests a need for continued study and adaptation of current teaching strategies for injury prevention education in other high-risk populations.

Minor Skin Injuries at School: The Role of the School Nurse.

School nurses routinely provide simple wound care for minor injuries in the school health office. Simple wound care is centered on the principles of moist wound care and only requires a few supplies to be on hand. This article outlines the steps for simple wound care for minor abrasions, cuts, blisters, and burns. Recommendations for referral of more complicated wounds are also provided. Student encounters for minor wound care can also be used by school nurses to provide education on first aid and to teach students, parents, and caregivers about infection prevention and control of the wound.

Evaluation of Dog Presence as a Therapeutic Classroom Intervention.

BACKGROUND: The American Association of Colleges of Nursing has called on nurse educators to increase mental health support for nursing students. Animal visit programs reduce stress, anxiety, and negative mental health feelings; however, most are intermittent and occasional. This pilot study explored the feasibility, acceptability, and outcomes of integrating a therapy dog into the classroom. METHOD: This pretest-posttest, two-group design study included 67 baccalaureate nursing students. Two sections of a course were taught: one section included a therapy dog and one section did not. RESULTS: At the end of the course, participants in the intervention group showed improvement in stress, anxiety, and happiness, whereas participants in the control group did not demonstrate any improvement. Students reported positive feelings and benefits from the presence of the therapy dog. CONCLUSION: Integrating a trained therapy dog into the classroom is both feasible and acceptable, with students identifying positively with the experience. [J Nurs Educ. 2023;62(6):355-358.].

Celiac Disease and Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction: What School Nurses Need to Know.

Abdominal pain and discomfort are common reasons students visit the school health office. Abdominal pain, in children, may be related to gastrointestinal conditions such as celiac disease (CD) or disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBIs). Both CD and DGBIs, formerly known as functional abdominal pain disorders, are both prevalent in the pediatric population. Manifestations, presentation, and management of these disorders overlap and will be reviewed in this article. Due to their chronic nature, school nurses should be aware of both the management and complications associated with CD and DGBIs. Dietary recommendations, including the gluten-free and low-fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAPS) diet, will be presented as part of the management of the disorders.

Common Skin Infections in High School Athletes and the Role of the School Nurse.

Skin infections in high school athletes pose a risk of transmission to other student athletes. Therefore, it is important to promptly identify possible skin infections and refer them to the healthcare provider for treatment so athletes can return to play quickly and with little interruption to the team. Common skin infections include bacterial infections such as Streptococcus and Staphylococcus, viral infections such as herpes simplex and molluscum contagiosum, and fungal infections such as tinea corporis and capitis. The National Federation of State High School Associations provides guidance for the prevention of skin infections as well as return to play guidelines. The school nurse and high school athletic trainer are both healthcare professionals who play a role in preventing, identifying, monitoring, and caring for student athletes who contract skin infections.

Anxiety and Answer-Changing Behavior in Nursing Students.

BACKGROUND: Anxiety in college students, including nursing students, has increased significantly and has been implicated as a cause of lower academic achievement and answer-changing behavior. This study investigated the relationship between student anxiety and answer-changing behaviors. METHOD: One hundred thirty-one nursing students from a large midwestern baccalaureate nursing program were enrolled in a quasiexperimental prospective research study. Data included demographics, analysis of student movement through the examination to identify changed answers, and completion of the PROMIS Short Form version 1.0-Emotional Distress-Anxiety 8a tool. RESULTS: PROMIS anxiety scores did not covary significantly with the rate of answer-changing behaviors including rate of negative changes. CONCLUSION: This study did not identify a relationship between students' answer-changing behavior and anxiety. Future studies should evaluate other characteristics, such as confidence and level of examination preparation, as possible reasons for changing answers. [J Nurs Educ. 2023;62(6):351-354.].

The health care experiences of the preschool child with autism.

It is known that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) visit health care providers (HCPs) more frequently than typically developing peers, and mothers experience barriers in this process. The purpose of this interpretive phenomenological study was to gain a better understanding of a mother's experiences of taking her child with ASD to the HCP. Two themes related to the health care experience of the child surfaced from the study. These themes included feelings that HCPs do not "get" the complexity of caring for the child and marginalization of mothers by the HCP. The need for creation of child-specific profiles emerged from this study.

Staying Ahead of Head Lice: Pediculosis Treatment Updates.

Pediculosis (head lice) infections are one of the more sensitive issues that may involve the school nurse. In the 3- to 11-year-old age group in the United States, head lice infections are common and can elicit anxiety in students, parents, and school personnel. Head lice do not transmit any communicable diseases and therefore exclusion from school and "no nit" policies are not warranted. Treatment and management for head lice include a range of over-the-counter products and prescription topical and oral medications. Nonpharmacologic and alternative treatments do exist; however, many do not have established efficacy studies, and some can be costly. The school nurse plays an integral role in providing education related to treatment and environmental recommendations for families affected by head lice. Through this education, the nurse can also reduce the stigma and anxiety many feel around the subject of head lice infections.

A Longitudinal View of Perceptions of Entering Nursing Practice During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic significantly changed the landscape of health care and transition to practice for new graduates. The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the effects of the pandemic on the first-year experience of new nurses. Method A longitudinal, observational, descriptive study design was used. One hundred eighteen survey links were sent to new bachelor of science in nursing graduates from June 2020 to May 2021, with 56 responses to the first survey. Results Participants indicated the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the new graduate experience, resulted in concern for personal health and safety, and negatively altered preparation for the first year in practice. However, desire to be a nurse and view of nursing remained positive. Conclusion The first year in practice is stressful and challenging. The pandemic posed additional challenges to employers and new graduates. Future research should explore the long-term impact of the pandemic on an already strained nursing workforce. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2022;53(6):256-263.].

Increasing Faculty Resources and Student Capacity Through Shared Faculty Expertise.

BACKGROUND: The ongoing nurse faculty shortage has resulted in a need for schools of nursing to become both innovative and creative in their approach to nursing education. A literature review revealed some schools of nursing across the United States are sharing faculty for undergraduate and pre-licensure nursing programs. PURPOSE: The purpose of this pilot project was to explore the effectiveness of a shared faculty content expert in a live-streamed lecture modality to improve nursing schools' access to high quality specialty content. The feasibility and satisfaction of sharing a course and faculty between two independent schools of nursing were evaluated. METHODS: An online synchronous format was utilized to share a mental health nursing course between two independent schools of nursing. RESULTS: Results indicated that theoretical classroom content and experiences can be shared and delivered synchronously among schools of nursing; however, challenges existed related to scheduling conflicts. Additionally, technology issues were found to negatively impact the student experience at times. CONCLUSION: Given the challenges identified in the project, an asynchronous content delivery modality may be a more advantageous option. Future research is needed to identify ways to mitigate the challenges experienced.

Enhancing the pediatric undergraduate nursing curriculum through simulation.

Pediatric nursing courses have been affected by the increasingly limited amount of clinical placements and experiences for students. Securing clinical sites that provide well-rounded experiences in a limited amount of time is difficult. In addition, "teachable moments" can be lost on a busy unit due to variables outside of the control of the clinical faculty member, leading to a less than positive learning experience for students. A pediatric simulation curriculum was developed for the clinical rotation. This allowed students to begin their clinical experience better prepared and broadened their overall clinical experiences in a limited amount of time.

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children and COVID-19 Infections.

The arrival of SARS-Co-V-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) has brought not only the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic but also the development of a cluster of symptoms known as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Information regarding the long-term implications of COVID-19 infections in children, as well as MIS-C, is scarce and is emerging on an almost daily basis. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the recent literature regarding COVID-19 and MIS-C, a Kawasaki-like inflammatory syndrome that developed in children around the same time the COVID-19 pandemic began. Because the school nurse monitors children across a variety of developmental domains, they are in a unique position to identify changes and notice long-term trends related to the health and development of children who contract both COVID-19 and MIS-C.