Changes in Posttraumatic Growth After a Virtual Contemplative Intervention During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe the effects of an intervention called "Compassion & Growth Workshops" on reported posttraumatic growth (PTG) using the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory-Expanded (PTGI-X). BACKGROUND: Few studies measure the impact of interventions, such as contemplative practices, on nurse PTG. METHODS: We delivered a series of three 2-hour microretreats to nurses and advanced practice nurses and measured their impact on PTG scores. Using multivariate logistic regression, we identified cofactors predictive of 25% overall improvement on the PTGI-X. RESULTS: Overall PTG increased among participants, with the greatest improvement in relating to others, new possibilities, and personal strength. Posttraumatic growth improved as workshop attendance increased; nurses providing direct patient care also benefitted the most. CONCLUSIONS: Contemplative interventions can substantively improve PTG. This may be particularly relevant for coping with COVID pandemic stress among nurses on the frontlines and for healthcare leaders seeking to strengthen psychological support within their teams and reform the workplace environment.

High-Fidelity Simulation in an Undergraduate Ambulatory Care Nursing Course.

For a new ambulatory care nursing course in an undergraduate baccalaureate program, a standardized patient simulation was created to support the clinical component of the course. The goals were for students to enhance their critical thinking skills, apply the nursing process to an ambulatory setting, apply learned skills to the non-acute care setting, and increase their confidence. The simulation format included three stations: skills refresher, telehealth, and clinic. Volunteers from faculty, clinical preceptors, and nursing management acted as clients for the mock clinical settings. Feedback was positive and supported this simulation as an educational option.

Ambulatory Care Simulation: A Collaboration Between MSN and BSN Students.

BACKGROUND: A university school of nursing initiated a pilot project to include Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) students in two existing Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) student scenarios. The result was a valuable collaboration among the student learners. METHOD: Using a Zoom platform, students were introduced to their patient in a telehealth scenario. Students then encountered the same patient in an urgent care setting. The BSN student assessed the patient, then reported to the MSN student. The MSN student provided feedback and treatment orders. Individual BSN and MSN student pairs debriefed immediately after their scenarios and again at the end with other students and faculty. RESULTS: Evaluation was conducted using an adaptation of the Modified Simulation Evaluation Tool (SET-M) and free-text questions developed by nursing faculty. Both SET-M responses and written comments indicated students were satisfied with the simulation experience, and students' confidence and skills in communication and collaboration improved. CONCLUSION: This simulation was beneficial for both MSN and BSN students and will become an ongoing addition to the simulations. [J Nurs Educ. 2021;60(5):293-297.].

Ambulatory care education: Preparing nurses for the future of healthcare.

In the current healthcare environment, ambulatory care nursing is increasingly recognized as an efficient and effective way of collaborating with clients to improve health outcomes and to focus on prevention. Nursing skills in ambulatory care are both valuable and necessary. However, few undergraduate nursing programs provide content on ambulatory care or significant clinical experience outside the context of an acute care setting. To meet this gap in education, a baccalaureate undergraduate course in ambulatory care nursing was created to address the growing need for RNs in this field. In collaboration with affiliated healthcare systems, this course provides the knowledge and skills needed to enable new RNs to enter this challenging and rapidly changing specialty.