Evaluating the Effectiveness of Visual Narrative Illustrations Used to Teach Pathophysiology to Undergraduate Nursing Students.

Nursing students and nurses often struggle with understanding pathophysiology concepts. Seventy-five students participated in two phases of an exploratory study that evaluated knowledge of pathophysiology concepts when taught using an innovation known as "visual narrative illustrations" (VNIs). Students taught using VNIs performed significantly better on a knowledge posttest and commented that the VNI humor and visual images helped them learn complex concepts. Used in combination with other teaching strategies, VNIs enhanced knowledge and understanding of pathophysiology concepts.

Factors that contribute to underrecognition of delirium by registered nurses in acute care settings: a scoping review of the literature to explain this phenomenon.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: In order to obtain more information regarding this phenomenon, a scoping review of the literature was undertaken to analyse current research on the recognition of delirium by registered nurses in acute care settings. BACKGROUND: Delirium is often manifested as a sign of an underlying undiagnosed condition that requires immediate intervention and is frequently manifested in acute care settings. Unfortunately, registered nurses often do not recognise delirium and its occurrence goes under-reported. DESIGN/METHODS: Based on six inclusion criteria, a search in numerous databases using terms such as delirium detection, recognition and diagnosis by registered nurses was undertaken. Eight quantitative studies were deemed relevant and analysed for this scoping review. RESULTS: Seven major categories emerged: the fluctuating nature of delirium, the impact of delirium education on its recognition, communication barriers, inadequate use of delirium assessment tools, lack of conceptual understanding of delirium, delirium as a burden and the likeness of delirium and dementia. A brief summary of the findings in each category is reported here. CONCLUSIONS: The scoping review revealed that delirium remains underrecognised by registered nurses, which potentially contributes to reduced quality of nursing care for clients experiencing this condition. Further research on delirium and the processes that registered nurses use to recognise it is timely and will facilitate the development of evidence-based interventions to manage it. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: While acute care registered nurses have historically reported dramatic changes in cognitive and neuro-biological functions in ill older adults, the literature highlighted in this scoping review revealed the following: (1) the need for further research to validate delirium assessment tools and, (2) the need for education and training for registered nurses on the use of these assessment tools to promote early recognition and thereby decrease the incidence of delirium in older adults.

Evaluating the effectiveness of a clinical tracking system for undergraduate nursing students.

AIM: This study evaluated one commercially available clinical tracking system to determine its appropriateness for use within a school of nursing. BACKGROUND: Collecting documentation during undergraduate clinical experiences (e.g., type of patient care experience, diagnosis, skills completed, competencies met) is a challenging undertaking for students and faculty. Little research has been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of clinical tracking systems. METHOD: A convenience sample of students and faculty completed an end-of-course survey that measured their satisfaction with the clinical tracking system. RESULTS: Statistically significant (p < .05) differences were found between students and faculty in several areas: utility, technical issues, capacity to identify regulatory body achieved competencies, and usefulness of records generated.There was also a statistically significant (p < .01) difference in overall satisfaction, with faculty much more satisfied with the system than students. CONCLUSION: The clinical tracking system was found by faculty and students to be user friendly. Faculty overall were more satisfied with the system than students.

Teaching psychomotor skills to beginning nursing students using a web-enhanced approach: a quasi-experimental study.

To begin to address the problem of psychomotor skills deficiencies observed in many new graduate nurses, a skills laboratory course was developed using a web-enhanced approach. In this quasi-experimental study, the control group attended weekly lectures, observed skill demonstrations by faculty, practiced skills, and were evaluated on skill performance. The experimental group learned course content using a web-enhanced approach. This allowed students to learn course material outside of class at times convenient for them, thus they had more time during class to perfect psychomotor skills. The experimental group performed better on the final cognitive examination. Students in the traditional sections were more satisfied with the course, however. It was concluded that a web-enhanced approach for teaching psychomotor skills can provide a valid alternative to traditional skills laboratory formats.

Use of Visual Narrative Illustrations to Teach Pathophysiology Concepts to Nursing Students.

BACKGROUND: The care of patients with acute and chronic illnesses requires nurses to fully understand the underlying pathophysiology associated with disease processes. Although mastering a pathophysiology course is a strong predictor of student success in nursing programs, it is a course with which students and new nurses most often struggle. METHOD: The authors describe a teaching innovation--visual narrative illustration (VNI)--and demonstrate how VNIs are used to teach complex pathophysiology concepts to nursing students. RESULTS: The consistent positive feedback regarding the VNIs that have already been implemented in the pathophysiology course prompted the authors to systematically and formally study the impact of this innovative approach on student learning and knowledge retention. CONCLUSION: Use of VNI is an innovative teaching strategy that has the potential to augment other course materials and bridge some of the knowledge gaps that challenge nursing students from fully understanding pathophysiologic concepts.

Web-enhanced and face-to-face classroom instructional methods: effects on course outcomes and student satisfaction.

Web-enhanced courses are increasingly popular for providing rich learning experiences and greater flexibility in achieving course outcomes. As technology emerges as an adjunct to face-to-face teaching methodologies, nursing educators are compelled to determine to what extent students are able to meet course objectives when technology is used to enhance the classroom experience. Graduate nursing students enrolled in face-to-face and web-enhanced sections of a course were evaluated on technical ability, learning style, learning outcomes, and course satisfaction. There was no difference on technical ability and learning outcomes. Overall, students in the web-enhanced section were more satisfied with the course, and reported advantages such as greater flexibility in scheduling, less travel, and greater independence and self-pacing of content. The data suggest that web-enhanced courses can provide a valid alternative to more traditional face-to-face classroom formats, and may remove some of the barriers to pursuing advanced nursing degrees.

Growing an innovative faculty-driven management team in a distance-delivery NP education program: thinking outside the box to meet the nursing education and health needs of northern British Columbia, Canada.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to describe how one university in northern British Columbia (BC) dealt with the issues of nurse practitioner (NP) program administration in light of its geographic context. DATA SOURCES: Reflections of the management team during the first 2 years of implementation of the faculty-driven approach. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience reflects family NP (FNP) faculty shortages internationally, the challenge of attracting qualified candidates to centers outside the urban mainstream in today's competitive academic job market, as well as the need to develop NP faculty capacity in BC, Canada. The team management approach evolved organically, based on program need, available human resources, and the culture of the faculty. The team approach for program leadership and coordination is a good fit for this NP program. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Implementing the team management approach has allowed the continuation of an NP program situated in a northern Canadian community that is consistent with the program's unique focus in preparing NPs to practice in often-underserved northern, rural, remote, and Aboriginal settings. While the approach provides for continuation of a quality program, it also ensures the availability of graduates well prepared to take up practice challenges in rural and northern communities.

Cross-cultural reliability of the Health Perception Index and the Health Control and Competence Index.

PURPOSE: To test the reliability of two Spanish instruments to measure (a) health perceptions, and (b) health control and competence. DESIGN: Triangulated methodology used with two different Latino populations. METHODS: Preliminary qualitative data were collected in Mexico. Based on themes from Mexico, data were collected from 44 men (Dominican Republic, n=24 ; Peru, n=20) with two instruments, the Health Competence and Control Index and the Health Perception Index. Alpha reliability estimates were obtained. FINDINGS: Results of the study confirmed reliability of the instruments in one of the Latino populations, consistent with understanding of the constructs found in the Mexican study. Reliability was low in the second Latino population. CONCLUSIONS: Although results from this study are useful, further translation and research procedures are needed to address the many differences among ethnically similar groups and to further strengthen internal and external validity of instruments designed to assess Latino men's perceptions of health and their control over health.