Effectiveness of Screen-Based Simulation as a Strategy to Improve Nurse Practitioner Students' Access to Electronic Health Records in Clinical Education.

Learning to use electronic health records is essential for family nurse practitioner students to inform practice and clinical decision-making. Limited access to electronic health records during clinical training can lead to suboptimal use. Academic programs often rely on healthcare organizations to provide opportunities for students to learn electronic health record skills. However, clinical experiences are highly individualized, and students may not have access to electronic health records. Alternatives are needed to develop this critical competency. This study compared self-reported ratings regarding comfort and access to electronic health record documentation between students who participated in screen-based simulation and students who completed traditional clinical experiences with a preceptor during the last 70 hours of clinical training in one family nurse practitioner program. There was a significant difference in electronic health record access between students who participated in simulated versus traditional clinical experiences ( P = .002). There were no significant differences in ratings of comfort using electronic health records between groups. Both groups reported limited access to electronic health records in the first 500 hours of clinical experience. However, students who participated in screen-based simulation reported a quarter-fold increase in electronic health record access during their last 70 hours of clinical training.

Mobilizing nurses to address the opioid misuse epidemic.

BACKGROUND: The opioid epidemic is a major health challenge in the United States. PURPOSE: Members from the American Academy of Nursing joined to write a consensus paper about nurses' role in the opioid epidemic. METHODS: The panel reviewed the history of the opioid epidemic and policies to care for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) and how registered nurses (RNs) and advanced practice nurses (APRNs) could increase care for people with OUD. DISCUSSION: Recommendations are presented to advance policies that empower RNs and APRNs to abate the opioid epidemic. CONCLUSION: Recommendations include (a) advance legislation that supports RNs and APRNs full scope of practice and expands professional role in pain management and addiction prevention; (b) evaluate effective policies that promote RN and APRN care; support federal elimination of X-waiver with state law alignment; (c) sustain the use of nurses in telemedicine; (d) support nursing research on nurse involvement in all aspects of OUD.

The Lived Experience of COVID-19.

This qualitative study examined the essence of living with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We used a phenomenological research design and interviewed 14 individuals ages 18 and older during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data analysis using Colaizzi's method for analysis revealed 2 overarching themes-physical experiences and psychologic/emotional experiences-and 8 subthemes that identify concerns that affect quality of life. The findings provide insights for nurses and health care providers on the experiences of living with COVID-19.

The use of electronic health records in advanced practice nursing education: a scoping review.

Electronic health records are integral to the advanced practice registered nurse role, yet access and training during academic preparation are profoundly limited. Lack of exposure to electronic health records prevents students from becoming fully prepared for the responsibilities of clinical practice and potentially impacts quality of care, patient safety, and communication among patients and providers. This scoping review of 20 articles on electronic health record use in advanced practice registered nursing student education shows significant gaps in current research. Nine articles were classified as research. The remaining 11 were non-research reports of teaching innovations describing the use of simulated electronic health records in graduate nursing education or the use of an electronic health record in interprofessional education activities. Most of the limited research did not use valid and reliable instruments or robust designs, employed disparate approaches and tools to study the phenomenon, and measured low-level outcomes such as student navigation and confidence in using electronic health records. The non-research literature draws attention to the deficits in educational resources, including unaffordable electronic health records for academic use. Although rigorous evidence is lacking, a common theme throughout the reviewed literature was the benefit of simulation to develop electronic health record skills.

The impact of full practice authority on nurse practitioner compensation, collaboration, and billing.

BACKGROUND: Although there is a substantial body of evidence regarding full practice authority's (FPA) effects on health care access and quality, very little research has examined how nurse practitioner (NP) licensure laws affect the status of NPs as clinicians, employees, and leaders in health care organizations. PURPOSE: This study examined whether states' implementation of FPA leads to higher pay, business ownership, assigned patient panel, and billing transparency for NPs' and whether NPs' gains from FPA increase over time in states where FPA has been in effect longer. METHODOLOGY: Data from a nationwide survey of licensed NPs ( N = 5,770) were used to compare NPs' employment conditions between FPA and non-FPA states. After balancing the FPA and non-FPA groups on demographic characteristics (e.g., urbanicity, education), adjusted mean differences in outcomes between the groups were estimated using weighted multivariable regression. RESULTS: Compared with NPs in non-FPA states, NPs in FPA states had higher mean earnings ( p < .05), were more likely to be practice owners or shareholders ( p < .01), and billed a greater percentage of their patient visits under their own National Provider Identifier ( p < .001). Having FPA in place for ≥10 years was associated with greater improvements in conditions of employment compared with having FPA <10 years. CONCLUSIONS: States' adoption of FPA for NPs is associated with improved conditions of employment among NPs. IMPLICATIONS: Untethering NPs from physicians establishes a cascade of modest gains in income and practice ownership that may indicate changes over time. Additional research is needed to determine the trajectory of these increases and if they are consistent.

Implementing computer-based testing in distance education for advanced practice nurses: lessons learned.

A distance education program utilized by graduate nursing students worldwide faces unique problems with testing. This article presents the results of a pilot study on the implementation of computer-based testing at the Frontier Nursing University. A detailed analysis of the evaluative survey completed by students in the pilot study revealed issues of hi-directional respect and trust between faculty and students and technological anxiety among students using computer-based testing.

A checklist for faculty and preceptor to enhance the nurse practitioner student clinical experience.

The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners collaborated to develop a document outlining expectations when establishing clinical experiences for nurse practitioner (NP) students. A literature review explored the beliefs of clinical preceptors and NP faculty in relation to the process of the establishment and completion of successful clinical experiences. From the literature, the development of two guidance checklists addressed the expectations and responsibilities of the NP faculty and clinical preceptor during the clinical placement process. In light of challenges to secure clinical sites for NP students, it is imperative that the clinical placement process is standardized and the communicative pathway between the NP faculty and clinical preceptor improved.

Introduction to four reviews addressing critical topics identified by the 2015 Nurse Practitioner Research Agenda Roundtable: Priorities for policy, workforce, education, and practice.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In 2015, an invitational think tank was convened by the Fellows of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners to update the 2010 Nurse Practitioner (NP) Research Agenda Roundtable. This effort was undertaken to provide guidance for future health care research. The purpose of this article is to introduce the process used for conducting four reviews that address critical topics related to specific research priorities emanating from the 2015 NP Research Agenda Roundtable. The four reviews are published in this issue of Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (JAANP) to address the state of current research relevant to NP policy, workforce, education, and practice. METHODS: This introductory article provides an overview of the systematic process used to evaluate the four topical area. The type of review selected, the search strategy, critical appraisal, data extraction, and data synthesis will be further described in the four review articles. CONCLUSIONS: Four reviews that examine literature regarding specific aims important to NPs will address strengths as well as gaps in the literature. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The knowledge offered by the four reviews has the potential to inform future research, which will benefit NPs and other health care stakeholders.

Effective professional networking.

The reasons for nurse practitioners to develop a professional network are boundless and are likely to change over time. Networking opens doors and creates relationships that support new opportunities, personal development, collaborative research, policy activism, evidence-based practice, and more. Successful professional networking involves shared, mutually beneficial interactions between individuals and/or individuals and groups, regardless of whether it occurs face to face or electronically. This article combines nuggets from the literature with guidance based on the authors' combined experience in networking activities at the local, national, and international levels.

Spirituality and health: perceptions of older women in a rural senior high rise.

The purpose of this study was to examine the essence of spirituality and health in older women living in a rural senior high-rise apartment building. The researchers used a phenomenological research design and interviewed 10 women 65 years of age and older. Data analysis using Colaizzi's (1978) method for analysis revealed three themes-health is functional and provides a sense of wholeness; the relationship with God or a higher power is a personal one; and death is a part of life. The three themes create an essential structure, which influences the way the participants live. These findings provide information for nurses on the spiritual needs of older women and how the experiences of living in a high rise affect spirituality and health.

Shoulder dystocia and postpartum hemorrhage simulations: student confidence in managing these complications.

INTRODUCTION: Simulation is an effective teaching strategy for educating health professionals. However, little is known about the effectiveness of simulations in midwifery education. The purpose of this project was to determine whether the use of high-fidelity simulations for the obstetric emergencies of shoulder dystocia and postpartum hemorrhage increases student confidence in managing these complications. METHODS: The participants were registered nurses enrolled in a graduate midwifery education program in the Southeastern United States. Student confidence in learning to manage shoulder dystocia and postpartum hemorrhage was studied in 2 groups of students. The control group (n = 10) received standard teaching methods consisting of discussion, watching a video, and low-fidelity teaching methods. The intervention group (n = 18) received a high-fidelity simulation learning experience. Student confidence was measured before and after each learning experience using a validated, 8-item, Likert-type scale. RESULTS: In the control group, student confidence did not significantly increase after a classroom discussion or low-fidelity simulation experience. Student confidence increased significantly (P < .01) after the high-fidelity simulation learning experiences. When the differences between the pretest and posttest scores were compared for the control and intervention groups, there was a moderate effect size (0.54) for the intervention group for the shoulder dystocia simulations and a large effect size (1.68) for the postpartum hemorrhage simulations. CONCLUSION: High-fidelity simulations for shoulder dystocia and postpartum hemorrhage significantly increased student confidence in managing these complications.