The realistic job preview as a partial remedy for nursing attrition and shortages: the role of nursing schools.

There is often a disconnect between what individuals expect from a chosen profession or organization and what that profession or organization can realistically deliver. In this research, the authors consider the extent to which those considering a nursing career would benefit from advance information, generally described as a "realistic job preview," from human resources professionals. Results of a survey of faculty nurses--those educating aspiring nurses--suggest that such a need exists. Implications for the initial entry into nursing education, continuing education, and retention of nurses that may be of value to policy makers and those involved in the education and development of nurses are presented.

Cohesion and performance in groups: a meta-analytic clarification of construct relations.

Previous meta-analytic examinations of group cohesion and performance have focused primarily on contextual factors. This study examined issues relevant to applied researchers by providing a more detailed analysis of the criterion domain. In addition, the authors reinvestigated the role of components of cohesion using more modern meta-analytic methods and in light of different types of performance criteria. The results of the authors' meta-analyses revealed stronger correlations between cohesion and performance when performance was defined as behavior (as opposed to outcome), when it was assessed with efficiency measures (as opposed to effectiveness measures), and as patterns of team workflow became more intensive. In addition, and in contrast to B. Mullen and C. Copper's (1994) meta-analysis, the 3 main components of cohesion were independently related to the various performance domains. Implications for organizations and future research on cohesion and performance are discussed.

Strategic analyses in nursing schools: attracting, educating, and graduating more nursing students: part I--strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis.

The shortage of nurses in the United States remains a persistent problem. Faced with this reality, nursing programs in colleges and universities continue to struggle to expand enrollment levels to meet the spiraling demand. This research uses familiar tools in strategic management: the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis and stakeholder analysis as initial steps to draw more students to the profession of nursing. In a 2-round modified Delphi survey, chief administrators of schools of nursing identify the main SWOT of schools of nursing and the important internal and external stakeholders that influence nursing school success. The authors of the research suggest ways to use that knowledge to increase the enrollment level of nursing students. Part I of this research focuses on the SWOT analyses.

Strategic analyses in nursing schools: attracting, educating, and graduating more nursing students: part 2-stakeholder analysis.

As mentioned in part I of our research, the shortage of nurses in the United States remains a persistent problem. Faced with this reality, nursing programs in colleges and universities continue to struggle to expand enrollment levels to meet the spiraling demand. In this part II of our research, we used another familiar tool in strategic management, stakeholder analysis, as one of the steps to discover ways to capitalize on stakeholder relations in a way that draws more students to the profession of nursing. As was the case in part I of our 2-part research, in a 2-round modified Delphi survey, chief administrators of schools of nursing identify those groups who are most influenced by schools of nursing and those groups who have the most influence over schools of nursing.