Developing Innovative On-Campus Intensives to Enhance Distance-Based Nurse Practitioner Programs.

BACKGROUND: The delivery of higher education has changed dramatically in recent years due to the shift toward distance learning, resulting in a need for creative education delivery methods. This article describes the implementation of on-campus intensives (OCIs) within a revised curricular framework for nurse practitioner (NP) students. Sequential OCIs are designed to promote role transition and professional and clinical development throughout the NP student's coursework. METHOD: The OCIs were established using a core curriculum framework. The development of the OCIs was an extensive process that requires widespread collaboration between faculty and staff. RESULTS: The OCIs have been successfully implemented over multiple semesters. Faculty, staff, and students have suggested benefits along with opportunities for improvement. CONCLUSION: The OCI experiences promote engagement, clinical competency, and professional development to prepare NP students to lead in today's complex and evolving health care system. [J Nurs Educ. 2019;58(9):543-547.].

Helping Babies Breathe implementation in Zanzibar, Tanzania.

AIM: To assess the efficacy and feasibility of implementing Helping Babies Breathe, a neonatal resuscitation programme for resource-limited environments. BACKGROUND: This quality improvement project focused on training midwives on Helping Babies Breathe to address high rates of neonatal mortality secondary to birth asphyxia. METHODS: The convenience sample was 33 midwives in Zanzibar, Tanzania. The train-the-trainer strategy with repeated measures design was used to assess knowledge and skills at 3 time points. Observations were completed during "real-time" deliveries, and a focused interview generated feedback regarding satisfaction and sustainability. RESULTS: Knowledge scores and resuscitation skills significantly improved and were sustained, P < .05. Of the 62 birth observations, 19% needed intervention. All were appropriately resuscitated and survived. CONCLUSION: Results indicate that participants retained knowledge and skills and used them in clinical practice. Observations demonstrated that participants took appropriate actions when presented with a baby who was not breathing.

The long-term effects of prenatal nicotine exposure on neurologic development.

A large body of documented evidence has found that smoking during pregnancy is harmful to both the mother and the fetus. Prenatal exposure to nicotine in various forms alters neurologic development in experimental animals and may increase the risk for neurologic conditions in humans. There is a positive association between maternal smoking and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS); however, the connection between nicotine addiction, depression, attention disorders, and learning and behavior problems in humans is not straightforward. Nicotine's action on the production and function of neurotransmitters makes it a prime suspect in the pathology of these diseases. Nicotine accentuates neurotransmitter function in adults but desensitizes these functions in prenatally exposed infants and children. This desensitization causes an abnormal response throughout the lifespan. Furthermore, nicotine use by adolescents and adults can alleviate some of the symptoms caused by these neurotransmitter problems while they increase the risk for nicotine addiction. Although nicotine replacement drugs are used by pregnant women, there is no clear indication that they improve outcomes during pregnancy, and they may add to the damage that occurs to the developing neurologic system in the fetus. Understanding the effects of nicotine exposure is important in providing safe care for pregnant women, children, and families and for developing appropriate smoking cessation programs during pregnancy.