Perspectives of Nurses Pursuing Doctoral Degrees in Georgia: Implications for Recruitment.

BACKGROUND: Increasing the number of nurses with doctorates is a goal of the nursing profession. The Georgia Nursing Leadership Coalition developed a survey to understand the perspectives of nurses pursuing doctoral degrees in Georgia to improve recruitment and retention strategies. METHOD: A 26-item online survey was distributed to all students enrolled in Georgia-based doctoral programs in nursing in spring 2014. RESULTS: One hundred fifty responses were received (54% response rate). Most students first seriously considered doctoral education during their master's programs or more than 5 years into practice. For most, obtaining a doctoral degree was a personal life goal. Work-life balance was the most significant barrier. CONCLUSION: Recruitment of nurses to doctoral programs should focus on messaging, timing, and highlighting the unique aspects of programs. Schools should work to reduce barriers. Understanding students' perspectives of doctoral education in nursing can improve recruitment strategies and increase the number of nurses graduating with doctorates in Georgia. [J Nurs Educ. 2017;56(8):466-470.].

Developing PhD Nurse Scientists: Do Bachelor of Science in Nursing Honors Programs Help?

BACKGROUND: The critical need for more nurses with research doctoral degrees to replace vacancies among retiring nursing faculty and nurse administrators is identified. The Future of Nursing report recommends that the number of nurses with PhD degrees double by 2020. METHOD: Encouraging nursing students to begin doctoral education early in their careers is essential to meeting this goal now and in the future. One method to promote early enrollment into doctoral education is participation in a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) honors program. We describe the recruitment and application process, mentor selection, scholarly activities, and publication of final manuscripts for one such program. RESULTS: The success of one BSN honors program in enabling graduation with university honors and encouraging enrollment and graduation with doctoral degrees is described. CONCLUSIONS: The development of more BSN Honors programs and enhancement of activities of current programs are recommended. [J Nurs Educ. 2016;55(10):579-582.].

S.O.S. (STUDENTS' OPTIMAL SUCCESS): A MODEL FOR INSTITUTIONAL ACTION TO SUPPORT MINORITY NURSING STUDENTS.

BACKGROUND: Success of minority students in higher education is an issue of great relevance today, as the changing United States demographic necessitates that programs in higher education afford success across cultural groups. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine thematic concepts of academic success as perceived by current nursing students in 2 entry-level nursing programs, and to propose a theoretical model to maximize the success of minority students. METHOD: Data were collected from 31 students enrolled in two registered nursing (RN) programs (baccalaureate and associate) at separate urban academic institutions in the Midwestern region of the United States. Two opened-ended questions were asked from the students. Question 1 asked, "What has helped you be most successful in pursuing your nursing degree at your school?" Question 2 asked, "What could be done to help make your college education more meaningful and/or less stressful?" RESULTS: Key factors of institutional commitment, communication of expectations, academic, social and financial support,feedback and involvement were identified as factors to students' optimal success. CONCLUSION: This data resulted in development of a theoretical model that can serve a framework for the success of minority nursing students.

Systematic Review: Bridging the Gap in RPN-to-RN Transitions.

PURPOSE: To review the evidence examining the influences of successful education and professional role transition for registered practical nurses (RPNs) pursuing a baccalaureate degree in nursing (BScN) and registered nurse (RN) licensure through RPN-to-RN bridging programs. DESIGN: Systematic review of papers published between 1995 and 2014 that evaluated students' education and professional role transitions from RPN to RN. METHODS: Thirty-nine papers were selected that observed or studied the change or transition in designation from RPN to RN, or its equivalent, through bridging programs and analyzed thematically according to Meleis, Sawyer, Im, Hilfinger Messias, and Schumacher's transition model. FINDINGS: Personal, community, and social conditions related to preparation for entry, program enrolment, and postgraduate clinical integration influence successful education and professional role transitions for RPN-to-RN bridging students. CONCLUSIONS: Providing key transition supports may enhance the potential for successful student transition into and throughout a bridging program, but further research is necessary to enhance this understanding and to recommend best practices for optimizing students' success. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The evidence from this review identifies facilitators and barriers to successful education and professional role transition for RPN-to-RN bridging students, and identifies important considerations for future research.

Enhancing formal educational and in-service training programs in rural Rwanda: a partnership among the public sector, a nongovernmental organization, and academia.

Global disparities in the distribution, specialization, diversity, and competency of the health workforce are striking. Countries with fewer health professionals have poorer health outcomes compared with countries that have more. Despite major gains in health indicators, Rwanda still suffers from a severe shortage of health professionals.This article describes a partnership launched in 2005 by Rwanda's Ministry of Health with the U.S. nongovernmental organization Partners In Health and with Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital. The partnership has expanded to include the Faculty of Medicine and the School of Public Health at the National University of Rwanda and other Harvard-affiliated academic medical centers. The partnership prioritizes local ownership and-with the ultimate goals of strengthening health service delivery and achieving health equity for poor and underserved populations-it has helped establish new or strengthen existing formal educational programs (conferring advanced degrees) and in-service training programs (fostering continuing professional development) targeting the local health workforce. Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital have also benefited from the partnership, expanding the opportunities for training and research in global health available to their faculty and trainees.The partnership has enabled Rwandan health professionals at partnership-supported district hospitals to acquire new competencies and deliver better health services to rural and underserved populations by leveraging resources, expertise, and growing interest in global health within the participating U.S. academic institutions. Best practices implemented during the partnership's first nine years can inform similar formal educational and in-service training programs in other low-income countries.

A comparison of professional value development among pre-licensure nursing students in associate degree, diploma, and bachelor of science in nursing programs.

AIM: The aim of the study was to compare the development of professionalism in pre-licensure nursing students in associate degree, diploma, and baccalaureate programs. BACKGROUND: Concerns have been raised about whether professional values to guide nursing practice are consistently instilled within nursing education programs. METHOD: Degrees of professionalism were operationally measured by the 26-item Nurses Professional Values Scale-Revised (NPVS-R) (Weis & Schank, 2009) in a convenience sample. RESULTS: ANOVA analysis (p = 0.0003) and then pairwise t-test analysis (p = 0.0004) revealed statistical significance when comparing NPVS-R scores and educational preparation. Differences between professional values scores and levels within each program revealed significance for the diploma students (p < 0.0001). Secondary subanalysis of the NPVS-R factors among levels and between educational preparation again revealed significance. CONCLUSION: Curricula revisions, faculty reflection and enrichment, as well as active student engagement are warranted to more vigilantly enhance the role formation process.

A global service-learning experience for nursing students in Tanzania: a model for collaboration.

PURPOSE: This article addresses a model for creating a short-term global service-learning program. The Global Standards for the Initial Education of Professional Nurses and Midwives guided the development of a collaborative program involving a school of nursing in the Midwestern United States and one in Tanzania. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation of the school of nursing and subsequent collaborative planning led to development and implementation of a 3-week global service-learning experience for nursing students. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: International academic partnerships, developed in accordance with WHO standards, will enhance educational experiences for nursing students both in the United States and abroad.

"Nurses' training may be shifted": the story of Bellevue and Hunter College, 1942-1969.

During the mid-20th century, nursing leaders advocated moving nursing education out of hospital-based programs and into colleges and universities for the purpose of preparing nurses to meet the demands of increasingly complex health care situations. Nursing leaders in New York City's municipal hospitals recognized the value of this change and sought to increase the number of baccalaureate-prepared nurses to fill the many vacancies within city hospitals. This article examines the political support New York gave to the expansion of Hunter College's baccalaureate program in nursing (a college within the City University of New York system) while closing the almost 100-year-old Bellevue and Mills Schools of Nursing diploma program. The efforts to change nursing at Bellevue started in the 1940s, but the transfer to Hunter College was not realized until 1967. Although the decision to close the diploma school met resistance among various stakeholders, the expansion ultimately succeeded. It was supported by the New York City Department of Hospitals and received approval from the Board of Estimates and Board of Higher Education. Both Bellevue and Hunter's leadership was ready to make this change and participated in this transformation.

[The nurse training reference framework in Ile-de-France]. / Le référentiel de formation en soins infirmiers en Ile-de-France.

In 2009, the changes introduced by the nurse training reference framework revolutionised the nursing curriculum. Partnerships were set up from the beginning of its implementation. The first three-year cycle has ended and the experience acquired opens up a new phase of further reflection and evolution.

[Different perspectives on the reform of nursing studies]. / Regards croisés sur la réforme des etudes en soins infirmiers.

Two students and two recently qualified nurses describe their training within the new reference framework, and their reception by their course tutors and by their colleagues in their first jobs.

Exploring the issue of failure to fail in a nursing program.

A study using a qualitative descriptive design was undertaken to explore the issue of "failure to fail" in a nursing program. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted with nursing university faculty members, preceptors, and faculty advisors (n=13). Content analysis was used to analyze the data. Results indicate that: (a) failing a student is a difficult process; (b) both academic and emotional support are required for students and preceptors and faculty advisors; (c) there are consequences for programs, faculty, and students when a student has failed a placement; (d) at times, personal, professional, and structural reasons exist for failing to fail a student; and (e) the reputation of the professional program can be diminished as a result of failing to fail a student. Recommendations for improving assessment, evaluation, and intervention with a failing student include documentation, communication, and support. These findings have implications for improving the quality of clinical experiences.