Factors related to successful teaching by outstanding professors: an interpretive study.

The purpose of this study was to identify and describe factors associated with successful university teaching within the cultural norms of a public university in the midwestern United States. An interpretive analysis was conducted using the educational philosophy and goal statements of 35 university professors who received Presidential Teaching Awards from the university. The professors' diverse disciplines included nursing, curriculum and instruction, accountancy, music, and political science. The authors offer nursing educators the opportunity to increase their confidence and effectiveness by "learning" from faculty members who have been recognized as exceptionally successful in teaching. Four main relevant themes associated with successful university teaching were identified: Presence, Promotion of Learning, Teachers as Learners, and Enthusiasm. The narratives of the professors helped define the meaning of successful teaching across disciplines and offer nursing faculty additional perspectives and experiences.

Coping with stroke: psychological and social dimensions in U.S. patients.

Stroke is the third-leading cause of death in the world, affecting 3 million women and 2.5 million men annually. The success of rehabilitation efforts for stroke patients is often measured in terms of physical functioning. However, the literature suggests that the effects of stroke and subsequent adaptation include psychological and social dimensions as well. The purpose of this study was to investigate how patients in the United States perceived their stroke experiences by examining their coping strategies and hopes for recovery. In addition, factors that inspired hope during recovery were identified. Sixty participants with a diagnosis of embolic or ischemic stroke were interviewed during their initial hospitalization. Tape-recorded interviews were coded and categories of data identified. Findings suggested that stroke patients experience a range of physical symptoms and emotions surrounding their stroke experience, and that stroke often interfered with daily functioning. Coping strategies included maintaining a positive attitude and asserting independence, as much as possible, during the acute stroke experience. Many patients expressed general hopes for recovery while some admitted fear of getting worse. Hopefulness was often inspired by interaction with family and spiritual beliefs and practices. The findings will hopefully enhance nurses' understanding of patients' perceptions of the stroke experience and increase their ability to provide interventions that will aid in promoting effective coping strategies.

Advocating for the rights of the mentally ill: a global issue.

The media has shared with the American public horrors of abuse towards prisoners of war in recent newscasts. Prisoners, and others in vulnerable positions, can fall victim to neglect and abuse at the hands of their captors. Often, human rights can be violated. Therefore, people in vulnerable positions need advocates who will defend and protect their rights. The role of advocate is familiar to nursing professionals. In the mid-1980's advocacy grew attention due to disclosure of human rights abuses in mental health facilities. Today, worldwide, nursing leaders continue to confront abuses in multiple settings. In the United States, the Human Rights Authority was specifically developed to address issues of abuse of persons with physical disabilities and or mental illness. Globally, nurses will want to support the development and enforcement of policies that protect persons in vulnerable positions.

Southeast Asian refugee children: a school-based mental health intervention.

One particular focus of refugee studies in the United States has been the violence experience of Southeast Asian (S.E.A.) refugee children and its impact on mental health and school adaptation. Although virtually all researchers have found that the children have high rates of depression and/or post-traumatic stress disorder, findings concerning successful school adaptation have been inconclusive. Even so, concern has been generated on how to best meet the children's mental health needs. The purpose of our study was to provide an eight-week school-based program that was designed to reduce depression symptoms of S.E.A. refugee children. Specifically, this collaborative program addressed refugee adaptation issues, children's culture and the development of coping skills. All of the children were screened for depression using the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI). Analysis of CDI data revealed that children's depression scores had a significant decrease between screening times 1 (approximately one month before the intervention) and 2 (fourth week of the intervention), 1 and 3 (eighth week of the intervention) and 1 and 4 (one month following the intervention). Globally, culturally sensitive mental health school-based programs may be an appropriate intervention to assist immigrant and refugee children in making a successful adaptation to host countries.

Southeast Asian refugee children: self-esteem as a predictor of depression and scholastic achievement in the U.S.

The eruption of conflicts and war in this century has led to new masses of refugees and displaced persons. Globally, host countries will continue to confront issues of how to ensure the successful adaptation of refugees who typically are women and children. The United States received three major waves of Southeast Asian (SEA) refugees during the past twenty-five years. One million SEA refugees arrived in the past decade; the majority were children and adolescents. Today, there is still a lack of understanding surrounding mental health issues and their relationship to children's violence experience. We know that SEA refugee children suffered violence during the war in Southeast Asia, their escape from homelands, in camps of asylum and in the U.S. Although researchers have examined the relationship of violence with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in refugee children, the findings have been unclear and sometimes conflictual in their relationship to scholastic achievement. In the U.S., healthy self-esteem is recognized as an important component of mental health and academic success, while low self-esteem is associated with depression and academic failure. In general, self-esteem and measures of self-esteem have not been studied cross-culturally. The authors report the findings of a measure of self-esteem, depression and academic achievement in a convenience sample of 237 Southeast Asian refugee children aged 6 to 17 years of age in the U.S. Internationally, nurses who assess the mental health of refugee children and design interventions to assist in their adaptation, will want to have an understanding of mental health issues cross-culturally.

"Hope" in the recovery from stroke in the U.S.

Hope and hopelessness are multi-dimensional concepts. Both can be investigated from an aggregate or individual emotional response to life events. Globally, there are many concerns about conflicts, poverty and illness that have led to collective feelings of hopelessness. Yet, some people still hope for a better future. Hope as an individual response, following illness and disability, has received little empirical investigation. Even so, it is believed that hope is an important mediating factor in the coping process that is imperative to optimal recovery. The purpose of this study was to describe the influence of hope in the recovery process of 50 patients who had suffered a stroke. Hope was measured approximately 10 days following a stroke (Time 1) and 3 months later after discharge from a hospital or rehabilitation facility (Time 2). For purposes of this paper, recovery outcomes were examined in two domains, physical functioning and social activities. Understanding hope and hopelessness, is salient to nurses worldwide since fostering hope is an important nursing intervention.

The impact of depression on stroke recovery in the U.S.

Globally, stroke is an important cause of physical, cognitive and emotional disability. The success of rehabilitation efforts for stroke patients is often measured in terms of physical functioning. However, because the adaptation process also involves psychological and social factors, and nursing goal is to holistically meet patient's health care needs, it is important to address emotional and social variables that impact the healing process. Therefore, the purpose of this prospective longitudinal study was to determine the impact of depression on functional ability in adults (n = 50) who have had a stroke in the U.S. The study was conducted at two large urban medical centers and one community hospital in the Midwest of the U.S. Depression screening and functional status evaluations were conducted within 10 days (Time 1) and three months (Time 2) post-stroke. In the total sample 46% (n = 23) described fewer depressive symptoms at Time 2; while 44% (n = 22) indicated more depressive symptoms, and 10% (n = 5) showed no difference between Time 1 and 2. In the total sample, 27 improved in functional status between Time 1 and Time 2, while 5 lost function at Time 2. The impact of stroke on depression in the U.S. as well as nursing implications globally are discussed.