Interprofessional Education Innovation: Telehealth Objective Structured Clinical Examination With Family Nurse Practitioner and Pharmacy Students.

ABSTRACT: Interprofessional education (IPE) is required in the advanced nursing practice curriculum to promote collaboration between health care professionals. Time constraints, accessibility, and geographical locations are common barriers to overcome when considering implementing IPE experiences. Utilizing virtual modalities to develop these experiences can increase IPE opportunities. An innovative approach was taken to incorporate a telehealth Objective Structured Clinical Examination involving family nurse practitioner and pharmacy students from different academic institutions for an IPE virtual simulation. Faculty evaluated student performance based on competencies. Faculty and student feedback regarding the IPE experience was positive.

Does a Behavioral Parent Training Program for Parents of ADHD Children Improve Outcomes? A Pilot Project.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most common chronic neurobehavioral disorder of childhood. Research suggests increased parent-child conflict exists in families with an ADHD child. The evidence indicates links between child behavior problems and parenting practices. Behavioral Parent Training (BPT) is an evidence-based intervention recommended for the treatment of ADHD. BPT is recommended as first-line treatment in ADHD children under age six and as a combination treatment approach for children older than the age six. BPT programs have demonstrated significant improvement in frequency of the problem behaviors of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity associated with ADHD. Pre- and Post-BPT Parenting Scales and Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Rating Scales for Parents and Teachers were used to evaluate the efficacy of the BPT program. Percent changes for each participant pre- and post-BPT were calculated. The Parenting Scale overall score and overreactivity factor score showed significant improvement post-BPT (p = .05). Participation in a BPT program can affect parenting practices and improve outcomes for ADHD children. BPT programs are effective in reducing negative parenting practices and improving outcomes for this population.

Successfully Incorporating Interprofessional Education in a Nonacademic Health Sciences Center.

Enhanced patient outcomes have led the health sciences to seek ways in which to incorporate interprofessional education in their curricula. This article presents a unique and innovative strategy for interprofessional education among nursing, medicine, and pharmacy in a nonacademic health science center setting. Nurse practitioner students from the University of Alabama in Huntsville College of Nursing, medical interns from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, and pharmacy students from Auburn University School of Pharmacy and their respective faculty participated in collaboratively designed simulations and skills experiences.