A Pap test does not screen for everything: nurse practitioner knowledge of ovarian cancer.

PURPOSE: Nurse practitioners (NPs) are in a prime position to educate women about initial signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer (OC) and perform appropriate screening tests. However, little is known about NPs knowledge regarding OC. This article's purpose is to present the outcomes of a focused OC awareness program for NP students. DATA SOURCES: NP students (N = 104) participated in this longitudinal one group pre-post study. Knowledge was calculated based on the number of correct answers for a total knowledge score and subscales related to OC incidence, risk, screening, symptoms, and treatment. An item related to the effectiveness of the Pap test to screen for OC was evaluated separately. CONCLUSION: Knowledge deficits continue to exist related to OC, emphasizing the need for NPs to be aware of risk factors, symptoms, and early detection options for women with average risk. Many NP students erroneously believed a Pap test was an effective screening tool for OC. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Many NPs are inadequately prepared to assess risk, detect early symptoms, and perform screening tests for OC. Continuing education and reinforcement about OC is essential if NPs are to provide appropriate education to clients and detect this deadly disease as early as possible.

Clinicians' perspectives on motivational interviewing-based brief interventions in college health.

Brief interventions based on motivational interviewing (MI) are emerging as effective strategies for behavior change in college students. However, implementation of MI-based brief interventions may be challenging in the college health environment, and their practicality is controversial. The author explored college health clinicians' perspectives on the use of MI brief interventions in a college health study to reduce alcohol harms among high-risk college students. The author describes the challenges, benefits, and practicality of using this health promotion strategy in college health. Although MI-based brief interventions may be adapted and implemented and are beneficial in the college health setting, clinician education and further research is warranted.

Simulating health promotion in an online environment.

Although Web-based courses have distinct advantages, one of the challenges of the medium is to assess students' abilities to apply knowledge, especially regarding interpersonal communication skills. The purpose of this article is to describe a motivational interviewing application exercise developed for a graduate-level online health promotion course. Small groups of students met online for synchronous role-play chatroom experiences in which students guided each other toward healthy lifestyle behavioral changes using motivational interviewing skills. Chatroom transcripts and students' reflections demonstrated a deeper understanding and appreciation for motivational interviewing and appeared to alter their perceptions of health promotion beyond the task of providing patient education.

A problem-based learning hybrid in a women's health course.

To facilitate nurse practitioner students' critical thinking and information retention, a problem-based learning hybrid was introduced in an advanced women's health course. This article discusses the design and implementation, as well as the student and instructor perceptions, of this innovation.

Advanced practice nurse attitudes toward sex offender patients.

PURPOSE: To determine advanced practice nurses' (APNs') attitudes and behaviors toward patients in their practices who are registered sex offenders. DATA SOURCES: An online survey of 300 APN members of a local APN organization asking respondents to identify the behavioral actions they were likely to agree or disagree with when faced with a scenario of realizing that a sex offender was a patient in their practice. Sixty-nine respondents submitted completed surveys. CONCLUSIONS: There was an ambiguity of behavioral responses and no consensus among APNs on how to respond to the issue of a sex offender patient in a healthcare practice. There was also a lack of awareness of whether sex offenders were patients in their practice. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The modest number of respondents and their demographic homogeneity limit the ability to draw any conclusions or generalizations from this study. While awareness of a known sex offender in a practice is unlikely to alter direct patient care, it may have an impact on office policies and procedures and should be a consideration of all involved staff, including providers, ancillary team members, and administrative personnel.

A service learning research methods course.

Incorporation of service learning into an undergraduate nursing research course has the potential to invigorate baccalaureate nursing students' interest in research through real-world connections. In this article, I describe the development and implementation of an undergraduate nursing research course that incorporated service learning. The course experience proved to be enlightening for both the students and instructor, and propelled students to continue their research beyond the course requirements.

Recognize cholesteatomas early.

Cholesteatomas are benign tumors that develop in the middle ear, and their rapid growth patterns can impinge on local structures, resulting in adverse sequelae such as hearing loss, pain, or neuropathies. These late signs and symptoms can be avoided by early identification and prompt intervention. Primary care providers should be aware of the incidence, prevalence, identification, and associated symptoms of cholesteatomas to reduce the later untoward affects and promote prompt referral.