Search for Lorentz and CPT violation effects in Muon spin precession.

The spin precession frequency of muons stored in the (g-2) storage ring has been analyzed for evidence of Lorentz and CPT violation. Two Lorentz and CPT violation signatures were searched for a nonzero delta omega a(=omega a mu+ - omega a mu-) and a sidereal variation of omega a mu+/-). No significant effect is found, and the following limits on the standard-model extension parameters are obtained: bZ = -(1.0+/-1.1) x 10(-23) GeV; (m mu dZ0 + HXY)=(1.8+/-6.0) x 10(-23) GeV; and the 95% confidence level limits b perpendicular mu+ <1.4 x 10(-24) GeV and b perpendicular mu- <2.6 x 10(-24) GeV.

Measurement of the negative muon anomalous magnetic moment to 0.7 ppm.

The anomalous magnetic moment of the negative muon has been measured to a precision of 0.7 ppm (ppm) at the Brookhaven Alternating Gradient Synchrotron. This result is based on data collected in 2001, and is over an order of magnitude more precise than the previous measurement for the negative muon. The result a(mu(-))=11 659 214(8)(3) x 10(-10) (0.7 ppm), where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic, is consistent with previous measurements of the anomaly for the positive and the negative muon. The average of the measurements of the muon anomaly is a(mu)(exp)=11 659 208(6) x 10(-10) (0.5 ppm).

Measurement of the positive muon anomalous magnetic moment to 0.7 ppm.

A higher precision measurement of the anomalous g value, a(mu)=(g-2)/2, for the positive muon has been made at the Brookhaven Alternating Gradient Synchrotron, based on data collected in the year 2000. The result a(mu(+))=11 659 204(7)(5)x10(-10) (0.7 ppm) is in good agreement with previous measurements and has an error about one-half that of the combined previous data. The present world average experimental value is a(mu)(expt)=11 659 203(8)x10(-10) (0.7 ppm).

Precise measurement of the positive muon anomalous magnetic moment.

A precise measurement of the anomalous g value, a(mu) = (g-2)/2, for the positive muon has been made at the Brookhaven Alternating Gradient Synchrotron. The result a(mu+) = 11 659 202(14) (6) x 10(-10) (1.3 ppm) is in good agreement with previous measurements and has an error one third that of the combined previous data. The current theoretical value from the standard model is a(mu)(SM) = 11 659 159.6(6.7) x 10(-10) (0.57 ppm) and a(mu)(exp) - a(mu)(SM) = 43(16) x 10(-10) in which a(mu)(exp) is the world average experimental value.

Preventing secondary pregnancy in adolescents: a model program.

The Dollar-A-Day program in Greensboro, North Carolina, was established in 1990 to prevent subsequent pregnancies in girls under 16 years of age who had already given birth to one child. Conceptualized by nursing professors and using principles from theories of adolescent development and social exchange, the program was planned and implemented in collaboration with nurses from the local health department. Weekly meetings featured food, an informal program focused on needs identified by members, setting of short-term goals, and an award of a dollar for each day they remained nonpregnant. After five years of operation with a series of small grants, only 15% of the 65 girls who had been enrolled in the program experienced subsequent pregnancies. The success of the program convinced health department officials to incorporate Dollar-A-Day into their budget as a permanent service to the population of adolescents they serve. It remains as a model program for others to emulate.

Mentoring new faculty.

This is a report of the process and evaluation of 12 years of mentoring new faculty in a university nursing faculty of 48 members. Each new faculty member is paired with an experienced faculty member who serves as a mentor for a year. Evaluations completed by both new faculty and mentors at the end of the year are positive.

Mental disorders and syndromes found among Asians residing in the United States.

The Asian population in the United States is the fastest growing minority; consequently it behooves psychiatric nurses and other mental health professionals to be aware of symptom presentation of emotional problems that may differ from those of other population groups. Specific syndromes, psychiatric disorders, and symptoms that commonly present as physical disorders are discussed. Recommended adaptations of psychiatric interventions, including medications and other therapies, are offered to enable mental health professionals to provide culturally sensitive care. Mental health care that is culturally competent may improve access to care for Asians residing in the United States.

Connecting across the miles: interdisciplinary collaboration in the evaluation of critical thinking.

A pilot study in which faculty from nursing and English departments at two universities in different states shared a common evaluation tool and collaborated through e-mail to evaluate the evidence of critical thinking in writing portfolios of baccalaureate and masters' nursing students. Loxley's (1997) four processes--assessment, building, managing the process, and evaluating--are used as a framework for describing collaboration among the disciplines in the two universities. Social exchange theory was used to explain the collaboration between participants. All six professors learned a great deal from studying and scoring the writings, but they learned most from each other through their e-mail dialogue.

Self-scheduling with Microsoft Excel.

Excessive time was being spent by the emergency department (ED) staff, head nurse, and unit secretary on a complex 6-week manual self-scheduling system. This issue, plus inevitable errors and staff dissatisfaction, resulted in a manager-lead initiative to automate elements of the scheduling process using Microsoft Excel. The implementation of this initiative included: common coding of all 8-hour and 12-hour shifts, with each 4-hour period represented by a cell; the creation of a 6-week master schedule using the "count-if" function of Excel based on current staffing guidelines; staff time-off requests then entered by the department secretary; the head nurse, with staff input, then fine-tuned the schedule to provide even unit coverage. Outcomes of these changes included an increase in staff satisfaction, time saved by the head nurse, and staff work time saved because there was less arguing about the schedule. Ultimately, the automated self-scheduling method was expanded to the entire 700-bed hospital.

Calling all patients.

Hospitals must establish patients' expectations of care and their satisfaction with the care delivered. This telephone survey tool measures patient satisfaction based on empathy, communication, competence and continuity of care, and amenities.

Underutilization of mental health services by Asian-Americans residing in the United States.

Asian-Americans are the fastest-growing minority in the United States, and they are a culturally diverse group. Knowledge about this growing minority population is important for the purposes of planning appropriate mental health care. Asian-Americans living in the United States rarely use mental health services. The reasons for this, along with suggestions for developing more culturally sensitive mental health services, are presented. A model for cultural competence can provide a framework for psychiatric nurses and other mental health professionals (MHPs) to become more aware of Asian-American values and beliefs and provide more culturally sensitive care. Awareness tools are included to guide MHPs in determining whether culturally competent care is available locally to meet the needs of this underserved population.

Effects of hospital downsizing on surviving staff.

In 1993, 27% of 1,147 surveyed hospitals planned to decrease staff size in the next year. This study surveyed 48 vice presidents of nursing in North Carolina hospitals with an average inpatient census over 100 using a 13-item questionnaire in an effort to discover strategies that were helpful in effective downsizing endeavors. Of the 31 (48%) returned questionnaires, 11 (35%) of the VPs reported downsizing in the past 3 years, most of which required the closing of one or more units. The respondents ranked attrition as the most common strategy, followed by relocation, early retirement, a change in skill mix, and layoffs. The most important components in successful downsizing or reorganization efforts were: two-way communication and sufficient planning, as well as seeking and using input from a broad group of staff (using both individual meetings and group forums/discussions).

Innovative collaboration to prevent repeated adolescent pregnancies.

Nurse educators from a university setting and staff from the county health department collaborated to establish an innovative program to prevent repeated pregnancy in adolescents. Called Dollar-A-Day and patterned after the original in Denver, CO, the program was operated jointly for 5 years and today continues to operate under the auspices of the health department. Success of the venture is attributed to use of skills in assessment, building, managing, and evaluating, as described by Loxley (1997). These elements were used to construct a context for collaboration.

PIP: This report describes a collaborative program for adolescent mothers designed to become a sustainable, permanent resource. The program, modeled after the "Dollar-A-Day" initiative, involves weekly meetings with adolescent mothers and weekly awards of $7 for avoiding a repeat pregnancy. This program began as a collaborative effort of health department nurses and members of the faculty of a nursing school. The program design applied Loxley's theory of collaboration (illuminating the relationships among structures, power, culture, and values through application of systems theory, social exchange theory, and cooperation theory). The core skills Loxley identified as necessary for collaboration were adopted by this program. "Assessment" involved reframing the perception of needs of the recipients and "mapping the terrain" (analyzing the overlaps and gaps, strengths and deficits, and resources of the collaborating agencies). "Building" involved creating structures, power, a culture, and values for the new initiative. The third skill, managing the process, was accomplished by open communication and information exchange. The final skill of evaluation involved 1) continuous evaluation through communication and weekly goal-setting exercises with the young mothers and 2) measuring the outcome for participants and for collaborative partners. Eventually, the goal of ending the collaboration and transferring the project to the county health department was achieved, and the program continues to operate successfully.

Supervision. How satisfied are middle nurse managers?

A study examines the relationship between middle nurse managers' (MNMs) job satisfaction and how they perceive their chief nurse executive's (CNE) leadership style and adaptability. The CNE's own leadership style and adaptability were studied. The study thus examined the interplay between job satisfaction (specifically satisfaction with supervision), leadership style and leadership adaptability.

Use of writing portfolios for interdisciplinary assessment of critical thinking outcomes of nursing students.

This article discusses an interdisciplinary research project in which faculty from nursing and english collaborated in the assessment of students' critical thinking skills as reflected in writing portfolios. Faculty reviewed students' writing portfolios and then corresponded on email from two different universities about evidence of critical thinking in the portfolios. Findings suggest that writing portfolios can provide important evidence of critical thinking outcomes. To do this, however, faculty need to design writing assignments to foster critical thinking skills, helping students to think not only about learning to write, but also about using writing to learn.

Case management: implementing the vision.

Case management is a strategy for restructuring the health care delivery system. The system requires critical planning and implementation steps to achieve quality care at reduced cost.

Designing class participation experiences for the introverted student.

Class participation for students is such a common expectation of nurse educators that it is easy to overlook the need to tailor class participation activities to individual student needs. An understanding of the various temperaments of individuals, especially preferences related to extroversion and introversion, can help nurse educators to plan class participation experiences that foster skills in critical thinking and enhance personal growth.

Fun and games in reviewing neonatal emergency care.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a game-based review instrument for use by newborn caregivers in preparing for emergency situations. DESIGN: One hundred and one test questions covering pathophysiology, resuscitation, and medications were developed. The questions then underwent expert and peer review, psychometric testing for content validity and test-retest reliability, and a game trial. ANALYSIS: The needs of adult learners are different from those of other learners. The gaming format uses knowledge gained through experience and provides an avenue for validating knowledge and sharing experiences. This format has been found effective for review and reinforcement of facts. Twelve nurses participated in a trial game and completed a written evaluation using a Likert scale. CONCLUSION: The Neonatal Emergency Trivia Game is an effective tool for reviewing material related to neonatal emergency care decisions. Additional testing with a larger group would strengthen validity and reliability data.

Developing an instrument for measuring patient satisfaction.

We developed a 21-item questionnaire to evaluate the effectiveness of nursing care provided in an outpatient surgery center. The four constructs of the instrument for measuring patient satisfaction are caring, continuity of care, competence of nurses, and education of patients and family members. Content validity and test-retest reliability have been established. Using this tool to analyze patients' responses to nursing care can help perioperative nurses improve patient care and patient satisfaction.