Medical Surgical Nurse Self-perceived Competency in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder/Substance Use Disorder Veteran Care in a Non-Veterans Health Administration Setting.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the self-perceived readiness of medical-surgical nurses in a non-Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facility to care for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder (SUD). BACKGROUND: Nurses caring for veterans with PTSD and SUD at facilities other than the VHA should be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to provide care for this population. METHODS: Nurses evaluated their self-perceived knowledge, skills, attitudes, experiences, and perspectives related to caring for veterans. RESULTS: Nurses overwhelmingly indicated that they had no knowledge of the "Have you served?" campaign, and fewer than half inquired about military status when assessing patients CONCLUSION: Nurses caring for veterans in non-VHA facilities do not consistently identify veterans or assess for service-related conditions, including PTSD and SUD. Nurses report low skill levels related to identifying, addressing, and referring patients with service-related conditions.

Improving Transition to Practice: Integration of Advanced Cardiac Life Support Into a Baccalaureate Nursing Program.

BACKGROUND: Nursing students often lack the skills and confidence to intervene in the care of a deteriorating patient as they transition into clinical practice. Exposure to these situations is limited during their academic career. Our team sought to address this by embedding American Heart Association (AHA) advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) content into the curriculum and offering certification to senior-level students. METHOD: The senior skills course was redesigned to include education on current AHA ACLS guidelines and skills. ACLS algorithms were introduced and reinforced by mock code labs utilizing rapid cycle deliberate practice and interprofessional simulation. After completion of the semester, students were given the option to be ACLS certified. RESULTS: Students and stakeholders reported positively on the ability to certify in ACLS at our institution prior to graduation and reported increased confidence in their ability to manage patients with cardiopulmonary arrest. CONCLUSION: Providing simulated experiences for these clinical situations can reportedly increase confidence and improve preparedness in senior-level BSN students. [J Nurs Educ. 2019;58(3):182-184.].