Empathic profile of nursing freshmen.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the empathic profile and the empathy scores of freshmen of the nursing course. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Descriptive study involving 399 freshmen students of two modalities of nursing courses: Bachelor and Bachelor and Teaching Diploma, in the period from 2012 to 2015. A sociodemographic questionnaire and the Empathy Inventory were applied. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS: The research received approval from the Research Ethics Committee of the University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing. The students registered their acceptance to participate in the research by signing the Free and Informed Consent Form and anonymity was guaranteed. FINDINGS: The mean age of the participants was 19 years, being 85.5% female. The students were grouped by course modality and all groups presented high empathy scores. A significant difference (p < 0.001) was found, which indicates that students of the Bachelor and Teaching Diploma program presented a higher degree of empathy for the General Score, Domain 2 (Interpersonal Flexibility), and Domain 3 (Altruism) in relation to students in the Bachelor program. CONCLUSION: Results show that nursing undergraduate freshmen are emphatic, with minimum differences between the two courses. This profile is relevant for the development of future professionals capable to demonstrate a balance between instrumental and expressive competences.

Reduced withdrawal and failure rates of accelerated nursing students enrolled in pharmacology is associated with a supportive intervention.

BACKGROUND: To reduce nursing shortages, accelerated nursing programs are available for domestic and international students. However, the withdrawal and failure rates from these programs may be different than for the traditional programs. The main aim of our study was to improve the retention and experience of accelerated nursing students. METHODS: The academic background, age, withdrawal and failure rates of the accelerated and traditional students were determined. Data from 2009 and 2010 were collected prior to intervention. In an attempt to reduce the withdrawal of accelerated students, we set up an intervention, which was available to all students. The assessment of the intervention was a pre-post-test design with non-equivalent groups (the traditional and the accelerated students). The elements of the intervention were a) a formative website activity of some basic concepts in anatomy, physiology and pharmacology, b) a workshop addressing study skills and online resources, and c) resource lectures in anatomy/physiology and microbiology. The formative website and workshop was evaluated using questionnaires. RESULTS: The accelerated nursing students were five years older than the traditional students (p < 0.0001). The withdrawal rates from a pharmacology course are higher for accelerated nursing students, than for traditional students who have undertaken first year courses in anatomy and physiology (p = 0.04 in 2010). The withdrawing students were predominantly the domestic students with non-university qualifications or equivalent experience. The failure rates were also higher for this group, compared to the traditional students (p = 0.05 in 2009 and 0.03 in 2010). In contrast, the withdrawal rates for the international and domestic graduate accelerated students were very low. After the intervention, the withdrawal and failure rates in pharmacology for domestic accelerated students with non-university qualifications were not significantly different than those of traditional students. CONCLUSIONS: The accelerated international and domestic graduate nursing students have low withdrawal rates and high success rates in a pharmacology course. However, domestic students with non-university qualifications have higher withdrawal and failure rates than other nursing students and may be underprepared for university study in pharmacology in nursing programs. The introduction of an intervention was associated with reduced withdrawal and failure rates for these students in the pharmacology course.

Is There Evidence of Failing to Fail in Our Schools of Nursing?

AIM: To assess evidence for "failing to fail" in undergraduate nursing programs. BACKGROUND: Literature on grading practices largely focuses on clinical or academic grading. Reviewing both as distinct entities may miss a more systemic grading problem. METHOD: A cross-sectional survey targeted 235 faculty within university and community colleges in a western state. Chi-square tests of independence explored the relation between institutional and faculty variables. RESULTS: The response rate was 34 percent. Results suggest failing to fail may be evident across the sector in both clinical and academic settings: 43 percent of respondents had awarded higher grades than merited; 17.7 percent had passed written examinations they felt should fail; 66 percent believed they had worked with students who should not have passed their previous placement. CONCLUSION: Failing to fail cuts across instructional settings. Further exploration is imperative if schools are to better engender a climate for rigorously measuring student attainment.

Exploring the Contextual Factors Surrounding the Recruitment and Retention of Men in a Baccalaureate Nursing Program.

Men continue to be significantly underrepresented within the nursing profession, making up less than 10% of the Canadian nursing workforce. While studies have explored the challenges faced by men in nursing, fewer studies have explored the recruitment and retention barriers experienced by male nursing students. The purpose of this study was to explore the recruitment and retention of male nursing students currently enrolled in an undergraduate baccalaureate nursing program. Snowball sampling was used to recruit male nursing students (n = 17) to participate in focus groups where they shared what factors affected their decision to enter a nursing program and what experiences contributed to their decision to remain in the nursing program. The results of this research can contribute to the development of strategies to recruit and retain men in nursing and ultimately have the effect of diversifying the nursing profession.

The value of faculty during student on-site evaluations.

The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board recognizes the value of nurse practitioner faculty in evaluating students at the clinical site. The Board of Commissioners recently approved the awarding of clinical hours to nurse practitioner faculty for clinical site visits. This article outlines the rationale and procedure for conducting and documenting student visits that can be applied to recertification.

Transcultural adaptation of the Student Nurse Stress Index to Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: to cross-culturally adapt the Student Nurse Stress Index to the Brazilian context. METHOD: this is a methodological study of translation and cross-cultural adaptation. We used a sample of specialists (n = 3) and nursing students (n = 40). Socioeconomic and academic questionnaires were used for data collection, assessment and the translated instrument (SNSI-Brazil). RESULTS: most students were female (90.0%), single (87.5%), unemployed (80.0%), they studied on average 11 hours per week, slept 6 hours per day; and rated the face and the content of the instrument as very good, agreeing substantially (kappa = 0.74 and p-value < 0.01). The judges showed regular agreement in their assessments, and the SNSI-Brazil showed a good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.80). CONCLUSION: The SNSI-Brazil was validated for face and content, has a good internal consistency if compared to versions used in other countries.

Profile of nursing students: quality of life, sleep and eating habits.

OBJECTIVE: to profile and analyze sleep quality, quality of life and eating habits of nursing students. METHODS: a cross-sectional, comparative and correlational study with the following variables: sociodemographic characteristics, Pittsburgh sleep quality index, quality of life and eating habits. One hundred ninety-five students participated in the study. RESULTS: participants were on average 24 years old. Results showed that females were prevalent (87.1%); 71.0% of the students had poor sleep quality; 98.9% used electronic devices before bedtime. Self-perception of quality of life was indifferent (38.3%), and self-perception of general health, 36.9% expressed satisfaction. Among the participants, 45.13% consumed one portion of fruit and 40.66% two to three portions of vegetables daily. CONCLUSION: the study allowed the profile of these students, sedentary, overweight and poor sleep quality young students who studied and worked.

What works in promoting and maintaining diversity in nursing programs.

BACKGROUND: The presence of a registered nurse (RN) workforce that is culturally and linguistically familiar with underrepresented minorities promotes effective health care for patients. A lack of diversity in the nursing education pipeline has led to a lack of diversity among registered nurses. METHODS: This qualitative descriptive study explored faculty perceptions of factors that attracted and maintained a diverse nursing student body at three different universities with large percentages of minority students. Websites were evaluated for diversity and audio-taped telephone interviews were conducted with nursing faculty using a semistructured set of open-ended questions. RESULTS: College location, online courses, community outreach programs, the presence of a diverse faculty and students, faculty accessibility, and financial aid with low college costs were identified as common factors in attracting and retaining minority students. Barriers included the cost for low socioeconomic status students, inadequate primary and secondary educational preparation, inherent bias in the institution, competition from other schools, admission policies, and limited diversity in leadership and faculty. CONCLUSIONS: Commitment to improving and maintaining diversity in nursing programs requires a sustained faculty effort to make the programs fit for the minority student.

Predictors of nurses' level of participation in student care: A multivariable analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association and predictive nature of certain socio-demographic, education, work and research variables on nurses' participation level in the clinical care of students. DESIGN: A cross-sectional analytical study using a validated questionnaire between February and June 2014. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A consecutive sample of 117 nurses who worked in public health centres in the province of Castellón (Spain) in 2014. The nurses who had never mentored students and the questionnaires that were <50% complete were excluded. METHODS: A descriptive analysis of the sample and an association analysis between variables were performed. The questionnaire and its dimensions were performed with a logistic regression and the maximum likelihood method, which used a complementary log-log link method. The concordance index was calculated using contingency tables. RESULTS: The mean age was 42.56 years, and the overall mean questionnaire score was 122.84 (SD = 18.69; 95% CI: 119.415-126.26). Across the sample, 58.1% (n = 68) of the nurses obtained an Excellent score, followed by Adequate in 41% (n = 48). Overall, the predictive variables were age, mentoring of students in the last 5 years and previous training to mentor students. CONCLUSION: The main predictive variable for greater participation in the mentorship of students was previous training in mentoring. This study also reflected on other variables that could influence nurses' participation in student mentoring.

Tool development for evaluation of clinical nurse specialist competencies in graduate students: a pilot study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was psychometric testing of the tool, Self Evaluation of CNS Competency Development. METHODS: The tool was developed using the NACNS competencies, with some concepts added to reflect graduate program objectives. The student sample was 33 students who provided informed consent and completed the tool. The preceptor sample was 6 preceptors who clinically supervised 6 students. RESULTS: As expected, independent samples t tests with matched pairs of 6 students and preceptors showed that there were no mean differences in 9 of the 12 categories within the 3 spheres of influence. Using the contrasted groups approach, discriminant function analysis showed that 91.7% of beginning and ending students were correctly classified. Cronbach alpha was estimated as .96. CONCLUSION: Results show partial support for criterion-related validity and construct validity. Tool reliability is satisfactory. Further testing with larger samples of students and clinical nurse specialists is recommended.

Structuring educational decisions using the multiple sorting task: An example focusing on international placements in nursing.

Practical examples of the steps involved in the planning and execution of the multiple sorting task are frequently lacking in published reports. This article demonstrates how the multiple sorting task can be used to structure conversations with a group of health professionals planning an international placement for nursing students. Sixteen participants were drawn from diverse professional backgrounds, including academia, clinical practice, government policy, and placement administrators. Participants sorted 17 statements written on cards into categories of their choice and noted why they sorted the cards into these particular groups. Data were analysed using multidimensional scaling and qualitative perspectives. The analysis identified four key themes that detailed the participants' views about international placements. These findings demonstrate how the multiple sorting task can be used to generate information that facilitates the examination of important facets of health care practice that universities could cover in preparing students for international placements.

Patient safety in nursing paths in Brazil. / A segurança do paciente nos caminhos percorridos pela enfermagem brasileira.

OBJECTIVE:: summarize the dissertations and theses produced by nurses available in the Catalog of Theses and Dissertations of the Brazilian Nursing Association, from volume XIX to XXXII, that address patient safety. METHOD:: this is a documentary study. After data collection, the following variables were analyzed: academic level, educational institutions, year, place, type of service, study object, study method, subjects, priority protocol of patient safety, implications and final recommendations. RESULTS:: 8,720 abstracts were found, 53 (0.61%) of which were analyzed. There was a predominance of dissertations (n=19; 35.85%) regarding the reduction of risks for fall and pressure ulcer (n=24; 45.28%), of descriptive type (n=21; 39.62%), quantitative type (n=16; 30.19%), in hospital environments (n=16; 30.19%), using scales and protocols (n=6; 11.32%). CONCLUSION:: there is a tendency towards the development of studies related to patient safety in hospital environments, with an emphasis on the reduction of risk for pressure ulcer.

Covid-19: un reto para los estudiantes de Enfermería en la educación en el trabajo / COVID-19: a challenge for Nursing students in the on-the-job training

RESUMEN Introducción: en las prácticas docentes de Enfermería de la educación en el trabajo, que se realizan en centros hospitalarios, los estudiantes y enfermeros están expuestos al contagio por covid-19. De ahí que se haga necesaria la preparación de este personal para ejercer su labor de un modo exitoso en medio de un escenario complejo. Objetivo: evaluar el enfrentamiento a la covid-19 por parte de educandos y personal de enfermería en las prácticas de la educación en el trabajo. Materiales y métodos: se realizó una investigación de intervención y desarrollo en el Servicio de Neurocirugía del Hospital Universitario Clínico Quirúrgico Comandante Faustino Pérez Hernández, de Matanzas, entre septiembre y octubre de 2020, período de rebrote de la covid. Para ello se trabajó con el universo constituido por 12 pacientes, 12 cuidadores y 6 educandos de 5to año de la carrera de Licenciatura en Enfermería. El estudio se dividió en tres etapas: diagnóstica, entrenamiento y evaluación. Se utilizó la entrevista. Resultados: predominó en los pacientes el grupo etario de 40 a 49 años, con 41,66 % del género masculino. En los cuidadores predominó el femenino, y la edad de 50 a 59 años. El entrenamiento resultó efectivo en un 58,33 %. Conclusiones: la prevención y el autocuidado fueron respuestas estratégicas positivas como formas de actuación en los educandos y el resto del personal que participó en la investigación. La labor asistencial educativa minimizó el riesgo epidemiológico en los pacientes y cuidadores, y logró un incremento en la percepción de riesgo de contraer la enfermedad (AU).

ABSTRACT Introduction: students and nurses are exposed to contagion by COVID-19 during the Nursing teaching practices of on-the-job training carried out in hospitals. Therefore, it is necessary train these staff to carry out their work successfully in the middle of a difficult scenario. Objective: to evaluate COVID-19 facing by students and nursing staff in the practices of on-the-job training. Materials and methods: an intervention and development research was conducted in the Neurosurgery Service of the University Hospital Comandante Faustino Pérez Hernández, of Matanzas, between September and October 2020, period of COVID-19 resurgence. For that we worked with a universe of 12 patients, 12 caregivers and 6 5th-year students of Nursing degree. The study was divided into three stages: diagnosis, training and evaluation. The interview was used. Results: the 40-49 age group predominated among patients, with 41.66 % of the male gender. Among caregivers, female gender predominated and 50-59 age group. The training was effective at 58.33 %. Conclusions: prevention and self-care were positive strategic answers as forms of action in students and the rest of the staff involved in the research. The educational aid work minimized the epidemiological risk in patients and caregivers, and achieved an increase in risk perception of contracting the disease (AU).

The Impact of Nursing Students' Cultural Diversity on the Intention and Attitudes Towards the Use of Information Technology (IT).

This research highlights the challenge for nursing educators in understanding, developing awareness, and preparing strategies to manage the impact of nursing students' cultural diversity on the relationship between the intention to use computer and attitudes, self-efficacy, innovativeness, and threat and challenge.

Predicting NCLEX-RN success: can it be simplified?

The purpose of this study was to compare a simple, easily calculated method for predicting student success on the nursing licensure exam (NCLEX-RN) with more statistically complex methods of prediction. The Risk Appraisal Instrument (RAI), designed by Barkley, Rhodes, and Dufour (1), does not require sophisticated statistical methods, and the authors suggest it may be adapted for use in other nursing programs. We modified the RAI to suit the University of Delaware nursing program, and retroactively applied the Delaware RAI (DRAI) formula to the records of 538 students who graduated from our undergraduate baccalaureate nursing program between 1995 and 1998. Nearly 61 percent of NCLEX-RN failures were correctly classified, and 72 percent were accurately classified overall. While this more simple prediction might be helpful as a predictor of risk, it does not approach the 76 percent to 92 percent correct prediction of failure in recently published studies using statistically more complex methods.

Effects of textual cue manipulation on student recall in an information mapped nutrition text.

Using the subject area of nutrition, this study examined the effects of different instructional features of an adjunctive text for nursing students who varied in reading level. Specifically, the study investigated the effects of both variations in instructional features of information-mapped text and the differences in student reading levels on immediate recall scores and work time spent on the modules. A sample of 65 nursing students was classified into high and low reading groups according to the Nelson-Denny Reading Test, then randomly assigned to one of the three treatment groups. Analysis of covariance indicated significant treatment effects after adjusting the recall scores for the influence of verbal aptitude. Information-mapped text with either postquestions or postquestions and feedback yielded higher recall scores than information-mapped text alone. Subjects whose modules contained postquestions or postquestions and feedback spent significantly more work time than subjects whose modules did not contain those features; however, when the recall scores were adjusted for the influence of work time spent on the modules, there were no significant differences. Conclusions and recommendations for the text construction process, especially for the adjunctive nursing text, are presented.

Predicting NCLEX-RN performance: cross-validating an identified classification procedure.

This study was an attempt to cross-validate a procedure from an earlier study for predicting NCLEX-RN performance. In the original study, a discriminant function was developed on 313 baccalaureate nursing graduates (1988 through 1990), which used 15 variables to correctly categorize more than 91 per cent of them on NCLEX-RN performance. This study used 142 subjects who graduated in 1991 and 1992 to evaluate the adequacy of the classification procedure. Subjects in this more recent sample differed significantly from those in the first on several variables, including SAT scores, physiology grades, and nursing grades. Eight-four per cent of the subjects in the cross-validation sample were correctly classified using the original discriminant function. More than 62 per cent of failures and 87 per cent of passes were correctly categorized. These results suggest that it is statistically and ethically sound to use this discriminant function to identify future students in danger of NCLEX-RN failure.

Predicting nursing GPA and national council licensure examination for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN): a thorough analysis.

The study involved prediction of GPA in a nursing program and NCLEX-RN licensure score following completion of the program. The sample included 155 students who completed and 34 who failed to complete a baccalaureate nursing program for the 1984-1986 years. The best set of predictors of nursing GPA included ACT composite score, anatomy grade, and chemistry grade, R = .73. The best set of predictors of NCLEX-RN included ACT composite score, high school percentile rank, nursing GPA, and chemistry grade, R = .68. Classification of withdrawn and completing groups and also pass and fail NCLEX-RN performance via discriminant analysis provided results comparable to those of previous research; however, residual analysis indicated very large residuals for those withdrawing from the program as well as those who failed the licensure exam. An alternative to discriminant analysis for classifying students is suggested.

[Hygiene during leisure time among third year students from the Department of Nursing and Health Sciences]. / Higiena wypoczynku studentów III roku Wydzialu Pielegniarskiego i Nauk o Zdrowiu.

The aim of the study was the assessment of hygiene of leisure time among third year students from Faculty of Nursing and Health Science of Lublin Medical Academy. It analysed passive and active ways of spending free time. The study involved 106 students (55 stationary and 51 extramural) and it was conducted by means of questionnaire. The study revealed that students prefer passive types of spending their leisure time. The most popular activity was listening to the radio, to which they devoted average 2.9 hours a day (listening to music mainly). Extramural students listened to the radio shorter than stationary ones (the difference was statistically significant). Students spent also a lot of their time watching television (average 1.5 hours a day), reading books and newspapers (average 1.85 hours a day) and doing housework, which is an active way of rest (average 2.7 hours a day), mainly preparing meals and shopping. Students devoted the least of their free time to sleep during the day in spite of the fact it is an excellent way of rest. The study found also that physical activity was not a favourite type of spending free time. Every third student did not do any sport. Stationary students did sport 4 times longer than extramural (the difference was statistically significant). Only 31% practiced taking a daily walk and only 44% of students made tourist trips. 81.9% of them went away during summer holidays, but only 31% of them during the winter break. Undoubtedly, the way of spending free time by the students under examination was not hygienic as it did not give them a sense of relaxation and rest; also the students themselves were not satisfied with it.