There has been a growing concern raised by nurse educators regarding the potential for litigation by nursing students who are dissatisfied with educators' appraisal of these students' clinical performance. A descriptive survey using a cross-sectional design was used to assess the relationships between institutional policies and procedures related to student clinical evaluation practices and the incidence of student grievances and appeals of faculty decisions. Population for this survey was diploma and basic baccalaureate nursing programs in Canada (N=94). The response rate to this survey was 86.2% (81/94 programs). Data were obtained using two self-developed questionnaires which tested for support of two prototypic models derived from literature reviewed. Variables studied included the decision-makers' location (educational institution, hospital), their role or position, their functions, and the guidelines under which they performed student evaluations. Also studied were mechanisms available to students to question the decision. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Reliability of the data from the administrative practices instrument was assessed using contingency tables which compared the program's reported data to its written policies and procedures. The level of agreement was approximately .50 which was considered adequate bearing in mind the frequent discrepancies between policies and procedures in most institutions.. There were five significiant findings, these being: (1) there exists a lack of faculty evaluation standards when evaluating students in clinical settings, (2) in one-third of the programs a clinical instructor alone makes a student's clinical decision, (3) it appears that in some programs the same members serve on more than one level of review panels, (4) procedures employed in the conducting of informal and formal hearings are rarely written, and (5) grievance and appeal panels tend to alter professional judgments of nurse faculty even though panel members frequently are non-nurses. / Education, Faculty of / Educational Studies (EDST), Department of / Graduate

The current status of gerontological nursing curricula in Canadian generic baccalaureate nursing programs has not been studied. As the Canadian society changes the health care system is struggling to provide adequate health care to the growing population over the age of 65. Nurses must be prepared to assist the elderly in the community and in institutions to cope with increasing disabilities. Therefore, the study of gerontological nursing should be a requirement in a nurses' basic education to prepare them to work with older clients in all settings. This study used a survey methodology to determine the present status of gerontological content in baccalaureate nursing education curricula. Questionnaires were sent to each of the 22 deans/directors of the Canadian generic baccalaureate nursing programs and to 31 provincial reputational "experts" in the field of gerontology. A return rate of 90% and 93% was obtained respectively. The study asked five questions: 1) What nursing model or concepts are used by the generic baccalaureate schools of nursing? 2) What gerontological content is included in these programs? 3) What gerontological content is integrated in courses or taught in required or elective specific gerontology courses? 4) What gerontological clinical experiences are required? and 5) Are faculty academically prepared to teach gerontological content? Answers to these questions were compared with similar questions asked of reputational "experts". A quarter of the schools did not use nursing concepts or models while many schools chose a nursing model which was not consistent with their philosophy of health. Ninety percent of the schools taught gerontology content in integrated courses; half of the schools also offered a specific gerontology course of which 40% were elective courses. Even though all 49 listed gerontology topics and 28 patient problems and care techniques were taught by the majority of the schools there is little evidence the schools are producing gerontology prepared nurses. The gerontology clinical hours accounted for only 7.4% of the total clinical experiences. The "experts" recommended gerontology receive 21% of the clinical hours and that it be dispersed in a variety of community and clinical settings. Few (5%) faculty members were prepared with a post graduate degree in gerontology to act as positive role models for the students. Few (2%) students chose a gerontology practicum in their last year. The findings and recommendations are meant to assist educators with the task of expanding the gerontological curricula in generic baccalaureate nursing programs. The nine recommendations address ways to assist schools to reevaluate their curriculum and improve nursing care to the elderly in Canadian society. / Education, Faculty of / Educational Studies (EDST), Department of / Graduate

This qualitative study examines the influence of culture on the teaching and learning process in an eastern Canadian college nursing program. The study reveals incongruency between the ideals of multiculturalism and teaching and learning processes. While teachers perceive they have the requisite skills to fulfill the content objectives using various pedagogical methods set out by the curriculum, they are not always able to promote successful achievement of these objectives in a multicultural student population. Moreover, students experience special learning difficulties in their interactions with teachers when the learning environment is unfamiliar to them and their own cultural identity and life values are not well understood. / The study concludes that the content of nursing education curricula needs to be broadened to include attention to cultural considerations. Most importantly, teachers practicing within multicultural student populations need training in cultural sensitivity and in developing culturally appropriate pedagogical approaches.

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No description available.

This descriptive study was done to provide information on the number of hours and clinical experience students received during nursing education which might equip them with skills required for mental retardation nursing. Registered Nurses Associations for each province assisted in the study by providing lists of nursing schools in their province. Of the 142 nursing schools having a graduating class in 1969, 140 were studied. The urgency of the problem was shown when it was noted that an estimated 3 percent of the population of Canada were mentally retarded. Several commissions have been done on this topic in the past decade in Canada. Some studies of this general nature have been done in the United States. Review of the literature indicated that no previous studies had been done on this topic in Canada. A questionnaire was constructed to obtain data relating to placement of mental retardation experience, hours of theory and clinical experience provided and the year of nursing education in which the experience occurred. Questionnaires were mailed to the schools, completed by them, and returned. It was found that diploma schools tended to provide between 0 to 8 hours of theory and clinical experience in mental retardation whereas university schools tended to offer up to 12 hours of experience. Most nursing education in mental retardation occurred in pediatrics or psychiatric programs or in combinations of these and other courses. Mental retardation nursing education tended to occur in the next to the last year of the program for all schools. Many schools, however, indicated that mental retardation experience was not included in the school curriculum at all. It appeared that very little theory and clinical experience in mental retardation was being given students enrolled in nursing schools in Canada. The relative lack of planned clinical experience with retarded individuals was surprising. Several problems and limitations were encountered in conducting the study, particularly concerning data collection and the tool used for data collection. The data had to be collected in two phases from two different sources, home schools and affiliate schools, to obtain accurate data. Studies could be done to focus attention on current problems in nursing the mentally retarded, related to the need for inclusion of theory and clinical experience in the curriculum of nursing schools. Studies could also be done to determine time allotment, placement and specific mental retardation content in current nursing programs. Qualitative studies could be done to show the possible effect of staff knowledge of mental retardation on the care provided to mentally retarded patients. This study was an attempt to show the need for review of nursing education programs in relation to the inclusion of mental retardation theory and clinical experience in the curriculum of nursing schools. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Nursing, School of / Graduate