This study investigated the effect of a preceptorship program on role transition of novice staff nurses. A quasi-experimental, control group pretest post-test, design was used. Thirty-four novice staff nurses participated in the study; 20 in the preceptorship (experimental) group, and 14 in the traditional orientation (control) group. Three research hypotheses were investigated to determine whether novice staff nurses who participated in a preceptorship orientation program would: (1) demonstrate easier role transition, (2) report a higher level of job performance, and (3) demonstrate less role deprivation, than those novice staff nurses who participated in a traditional orientation program. Role transition was measured using the Six Dimension Scale of Nursing Performance (Schwirian, 1978) and the Nursing Role Conception Scale (Corwin, 1961). Participants completed the two scales during the first week of the orientation or preceptorship programs and again one-month later. Results indicated no significant differences (p<0.05) between the groups on either the Nursing Role Conception Scale or the Six Dimension Scale of Nursing Performance. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Nursing, School of / Graduate

The purpose of this study was to describe and document how nursing is changing and if it is changing in keeping with the process of professionalization. The purpose was addressed through a grounded field methodology which defined attributes commonly associated with professions into measurable constructs; documented evidence of these characteristics by triangulating data sources; and explored the ideology of academic nurses through twenty-five interviews. The study generated hypotheses regarding nursing’s professional evolution for future investigation. The characteristics commonly associated with professional groups were identified through an extensive review of the literature on professionalism and professionalization. Six research questions were developed from the literature to guide the study. As formulated, the questions reflect change over time. The study’s basic premise is that occupational groups change with regard to specific characteristics during the process of professional development, and that the conceptualization of a profession is an abstract, ideal form, non-existent is reality. The study views the development of an occupational group towards professional status as a dynamic process. Therefore, it does not seek to ask if nursing is or is not a profession, but how it is developing with respect to characteristics commonly accepted as those associated with professions. Public literature, archival data, and a baccalaureate and higher degree nursing school are used to achieve data triangulation. The addresses of ANA presidents, historical texts, a nurse practice act, classified ads, dictionary definitions, faculty credentials, appointment, promotion and tenure criteria, entrance/certification requirements, curricular development and twenty-five semi-structured interviews with baccalaureate and higher degree faculty serve as data sources. These data sources are explored through inductive analysis for evidence of developing attributes and the evolution of a professional culture, defined as a shared and consistent system of beliefs. The study reveals that nursing’s professionalization is incomplete, episodic and uneven in nature. Two conflicting ideologies are identified as limiting changes between nursing and society; Recommendations are made for further study of this social movement. / Ed. D.

Not available / text

Typescript. / Thesis (Ed. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1984. / Bibliography: leaves 200-211. / Photocopy. / xxi, 211 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm

The spiraling costs of healthcare is a paramount issue in the healthcare arena. Today cost containment programs and budgetary costs affect all hospital departments, especially nursing. The purpose of this study was to identify the current and planned mechanisms in which selected hospitals cost out nursing care. The utilization of patient classification systems and patient care hours has also explored in relation to costing out nursing care. The significance of the study was to establish an information base for hospitals regarding methodologies to cost out nursing care and to describe current methodologies of costing out nursing care in select hospitals. The sample was a convenience sample of 30 hospitals identified as charging for nursing services and utilizing variable billing for nursing services. Thirty questionnaires were mailed. Procedures for the protection of human subject rights were followed. Thirteen questionnaires (43%) were returned with eleven (36%) questionnaires fully completed. The results indicated that approximately one-half (50%) of the hospitals currently bill patients for care actually received based on a patient acuity level. Nursing was primarily responsible for costing out nursing care once the program had been implemented. The costs of nursing care included a variety of items and varied across institutions. The majority (45.5%) included salary, benefits, indirect administrative costs and indirect overhead costs. Almost all the respondents stated the hospital used a patient classification system (91%) and the concept "hours of care" (100%). The majority (54.5%) of the hospitals had patient class systems adopted from another hospital. The time included in hours of care varied greatly between the institutions. Despite the variance, all the facilities related hours of care to acuity levels of the patient classification system either a pre-determined hour of care requirement or an acuity level generated by hours of care determined. Findings from this study concluded that costing out nursing care is a viable method in which the nursing profession can charge for nursing care rendered. The data concerning methodologies to cost out nursing care demonstrated several of the limitations defined in nursing literature, e.g. variations in patient classification systems and variations of items included in hours of care. Therefore the conclusion was that although the majority of respondent hospitals cost out nursing care, the charges vary due to the variation in methodologies. The profession of nursing must work to overcome these variations and make the concept of costing out nursing care a commonly performed practice. / School of Nursing

The purpose of the study was to develop and test a self-report instrument that describes the frequency that intrapartum nurses perform labor support and physiologic interventions and the nurses' beliefs of the helpfulness of their interventions. The Labor Support and Physiologic Intervention Scale (LSPIS) uses a Likert-style format in a 5-category range of answer options to collect data on nurses' practices to enhance the progress and process of women's labors. Social support theory and physiologic theory provided a conceptual foundation, while the scientific literature on labor support and intrapartum care provided a basis for the original 57 items used in the pilot (n=10) and the Phase I study (n=307). Five labor support experts evaluated the items, with an interrater agreement of .95 and a content validity index of .93. The 57-item LSPIS had an internal reliability of .93 and .95 for the frequency and helpfulness portions (respectively). Exploratory factor analysis identified a 6-factor solution accounting for 48% of the variance that matched the social support and labor support dimensions. The LSPIS was revised and shortened to 26 items based upon the Phase I data analyses. The Phase II study had 472 respondents recruited from two professional listserves. The internal consistency reliability of the revised LSPIS was .90 and .91 for the frequency and helpfulness portions (respectively). Construct validity was evaluated by exploratory factor analysis, which found several acceptable factor solutions that were consistent with the theoretical framework. A six-factor solution accounted for 59% of the variance and had the following components: instrumental or physical support, emotional support, partner support & information/advice, advocacy, mother-directed pushing, and sustenance. Known groups technique and content analysis of nurses' responses to open-ended questions further evaluated construct validity, while discriminant validity was ascertained using a short version of the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. Further data analyses explored relationships among LSPIS scores and various organizational, geographic, and provider variables. In both phases, instrument psychometrics were acceptable and the scale demonstrated acceptable content and construct validity. Further revisions and future uses of the instrument can be guided by the recommendations provided. / text

This study explored school nurses knowledge of the diagnostic criteria and secondary conditions related to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), their involvement in the identification and treatment of ASD, their knowledge of medication used to treat ASD, and their overall medication management of children with ASD. Participants included 100 school nurses, representing 18 states, who completed a survey on ASD. The response rate was 16.45%. The majority of school nurses were aware Autism and Asperger’s Disorder should fall under the classification of ASD within the school setting. They were less sure on whether PDD-NOS should be included as an ASD. A high percentage indicated they received training in the area of ASD from self-study rather than from formal coursework or supervised clinical experiences. Results found limited involvement of school nurses during the assessment and evaluation process. However, there was more involvement after children had been classified with an ASD, which was primarily limited to the administration of medication and medical treatments. School nurses reported being qualified to administer medication to children with ASD. They also reported being knowledgeable regarding the potential side effects of the medication they administered. The most common medication administered to children with ASD was stimulants. One anti-psychotic medication, Risperdal, appears to be administered fairly frequently by school nurses to children with ASD. Eighty percent surveyed did not report making any medication errors. The majority of school nurses were responsible for supervision of un-licensed personnel in the administration of medication. Besides nurses, secretaries/administrative assistants were the most common school employees administering medication within schools. / Department of Special Education

Thesis (Dr. P.H.)--University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, 1992. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-117).

In 1974 Congress amended the National Labor Relations Act to include provisions specifically addressed to labor relations in the healthcare industry. Early expectations were that rapid union gains would be forthcoming. Those predictions proved incorrect. This study examines some factors which may help explain the unattractiveness of unions for a major segment of the health care para-professional workforce i.e., registered nurses. The study was designed to test a number of hypotheses concerning factors which may influence an individual’s decision to join a union. Surveys were mailed to registered nurses in the states of Michigan and Virginia. The final data base consisted of 191 usable responses. Analysis of the data revealed no significant Pearson product moment correlations between attitudes toward collective bargaining and job satisfaction, level of professionalism, degree of work-related stress, and educational background. The survey instrument also included an item designed to measure behavioral intention. Inclusion of the behavioral intention construct proved valuable, as it provided evidence of the legitimacy of the distinction between attitudes. intention, and actual behavior. Conclusions of the research suggest that registered nurses may represent a unique occupational group with respect to determinants of their collective bargaining sentiments. And because no discernable differences could be detected between samples from the states of Michigan and Virginia, the research also indicates that these results are applicable to registered nurses nationwide. In addition to determinants of attitudes toward collective bargaining a portion of the study was devoted to analysis of the relationship between professionalism and the work-related outcomes of job satisfaction and stress. Level of professionalism was not found to be significantly related to any of these variables. / Ph. D.

Objectives: To describe the co-occurrence of substance use and sexual activity behaviors among Afro-Caribbean adolescents living in South Florida, with attention to legal status, socio-demographic factors and risk-taking attitudes and behaviors. Methods: Convenience sampling was used to select 106 Afro-Caribbean adolescents from community centers in South Florida. A descriptive exploratory study was conducted. Data was analyzed using an independent t test, frequencies and crosstabs. Results: The study consists of 106 adolescents, 75% (n = 79) documented and 25% (n = 27) undocumented. Forty-one documented and 10 undocumented adolescents were sexually active. Of those, 14.6% of the documented and 40% of the undocumented adolescents had been drinking alcohol while engaging in sexual activity; 7.3% of documented and 30% of undocumented adolescents used drugs while engaging in sexual activity. Undocumented adolescents had less adult presence before and after school; Creole was spoken at home more than English, and none of the parents had gone to or graduated from college. There was no significant difference in risk-taking and social adaptation scores as measured by the Adolescent Risk-Taking Instrument (ARTI) for the documented and undocumented Afro-Caribbean adolescents. The ARTI had acceptable internal consistency reliability for the risk-taking (.87) and social adaption (.82) scale in this population. The mean score of risk behavior was 2.04 (SD = .44) for documented Afro-Caribbean adolescents and 1.89 (SD = .47) for undocumented adolescents. For social adaptation, mean scores were 3.23 (SD = .45) for documented and 3.20 (SD = .35) for undocumented adolescents. The co-occurrence of substance use and sexual activity is nearly triple for alcohol use and more than triple for drug use when comparing undocumented to documented adolescents. / However, scores on the ARTI did not differ.Socio-demographic factors related to risky behaviors suggest that the undocumented adolescents were more at risk. Health risk of undocumented adolescents demands more research attention if nurses wish to address the unique needs of this population. / by Kim Jolly. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2009. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2009. Mode of access: World Wide Web.