Nurse educators make decisions regarding the inclusion or exclusion of non-nursing courses in a curriculum. The current literature lacks research regarding which courses have the most impact on first-time nursing licensing examination pass-rates. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to investigate if there is a specific combination of courses that enhance first-time licensing examination pass-rates, using 161 randomly selected accredited associate degree nursing programs. General systems theory applied to nursing education was the framework for the study. ANOVA and independent t-tests were used to address the questions of non-nursing courses or discipline-specific set of non-nursing courses' impact on first-time licensure pass-rates. The ANOVA and independent t-tests analyses did not yield any significant non-nursing courses or discipline-specific sets of non-nursing courses. The findings indicate that non-nursing courses are not a significant subsystem in nursing education when the sole outcome used is NCLEX-RN pass-rates. Nursing faculty can use the results of this study as evidence that the inclusion or exclusion of one non-nursing course over another will likely not be detrimental to their program. This study can lead to positive social change through increasing the evidence-based knowledge from which faculty can base their curriculum.

Integrating evidence-based practice into healthcare education has been a recommendation for the past 16 years. Despite this, barriers still exist with the utilization of evidence-based practice. The purpose of this study was to describe the current state of EBP scholarship in the curriculum of baccalaureate pre-licensure nursing programs. Essential Competencies for Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing (Stevens, 2009) was utilized to measure the state of EBP scholarship. The research question stated: how is evidence-based practice scholarship addressed within baccalaureate pre-licensure nursing programs? The research design was guided by Rogers’ diffusion of innovations theoretical framework and the star model of knowledge transformation ©. The study was a non-experimental descriptive design, and a convenience sample of n=96 surveys from program leaders was evaluated. The findings from this study fill an identified gap in nursing literature and show that EBP is addressed within baccalaureate pre-licensure nursing programs, described by the leaders in the programs. Keywords: evidence-based practice competencies, baccalaureate pre-licensure nursing programs

The goal of this research was to determine how the nursing faculty shortage in Florida was being addressed. The purpose of this descriptive, comparative study was to explore program length, size, and admission criteria of master's of science in nursing (MSN) degree programs. Characteristics of both traditional and non-traditional programs that offered the education specialty were examined. Non-traditional programs included registered nurse to master's of science in nursing (RN-MSN) degree programs. Characteristics of students enrolled in the education track of these programs were also compared, based on participant's entry level into nursing practice. The three comparison groups included diploma prepared nurses, associate degree prepared nurses, and baccalaureate prepared nurses. Comparative and descriptive statistics with cross tabulations and frequencies, were used to determine comparisons, based on responses to questionnaire items that focused on reasons for entering the program, financial assistance, program satisfaction, goals, future plans, years of experience, nursing specialty, employment status, and demographics. The literature review found very few current studies on non-traditional and traditional MSN degree programs. Results of this study found only nine programs in the state that offered an MSN with a nursing education specialty with participation elicited from five of those nine programs. Findings revealed that within those programs were a variety of both traditional and non-traditional options that were unique in how they were organized and administered. Descriptive, comparative analysis revealed no significant differences in student characteristics of the three identified groups for those enrolled in master's level coursework in the nursing education specialty in spring of 2006. Overall, participants in the MSN programs indicated that they chose the program because they needed it for advancement, they wanted additional knowledge and skills, and the reputation and location were important. Their education was financed with personal earnings or loans. Upon completion of the program they planned to stay in their current positions and continue for a doctoral degree or specialty certification in nursing. Within 10 years they planned to be working as a faculty member in a nursing program. They were Caucasian women, aged 41-55, who lived with a significant other and children, worked more than 33 hours per week in critical care, pediatrics or education, and had more than 20 years of work experience. Findings indicated that the diversity of the MSN programs made no difference in the types of students that were attracted to the programs. These findings may be used to target recruitment efforts toward those interested in becoming nursing faculty in an effort to help alleviate the nursing faculty shortage in Florida.

The purposes of this study are to identify student retention strategies in generic baccalaureate schools of nursing and their supporting institutions to determine if these strategies vary according to identified characteristics of the school of nursing and its supporting institution and to determine the perceived effectiveness of the strategies. Data were collected from 313 administrative heads of schools of nursing that offer generic baccalaureate programs accredited by the National League for Nursing; 217 returned usable questionnaires constituted a national response rate of 69.3 per cent. Frequency distribution and the chi-square test of independence, significant at the .05 level, were used for statistical treatment of the data.

Background: Nurses entering the workforce may have limited education in gerontological nursing. Therefore, many nurses are unprepared to provide quality care to older adults. An unprepared nursing workforce could negatively influence older adults’ health outcomes and care experience. Purpose: To determine differences in senior nursing students’ knowledge, attitudes, and perceived competency about older adults based on enrollment in a bachelor of science in nursing degree (BSN), associate’s degree nursing (ADN), and practical nursing (PN) program that offers geriatric content in curricula. Theoretical Framework: Bandura’s social cognitive theory, triadic reciprocal determinism model provided the theoretical framework. Methods: A non-experimental, descriptive survey design with a convenience sample of students enrolled in a BSN, ADN and PN program. A total of 178 students participated in this dissertation study. Palmore Facts on Aging Quiz 2, Kogan’s Attitudes Toward Old People Scale, and the Hartford Geriatric Nurse Competency tool was used to collect data. Results: Students enrolled in BSN, ADN, and PN programs demonstrated limited knowledge about facts on aging. Students’ attitudes toward older adults were positive, and a correlation was found between knowledge and attitudes. Students perceived competency about older adults were high, but purely subjective. Students’ preference to work with older adults post graduation in the PN group were higher compared with students in both the BSN and ADN group. Conclusions: This study underscore the need to systematically design an evidence-based curriculum inclusive of geriatric content across (BSN, ADN, and PN) programs to prepare the future nursing workforce to care for older adults.

In the realm of higher education, retention is a concept vital to the progression and security of all institutions. This remains true for all nursing programs as well because reports have shown an attrition rate as high as 50% in some nursing programs across the globe. Along with the nursing shortage projected in the next 20 years, retention in nursing programs poses a massive problem for not just higher education but healthcare as well. Therefore, it is important for nursing educators to understand the factors affecting student completion of a nursing program. This two-phase, mixed-methods study sought to answer the overarching research question: What factors contribute to completion of the Southcentral Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) Practical Nursing (PN) program within three semesters? Since the majority of nursing programs utilize a selective admission process for accepting students, the first phase of the study gathered admission criteria on six cohorts of students accepted into the SKYCTC PN program from August 2008 through May 2015. This quantitative data was analyzed to determine if any of the admission criteria were related to completion of the program. For the second phase, qualitative data was gathered through a focus group attended by 11 graduates of the SKYCTC PN program between August 2008 and May 2015. The purpose of the focus group was to gather environmental or academic influences that graduates attributed to their success in completing the program.

Each vocational nursing program in Texas was surveyed to determine the faculty and media costs per student classroom instructional hour. Data were obtained from 131 schools, or 99 per cent of the population. These schools taught a total of 4,718 students. The average faculty cost was $1.72 per hour. Faculty cost ranged from $0.17 to $7.75. The average media cost was $0.12 per student hour with a range from no media expenditure to $7.55. The reliability of these costs was not demonstrated. Each program director was asked to identify a principal textbook representing the content taught for each content area in their program. A total of 75 textbooks were identified by two or more programs. A cross tabulation analysis procedure yielded 1,582 combinations of 2 or more textbooks from 2 or more schools. Twenty-five per cent of the schools used the most frequently identified combination of two textbooks. Computer hardware and operating expenses were subtracted from the combined faculty and media cost per student classroom instructional hour. The amount remaining for software purchase was identified as $1.61 with a range of from $0.03 to $7.85 per hour for teaching the required 600 hours. The twenty textbook combinations with the greatest remainder for software utilization were identified. The combination with the largest arithmetic mean remainder was used by 624 students. It was $1.61 per hour. This combination consisted of Ingalls and Salerno's Maternal and Child Health, used to teach maternal and child health, and Hood and Dincher's Total Patient Care, used to teach Medical-Surgical Nursing.

The purpose of this study was to compare the relationship between the American College Test (ACT) sub-test scores, nursing courses' grade point average, college cumulative grade point average and the State Board Test Pool Examination (SBTPE) sub-test scores. Data from 227 nurses were analyzed utilizing three procedures: Pearson product-moment coefficient; multiple correlation coefficient; and linear regression equations. Conclusions were that several ACT sub-test scores could yield useful information on admission; the college cumulative grade point average was the most reliable indicator of success on the SBTPE; and an ACT composite score of eleven was the minimum value required to pass the SBTPE sub-tests with a score of at least 350.

Considerando que a disciplina de Fundamentos de Enfermagem, na atual estrutura curricular, desempenha função introdutória importante, consubstanciando a transição do ensino das disciplinas básicas, para uma primeira instância prática; identificando problemas de várias naturezas no desenvolvimento do processo ensino-aprendizagem da disciplina e diante da necessidade de reestruturação da estrutura curricular do curso disposta na Lei das Diretrizes e Bases da Educação (Lei nº 9.394, de 20 de dezembro de 1996), busca-se com este trabalho, a partir da compreensão do ensino desta disciplina em quatro escolas públicas do estado do Paraná, contribuir com o diagnóstico atual da mesma e subsidiar reflexões para as alterações instituídas pelas diretrizes curriculares atuais. Trata-se de um estudo exploratório junto as escolas públicas de Enfermagem do estado do Paraná com os objetivos de: identificar o perfil dos docentes da disciplina de FE; caracterizar os programas das disciplinas de FE das escolas de enfermagem públicas do estado do Paraná; identificar a opinião quanto ao desenvolvimento do processo ensino-aprendizagem, pelo coordenador da disciplina de FE; compreender o desenvolvimento do processo ensino-aprendizagem da disciplina de Fundamentos de Enfermagem, do ponto de vista sistêmico.A metodologia constitui-se na aplicação da técnica de entrevista semi-estruturada junto aos professores coordenadores da disciplina de FE, subsidiada em instrumento contendo trinta itens; instrumento contendo doze itens para identificar o perfil dos professores; instrumento contendo onze itens para caracterização do programa das disciplinas e da análise dos programas da disciplina. Para a análise dos dados, agrupamos os em três unidades de análise: caracterização dos professores responsáveis pelo ensino da disciplina de Fundamentos de Enfermagem; caracterização dos programas das disciplinas de Fundamentos de Enfermagem; desenvolvimento do processo ensino-aprendizagem da disciplina de Fundamento de Enfermagem do ponto de vista dos coordenadores da disciplina nas respectivas escolas. Os resultados mostram que a disciplina de FE compreendida como subsistema, nas escolas estudadas, apresenta semelhanças e disparidades no desenvolvimento do processo ensino-aprendizagem. Aspectos como carga horária, proporção aluno-docente, estratégias de ensino, modalidades de avaliação, campo de estágio, capacitação profissional, entre outros, são fontes de questionamentos e permeiam o universo dos docentes na disciplina de FE, evidenciando a necessidade de organização quanto ao desenvolvimento do processo ensino-aprendizagem. / In view of the fact that, in the current curricular structure, the subject Nursing Fundamentals plays an important introductory role, consolidating the transition from the teaching of basic subjects to a first practical moment, identifying various kinds of problems in the development of the teaching-learning process of the subject and considering the need to restructure the curricular structure of the course as established in the Law of Educational Guidelines and Bases (Law nº 9.394, December 20 1996), based on an understanding about how this subject is taught in four public schools in the state of Paraná, Brazil, this study aims to contribute to a current diagnosis and be of aid in reflecting about the changes instituted by the current curricular guidelines. This exploratory study was held in public Nursing schools in the state of Paraná and aimed to: identify the profile of teachers in NF; characterize the NF programs in the public nursing schools in Paraná; identify the NF coordinators’ opinions about the development of the teaching-learning process; understand the development of the teaching-learning process in the subject Nursing Fundamentals, from a systemic point of view. The methodology consisted in the application of the semi-structured interview technique among the teachers who coordinated the subject NF, based on an instrument with thirty items; an instrument with twelve items to identify the teachers’ profile; an instrument with eleven items to characterize and analyze the subject programs. Data were grouped in three units for the sake of analysis: characterization of the teachers responsible for teaching the subject NF; characterization of the NF subject programs; development of the teaching-learning process of the subject NF from the perspective of the coordinators in the different schools. Results show that the subject NF, seen as a subsystem in the analyzed schools, presents similarities and differences with respect to the development of the teaching-learning process. Aspects such as hour load, student-teacher index, teaching strategies, evaluation modes, training area, professional training, among others, are sources of inquiries and cross the universe of NF teachers, demonstrating the need to organize the development of the teaching-learning process.

Considerando que a disciplina de Fundamentos de Enfermagem, na atual estrutura curricular, desempenha função introdutória importante, consubstanciando a transição do ensino das disciplinas básicas, para uma primeira instância prática; identificando problemas de várias naturezas no desenvolvimento do processo ensino-aprendizagem da disciplina e diante da necessidade de reestruturação da estrutura curricular do curso disposta na Lei das Diretrizes e Bases da Educação (Lei nº 9.394, de 20 de dezembro de 1996), busca-se com este trabalho, a partir da compreensão do ensino desta disciplina em quatro escolas públicas do estado do Paraná, contribuir com o diagnóstico atual da mesma e subsidiar reflexões para as alterações instituídas pelas diretrizes curriculares atuais. Trata-se de um estudo exploratório junto as escolas públicas de Enfermagem do estado do Paraná com os objetivos de: identificar o perfil dos docentes da disciplina de FE; caracterizar os programas das disciplinas de FE das escolas de enfermagem públicas do estado do Paraná; identificar a opinião quanto ao desenvolvimento do processo ensino-aprendizagem, pelo coordenador da disciplina de FE; compreender o desenvolvimento do processo ensino-aprendizagem da disciplina de Fundamentos de Enfermagem, do ponto de vista sistêmico.A metodologia constitui-se na aplicação da técnica de entrevista semi-estruturada junto aos professores coordenadores da disciplina de FE, subsidiada em instrumento contendo trinta itens; instrumento contendo doze itens para identificar o perfil dos professores; instrumento contendo onze itens para caracterização do programa das disciplinas e da análise dos programas da disciplina. Para a análise dos dados, agrupamos os em três unidades de análise: caracterização dos professores responsáveis pelo ensino da disciplina de Fundamentos de Enfermagem; caracterização dos programas das disciplinas de Fundamentos de Enfermagem; desenvolvimento do processo ensino-aprendizagem da disciplina de Fundamento de Enfermagem do ponto de vista dos coordenadores da disciplina nas respectivas escolas. Os resultados mostram que a disciplina de FE compreendida como subsistema, nas escolas estudadas, apresenta semelhanças e disparidades no desenvolvimento do processo ensino-aprendizagem. Aspectos como carga horária, proporção aluno-docente, estratégias de ensino, modalidades de avaliação, campo de estágio, capacitação profissional, entre outros, são fontes de questionamentos e permeiam o universo dos docentes na disciplina de FE, evidenciando a necessidade de organização quanto ao desenvolvimento do processo ensino-aprendizagem. / In view of the fact that, in the current curricular structure, the subject Nursing Fundamentals plays an important introductory role, consolidating the transition from the teaching of basic subjects to a first practical moment, identifying various kinds of problems in the development of the teaching-learning process of the subject and considering the need to restructure the curricular structure of the course as established in the Law of Educational Guidelines and Bases (Law nº 9.394, December 20 1996), based on an understanding about how this subject is taught in four public schools in the state of Paraná, Brazil, this study aims to contribute to a current diagnosis and be of aid in reflecting about the changes instituted by the current curricular guidelines. This exploratory study was held in public Nursing schools in the state of Paraná and aimed to: identify the profile of teachers in NF; characterize the NF programs in the public nursing schools in Paraná; identify the NF coordinators’ opinions about the development of the teaching-learning process; understand the development of the teaching-learning process in the subject Nursing Fundamentals, from a systemic point of view. The methodology consisted in the application of the semi-structured interview technique among the teachers who coordinated the subject NF, based on an instrument with thirty items; an instrument with twelve items to identify the teachers’ profile; an instrument with eleven items to characterize and analyze the subject programs. Data were grouped in three units for the sake of analysis: characterization of the teachers responsible for teaching the subject NF; characterization of the NF subject programs; development of the teaching-learning process of the subject NF from the perspective of the coordinators in the different schools. Results show that the subject NF, seen as a subsystem in the analyzed schools, presents similarities and differences with respect to the development of the teaching-learning process. Aspects such as hour load, student-teacher index, teaching strategies, evaluation modes, training area, professional training, among others, are sources of inquiries and cross the universe of NF teachers, demonstrating the need to organize the development of the teaching-learning process.