This study proposed to determine the reasons given by registered nurses for participation or nonparticipation in programs leading to a baccalaureate or higher degree. The purpose of this study was the following: identify the factors influencing registered nurses to return or not return to school for an advanced degree and to compare the needs (met or unmet) of the participants with the anticipated needs (met and unmet) of the nonparticipants.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Work engagement of registered nurses (RNs) has gained attention in health care, as an organizational process that is requisite to promoting optimal patient outcomes. Improving patient outcomes has caused a movement to examine what can be done to bridge the disparity between good and excellent care. Standards that enhance RN engagement to promote professional care are seen as vital to excellence. Magnet designation, awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, signifies an organization meets such standards. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a correlation exists between RN engagement and the organizational structures common to Magnet designation. This study also evaluated the influence of social and institutional demographics on the relationship between engagement and Magnet designation. The variables in this study included: age (generation), gender, nursing degree, years of RN experience, years of unit longevity, shift, hours scheduled and worked per week, percentage of time in direct patient care, nursing unit, and shared governance council participation. Finally, this study evaluated the influence of RN perception related to organizational support for work on the relationship between engagement and Magnet designation. A total of 370 RNs in Magnet (n = 220) and non-Magnet (n = 150) designated hospitals completed a 17-item engagement survey and a 15-item demographic survey. Major findings of the study indicated no significant difference in RN engagement between nurses who work at Magnet versus non-Magnet designated hospitals. Within the Magnet sample, significant relationships were found between engagement and shift, years of RN experience in any clinical setting, and RN perceptions related to organizational support for work. Scatter plots for nursing experience showed positive slopes for total engagement, vigor, dedication, and absorption. Post-hoc results for RN perception related to organizational support for work identified the significant areas of engagement were total engagement, vigor, and absorption. No significant post-hoc results were noted for the variable of shift. Through significant and non-significant findings, several insights were gained about engagement. As a result of this study, leadership can better assess the needs of the RN workforce to provide what RNs perceive to be important to professional practice and RN engagement.

Background: Graduate nursing academic faculty rely heavily on clinical preceptors for mentorship and clinical practicum experiences for BSN-DNP degree-seeking family nurse practitioner (FNP) students. Thus, it is important that preceptors have documented clinical competencies to assure the delivery of quality, evidence-based practice that meets regulatory requirements prior to precepting students.Objectives: The objectives of this quality improvement project were to develop and implement APRN competency validation tools (CVTs) in nurse-led clinic settings.Methods: Rapid Cycle Quality Improvement (RCQI) strategies were used to develop and implement APRN CVTs.Results: Three APRN CVTs were successfully developed, tested, refined, and implemented in four nurse-led clinics in rural east Tennessee. With one exception, the APRN preceptors had documentation of clinical competency prior to approval as a SPADES preceptor. Graduate academic faculty, preceptors, and students reported satisfaction with the SPADES project.Conclusion: CVTs are feasible tools for documentation of validated clinical APRN preceptors’ competency in nurse-led clinics. The CVTs and the medical record review checklist are available upon request from the primary author.Implications for Nursing: Use of APRN CVTs provides documentation that the preceptor uses evidence-based practice in the clinic setting prior to precepting students.

Cardiovascular disease and cardiac events are common and serious health conditions in the United States. Nutrition therapy can play a significant role in the management and treatment of cardiovascular disease, which includes cardiac events. This study examined the dietary supplement knowledge and recommendations made by registered dietitians (RDs), cardiologists, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners to treat patients after experiencing a cardiac event. Over 75 cardiologists, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners in the Tricities area of Tennessee and 3,000 RDs nationwide were asked to complete a 15-question web-based survey. Over 280 RDs and only one cardiologist responded. Findings suggest RDs are aware of evidence supporting dietary supplementation in the treatment of general heart health and cardiac events. Additionally, RDs make dietary supplement recommendations as treatment for patients who have experienced a cardiac event, specifically omega-3 fatty acids or fish oil, coenzyme Q10, and plant sterols.

No description available.

Bakgrund: Demenssjukdom är ett samlingsnamn för sjukdomar som leder till kognitiv svikt. Ett personcentrerat förhållningssätt utgör basen för omvårdnad av personer med demenssjukdom. Syfte: Denna litteraturöversikt syftar till att belysa sjuksköterskors upplevelser av att vårda personer med demenssjukdom inom slutenvården. Metod: Denna litteraturöversikt gjordes med inslag av den metodologi som används vid systematiska litteraturstudier. Databaserna PubMed, CINAHL och APA PsycInfo användes och de utvalda artiklarna granskades enligt Nilssons granskningsmall. Resultatet analyserades enligt Fribergs fem steg för kvalitativ analys. Resultat: Ett stort antal sjuksköterskor upplevde utmaningar i vården av personer med demenssjukdom. Press ovanifrån, personal- och tidsbrist, och dåligt kollegialt samarbete ökade användandet av psykofarmaka, liksom den stressiga miljön ökade responsiva beteenden hos personer med demenssjukdom. Distraktion var en vanlig åtgärd för att bemöta responsiva beteenden. Sjuksköterskor använde sig av personcentrerad kommunikation för att möjliggöra en god relation. Slutsats: Upplevda faktorer som tidsbrist och okunskap upplevdes bidraga till svårigheter för sjuksköterskor att kunna ge en god, personcentrerad omvårdnad. Detta kan resultera i nedsatt välbefinnande för personer med demenssjukdom när de behöver vård. / Background: Dementia is an umbrella term for illnesses that cause cognitive impairment. A person centered approach is the foundation of caring for people with dementia. The relatives to admitted patients with dementia experience the care as generally good, but with room for improvement. Aim: This literature review aims to illustrate RNs experiences in caring for persons with dementia in an inpatient hospital setting. Method: This literature review was made with a methodology similar to ones used in systematic reviews. The search engines PubMed, CINAHL and APA PsycInfo were used and the chosen articles were checked for quality according to a template for qualitative research. The results were analyzed using Fribergs five steps for qualitative analysis. Results: A large number of RNs experienced challenges in the care of PwD. Organisational pressure and a lack of interprofessional co-operation led to an increase in the use of psychotropic drugs, as the stressful environment increased the rate of responsive behaviours in PwD. Distraction was common for RNs to use to counter responsive behaviours. RNs also used person centred communication to facilitate a good relationship. Conclusions: Experienced factors like lack of time and lack of knowledge was experienced as contributing to nurses having difficulties performing person centred care. This can resultin a reduced wellbeing for people with dementia when they are in need of care.

People use others' dress to make assumptions, including how they believe the wearer will behave. Observers then adjust their behavior in response to the anticipated behavior of the wearer. Physician or nurse dress affects the degree to which patients perceive the medical professional as confident, experienced, competent, mature, trustworthy, and professional. Dietitian dress has not been studied. Our purpose was to identify 1) the current level of formality of dress of registered dietitians (RD), 2) characteristics of dress codes, 3) the effect of RD dress on patient/client perceptions of professional traits, and 4) the level of formality at which an RD is perceived as being most professional. Phase I Respondents were randomly selected from the American Hospital Association database and the national WIC directory. A total of 972 managers (449 WIC and 523 hospital nutrition services) completed a survey about their facility's dress code policy for RDs, and how the facility's dietitians dress for work. Data showed that at most WIC clinics dietitians dress in Semi-Casual (khaki pants/collared knit top) attire while most hospitals dietitians dress in Business Casual II (dress slacks/knit shirt) attire. Over half of all managers surveyed felt that dietitian dress was important and a priority. Phase II Respondents were patients/clients of a hospital or WIC clinic in Illinois, Virginia, or Utah. Respondents gave demographic information and rated pictures of a dietitian in nine sets of clothing on eight characteristics: empathetic, competent, approachable, credible, organized, effective, professional, and confident. Respondents identified the dietitian with whom they would most and least prefer to have nutritional counseling. A total of 582 surveys were collected. These data showed that WIC participants and hospital patients most preferred the dietitian to dress in Business Casual (dress slacks/collared dress shirt) with a lab coat; this attire also received the most positive/desirable Professional Characteristic Scores. All respondents least preferred the dietitian dressed in Casual (jeans/knit shirt) attire; this attire received the least positive/desirable Professional Characteristic Scores. Only 1.1% of WIC and 8.1% of hospital dietitians regularly wear dress slacks, a collared shirt, and a lab coat, the patients'/clients' most preferred dress for dietitians.

No description available.

This investigation studied the impact of registered therapy dogs assigned to students in order to improve reading skills. The purpose of this study was to determine if children assigned to registered therapy dogs improve significantly in reading achievement and related school performance such as attendance and discipline when compared to students of similar characteristics not assigned to registered therapy dogs. Specifically, the study used data to ascertain whether students assigned to registered therapy dogs improved their reading skills and if these students demonstrated more or less growth than students of similar characteristics not assigned to registered therapy dogs. This study analyzed data from the Canine Assisted Reading Education (C.A.R.E. to Read) program, data collected from the teacher responses to the C.A.R.E. to Read Teacher Questionnaire, and data provided by Brevard Public School District. Repeated measures analyses and descriptive statistics clearly revealed that students assigned to registered therapy dogs demonstrated more reading growth than their peers who were not assigned to registered therapy dogs. Additionally, students assigned to the registered therapy dogs had a more positive attitude toward schoolwork, were more willing to participate in classroom activities, were more successful with higher level thinking skills, and were more self-confident after being assigned to the registered therapy dogs. Recommendations were made to address teacher training concerning classroom environment, higher level thinking skills, and identifying hesitant and resistant learners. Recommendations also were made for additional research on other uses for registered therapy dogs in the educational setting.

Background: Genomic sequencing is used in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to diagnose babies with genetic disorders. Purpose: To explore the experiences and knowledge of nurses working in NICUs related to genomic sequencing. Methods: This was a mixed-methods, cross-sectional descriptive survey of NICU nurses attending a national conference. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were coded into categories and themes. Results: Of 188 NICU nurses, nearly half reported experience with genomic sequencing. Among nurses with experience, 62.7% rated the amount of discussion they had with families about genomic sequencing as "0". Additionally, 72.7% of participants reported feeling unprepared to discuss genomic sequencing. NICU nurses identified potential harms and benefits associated with disclosing incidental findings, and most (83.6%) were in support of revealing incidental findings. Conclusions: To better support NICU families, nurses need to increase their understanding of genomic sequencing and increase their ability to provide genomics-informed nursing care.