Addressing the Mental Health of Nursing Students During the Pandemic: The Evaluation of a Needs Assessment by a College of Nursing Mental Health Task Force.

Background: A Mental Health Task Force (MHTF) was developed in a large public college of nursing in the Southeastern United States to address the urgent mental health needs expressed by growing numbers of nursing students related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Aims: The purpose of this study was to report on a needs assessment conducted by the MHTF.

Methods: The needs assessment study design was a 16-item cross-sectional online survey and four "Town Hall" focus groups with nursing students, faculty, and staff ( = 1-8 participants per group).

Curriculum and teaching methodologies that effectively refine DNP students' project proposals.

Background: Despite early and continuing development of guidelines and frameworks by scholars and others, including AACN, to streamline the DNP project process, incorporation of DNP project resources into educational practice remains impeded.

Purpose: To share a curricular innovation and specific teaching methodologies aimed at refining DNP students' project proposals.

Methods: Faculty developed a new DNP project proposal course utilizing low stakes writing assignments with feedback to elevate student learning and performance.

Recommendations for evolving a doctor of nursing practice program.

As Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs have evolved within the nursing profession and nursing academia over the last 20 years, pedagogy and curriculum in DNP education have also continued to evolve. Educational innovation requires continuous assessment to ensure quality and efficacy are maintained. Using the Knowledge to Action (KTA) framework, we adapted the knowledge regarding best practices in a DNP program to fit our College of Nursing needs, our community of learners, and sustain this process improvement by implementing programmatic changes that enhanced the quality and rigor of the DNP program.

Tipping Point: Integrating Social Determinants of Health Concepts in a College of Nursing.

Background: State health rankings, national nursing education reform, and increasing awareness of social injustices propelled a college of nursing to transform its strategic plan, infrastructure, and curriculum. The prevalence of social determinants of health (SDOH) in South Carolina indicates a need for the state's health workforce to understand the impact of SDOH and recognize strategies to address and ameliorate SDOH. With the paradigmatic integration of diversity, equity, and inclusion in nursing education, there is a need for programmatic and curricular integration of SDOH to increase awareness, foster understanding, and transform perspectives among nursing faculty, staff, and students.

The Cultural Perceptions of Healthy Eating in Mexican American Children: A Focused Ethnography.

Obesity in Mexican American children is reaching epidemic proportions. Improved understanding of children's healthy eating perceptions in culturally diverse populations is needed. The purpose was to describe the meanings and experiences associated with healthy eating from the perspective of Mexican American children.

Discovering metformin-induced vitamin B12 deficiency in patients with type 2 diabetes in primary care.

Background: Although metformin is the preferred initial pharmacological choice in type 2 diabetes, there is evidence that reveals a link between metformin use and vitamin B12 deficiency. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has recently recommended periodic measurement of B12 levels for all patients on metformin.

Local Problem: Medical record data collected for the preintervention period showed that only 5% (n = 23) of patients diagnosed with diabetes and on metformin had B12 levels checked at an internal medicine primary care practice.

The impact of podcasting on the learning and satisfaction of undergraduate nursing students.

Nursing education has evolved from traditional pedagogical models to current methods using technology for knowledge acquisition. Podcasting is one example of teaching methodology used in higher education. Studies demonstrate positive student satisfaction with podcasting, but there is limited data related to knowledge acquisition.