Immersive virtual reality simulations in nursing education.

This article explores immersive virtual reality as a potential educational strategy for nursing education and describes an immersive learning experience now being developed for nurses. This pioneering project is a virtual reality application targeting speed and accuracy of nurse response in emergency situations requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Other potential uses and implications for the development of virtual reality learning programs are discussed.

Pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified: primary care perspectives.

Pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified (PDD, NOS), a developmental-neurologic spectrum disorder, occurs in 10 to 12 of every 10,000 children. PDD, NOS is characterized by a spectrum of significant problems that may vary substantially in range and expression. These may include visual/spatial, kinesthetic, verbal/linguistic, and musical/rhythmic problems.

Computerized approaches to teaching nurse practitioner students.

Personal computer in clinical and educational environments have proliferated and offer users new opportunities for individualized learning. Computerized patient management problems are an innovative resource for the teaching clinical content and problem-solving skills. This article describes two computerized applications and highlights one such personal computer program, NP Clinic, which was designed for use with pediatric and family nurse practitioner students.

Characteristics of fifth-grade children in relation to the type of after-school care.

Does the type of after-school care affect a fifth-grade child's self-perception, substance use, or school performance/attendance? Children in three types of care, self (n = 28), sibling (n = 20), and adult (n = 106), were recruited to address this question. Data were obtained via the Self-Perception Profile, self-report of risk-taking behavior, and school records. Self-care was significantly more prevalent in Caucasian (23%) and Hispanic (19%) families.