The creation of a synchronous learning environment to support a study abroad program for nursing majors at a traditional liberal arts university.

In response to an increased need for Spanish-speaking and culturally competent nurses, a small private undergraduate-only liberal arts university implemented a semester-long study abroad program for nursing majors in Barcelona, Spain. Prior to the creation of this program, study abroad for nursing students was limited because of prelicensure requirements and limitations of a traditional nursing curriculum. Students studying in Spain enroll in four courses--including two core nursing courses delivered using Polycom hardware and telepresence software by nursing faculty who remain in the United States, a Spanish language course, and one general education course taught either by the University's Spain Director or by an experienced Spanish professor.

Cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome in alcohol- and nicotine-dependent men and women.

Background And Research Objective: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of mortality among alcohol-dependent people; however, minimal data exist on the CVD risk factor profile in this high-risk population. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and clustering of traditional and novel CVD risk factors, including components of the metabolic syndrome, in nicotine- and alcohol-dependent adults.

Subjects And Methods: Participants (n = 46; 61% men; 87% white), who were a consecutive series of eligible adults (19-56 years of age; mean, 34.