Engaging Older Adults in a Depression Simulation Experience.

Background: Clinical simulation has become integral to curriculum development in nursing programs. This innovative intervention was designed to explore the efficacy of high-fidelity standardized patient (SP) simulation to increase students' ability to recognize signs of depression and to improve therapeutic communication.

Method: During a 12-month period, prelicensure nursing students ( = 136) in a midwestern nursing program participated in this simulation experience.

Safe patient handling and mobility (SPHM) for increasingly bariatric patient populations: Factors related to caregivers' self-reported pain and injury.

This study was conducted at 5 Veterans Administration Medical Centers (VAMCs). A cross sectional survey was administered to 134 workers who routinely lift and mobilize patients within their workplaces' safe patient handling and mobility (SPHM) programs, which are mandated in all VAMCs. The survey was used to examine a comprehensive list of SPHM and non-SPHM variables, and their associations with self-reported musculoskeletal injury and pain.

Satisfaction and Technology Evaluation of a Telehealth Robotic Program to Optimize Healthy Independent Living for Older Adults.

Background And Purpose: With the growth in the aging population, and shortage of primary care providers, telehealth programs are needed to optimize healthy independent living for older adults. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a nurse-led intervention program delivered through a telepresence robot to promote healthy lifestyles and address chronic illness management among older adults living independently in a retirement community. Telepresence robots provide two-way video-mediated communication with remote in-home navigation.

Using telehealth to optimize healthy independent living for older adults: A feasibility study.

The purpose of this study was to test feasibility of the Telehealth Community Health Assistance Team (T-CHAT), a nurse-led intervention delivered through a telepresence robot designed to promote healthy independent living among older adults. Using a quasi-experimental design, 21 older adults were divided into a T-CHAT group (n = 11) or a waitlist control group (n = 10). The T-CHAT group received 3 weekly health coaching sessions from a nurse practitioner student through the telepresence robot.

Acceptability and usability of a telepresence robot for geriatric primary care: A pilot.

The dual challenge of increasing numbers of older adults and overall increases in those with some form of insurance is driving the need to develop and evaluate novel methods of primary care delivery such as telehealth. The goal of this study was to explore the acceptability and usability of a remote presence robot (RPR) in a simulated primary care wellness encounter for older adults. A descriptive exploratory study was used to determine the acceptability and usability of the RPR operated by an APRN 250 miles from 13 older adults residing in a high rise during a simulated primary care visit.

Utility and effectiveness of a remote telepresence robotic system in nursing education in a simulated care environment.

Background: There is a growing shortage of nursing graduates and faculty to prepare students for careers in nursing. One way to ameliorate this paradigm is to integrate technology such as a remote presence robot (RPR) in both clinical and educational settings.

Materials And Methods: The InTouch Health (Santa Barbara, CA) RP-7, an RPR, was deployed in a simulated, multigenerational home where nursing students and faculty interact in a variety of activities.