An eye toward the future: Pressing questions for our discipline in today's academic and research climate.

This paper seeks to open a dialogue concerning the current trend in hiring non-nurse faculty (NNF) to tenure track positions in schools/colleges of nursing. The evolution of non-nurses as faculty, including a review of contemporary papers in affecting this trend, is offered. Three means of involving non-nurses in advancing our discipline are presented.

Sleep-Wake Disturbances and Episodic Memory in Older Adults.

Sleep-wake disturbances have been associated with episodic memory loss, but past studies were limited by use of single measures of objective or perceived disturbances. Notably, cognitive reserve and depressive symptoms have been associated with sleep-wake disturbances and poorer episodic memory in older adults. The aims of this study were to determine the relationship between episodic memory and sleep-wake disturbances using objective and perceived measures in older adults and to examine cognitive reserve and depressive symptoms as moderators of this relationship.

Does Social Interaction Matter Psychological Well-Being in Persons With Dementia?

Background: Social interaction between residents and staff is an important factor influencing sense of well-being. This study examined the relationship between staff-resident interactions and psychological well-being of persons with dementia.

Methods: A total of 831 observations of 110 persons with dementia in 17 nursing homes and 6 assisted living facilities were included.

Is an Engaging or Soothing Environment Associated With the Psychological Well-Being of People With Dementia in Long-Term Care?

Purpose: To examine the relationship between environmental ambience and psychological well-being of persons with dementia.

Design: A secondary analysis was conducted using observational data with repeated measures. A total of 1,857 observations from 177 persons with dementia in 17 nursing homes and 6 assisted living facilities were included.

Caregiver and care recipient characteristics as predictors of psychotropic medication use in community-dwelling dementia patients.

Objectives: The current practice of prescribing psychotropic medication for the management of dementia-related behavioral disturbances is under substantial debate. Using Pearlin's stress process model as theoretical underpinning, the aim of this investigation is to identify caregiver and care recipient characteristics as predictors of anxiolytic, antipsychotic, and antidepressant use among community-dwelling dementia patients. We hypothesized that caregiving burden and patient characteristics, particularly behavior disturbances and pain, would be positively associated with psychotropic medication use.

Recruitment and Retention Challenges of Examining Cognitive Dysfunction in Older Adults Hospitalized for Acute Heart Failure.

Background: Barriers to recruiting and retaining acutely ill older adults in clinical research include complexity of illness, fatigue, and early discharge.

Objective: To describe recruitment and retention challenges of examining cognitive dysfunction in older adults hospitalized for acute heart failure.

Methods: An examination of the reasons for recruitment and retention issues within an acute care, university-affiliated health care system.

The Association Between Characteristics of Care Environments and Apathy in Residents With Dementia in Long-term Care Facilities.

Purpose: Apathy is highly prevalent in dementia but often overlooked. Environment-based interventions have demonstrated positive impact on apathy, yet, influential environmental components are largely understudied. This study examined the relationship between care environments and apathy in long-term care residents with dementia.

Developing the Person-Environment Apathy Rating for persons with dementia.

Objectives: To develop the Person-Environment Apathy Rating (PEAR) scale that measures environmental stimulation and apathy in persons with dementia and to evaluate its psychometrics.

Method: The PEAR scale consists of the PEAR-Environment subscale and PEAR-Apathy subscales. The items were developed via literature review, field testing, expert review, and pilot testing.

Pain and psychological well-being among people with dementia in long-term care.

Objective: To examine the relationship between self-reported pain and psychological well-being of people with dementia (PWD) living in residential long-term care as indicated by displays of observed emotional expression over the daytime period.

Design: Secondary analysis using repeated measures of self-report and observational data.

Setting And Subjects: A total of 177 PWD were included from 17 nursing homes and six assisted living facilities in Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Cognitive dysfunction in older adults hospitalized for acute heart failure.

Background: Few studies have measured cognitive dysfunction in older adults during acute exacerbations of heart failure (HF), even though 25% of patients are readmitted within 30 days. The aims of this study were to examine cognitive dysfunction and acute HF symptoms in older adults hospitalized for HF and to evaluate the relationship between cognitive dysfunction and 30-day rehospitalization rates for acute HF.

Methods And Results: A cross-sectional descriptive design was used to characterize cognitive function in 53 older adults hospitalized for acute HF with the use of Cogstate computerized neuropsychologic tests.

Daytime observed emotional expressions of people with dementia.

Background: Emotional expression among people with dementia (PWD) may inform person-centered approaches to care and improvements in dementia-related quality of life.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine frequency and variability of positive and negative emotional expressions, personal factors influencing positive and negative emotional expressions, and trajectories of emotional expression among PWD during daytime hours.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of daytime positive and negative emotional expressions of 30 PWD living in residential long-term care who completed twelve 20-minute observation periods occurring hourly as part of a multi-site study of wandering behavior.

Relationship between observable emotional expression and wandering behavior of people with dementia.

Objective: This study explored the relationship between observable emotional expression and wandering behaviors of people with dementia (PWD).

Methods: A secondary data analysis was conducted of a multi-site study that used a cross-sectional design with repeated measures nested within subjects. Participants included 142 PWD residing in 17 nursing homes and six assisted-living facilities in Michigan and Pennsylvania who were randomly assigned to six 20-min videotaped observation periods, conducted on two non-consecutive days.