Graduate nursing online orientation course: transitioning for success.

Graduate nursing students beginning their graduate education often lack technological preparedness when beginning the journey in a virtual e-learning environment. These gaps in preparedness include lack of understanding course delivery, accessing resources remotely, participating in asynchronous course activities, and use of emerging health care technologies. This article describes an educational innovative online orientation course that simulates course activities so that students get a true perspective of what e-learning entails.

The impact of data degradation and sample size on the performance of two similarity coefficients used in behavioural linkage analysis.

In order to determine whether a series of unsolved crimes has been committed by the same offender, the police often must rely on an analysis of behavioural evidence. When carrying out this task, some type of similarity coefficient is typically relied on to assess the degree of behavioural stability and distinctiveness that exists across a set of crimes and questions inevitably arise as to which coefficient to use. In cases of juvenile sex offences, research has suggested that a taxonomic similarity index outperforms the most commonly used metric at the moment, Jaccard's coefficient, especially under conditions of data degradation (missing data).

Challenges and opportunities: communication near the end of life.

While the nurse works on developing communication skills with the dying patient and his or her family, the goal should be to build an understanding of the patient and family's needs and goals. The principles and value of good communication near the end of life are reviewed. Practical approaches and suggestions for medical-surgical nurses to improve communication are provided.

Simultaneous analysis of citalopram and desmethylcitalopram by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection after solid-phase extraction.

Objectives: To develop a HPLC method for the determination of citalopram (CIT) and desmethylcitalopram (DCIT).

Methods: Solid-phase extraction followed by fluorescence detection was used to measure CIT and DCIT in deproteinized plasma.

Results: The extraction recovery for both analytes was 104 +/- 3%.

The contextual nature of decision making near the end of life: hospice patients' perspectives.

Mr. C. was diagnosed with lung cancer seven months ago.

Eliminating health disparities among minority women: a report on conference workshop process and outcomes.

A national conference convened in May 2001 explored health disparities among minority women. It included 5 one-hour workshops that randomly assigned each participant to 1 of 4 groups. Groups generated recommendations on conference topics and from these identified priority recommendations.