Reframing evidence-based practice curricula to facilitate engagement in nursing students.

Evidence-based practice underscores a modern approach to nursing to ensure delivery of safe, up-to-date and person-centred care in the evolving clinical environment. While most entry-to-practice nursing courses incorporate elements of evidence-based research curricula, nursing students commonly struggle to see the relevance of research in their training. This study sought to understand nursing students' satisfaction and perspectives on research after an undergraduate research subject was redesigned to make overt the connection between research and professional nursing practice.

Plastic with personality: Increasing student engagement with manikins.

Background: Simulation allows students to practice key psychomotor skills and gain technical proficiency, fostering the development of clinical reasoning and student confidence in a low risk environment. Manikins are a valuable learning tool; yet there is a distinct lack of empirical research investigating how to enhance engagement between nursing students and manikins.

Objective: To describe student perspectives of a layered, technology enhanced approach to improve the simulation learning experience.

Multi-component weight-loss interventions for people with cardiovascular disease and/or type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review.

Objectives: To determine whether weight loss interventions, which combine dietary, exercise and behaviour change strategies, result in reduced weight, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference in people with coronary heart disease (CHD), hypertension (HTN) and/or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Design: A systematic review of studies published 1997 to 2010.

Data Sources: The electronic databases MEDLINE, PsycINFO, COCHRANE, CINAHL and EMBASE.

Providing simulation experiences for large cohorts of 1st year nursing students: evaluating quality and impact.

To provide each student within a large cohort the opportunity to participate in a small group simulation that meets recognised quality indicators is a challenge for Bachelor of Nursing programmes in Australia. This paper, as part of a larger longitudinal study, describes one approach used to manage a simulation for 375 1st year nursing students and to report on the quality of the experience from the student's perspective. To ensure quality was maintained within the large cohort, aspects of the simulation were assessed against the following indicators: alignment with curriculum pedagogy and goals; preparation of students and staff; fidelity; and debriefing.

Evaluation of a critical care simulation series for undergraduate nursing students.

Simulation is increasingly being used to prepare and supplement clinical practice in critical care areas for undergraduate Bachelor of Nursing (BN) students, with some success. However, the effects of multiple, medium-high fidelity simulations for this purpose have not been previously assessed. The purpose of this study was to assess self-reported confidence and competence using scenario-based simulations.