Diagnostic accuracy of the Troponin-only Manchester Acute Coronary Syndromes (T-MACS) decision aid with a point-of-care cardiac troponin assay.

Objective: Point-of-care (POC) cardiac troponin (cTn) assays have a rapid turnaround time but are generally less sensitive than laboratory-based assays. Previous research found that the Abbott i-Stat cardiac troponin I (cTnI) assay has good diagnostic accuracy when used with the Troponin-only Manchester Acute Coronary Syndromes (T-MACS) decision aid and serial sampling over 3 hours. Accuracy of other assays may differ.

A qualitative study of influences on long-term physical activity in physically active African American women.

Performing routine physical activity (PA) is one of several measures that may be taken to prevent chronic illness; however, African American (AA) women are among the least physically active groups in the United States. The purpose of this study was to gain perspectives of AA women who are physically active and understand how they continue long-term PA. In this qualitative descriptive study, we interviewed 14 AA women using researcher-developed open-ended questions.

Methodological Issues of Research with African-American Women: Influences on Long-Term Physical Activity in Physically Active African-American Women.

This paper reports the methodological challenges encountered while performing a descriptive, qualitative study examining the perspectives of African-American women who successfully maintained long-term physical activity. The socioecological model was used to expand on the dynamics pertaining to the long-term physical activity of 14 African-American women between 35 and 65 years of age. These women were recruited in 2 Midwestern American states and had been physically active for more than 6 months at the time of the study.

Enhancing Critical Thinking in Graduate Nursing Online Asynchronous Discussions.

Background: Graduate nursing students in online courses often have limited success in developing the critical thinking (CT) skills essential for advanced roles. This study describes the use of complementary strategies in a graduate-level nursing course to enhance CT in online discussions.

Method: Using Paul and Elder's framework for understanding the components of CT, the authors designed an asynchronous online course using multiple strategies to promote CT.

Facilitators and barriers to health promotion in African-American adults: a qualitative systematic review protocol.

The objective of this review is to identify, appraise and synthesize the best available qualitative evidence on the barriers and facilitators to participation in health-promoting behaviors as experienced by African-American adults. More specifically, this review will systematically examine scientific literature for the purpose of addressing the following questions.

Evaluating Nursing Students' Clinical Performance.

This article is one in a series on the roles of adjunct clinical faculty and preceptors, who teach nursing students to apply knowledge in clinical settings. This article describes aspects of the student evaluation process, which should involve regular feedback and clearly stated performance expectations.

"You have to hunt for the fruits, the vegetables": environmental barriers and adaptive strategies to acquire food in a low-income African American neighborhood.

This qualitative study sought to understand food acquisition behaviors and environmental factors that influence those behaviors among women in a low-income African American community with limited food resources. We drew on in-depth interviews with 30 women ages 21 to 45 years recruited from a community health center in Chicago, Illinois. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

Collaborative graduate education: executive nurse practice and health care leadership.

Research College of Nursing and the Rockhurst University Helzberg School of Management Health Care Initiative collaborated to offer the Executive Nurse Practice: Health Care Leadership track to Research College of Nursing graduate students. This effort was not only cost effective, but also offered expert faculty in both the fields of nursing and business. The curriculum is an integration of both fields and faculties from both institutions as they communicate and collaborate each semester to successfully coordinate the track.