Supporting the Quality of Measurement and Evaluation in Education.

The impetus for the development of a measurement and evaluation team for Robert Morris University, School of Nursing and Health Sciences (SNHS), was to foster faculty and administration commitment in enhancing the quality of measurement and evaluation processes. Many of the SNHS faculty members had experienced incidents of academic inconsistencies with student exam protocols. The measurement and evaluation team was charged to define the goals for faculty to use evidence-based assessment and evaluation strategies that are appropriate for the learner and learning goals, support use of evaluation data to measure the achievement of designated outcomes, and promote curricular excellence through the use of assessment and evaluation data and policies to enhance the teaching and learning process.

Recognition of risk factors and prognostic indicators in Fournier's gangrene.

Fournier's gangrene is a rare but rapidly progressive necrotizing infection that results from the synergistic action of multiple aerobic and anaerobic organisms colonized on the skin and in the anogenital area. This is a case report of a middle-aged man with late presentation of Fournier's gangrene that was treated aggressively by a team of infectious disease specialists, surgeons, intensivists, and intensive care unit specialty nurses over a 3-week period. Despite heroic efforts by the multidisciplinary team, the patient's condition deteriorated and he died of multisystem failure.

Recurrent intussusception in a 4-year-old male.

Acute abdominal pain in children is a common complaint in the emergency department. The etiology of abdominal pain in children can range from benign to life-threatening, and the clinical diagnosis and treatment must be timely and accurate. This case describes a 4-year-old boy with intussusception, a serious disorder with the potential for life-threatening consequences.

Elbow injuries and fractures.

Elbow complaints are frequently encountered in the emergency setting. Mechanism of injury often involves direct trauma or a fall on the outstretched hand and arm. Abnormal findings on elbow radiographs can be challenging to identify, thus a systematic approach is essential to identify subtle findings especially with occult fractures.

The effect of nurse practitioner practice in home care on emergency department visits for homebound older adult patients: an exploratory pilot study.

The impact of nurse practitioners (NPs) in home care on emergency department (ED) usage in Canada has not been documented in the literature. This article discusses the potential impact of care provided by NPs on ED use for home care patients in Canada. The authors used a 2-group prospective design for this pilot study to compare the number of ED visits in home care patients followed by NPs (intervention group, n = 30) with those receiving usual care and not followed by NPs (control group, n = 9).

Promoting critical appraisal of the research literature: a workshop for school nurses.

To promote healthy lifestyles and prevent youth obesity, school nurses collaborate with teachers and other professionals to implement effective health promotion activities (e.g., physical fitness initiatives and nutrition education).

Anger assessment in rural high school students.

Anger and aggression in school children are a major concern in American society today. Students with high anger levels and poor cognitive processing skills are at risk for poor relationships, underachievement in school, and health problems. This article describes characteristics of children who are at risk for high anger levels and aggression as well as those who are able to modulate their anger.