Impact of Watson's human caring-based health promotion program on caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia.

Background: Caring for people with schizophrenia is accompanied by challenges that impact caregiver health. We conducted this study to explore the effect of a Caring Science-Based health promotion program on the sense of coherence and well-being among caregivers of persons with schizophrenia.

Methods: This randomized clinical trial with the Solomon four-group design was conducted on 72 caregivers randomly allocated into two intervention and two control groups.

Exploring the Usefulness of Theory-Guided Reflection During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

During 2 massive open online course sessions in 2020-2021, learners shared lived experiences during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic within a framework of theory-guided online discussion. We analyzed 211 COVID-19-related learner narratives from online discussion boards. Themes included sharing concerns and strategies related to patients separated from loved ones, honoring strengths in self and colleagues, valuing shared support among work colleagues, realizing the importance of self-care, voicing concerns about working conditions, and recognizing the impact of theory-guided shared reflection.

Student Perceptions Related to Immediate Workplace Usefulness of RN-to-BSN Program Content.

Background: Despite a national directive for associate degree in nursing (ADN) nurses to complete BSN degrees, there is limited research related to student perceptions of the value added by BSN education.

Purpose: The purpose was to explore perceptions of immediate workplace usefulness of RN-to-BSN content for ADNs.

Methods: Qualitative narrative data provided by 263 RN-BSN students in their final semester before graduating with a BSN were analyzed.

Usefulness of Watson's Caring Science for Online Educational Practices in Disciplines Outside of Nursing.

Human caring has long been considered the primary domain of nurses and the primary function of nursing practice. Results related to the study of a Caring Science, Mindful Practice Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), suggest that Watson's Caring Science tenets are meaningful and useful for professionals who work in disciplines outside of nursing. Further study was needed to explore the degree to which Caring Science might be useful and applicable to the practices of non-nurse professionals.

Creating a Global Community of Learners in Nursing and Beyond: Caring Science, Mindful Practice MOOC.

Aim: The aim was to examine the usefulness of a massive open online course (MOOC) on caring and mindfulness to a broad international audience that included nurses, allied health professionals, and others.

Background: MOOCs in higher education have been evident since 2008. Very few MOOCs on nursing topics have appeared since that time.

What Student Cues Prompt Online Instructors to Offer Caring Interventions?

Aim: The aim was to describe how instructors respond to students' demonstrating a need for caring in online classrooms.

Backgound: Previous studies have documented student perceptions of caring in online classrooms. Knowledge development of instructor perceptions was needed.

Mindful Communication for Caring Online.

Six studies containing information related to conveying and sustaining caring in online nursing classrooms were analyzed for communication patterns among faculty and students. Six consistent communicative elements emerged from this analysis: offering full presence, acknowledging shared humanity, attending to the individual, asking for and providing frequent clarification, demonstrating flexibility, and pointing out favorable opportunities while acknowledging challenges. These elements reflected key aspects of Jean Watson's Caring Science and Thich Nhat Hanh's Mindfulness trainings, prompting guidelines and suggestions for engaging in mindful caring communication online.

Provision and use of personal protective equipment among home care and hospice nurses in North Carolina.

Background: We investigated the frequency with which home care/hospice nurses are provided with and use personal protective equipment (PPE) and factors associated with use.

Methods: We conducted a mail survey among home care/hospice nurses in North Carolina in 2006.

Results: The adjusted response rate was 69% (n = 833).

Student-preferred caring behaviors for online nursing education.

Better understanding of how to convey and sustain caring in online nursing classrooms will support caring as a core value in nursing. Sitzman and Leners (2006) identified online instructor behaviors that supported students feeling cared for in online classroom settings. In this study, 122 baccalaureate online students from five universities completed an online survey in relation to prioritizing these previously identified caring instructor behaviors.

Documentation of incidental factors affecting the home healthcare work environment.

Working conditions related to unrestrained pets, unruly children, clutter, and poor lighting during home healthcare visits are considered normal aspects of care providers' jobs. To date, there has been no documentation related to how often these factors are present in the home healthcare setting during home visits. In this study, 833 home healthcare nurses practicing in North Carolina answered a questionnaire that included items related to how often unrestrained pets, unruly children, poor lighting, and clutter existed in the homes they visited.

Blood exposure incidence rates from the North Carolina study of home care and hospice nurses.

Background: Home care/hospice nurses may be at elevated risk of blood exposure because of the nature of their work and work environment. However, little is known about the incidence of blood exposure in this population.

Methods: A mail survey (n = 1,473) was conducted among home care/hospice nurses in North Carolina in 2006.

Twenty-first century doctoral education: online with a focus on nursing education.

The acute shortage of doctorally prepared nursing faculty has prompted the nursing profession to look to new and creative ways of delivering doctoral-level preparation to currently employed nurse educators. The development of an online PhD program, based on recommended benchmark guidelines for a "best practice" approach to Internet-based education, led to a program evaluation matrix for formative and summative student advising and program review. In addition, efforts to seek the student voice in formative as well as summative evaluation provided a well-rounded plan to monitor program outcomes based on recommended benchmark guidelines.

Diversity and the NCLEX-RN: a double-loop approach.

The United States is increasingly ethnically diverse. To provide culturally congruent care to this changing population, nursing programs must attract and support ethnically diverse students through to successful completion of the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses. Critically examining the literature on this topic revealed three themes: need for a diverse nursing workforce, lack of formal evidence, and narratives of concern.

Graduate student perceptions: feeling the passion of caring online.

The concept of caring in nursing education has been addressed with regard to traditional classroom settings. In addition, research on effective online teaching approaches, differences between online and face-to-face classroom settings, and supporting student success in online settings is readily found in published literature. The question of whether caring can be effectively conveyed in online nursing classroom settings remains unanswered.

Perceptions of nursing student clinical placement experiences.

There is an unprecedented shortage of registered nurses (RNs) in the United States of America. Efforts to educate more RNs have been limited by a shortage of both clinical placements and preceptors for nursing students. The purpose of this study was to examine nursing education issues associated with student clinical placement as experienced by hospital personnel who coordinate the placements with various schools of nursing.

Student perceptions of caring in online baccalaureate education.

The concept of caring in nursing education is foundational. Knowledge development regarding caring in face-to-face classroom settings, effective online teaching approaches, differences between online and face-to-face classroom settings, and supporting student success in online settings is extensive. However, the question of whether caring can be effectively conveyed in online nursing classroom settings remains unanswered.

Avoid sleepiness while driving.

Returning to the office after a long work day, Kristin, a hospice nurse, learns that the nighttime on-call nurse is ill. Kristin agrees to take call and hopes it will be a slow night. Now it is 2 am and Kristin has to travel to a client's home.

Bag and supply transport tips.

Wearily glancing at the front entrance of the apartment building, about 100 yards away and up two flights of stairs, Chris thinks, "One more trip and I should have everything." Two boxes of supplies and a bag of assessment equipment are needed for this visit and Chris must transport everything alone. For the next visit, Chris will again be required to transport various boxes and bags.