Lessons learned: Using a Three-Step Model of Planned Change for nursing curricular revision.

Background: The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN, 2021) introduced "The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education" (Essentials) in 2021. The AACN document necessitated a change in nursing curriculums, both undergraduate and graduate. To meet the revised standards, one college of nursing within a hierarchical organization used a Three-Step Model of Planned Change to guide curricular revisions.

An Intergenerational Comparison of Civility: Nursing Students and Nurse Educators.

Purpose: Intergenerational differences in perceptions related to civility among nursing students and nurse educators were explored.

Method: A convenience sample of 13 students and 10 educators were interviewed in this descriptive qualitative study.

Results: Both groups defined civility as kindness, collaboration, and respect.

Effects of Medicare wellness visits on health promotion outcomes.

Background: The American older adult population has the highest historical prevalence of chronic disease and underuses wellness visit benefits. Little is known about how Medicare wellness visits (MWVs) affect health outcomes.

Purpose: The aim of this retrospective case-control study was to examine how MWVs affect health outcomes by measuring two kinds of data for case and control groups at baseline versus 15 months: (1) the differences in blood pressure, fasting lipids, and glucose levels and (2) the completion frequencies for seven screenings and vaccinations.

Women's Prodromal Myocardial Infarction Symptom Perception, Attribution, and Care Seeking: A Qualitative Multiple Case Study.

Background: Most women experience prodromal myocardial infarction (MI) symptoms, but more information is needed about the perception, attribution, and care-seeking behaviors related to these prodromal symptoms.

Objectives: We aimed to describe women's perceptions, attributions, and care-seeking behaviors related to prodromal MI symptoms.

Method: We used a qualitative, multiple case study approach, recruiting participants during summer 2019 from a large hospital in the Midwestern United States.

Navigating the Institutional Review Board Process.

Participating in a research project can be a very rewarding activity. Yet prior to undertaking any aspect of a research project that involves human participants, the principal investigator must submit their project to and gain approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB). This article in the "Exploring the Evidence: Focusing on the Fundamentals" series provides nephrology nurses with basic information related to the IRB process, as well as steps to follow in the preparation and submission of a research project for IRB approval.

New nurse graduates and rapidly changing clinical situations: the role of expert critical care nurse mentors.

Objectives: New nurse graduates may be prone to instances of failure to rescue. Mentoring programs may be an opportunity to assist them with clinical decision making in situations of patient decline. We explored the experiences of new nurse graduates and expert nurses after participation in a mentoring program.

Retrospective Analysis of Factors Associated With a Revised Fall Prevention Bundle in Hospitalized Patients.

Objective: The study aims to describe factors associated and injuries sustained with inpatients who fell while hospitalized and identify the impact of a revised fall-prevention bundle.

Background: Approximately 1 million falls occur in hospitals annually, accounting for approximately 70% of inpatient accidents. Inpatient falls can result in physical injury, increased patient mortality and morbidity, decreased quality of life, and increased length of stay and cost.

Motivation and exercise in rural postmenopausal women: A literature review.

Purpose: Most rural Americans are not meeting recommended guidelines for physical activity (PA); rural postmenopausal women (RPMW) have the highest inactivity rates. Self-Determination Theory, a motivational theory which examines the effects of qualitatively different types of motivation is used to conceptualize how RPMW make decisions regarding PA. The purpose of this review is to examine published literature related to motivation and exercise or PA in RPMW.

Lessons Learned: Raising Awareness of Civility and Incivility Using Semi-Virtual Reality Simulation.

Background: The purpose of our web-based, semi-virtual reality simulation was to raise baccalaureate nursing students' awareness of civility and incivility. Educators know civility in nursing is crucial to safe and effective patient care. However, nursing students have reported physiological and psychological distress after experiencing incivility.

A qualitative exploration of prodromal myocardial infarction fatigue experienced by women.

Aims And Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore adult women's unique and shared experiences of prodromal myocardial infarction fatigue.

Background: Fatigue is the most prevalent symptom experienced by women in the weeks and months before myocardial infarction. However, dimensions of this fatigue, such as timing, distress, intensity, quality, patterns and associated characteristics have not been established through studies of this symptom.

Are Medicare wellness visits improving outcomes?

Background: As the largest and unhealthiest population in American history enrolls as Medicare beneficiaries, it is vital for primary care providers to understand how to maximize Medicare wellness provisions. The Baby Boomer population has been documented to have the highest chronic disease prevalence related to preventable lifestyle behaviors. Perpetual unhealthy lifestyle behaviors associated with chronic disease prevalence are detrimental to life quality and the American Medicare resource structure.

Nurses Need to Publish Scholarly Articles: Overcoming Reticence to Sharing Valuable Experience.

This article is part of the "Exploring the Evidence: Focusing on the Fundamentals" series. It provides nephrology nurses with basic principles related to writing for publication, information regarding different types of professional articles that may be used for the dissemination of nursing knowledge, as well as steps to follow and issues to consider in the planning and preparation of a manuscript.

Lessons Learned in Implementation of an Expert Nurse Mentor Program.

Experienced critical care nurses have the expertise to respond quickly and appropriately in emergency situations. New graduate nurses, however, typically lack this expertise and may benefit from mentoring as they learn to manage rapidly deteriorating patients. The purpose of this article is to describe the lessons learned during implementation of an Expert Nurse Mentor Program.

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.

Disseminating Scholarly Work through Nursing Presentations.

This article in the "Exploring the Evidence: Focusing on the Fundamentals" series provides nephrology nurses with basic principles related to the dissemination of knowledge in a professional conference setting. This article provides steps to follow in the preparation and submission of an abstract, as well as the subsequent development of a poster or podium presentation.

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.

An Integrative Review Examining Student-to-Student Incivility and Effective Strategies to Address Incivility in Nursing Education.

Background: Incivility is a low-intensity, discourteous behavior intended to disrupt or harm positive interaction. If allowed, student-to-student incivility can undermine the educational environment.

Purpose: The purpose of the integrative review was to examine factors influencing incivility among nursing students and teaching strategies used to reduce incivility in nursing education.

Gastrointestinal Microbiota in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review.

Emerging evidence suggests that gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota dysbiosis is associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and metabolite concentrations. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate and contextualize the research characterizing GI microbiota in patients with CKD. We searched for full-text, peer-reviewed, English studies in PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using a combination of MeSH terms and keywords.

Focusing on the Fundamentals: Reading Quantitative Research with a Critical Eye.

Nephrology nurses must be able to critically analyze research to improve their practice. This article defines the components of a quantitative research article, reviews principles that nephrology nurses can use when reading and interpreting a quantitative research article, and provides a methodical way of approaching a quantitative research article to determine its merits and limitations.

A qualitative exploration of nursing students' perceptions of the homeless and their care experiences.

The health care needs of the homeless are more complex than those of the population at large. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore undergraduate nursing students' perceptions of the homeless. Thematic content analysis of responses from 19 undergraduate nursing students yielded four themes describing student experiences with the homeless, their perceptions of homelessness and the health care of the homeless, and their suggestions for best teaching strategies.

Social capital, health, health behavior, and utilization of healthcare services among older adults: A conceptual framework.

Meeting the health needs of Americans must change as the population continues to live longer. A strategy that considers social well-being is necessary. One way to improve social well-being is through increased social capital, which includes networks among individuals and norms of reciprocity and trust between them.

A comparative study of social capital and hospital readmission in older adults.

Numerous factors contribute to hospital readmissions of older adults. The role social capital may play in preventing hospital readmissions is unknown. The aim of this descriptive, cross-sectional study was to determine if levels of personal social capital differ in two groups of patients aged 65 and older, those readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of discharge and those not readmitted.

Improving the Patient Experience in the Urology Office: An Evidence-Based Tool Kit to Impact Staff Perception Of Patient Satisfaction.

Researchers evaluated the effectiveness of an educational intervention, which included use of an evidence-based tool kit for healthcare providers to improve patient satisfaction. Findings demonstrated improved staff perceptions of their actions influencing patient experiences, use of standardized patient care processes, and increased patient experience scores.

Distress During Radiation Therapy: Assessment Among Patients With Breast or Prostate Cancer.

Background: Distress is regarded as the sixth vital sign in cancer care, but few studies describe distress in patients undergoing radiation therapy.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess distress levels among patients with breast or prostate cancer undergoing radiation therapy and investigate which problems contribute to patients' distress levels.

Methods: A retrospective medical record review was conducted for 217 patients with breast or prostate cancer at a midwestern community cancer center.