Student and faculty perceptions of effectiveness of online teaching modalities.

Background: When the COVID-19 pandemic forced colleges and universities to rapidly transition from face-to-face teaching to online teaching/learning environments, different instructional methods were employed to deliver course content and help students remain engaged in learning. With the transition back to the on-campus environment, select online teaching modalities may be effective in the face-to-face environment as well. While online and distance learning have been extensively studied, little research is available to guide faculty in using technologies designed for distance learning in the face-to face environment.

A Quality Improvement Project to Reduce Antibiotic Utilization and Ancillary Laboratory Tests in the Appraisal of Early-Onset Sepsis in the NICU.

Background: Diagnosis and treatment of early-onset sepsis (EOS) of the newborn remains a controversial issue among providers due to the non-infectious symptomology which exists in the newborn period.

Methods: Pre/post interventional quality improvement project in a level III NICU to reduce antibiotic utilization and ancillary laboratory tests with the introduction of an evidence-based guideline for the evaluation of EOS in the NICU.

Results: Primary outcome measures include mean number of empiric antibiotic treatment days and utilization rate (AUR), number of laboratory tests ordered, and incidence of unwarranted antibiotic therapy beyond the 48-h rule out period.

Journey to simulation program accreditation.

Accreditation of simulation programs is relatively new, and entails a rigorous process of planning, development and evaluation of all aspects of the simulation experience for students and/or health care professionals. The purpose of this paper is to describe the experience of a Nursing Simulation Program in achieving designation as a fully accredited program. The process of developing a formal simulation program, strategic plan, policies and procedures, and an evaluation plan are included, as well as the benefits to achieving accreditation.

School Nurses' Perceived Barriers and Perceptual Influences When Implementing AED Programs.

School nurses' experienced barriers and benefits with perceptions of self-efficacy are important factors to consider for program implementation in the school setting. Little research has been done in the area of automated external defibrillator (AED) program implementation by the school nurse for the treatment of sudden cardiac arrest. The purpose of this study was to identify benefits of and barriers to AED program implementation in public schools and measure school nurses' self-efficacy related to their role as a change agent in program implementation.

Nursing Faculty Attitudes and Practices Related to Online Teaching.

Online education as a teaching methodology is relatively new in higher education in comparison to traditional face-to-face instruction. There is often concern that the quality of online classes is inferior and that academic rigor is compromised when faculty are not engaged with students in a classroom. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess nursing faculty attitudes and practices regarding online teaching.

School nurse intention to pursue higher education.

In 2011, the Institute of Medicine recommended that 80% of the nurses possess a minimum of a bachelor of science in nursing by 2020 and double the number of doctorally prepared nurses. This has prompted a significant number of registered nurses to advance their educational level. School nurses in Louisiana are not required to have a bachelor's degree.

Effective partnership: how school nurses and physical education teachers can combat childhood obesity.

School systems face many challenges in attempting to address the childhood overweight and obesity epidemic. Given the accumulated nature of the required physical activity and the likelihood that only one meal will be delivered while on school grounds, the potential for impactful change in obese or overweight children through school policy is limited. From this vantage point, it is easy to see that physical education programs alone cannot ensure that children participate in 60 minutes of daily physical activity.

Sudden cardiac arrest in schools: the role of the school nurse in AED program implementation.

A school nurse has many obstacles to overcome when providing emergency care for an age group ranging from four to adulthood. The 21st century school nurse faces the challenges of providing care to medically fragile children at multiple sites, with high student-nurse ratios. The implementation of an Automated External Defibrillation (AED) program can assist the school nurse and staff in providing necessary life-saving services for Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) victims of all ages.

Influencing school health policy: the role of state school nurse consultants.

Background: The role of the State School Nurse Consultant has been well defined by the National Association of School Nurses. State School Nurse Consultants serve as a resource to school nurses on issues related to their practice, as well as a liaison between top-level educators and school nurses. The purpose of this article is to describe the role of the State School Nurse Consultant, and to present results of a survey of Louisiana school nurses related to their practice needs.

Implementing handoff communication.

Healthcare systems are seeking assistance from other well-known industries for a solution to issues related to handoff communication, the system for relaying patient information from one caregiver to another. Although the handoff should provide accurate information about a patient's care, treatment, services, and condition, inconsistencies in communication among practitioners exist. This lack of consistent messages prompted staff development nurses in a community hospital to introduce the SBAR process (situation, background, assessment, and recommendation) as the standard for handoff communication to reduce errors and improve patient safety.

Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): an overview for nurses.

Upon completion of this activity, the learner will be able to:1. Differentiate between the two types of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)--HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA. 2.

School nurse resilience: experiences after multiple natural disasters.

This qualitative descriptive study explored the experiences of school nurses in coastal Louisiana, who were affected by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008 and who had also been in the path of destruction caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. The purpose of the study was to describe the experiences of school nurses affected by repeated natural disasters in relation to their professional practice. The researchers conducted interviews with five school nurses, using the constant comparative method of data analysis to analyze transcripts for recurrent themes.

Preparing pediatric nurses: the role of simulation-based learning.

Simulation-based learning is increasingly being integrated into pediatric nursing education for students as well as novice nurses in practice. Various levels of technology in simulation provide for a range of cognitive, psychomotor, and affective skills acquisition within the controlled setting provided by this teaching strategy. This article provides an overview of simulation, the emergence of simulation in nursing education with an emphasis on pediatric nursing, a description of one baccalaureate program's experience in developing a state-of-the-art maternal child-simulation skills laboratory, and the role of simulation-based learning in continuing education.

The impact of hurricanes Katrina and Rita on Louisiana school nurses.

In the fall of 2005, the coast of Louisiana was devastated by two hurricanes, Katrina and Rita. Not only did these natural disasters have detrimental effects for those directly in their path, the storms had an impact on the lives of everyone in Louisiana. The professional practice of many Louisiana school nurses was affected by several factors, including a sudden influx of students with no medical records.

Empowerment in school nursing practice: a grounded theory approach.

Professional empowerment is vital to nurses' productivity and job satisfaction. A grounded theory study was conducted to describe the basic social process experienced by school nurses in relation to professional empowerment. Interviews with 10 school nurses led to the development of a situation-specific theory of school nurse empowerment, Making a Difference: The Role of the School Nurse in the Health of Children in Schools.

Camp nursing: rewards and challenges.

Every summer, millions of children attend summer camp, bringing with them flashlights, sleeping bags, bug spray, and a wide array of acute and chronic medical conditions. Registered nurses provide care to these children in an environment that is fun-filled, rewarding, and challenging. Familiarity with camp settings, as well as with expectations of the nurse at camp, are important because the demands are quite different from traditional nursing practice.

Understanding qualitative research: a school nurse perspective.

More school nurses are engaging in the generation of research, and their studies increasingly are using qualitative methods to describe various areas of practice. This article provides an overview of 4 major qualitative methods: ethnography, phenomenology, grounded theory, and historical research. Examples of school nursing research studies that have used these methods are included.

School nursing: not just band-aids any more!

Issues And Purpose: School nursing has changed dramatically over the past 25 years. The complex social and physical needs of children require an expanded role with advanced knowledge and skills. The school nurse functions as health promoter, health educator, collaborator, and researcher.