Teaching baccalaureate nursing students in clinical settings: development and testing of the Clinical Teaching Knowledge Test.

Seasoned clinical teachers are in short supply and high demand. Although many nursing programs have developed orientation programs for new clinical teachers, many issues arise when students are assigned to health care and community agencies. This study developed and tested the Clinical Teaching Knowledge Test (CTKT), a 40-item multiple-choice test.

Interim leadership in an era of change.

As dean and chair positions in baccalaureate programs in nursing are vacated, the role of the interim leader can emerge as a confusing yet crucial role during the interregnum. This can occur even if the new administrator has had a faculty role at the institution. Without a comprehensive orientation or mentorship, the interim administrator may find the role perplexing and question which tactics they need to exercise to meet the expectations of the university, faculty, and stakeholders.

Mentoring adjunct faculty: innovative solutions.

Rising enrollments in schools of nursing have increased the demand for qualified nursing faculty. In the midst of a nurse faculty shortage, many academic institutions are relying on adjunct faculty to fill the gap. The increasing number of adjunct faculty and their need for orientation to the faculty role presents a challenge to schools and departments of nursing.

Perinatal litigation and related nursing issues.

Obstetric and neonatal nurses are expected to provide an abundance of guidance, support, monitoring, and education to women and their babies during and after delivery. Nurses should adhere to standards of professional nursing practice. This will ensure that optimal and safe care is provided for the mother and fetus or neonate.

Adult student satisfaction in traditional and accelerated RN-to-BSN programs.

The pressures and complexities that the registered nurse (RN) encounters in today's health care system have motivated many RNs to return to college to obtain their baccalaureate degrees. Competition among institutions of higher education has led faculty to develop and offer more nontraditional delivery models of nursing education. In developing these new models of educational delivery, it is important for faculty to determine what items of education are essential to adult learners.