The COMITS Model: A Framework for Successful Publishing.

Publishing is a necessity for nursing faculty and a growing expectation for nurse clinicians. Overcoming personal, organizational, and publishing barriers to writing is critical for successful publishing. The purpose of this article is to introduce the COMITS model.

The Effect of a Perioperative Nursing Elective on Nursing Career Paths.

Nurse educators play a role in addressing the growing perioperative nurse shortage in the United States by implementing strategies to entice new graduates to this specialty. The purpose of our study was to determine if an undergraduate perioperative nursing elective influenced the career choices of nurses four to nine years after they graduated from a baccalaureate nursing program in the midwestern United States. Using a descriptive study design, 23 of 50 nurses responded to a survey about positions they have held since graduating and the influence of a perioperative nursing elective on their career choices.

Student Perceptions about the Influence of a Perioperative Nursing Elective on Career Preferences.

It has been suggested that offering perioperative nursing courses will increase the number of nurses and new graduates who enter the perioperative area. There is little research to support that students' career choices are influenced by immersion in perioperative content. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe student perceptions of perioperative nursing as a career option following completion of an elective in perioperative nursing.

Service Learning in Undergraduate Nursing Education: Strategies to Facilitate Meaningful Reflection.

Service learning is recognized as a valuable pedagogy involving experiential learning, reflection, and reciprocal learning. Students develop critical thinking and social awareness by using the crucial activity of reflecting upon their experiential learning with community partners. The purpose of this paper is to demystify the process of reflection by identifying best practices to enhance reflection and offering suggestions for grading.

Service-Learning in Undergraduate Nursing Education: Where is the Reflection?

Service-Learning is recognized as a valuable pedagogy that involves experiential learning, reflection, and reciprocal learning. Reflection is a critical component because it assists students to develop critical thinking and social awareness as they reflect upon their experiential learning with community partners. Although there is a proliferation of literature about service-learning, upon closer examination, it is apparent that some authors do not place emphasis on reflection when reporting on service-learning projects.

Admitting international graduate nursing students: what faculty need to know.

The number of international applicants to US nursing graduate programs is increasing. Modifying standard admission criteria, such as RN licensure, graduate record examination, validation of BSN degree, criminal background check, letters of recommendation, and personal statements, is necessary because of unique complexities. Addressing admission requirements unique to international students, such as English proficiency, visas, and proof of financial resources, is critical.

The Mauk Model for Poststroke Recovery: assessing the phases.

Despite the estimated 795,000 strokes occurring in America annually (American Heart Association, 2009), few practical models guide nurses when they provide quality care to stroke survivors. The Mauk Model for Poststroke Recovery is a theoretical framework concerning six phases of poststroke recovery. The purpose of this article is to discuss a pilot study detailing the ways in which nursing students used the Mauk model to identify these phases of stroke recovery via patient case examples.

Simulation as an orientation strategy for new nurse graduates: an integrative review of the evidence.

Research shows that simulation is an effective teaching strategy in the preparation of healthcare professionals. Simulation is often used to evaluate clinical judgment and competencies of students. It has been proposed that simulation can be used during orientation to assist graduate nurses as they transition to professional roles.

Prenatal showers: educational opportunities for undergraduate students.

J. Cranmer and C. Lajkowicz (1989) faced the challenge of securing student clinical experiences with healthy prenatal clients.

Strategies for making oral presentations about clinical issues: part II. At professional conferences.

This column offers strategies for making oral presentations at professional conferences. Part I, which appeared last month, offered strategies that clinicians can use to make effective oral presentations at work.

Strategies for making oral presentations about clinical issues: Part I. At the workplace.

This column offers strategies that clinicians can use to make effective oral presentations at work. Part II, which will be published next month, will offer strategies for making oral presentations at professional conferences.

Girl Scout Badge Day as a service learning experience.

Acquiring clinical experiences for students is a major challenge for nurse educators. One of the most difficult areas in which to secure clinical experiences is pediatric nursing; yet, nurse educators have a responsibility to create innovative strategies to assure that students have experience with pediatric clients. The purpose of this paper is to describe Girl Scout Badge Day (GSBD), a teaching strategy rooted in service learning.

Use of the innovation-decision process teaching strategy to promote evidence-based practice.

The purpose of this article is to describe the innovation-decision process teaching strategy (I-DPTS) based on the model of diffusion of innovations [Rogers, E. M. (2003).