Evaluation of a New Faculty Teaching Workload Model.

Background: Creating an equitable faculty workload model is an ongoing concern. This research evaluated the effectiveness of and satisfaction with a new faculty teaching workload model 1 year after implementation.

Methods: Data were collected through secondary analysis of faculty assignment spreadsheets, online survey of all full-time nursing faculty members, online survey of college of nursing administrators, and financial analysis.

Integration of Population Health, Social Determinants, and Social Justice in Transcultural Nursing and Culturally Competent Care: White Paper by the Scholars Education Interest Group.

Introduction: As part of its mission to advance Transcultural Nursing worldwide, the Transcultural Nursing Society Scholars upholds the central role of the discipline and cultural competence in advocacy, empowerment, and transformation of the life conditions of disadvantaged populations. This White Paper affirms the Scholars' core belief in the value of Transcultural Nursing and culturally competent care in addressing social determinants to promote health equity.

Methods: The Scholars Education Interest Group proposes recommendations for changes in education, practice, and research undergirding the discipline and expand cultural competence to directly address social structural and historical forces that perpetuate health vulnerability in diverse populations.

Nursing Faculty Workload: Balancing Fiscal Responsibility and Faculty Satisfaction.

Background: Nursing faculty and nursing program administrators share the goal of equitable faculty workload. Faculty teaching assignments and other academic workload can affect productivity and faculty satisfaction.

Problem: Models for workload calculation need to account for multiple factors including mission, faculty position and rank, faculty expertise, and financial resources.

Nurse Faculty Orientation: An Integrative Review.

Background: Nursing faculty orientations vary in length, content, and comprehensiveness; this may influence faculty effectiveness and retention.

Purpose: This review was conducted to identify essential elements for nursing faculty orientation and to develop an orientation checklist and index of mentor-mentee responsibilities.

Methods: An integrative review was conducted using the Ganong approach.

Effects of education on nurse confidence and cardiac surgical glycemic control.

This research was conducted to (1) determine the relationship between nurses' confidence levels using an endocrine order set after educational interventions and experience and (2) measure glycemic control after cardiac surgery with the use of order sets. Findings showed that nurses' confidence increased with ongoing education and experience. Furthermore, tighter glycemic control was achieved on postoperative days 1 and 2, as the protocol was refined, and as the nurses became more comfortable with its use.

Comparing portable computers with bedside computers when administering medications using bedside medication verification.

This research examined bedside medication verification administration in 2 adult critical care units, using portable computers and permanent bedside computers. There were no differences in the number of near-miss errors, the time to administer the medications, or nurse perception of ease of medication administration, care of patients, or reliability of technology. The percentage of medications scanned was significantly higher with the use of permanent bedside computers, and nurses using permanent bedside computers were more likely to agree that the computer was always available.

Process improvement for asthma. An integrated approach.

At least 18 million people in the United States have asthma. Despite the publication of national guidelines, the delivery of care has not substantially changed. This article describes a program at Chicago city sites to improve the delivery of care to adults and children with asthma.

An influenza prevention campaign: the employee perspective.

While the benefits of vaccinating health care workers against influenza are known, the number of vaccinated employees remains inadequate. This article describes survey results from 999 Advocate employees. Statistically significant differences were identified in receiving the influenza vaccine based on age, recommendation of the flu vaccine to others, working environment, and race.