COVID-19 Impact on Teaching Substance Use Disorders: A Nursing Curricular Thread.

Vulnerable populations such as those with substance use disorders (SUDs) are at a higher risk for early morbidities and mortalities yet are less likely to receive primary care and other necessary psychosocial services essential for comprehensive care of these clients. This need has been magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Evidence supports an increase in alcohol sales in 2020, and overdoses from illicit drugs have been reported to have more than doubled by May 2020 from the 2018 and 2019 baseline rates, and one reason for these increases is because of COVID-19.

Simulation Clinical Experience of Veteran Care Competence for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Students with Standardized Patients.

Objective: The purpose of this simulation educational activity was to assist psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner students (PMHNPs) with identifying military veterans as a vulnerable group with health care disparities and provide competent military veteran care in the private sector. Mindful of all the varied terms for military service, this article will use the term military veteran.

Methods: The simulation educational activity included applying the conceptual frameworks of the healthcare disparities framework (HDF) and nursing education simulation framework (NESF).

Communication and patient safety in simulation for mental health nursing education.

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) found that 65% of medical sentinel events or medical errors are associated with communication breakdowns. In addition to the JCAHO, The Institute of Medicine, in their Core Competencies for health care professional education, recommend improvement in professional communication, collaboration, and a patient-centered approach to provide safety. Consistency of opportunities for students to practice their communication and collaboration skills is limited based on the variety of clinical experiences that are available.