Developing Empathy in Emergency Nurses Using Hearing Voices Simulation.

Many health professionals report feeling uncomfortable talking with patients who hear voices. Patients who hear voices report feeling a lack of support and empathy from emergency nurses. A local emergency department reported a need for training for nurses in the care of behavioral health patients.

Aromatherapy Blend for Postoperative Nausea in Ambulatory Surgery Patients.

Purpose: Postoperative nausea (PON) is one of the most common undesirable outcomes after surgery and increases patient dissatisfaction, hospital costs, and risk for postoperative complications. This quality-improvement project implemented and evaluated the effect of aromatherapy on nausea in adult postoperative patients.

Design: Quality improvement project evaluating the inhalation of a blend of essential oils through an individual stick via an aroma stick.

Structuring Doctor of Nursing Practice project courses to facilitate success and ensure rigor.

There is currently a lack of consensus on the best format for Doctor of Nursing Practice project deliverables. In this article the project course history, current format, and evaluation methods are described for a Doctor of Nursing Practice program during the transition from a sole post-master's option to one that also admitted post-baccalaureate students. The project course format shifted focus from one in which students independently implemented multiple types of projects under the direction of a chairperson and committee to one in which students carried out projects utilizing quality improvement methods and tools under the mentorship of a project faculty advisor and clinical site representative.

Nursing Professional Development's Spirit of Inquiry Focus Areas.

An Association for Nursing Professional Development (ANPD) task force was charged with redesigning the association's small research grant process. One step in this process included identifying focus areas for the specialty's spirit of inquiry. Using input from a round table discussion with ANPD annual convention attendees, the Journal for Nurses in Professional Development Editorial Board, and the convention evaluation query, 10 spirit of inquiry focus areas were identified that align with the Nursing Professional Development Practice Model.

Professional Development Strategies to Enhance Nurses' Knowledge and Maintain Safe Practice.

Maintaining competence is a professional responsibility for nurses. Individual nurses are accountable for their practice, as outlined in the American Nurses Association's Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice. Nurses across clinical settings face the sometimes daunting challenge of staying abreast of regulatory mandates, practice changes, equipment updates, and other workplace expectations.