Effects of using human patient simulator versus a CD-ROM on learning the management of patients exposed to chemical agents.

Introduction: Very little prospective, randomized, experimental research exists on the use of simulation as a teaching method, and no studies have compared the effects of 2 strategies of using the Human Patient Simulator (HPS) and a CD-ROM on the management of patients exposed to chemical agents.

Methods: A prospective, pretest-posttest experimental, mixed design (within and between) was used to determine if there were statistically significant differences between educational strategies using HPS, CD-ROM, and a control group in the care of patients exposed to chemical agents. Care was operationally defined as the score on the Management of Chemical Warfare Patients Performance (MCWPP) instrument.

Description of risk and resilience factors among military medical personnel before deployment to Iraq.

Military medical personnel preparing for deployment to Iraq (N = 328) participated in a survey concerning predeployment risk and resilience factors. Participants reported exposure to an average of 2.5 potentially traumatic events before deployment and 76% (n = 229) reported at least two current concerns about predeployment stressors.

Effects of Using Human Patient Simulator (HPS) versus a CD-ROM on Cognition and Critical Thinking.

Background: Very little prospective randomized experimental research exists on the use of simulation as a teaching method, and no studies have compared the two strategies of using the HPS and a CD-ROM. In addition, no researchers have investigated the effects of simulation on various levels of cognition, specifically lower-level and higher-level cognition or critical thinking.

Objectives: A prospective pretest-posttest experimental mixed design (within and between) was used to determine if there were statistically significant differences in HPS and CD-ROM educational strategies in lower-level, higher-level cognition and critical thinking.

Readiness estimate and deployability index for Air Force nurse anesthetists.

Air Force (AF)-certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) play an important role in the support of the global war on terror. The purpose of the investigation was to use an AF CRNA-specific modification of the Readiness Estimate and Deployability Index Revised for AF Nurses to assess readiness for deployment. Dimensions included clinical competency, operational competency, soldier/survival skills, personal/psychosocial/physical readiness, leadership and administrative support, and group integration/identification.

Reliability and validity testing of a short form of the Readiness Estimate and Deployability Index Revised for Air Force Nurses.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to test the reliability and validity of the Readiness Estimate and Deployability Index Revised for Air Force Nurses Short Form, with a sample of 205 Air Force nurses. Participants were mostly female (70%), 36.31 +/- 9.

Pilot testing the Readiness Estimate and Deployability Index Revised for Air Force Nurses.

The Readiness Estimate and Deployability Index Revised for Air Force Nurses (READI-R-AFN) was derived from modifications of Reineck's Readiness Instrument. Reliability and validity of the READI-R-AFN was estimated on completed questionnaires of 181 active duty Air Force nurses. The READI-R-AFN was evaluated based on item analysis, internal consistency (alpha coefficient, >0.