Implementation of a Mental Health Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) Using Standards of Best Practice.

The objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) is effective for the evaluation of clinical competence. Studies examining the use of OSCEs in undergraduate mental health nursing education in the United States are limited. A pilot study and a follow-up study were conducted to establish the reliability and validity of a mental health OSCE to evaluate the clinical competence of prelicensure nursing students.

An Investigation of Replication Practice in Nursing Education Research.

Aim: The project aims to explore replication, as a concept and practice, in nursing education research.

Background: Replication practices are important features supporting the science of nursing education. The absence of replication studies in the wider education community raises questions about the potential for similar absences in nursing education.

Using Large-Group Simulation Incorporating a Variety of Media Formats in Innovating Interprofessional Education.

Innovative teaching strategies incorporated into curricula can prepare students for interprofessional practice and have a positive impact on patient outcomes and team dynamics in health care. Our team of faculty from nursing, social work, and pharmacy developed and implemented an activity using simulation in the large classroom to improve students' perceptions of working in interprofessional teams. Effectiveness was assessed using the Interprofessional Collaborative Competencies Attainment Survey with a pretest-posttest design.

Nursing Faculty Resilience During a Time of Disruption and Change.

Assessing the resilience level of nursing faculty during a time of unprecedented change in nursing education was the focus of this study. A descriptive cross-sectional survey that incorporated demographic data and the 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale was used. Participants ( n = 78) had an average resilience score of 32.

An Online COVID-19 Simulation to Explore Interprofessional Collaboration and Foster Systems Leadership Competencies in Doctor of Nursing Practice Students.

Organizational and systems leadership, a competency for doctor of nursing practice students, encompasses the evaluation of care delivery systems, accountable care of populations, and resolution of ethical dilemmas. Faculty created an online simulation in which students developed a management proposal for an impending pandemic. All students agreed or strongly agreed that the simulation increased their skills in systems-based thinking, increased their knowledge of others' roles and responsibilities in addressing health care crises, and enabled them to balance ethical considerations and societal interests.

Developing BSN Students' Quality Improvement Skills Through Addressing Real-World Problems.

To create a preferred future for nursing, our prelicensure program teaches students to think critically, communicate effectively, and be leaders and change agents in health care. As seniors, students apply the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Model for Improvement to search the literature for research evidence about a problem, collect and analyze data, and perform a root cause analysis to develop solutions and plans for implementation. At the semester's end, formal presentations are provided to academic and practice partners.

Embracing Change: Online Quality Assurance and Faculty Satisfaction.

Despite the accepted and evolutionary presence of online delivery in the higher education context, the quality of online nursing education continues to be scrutinized. Quality assurance initiatives place increased demands on the faculty community and may be perceived by faculty as excessive institutional control. Leveraging tools such as professional development, templates, and peer auditors, one program met quality assurance standards.

Assessing Student Performance in a Dedicated Education Unit: Validity of the Creighton Competency Evaluation Instrument.

In dedicated education units (DEUs), nurses serving as clinical teaching partners (CTPs) provide formative feedback about student performance. The Creighton Competency Evaluation Instrument (C-CEI) has demonstrated validity and reliability by faculty in both the simulated and clinical environments. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the content validity of the C-CEI in the direct patient care environment when used by staff nurses functioning as CTPs in the DEU setting.

Innovation in Nurse Residency: Blazing a Trail With Online Technology.

To prepare new graduate nurses for the work of the future, the Iowa Action Coalition identified implementation of nurse residency as a top priority. A taskforce of Iowa nurse leaders developed a turn-key program for all sizes and types of health care organizations, available as all online and blended options. Implementation provided statistically significant outcomes similar to traditional programs.

Beyond Discussion: Implementing Multimodal Learning in a Nurse Practitioner Program.

End-of-program feedback from students reflected a decreased level of active engagement and retention in learning at a public university in the upper Midwest of the United States. Results prompted educators to explore integration of multimodal instruction within the postlicensure family nurse practitioner program. A graduate program faculty work group was created to review and revise the curriculum.

Preparing for NCLEX-RN Success: Communication, Support, Mentoring, and Tutoring for New BSN Graduates.

Nurse educators are charged with designing and delivering preparation initiatives that will enable graduates to be successful on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®). Research focusing on nursing students from the time of graduation until they take the NCLEX-RN is limited. To assist with increasing NCLEX-RN pass rates, an innovative approach to mentoring BSN graduates while preparing for the NCLEX-RN was developed.

RN to BSN Programs: The Social Media Perspective.

Aim: This article assesses and addresses common perceptions regarding RN to BSN programs.

Background: Public online forums can provide educators with alternative perspectives on nursing education. Although such perspectives may, at times, be ill informed, they reflect views that shape choices regarding nursing education.

Exploring Grit Among Black Prelicensure Nursing Students.

Unequal representation of black nurses in the workforce continues to plague the nursing profession. Preconceptions and understandings of the discipline are underpinned by the dominant white racial makeup, which may challenge ethnically diverse nursing students' perceptions of their ability for success. The need for a diverse nursing workforce includes the challenge of enticing minority students into and successfully through prelicensure programs.

Mass Casualty Incident Simulation for a Small Space With Limited Resources.

To be able to respond appropriately and safely, nursing students must learn about the principles of triage and managing disasters. An accelerated bachelor of science in nursing program with limited resources (space and time) determined there was a need for education on these principles beyond the classroom and developed a mass casualty incident simulation for a small space and budget. Based on faculty and student evaluation, this activity was found to be effective in presenting and enhancing understanding of the principles for triage and disaster management as they relate to nursing.

Building Scholarship for Evidence-Based Practice in Undergraduate Nursing Students.

Journal clubs were utilized in an undergraduate nursing research course to achieve scholarship for evidence-based practice. Journal club members learned to critically appraise an assigned nursing research article by identifying the clinical problem, practicing literature search skills, and determining the research design and level of evidence. They also critically appraised the data collection methods, the sample size, and study outcomes and translated findings to practice.

Escape the Sim! An Escape Room Innovation to Orient Learners to the Simulation Environment.

Orientation to the environment and equipment promotes psychological safety in simulation. Providing orientation activities also increases learner perceptions of simulation effectiveness, confidence, and learning overall. Escape rooms, used by educators from primary levels through graduate programs, promote skills in teamwork, creative problem-solving, and critical thinking ability.

The Use of Tai-Chi to Reduce Anxiety Among Nursing Students Undergoing Simulation.

This study sought to examine tai-chi as an anxiety-reducing method to increase self-efficacy and improve performance among baccalaureate nursing students experiencing a patient care simulation. The sample included 63 nursing students enrolled in a traditional or second-degree nursing program. The study used a randomized control group pretest-posttest design.

Development of a Writing Rubric: A Failed Research Study Yielding Positive Results.

Faculty frustration with poor student writing ability and inconsistency among faculty on grading elements of assigned papers triggered the college administration to appoint a writing task force. The first goal was to develop a writing rubric. To measure the effectiveness of the rubric, faculty designed a research study but encountered failure early.

Medication Safety of Patients With Parkinson's Disease During Care Transitions: Educating Nursing Students.

The purpose of this study was to increase awareness and educate undergraduate nursing students and clinical faculty regarding the importance of missed or omitted Parkinson's disease medications during care transitions. To improve quality and safety among this vulnerable population, an innovative, simulated unfolding case study focusing on incomplete medication reconciliation and omission of time-sensitive medications was conducted. Second-degree BSN students (n = 94) and clinical faculty (n = 7) participated in the study.

Applied Pediatric Math: Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice for a Diverse Group of Learners.

A gap exists between didactic theory and clinical practice when nursing students learn clinical calculations. Educators can provide innovative classroom teaching methods using practical mathematics to decrease this gap. In the simulation lab, students complete weight-based calculations and then administer medications as part of medication skills stations.

Experiential Learning to Engage Millennial Learners in an Undergraduate Nursing Research Course.

Baccalaureate-prepared nurses are expected to participate in evidence-based practice by identifying clinical questions, critiquing evidence, and integrating theory into practice. This presents a challenge for faculty to facilitate a research course in a way that is valued by nursing students and will ultimately prepare them to successfully enter the workforce. This article describes an innovative strategy to engage millennial learners in an undergraduate research course by implementing a two-part evidence-based practice project.