Enhancing Success in Advanced Practice Nursing: a grant-funded project.

The Enhancing Success in Advanced Practice Nursing (ESAPN) Project is designed to improve access to a diverse and culturally competent and sensitive health professions workforce by increasing the number of Hispanic, African-American and Asian nurses recruited, enrolled in and graduated from the MSN program at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-School of Nursing (UMDNJ-SN). In addition, the project plan includes the development and implementation of a comprehensive program that incorporates academic support services, career advisement and mentoring activities to retain and graduate an increased number of culturally, racially and ethnically diverse advanced practice nurses for the State of New Jersey. The project also seeks to improve the quality of care by preparing advanced practice nurses to provide culturally competent and sensitive care by assuring that the MSN curriculum includes content and clinical experiences relevant to the development of cultural competence.

Metabolic syndrome: contributing factors and treatment strategies.

Metabolic syndrome is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. The World Health Organization and National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III have identified physiologic abnormalities associated with metabolic syndrome, including impaired glucose metabolism, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, and abdominal obesity. It is estimated that 47 million Americans have metabolic syndrome.

Working together to improve care: collaboration between a state psychiatric hospital and an academic institution.

This article describes a collaboration between state mental health services division and a state university that focuses on the improvement of patient care services in state psychiatric hospitals. The collaboration is different from other initiatives linking state institutions and academia as it is composed of a team of psychiatrists, advanced practice nurses, and master's prepared psychiatric rehabilitation practitioners. The historical development and accomplishments are described and the process of working with a state psychiatric hospital is explored.

Women's perceptions of their male batterers' characteristics and level of violence.

This article describes the characteristics of male perpetrators of domestic violence and their relationship to the level of violence. The data about the male partners obtained from 151 battered women were used for this analysis. Using multiple regression, demographic variables and three behavioral indicators, including use of alcohol before a violent episode, history of arrests, and the generality of violence, were examined together for their relationship with the violence scores.

RU 486, mifepristone: a review of a controversial drug.

RU 486 (mifepristone), commonly referred to as the French abortion pill, has received much attention in the popular media. Much of this information has clouded the facts, and has been shrouded by controversy. Political, religious, and personal bias have slanted the presentation of the potential uses of this drug.