Information literacy: instrument development to measure competencies and knowledge among nursing educators, nursing administrators, and nursing clinicians: a pilot study.
(33/318)
This poster describes a pilot study conducted to establish validity and reliability of an instrument that will be used in a nationwide needs assessment, implemented to identify gaps in Information Literacy skills, competencies, and knowledge among key nursing groups nationally. Data and information gathered using the tool will guide the profession in developing appropriate education and continuing education programs to close identified gaps and enhance nurses' readiness for Evidence-Based Practice (EBP). (+info)
Developing a pediatric oral health therapist to help address oral health disparities among children.
(34/318)
Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General documented the profound and significant disparities that exist in the oral health of children in the United States. Recently, the country has been issued a National Call to Action to Promote Oral Health, under the leadership of the Office of the Surgeon General. Among the significant factors contributing to the disparities problem is the access to oral health care by disadvantaged populations. There are inadequate numbers of dentists able and willing to treat children, particularly poor and minority children. In the early part of the twentieth century, New Zealand faced a significant problem with oral disease among its children and introduced a School Dental Service staffed by allied dental professionals, known as "school dental nurses," who had received two years training in caring for the teeth of children. A number of other countries have since adopted this model. This article reviews attempts to develop a comparable approach in the United States. Furthermore, it justifies and advocates the development of pediatric oral health therapists in the United States as a means of addressing the disparities problem that exists in this nation. These pediatric oral health therapists would be trained in a two-year program to provide dental care services to children. The article concludes by asserting that such action is a practical and cost-effective way for dentistry to fulfill its professional obligation to care for the oral health of all children, thus ensuring justice in oral health for America's children. (+info)
Curriculum planning and computer-assisted instruction (CAI) within clinical nursing education.
(35/318)
Some experts in nursing and computers have stated that the integration of the computer within nursing education needs to be planned. It has also been declared that there is a need for a body of knowledge that describes the planning and implementing of CAI and the degree of success with the implementation of CAI within nursing education. There is a paucity of literature addressing the planning, implementing, and evaluation of CAI within clinical nursing education. The purpose of this paper is to add to a knowledge base for the successful implementation of CAI within clinical nursing education. The information in this paper is based upon a two year study of CAI use within the clinical component of one course within a baccalaureate nursing program. A description of this approach to clinical nursing education is provided. (+info)
Supporting collaboration through a nursing informatics curriculum stage II.
(36/318)
Collaboration is at the center of the process used to design, implement and evaluate an integrated informatics curriculum in a baccalaureate nursing program. This paper describes the second stage of a process to design the informatics nursing courses. The challenges to foster faculty collaborative relationships as well as to enhance the course content of all nursing informatics curriculum. A number of strategies were used to develop the collaborative efforts between the faculty and nursing staff in the clinical agencies. Information technology was incorporated into the didactic and clinical portions of courses through the use of creative teaching strategies. Therefore, the faculty have ensured a blend of information, technology, and the clinical care process throughout the curriculum. (+info)
A multicentre randomised controlled trial of an intervention to improve the accuracy of linear growth measurement.
(37/318)
AIMS: To evaluate linear growth assessment and the effect of an intervention on measurement accuracy in primary care practices (PCP) within eight US geographical areas. METHODS: In this multicentre randomised controlled intervention study, paediatric endocrine nurses as site coordinators (SC) visited 55 randomly assigned PCP to evaluate growth assessment of staff performing linear measurements. SC observed 127 measurers assessing a total of 878 children: 307 (baseline), 282 (3 months), and 289 (6 months). Accuracy was determined by SC re-measuring each child with correct technique and equipment. State of the art equipment and a standardised growth training session were provided to the intervention group (IG) following the baseline visit. SC repeated data collection at all PCP at 3 and 6 months. RESULTS: There were no baseline differences between IG and CG equipment, technique, or accuracy; only 30% of measurements were accurate (< or =0.5 cm from SC). Post-intervention, significantly more IG measurements were accurate: IG = 55%, CG = 37% at 3 months; IG = 70%, CG = 34% at 6 months. Odds ratio of accuracy for IG versus CG was 2.1 at 3 months and 4.5 at 6 months. At 6 months, mean difference from the SC measurements was 0.5 cm in IG and 1.1 cm in CG. CONCLUSIONS: In PCP, children are measured inaccurately. Our intervention significantly improved measurement accuracy. Improved accuracy could yield more rapid detection and diagnosis of paediatric growth disorders. (+info)
Is there value in routinely obtaining a report from the general practitioner as part of pre-entry health screening of students for nursing studies?
(38/318)
BACKGROUND: Reports from general practitioners (GPs) are requested on applicants for nurse training, but there is no published evidence of the merit of this practice. AIMS: To assess the benefit of GP report in health assessments of student nurse applicants. METHODS: An audit was made of information obtained by health declaration form (HDF), nurse's assessment, GP report and, when performed, a physician's assessment for each applicant. Agreement between the health questionnaire and GP report was analysed by kappa statistics. RESULTS: Of 254 applicants, 246 (97%) were declared 'fit to work', four (1.6%) were deemed 'fit with restrictions' and four (1.6%) were considered 'unfit to work'. The most common problems declared were psychiatric and skin problems. The agreement between health declaration and the information provided by GPs was classed as almost perfect for diabetes and only fair to moderate for all other measures. The reports provided additional information on problems not declared by applicants, but all of these were passive problems. The four unfit candidates all had psychiatric illness, but in all cases the occupational health assessment was sufficient to make this decision or to request further information. In the 'fit with restrictions' category, three of the four GP reports (75%) helped in correctly assigning the applicants to this category. In one of these eight cases a passive problem had not been declared. CONCLUSIONS: The additional information in GP reports does not affect the conclusion regarding fitness for training in most cases and does not provide sufficient information to merit it being sought routinely. (+info)
Aiming at "de feet" and diabetes: a rural model to increase annual foot examinations.
(39/318)
Something is afoot in south central Idaho. After 2 years of work, the percentage of people with diabetes receiving recommended annual foot examinations has increased by 13.8%, exceeding the state average. This turnaround, from being the region with the lowest percentage of foot examinations in the state, was made possible when South Central District Health joined diabetes coalition members to develop a comprehensive program that maximizes limited resources in the rural, 8-county service area. Key program components include (1) development of a curriculum on CD-ROM called 2 Minute Diabetes Foot Examination, (2) training area physicians and nurses in the curriculum, (3) incorporating the curriculum into the nursing program at the local college, (4) offering free foot-screening clinics to targeted populations, and (5) conducting public education and outreach. (+info)
Factors and forces affecting EHR system adoption: report of a 2004 ACMI discussion.
(40/318)
After the first session of the American College of Medical Informatics 2004 retreat, during which the history of electronic health records was reviewed, the second session served as a forum for discussion about the state of the art of EHR adoption. Adoption and diffusion rates for both inpatient and outpatient EHRs are low for a myriad of reasons ranging from personal physician concerns about workflow to broad environmental issues. Initial recommendations for addressing these issues include providing communication and education to both providers and consumers and alignment of incentives for clinicians. (+info)