Betty L. Elder

Assessment Tool for NURSING STUDENT Computer Competencies

ABSTRACT Computer skills have been established as important for nursing students and for graduate nurses. No current research was found on the best method to evaluate the skills of incoming nursing students. The purpose of this descriptive, correlational study was to compare student ratings of their computer competency to their performance of those skills on a computer‐graded assessment. A convenience sample of 87 nursing students was used. There was a low, but significant correlation between the scores on the survey and the assessment. The results suggest that students rate themselves higher on their skills than their actual performance of computer skills. Implications for educators are presented, and the value of using a computer‐graded assessment is discussed.

Genetics of Depression: An Overview of the Current Science

Most psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD), are known to involve complex interactions between genetic and environmental influences that impact the development and severity of symptomatology. Health care practitioner competencies have been expanded to include application of genetic knowledge in mental health. Yet this information is difficult to decipher and apply. To assist with these challenges, this article synthesizes recent literature related to the genetics of MDD and illustrates the genetic pathways for major depression.

Integrating Genetics and Genomics into Nursing Curricula: You Can Do It Too!

Rapid advances in knowledge and technology related to genomics cross health care disciplines and touch almost every aspect of patient care. The ability to sequence a genome holds the promise that health care can be personalized. Health care professionals are faced with a gap in the ability to use the rapidly expanding technology and knowledge related to genomics in practice. Yet, nurses are key to bridging the gap between genomic discoveries and the human experience of illness. This article presents a case study documenting the experience of five nursing schools/colleges of nursing as they work to integrate genetics and genomics into their curricula.

Identification and support of at-risk students using a case management model

This study evaluated a program to identify and support students at risk for failure in nursing courses or NCLEX-RN. A case management model (CMM) was implemented to provide assessment of and support for 183 bachelor of science in nursing students; 83 were identified as at risk by the CMM criteria. The CMM involved student self-evaluation and grade assessment of prerequisite and nursing courses. Science course grades were all found to be significantly higher for those students who passed NCLEX-RN on the first attempt than those who did not. Admission GPA was significant (t=2.443, P=.018). Using a Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire for self-evaluation, at-risk students rated their performance in nursing courses higher in every area than the non-at-risk student group, significantly higher for self-efficacy (t = 2.829, P=.005) and metacognition (t =2.426, P=.016). Neither task value nor critical thinking scores were significant. Graduation rate was 100% with 158 students passing NCLEX-RN on the first attempt (64 of 83 at risk and 94 of 100 non-at risk). The CMM was effective in identification and support of at-risk students.