Ellen D. Jones

THE USE OF REMINISCENCE THERAPY FOR THE TREATMENT OF DEPRESSION IN RURAL-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS

This article explores the potential for the use of reminiscence therapy as an effective means of reducing depression among institutionalized, rural-dwelling elders, especially elderly women. Reminiscence therapy is a nurse-initiated intervention that has the advantages of being cost-effective, therapeutic, social, and recreational for the institutionalized older adult. As a communicative psychosocial process, reminiscence therapy has proven to be a valuable intervention for the depressed elderly client (Cully, LaVoie, & Gfeller, 2001; Haight & Hendrix, 1998; Haight, Michel, & Hendrix, 1998, 2000). It has been shown that depressed elders living in rural areas resist treatment from mental health services for a variety of different reasons (Molinari, Boeve, Kunik, & Snow-Turek, 1999; Neese, Abraham, & Buckwalter, 1999). For those elders, reminiscence therapy may prove an extremely beneficial alternative to more traditional treatment modalities in reducing the effects of depression and depressive symptoms.

An Innovative Strategy to Enhance NEW FACULTY SUCCESS

Faculty stress is a factor in the current shortage of nursing faculty. New faculty members in schools of nursing are subject to stress from many sources. This article reports on an innovative strategy that decreases stress for new faculty while facilitating faculty tenure success.

Cardiometabolic health of Chinese older adults with diabetes living in Beijing, China.

OBJECTIVES Using the PRECEDE-PROCEED model, this study examined the presence of metabolic syndrome and modifiable cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome among Chinese adults with diabetes living in Beijing, China. DESIGN AND SAMPLE The cross-sectional study collected data through face-to-face interviews. The study included 73 Chinese older adults with diabetes. Their mean age was 68 years (+ or - 7.66), with a range from 52 to 90 years. MEASUREMENTS Data were collected on demographic characteristics, blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, lipid profile and fasting glucose, physical activity, diet, and health status. RESULTS The great majority (85%) had metabolic syndrome; 65% had hypertension; 52% had high levels of low-density lipoproteins, and 80.6% had a high level of fasting glucose. Half of the participants (51.4%) were overweight, 16.7% were obese, and 86.3% had central obesity. Age, gender, BMI, income, insurance, smoking history, physical activity, and diet explained 23% of the variance in the metabolic syndrome component, systolic blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS The association of predisposing and enabling factors and health behavior with the metabolic syndrome needs to be further explored. Persons with diabetes should have regular health screenings to check for blood pressure, BMI, cholesterol, glucose, and triglycerides in order to decrease the risks associated with metabolic syndrome and CVD.

Inclusion of women in nursing research: 1995-2001.

Background:Although the inclusion of women in research has been examined in medical publications, little is known about how federal mandates have influenced the inclusion of women in research published in nursing journals. Objective:This study aimed to examine the inclusion of women in published nursing research from 1995 to 2001, with a focus on the leading causes of mortality. Method:All the articles in each journal were reviewed, and all the research articles that focused on the top 10 causes of death were sampled to measure the inclusion of women, the characteristics of the women included, the funding source, and the topic. Results:Of the 1,149 studies reviewed, 139 met the inclusion criteria, and 117 of these studies included women. Only 15 of the studies reported the age of the women in their samples, and 10 of these included women between the ages of 35 and 64 years. The most frequently reported race was White (n = 21), followed by African American (n = 17), Hispanic (n = 6), and Asian (n = 2). There were no associations among year of publication (p = .62), federal funding (p = .30), and inclusion of women. Among the studies including women, heart disease was the most frequent topic (n = 52), followed by Alzheimers disease (n = 21), cancer (n = 14), respiratory illness (n = 14), and diabetes (n = 8). Discussion:Although the majority of the research included women, continuing efforts must be made to include sufficient numbers of women.

Global Service Learning Project Influences Culturally Sensitive Care

Global service learning opportunities provided nursing students with the opportunity to experience a health care system that was unfamiliar to them and to interact with health care providers within that system. Service learning is a part of professional education that allows students to demonstrate their ability to apply and synthesize knowledge while it sharpens nursing students’ critical thinking skills. Faculty and students from a southeastern university combined a global health care experience with an integrated research—service learning project targeted at “needed services” in a rural Russian primary care clinic. The purpose of this global service learning project was to (a) offer nursing students a global health care learning experience and (b) examine the prevalence of components of the metabolic syndrome among the population of Kuzmolovsky, Russia, through screening activities. Students, with the help of a translator, conducted teaching sessions based on screening results. Programs were planned in advance and careful consideration was paid to treatment recommendations that would be readily available in Russia. Kuzmolovsky health care providers were so enthusiastic that faculty and students were requested to return. Students found that the global experience increased their self-confidence and that it offered insight into providing culturally sensitive care when working with populations from different cultures.

Onychomycosis: Current Treatment Options

Purpose To describe current evidence regarding the treatment of clients with onychomycosis who have one or more chronic illnesses. Data Sources Current review of research articles, standard pharmaceutical texts, and case studies. Conclusions Onychomycosis is often considered only as a cosmetic diagnosis. Treatment is based on factors such as the clients willingness to pay for expensive therapy and the ability to physically comply with daily regimens; however, treatment of Onychomycosis in clients with chronic illnesses including diabetes and peripheral vascular disease should be strongly encouraged. For these clients, Onychomycosis is not just a cosmetic diagnosis because it has the potential to decrease mobility and blood flow to the affected digits if left untreated. Implications for Practice The primary care clinicians successful management of clients with chronic illnesses such as diabetes and peripheral vascular disease should include the treatment of onychomycosis. Recognizing the best treatment is a crucial decision.

Reliability and Validity of the Jefferson Scale of Attitudes Toward Physician-Nurse Collaboration for Nurse Practitioners

Background: The Jefferson Scale of Attitudes Toward Physician–Nurse Collaboration (JSATPNC) has been used to measure attitudes regarding nurse–physician collaboration. However, psychometric evaluation is lacking for the nurse practitioner (NP) population. Purpose: This study details a confirmatory approach in testing the factor analytic structure of the JSATPNC against previously reported structures. Methods: A Web survey invited 4,673 licensed NPs where 915 responded. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to assess factorial validity. Results: A previously proposed 3-factor model based had significantly better fit compared to a 1-factor structure (Δχ2 = 165.3, Δdf = 3, p < .0001). Cronbach’s alpha for the 3 subscales were 0.61, 0.62, and 0.54. Reliability with all 15 items was .72. Conclusions: Three collaboration subscales could have use in measuring attitudes toward physician–NP collaboration.

Targeted Group Advising.

Student advising is an integral part of the faculty student relationship. However, with the increasing enrollment of pre-nursing students 1 and the complexity of university requirements, advising requires more time and expertise. Further, many students need more flexibility because they are actively employed or balancing a family and education. In an effort to meet the diverse needs of students, our faculty has developed targeted group advising, an innovative method for advising students that remains student centered.