Francine Parker

Lights, camera, action: using feature films to stimulate emancipatory learning in the RN to BSN student.

Nurse educators are continually challenged to develop and implement effective activities to stimulate reflective learning in the RN to BSN student.The authors discuss the successful use of the feature film My Life as a reflective learning activity for a family health systems course.While feature films have been used constructively to teach family systems and social development, there is scant literature on the use of feature film as a teaching strategy within the discipline of nursing.The authors present evidence of how a film promoted stimulating and powerful transformative learning.

Mission possible CD ROM: Instructional tool for preceptors

Senior student preceptorship is a vital clinical component of many baccalaureate nursing curricula providing a one-on-one partnership with a registered nurse with clinical expertise. Experiential data and literature review support the preceptors need for guidance with student assessment and evaluation strategies. This article reports on research conducted to assess the perceived increase in a preceptors knowledge after viewing an author developed instructional CD, Mission Possible CD ROM: Instructional Tool for Preceptors. The results suggest that perceived knowledge increased; however, the lack of time to view the CD was an issue for the majority of the nurse preceptor participants. More research is warranted to build on current literature regarding instructional strategies of benefit to a nurse in the preceptor role.

Broadening the Knowledge of the LPN Long-Term Care Provider: A Pilot Study

There are little data regarding Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) roles in long-term care settings and how the roles might be expanded or changed to meet the unique needs of the elderly. The purpose of this quantitative descriptive study was to determine if an increase in knowledge occurred in LPN care providers after implementation of a 32-hour education program. The program was delivered in 8 self-contained learning modules to a convenience sample of 15 LPNs working in 2 rural long-term care settings. There were significant statistical differences in pre- and post-test scores for 3 of the learning modules. Written comments on an evaluation survey of participants indicated knowledge had been broadened. An open-ended questionnaire completed by the 2 directors of nursing 6 weeks postcompletion of the program indicated improvement in the participants basic leadership and management skills.