Hazel N. Brown

Underutilization of mental health services by Asian-Americans residing in the United States.

Asian-Americans are the fastest-growing minority in the United States, and they are a culturally diverse group. Knowledge about this growing minority population is important for the purposes of planning appropriate mental health care. Asian-Americans living in the United States rarely use mental health services. The reasons for this, along with suggestions for developing more culturally sensitive mental health services, are presented. A model for cultural competence can provide a framework for psychiatric nurses and other mental health professionals (MHPs) to become more aware of Asian-American values and beliefs and provide more culturally sensitive care. Awareness tools are included to guide MHPs in determining whether culturally competent care is available locally to meet the needs of this underserved population.

Mentoring new faculty

This is a report of the process and evaluation of 12 years of mentoring new faculty in a university nursing faculty of 48 members. Each new faculty member is paired with an experienced faculty member who serves as a mentor for a year. Evaluations completed by both new faculty and mentors at the end of the year are positive.

Use of clinical journals to enhance critical thinking.

The clinical journal offers a valuable medium through which faculty can teach critical thinking. Both analysis and evaluation of the interactions and relationships between clinical practice, theory, and research can be greatly enhanced through careful structuring of clinical journal assignments. The authors discuss ideas about structuring clinical and journal assignments and strategies for giving feedback.

Preventing Secondary Pregnancy in Adolescents: A Model Program.

The Dollar-A-Day program in Greensboro, North Carolina, was established in 1990 to prevent subsequent pregnancies in girls under 16 years of age who had already given birth to one child. Conceptualized by nursing professors and using principles from theories of adolescent development and social exchange, the program was planned and implemented in collaboration with nurses from the local health department. Weekly meetings featured food, an informal program focused on needs identified by members, setting of short-term goals, and an award of a dollar for each day they remained nonpregnant. After five years of operation with a series of small grants, only 15% of the 65 girls who had been enrolled in the program experienced subsequent pregnancies. The success of the program convinced health department officials to incorporate Dollar-A-Day into their budget as a permanent service to the population of adolescents they serve. It remains as a model program for others to emulate.

The Health of Women and Girls Determines the Health and Well-Being of Our Modern World: A White Paper From the International Council on Women's Health Issues

The International Council on Womens Health Issues (ICOWHI) is an international nonprofit association dedicated to the goal of promoting health, health care, and well-being of women and girls throughout the world through participation, empowerment, advocacy, education, and research. We are a multidisciplinary network of womens health providers, planners, and advocates from all over the globe. We constitute an international professional and lay network of those committed to improving women and girls health and quality of life. This document provides a description of our organization mission, vision, and commitment to improving the health and well-being of women and girls globally.

Mental disorders and syndromes found among Asians residing in the United States.

The Asian population in the United States is the fastest growing minority; consequently it behooves psychiatric nurses and other mental health professionals to be aware of symptom presentation of emotional problems that may differ from those of other population groups. Specific syndromes, psychiatric disorders, and symptoms that commonly present as physical disorders are discussed. Recommended adaptations of psychiatric interventions, including medications and other therapies, are offered to enable mental health professionals to provide culturally sensitive care. Mental health care that is culturally competent may improve access to care for Asians residing in the United States.

Searching for a Dean: Getting the Qualities You Want

The committee had a strong sense of accomplishment when they submitted the names to the Provost. Both the process and the screening tool worked well for the search process.

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES AND HEALTH OUTCOMES: THE COLLEGE BOUND SISTERS PROGRAM

College Bound Sisters (CBS) is a program that helps younger sisters of teenage mothers change their life trajectory by accomplishing three objectives: avoidance of pregnancy, completion of high school, and enrollment in college. Data related to religious activities and accomplishment of the three objectives for 129 members were analyzed using chi square. CBS defines health as the accomplishment of the three program objectives using Norbecks theoretical model of social support. The adolescents were divided into three groups: those who became pregnant, dropped out of school, or completed high school. The three groups were compared with regard to the frequency of participating in religious activities. The majority of the CBS adolescents reported participating in weekly religious activities. No significant difference was found among the three groups, with regard to religious activities. However, CBS program participants were more likely than nonparticipants to graduate high school and enroll in college. Implications for incorporating religious activities in teenage pregnancy prevention programs are discussd.

How to Prepare for Becoming a Center of Excellence: One School of Nursing's Story

IN 2005, THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT GREENSBORO SCHOOL OF NURSING WAS DESIGNATED A NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR NURSING CENTER OF EXCELLENCE, RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE IN FACULTY DEVELOPMENT. In 2008, we applied for a second three-year term. This time, we were recognized for creating environments that promote the pedagogical expertise of faculty. Since the COE award was first established by the NLN in 2004, the categories and criteria have changed slightly. Currently, awards given are for creating environments that enhance student learning and professional development, promote the pedagogical expertise of faculty, and advance the science of nursing education. By sharing our experiences, we hope to help other schools apply for recognition as a COE. (The Intent to Apply for 2011 is due October 15, 2010. Visit www. nln.org/excellence/coe/index.htm.) Study Criteria and Process The first step in preparing your application is to study the criteria and processes carefully. Since there are three categories of awards, it is important to assess your schools areas of strength to determine the most appropriate category. Being aware of the process allows you to plan for the time and resources needed to complete the application. Buy-in from your dean or director is important to the process. Both in 2004 and 2008, our dean was committed and willing to commit faculty time and resources as needed. In both years, once we selected a category and made the decision to apply, a COE champion was appointed to lead a committee to develop the application. This leader was responsible for nominating faculty to serve on the committee, planning meetings, and establishing a strategy to collect the necessary data to complete the application. Deciding which data are needed and actually collecting the data can be a long process. Plan for a full academic year to accomplish this task. Choosing the Committee This is an important step. Our committee consisted of eight people. Each was assigned to a specific criterion, with the chairperson coordinating the process and editing the final document. The makeup of the committee should reflect the makeup of the faculty. Ours included both tenured and nontenured faculty, with some faculty on the clinical track. Having both long-term and relatively new faculty on the committee allowed our history to come through and provided the perspective of individuals who were new to the school. It is critical that all committee members are convinced that your school is already a center of excellence. You just need an opportunity to tell your story. Beginning the Application Process The first step in the process is preparation of the Intent to Apply document. It is important to allow ample time for this first step. After deciding which category to pursue, all members of the committee can start to consider what data are needed. After our committee made this decision, the chair prepared the document and then asked for feedback from the committee and the dean prior to submission. When preparing the Intent to Apply document, you must indicate whether you plan to use an NLN consultant to work with the COE committee in preparing the application. While the consultants we used in 2005 and 2008 were very different, both were exceptionally helpful. They concentrated on the process, giving little input on content, which must come from the faculty themselves. They helped us consider how to tell our story and how to document that what we did made a difference in student learning. The school must pay the expenses of the consultant (travel, lodging, and food), but there is no fee for the consultation. Creating a Timetable For any large task that will be done by a committee, a timetable is essential. It is important to allow ample time for data gathering, writing, and editing. Our committee chair drafted a timetable, and the committee approved it. Since much of our data were gathered from faculty, it was important to coordinate our efforts. …

Designing class participation experiences for the introverted student.

Class participation for students is such a common expectation of nurse educators that it is easy to overlook the need to tailor class participation activities to individual student needs. An understanding of the various temperaments of individuals, especially preferences related to extroversion and introversion, can help nurse educators to plan class participation experiences that foster skills in critical thinking and enhance personal growth.