Karen S. Ward

Strategies for Success in Online Learning

The nursing and nursing faculty shortages have created a greater need for effective online learning strategies. Todays learners require the flexibility offered by online learning, but only when well grounded in sound teaching-learning principles. This article describes strategies for online learning designed to keep the needs of todays learners in mind. These strategies are focused on the resolution of technology problems as well as the learning process.

Self-Reported History of Childhood Maltreatment and Codependency in Undergraduate Nursing Students

ABSTRACT The present study investigated the relationship between self-reported history of child abuse, neglect, and codependency in a sample of undergraduate nursing students. One hundred and two upper-division nursing students attending a medium-sized regional public university in the Southeast completed a four-part questionnaire containing the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ), the Psychological Maltreatment Inventory (PMI) and the Codependency Assessment Tool (CODAT). Correlations were computed. All forms of childhood abuse and neglect measured by the CTQ and PMI were significantly related to total codependency score. The strongest relationships overall were found between reported history of emotional neglect, emotional abuse, physical abuse, and codependency.

Psychosocial Variables as Mediators of the Relationship Between Childhood History of Emotional Maltreatment, Codependency, and Self-Silencing

This study investigated the role of psychosocial variables as mediators of the relationship between a childhood history of emotional maltreatment and codependency and a childhood history of emotional maltreatment and self-silencing in a sample of upper division female nursing students. Depression, self-esteem, self-differentiation, and self-concealment were considered as possible mediators of the relationship. Multiple regression analyses revealed that each psychosocial variable partially mediated the relationship between a history of emotional maltreatmentand codependency, and emotional maltreatment and self-silencing.

Implementing a research utilization plan for prevention of deep vein thrombosis

Ensuring use of best practices is crucially important in todays health care system. Nurses can identify research results that offer promising new treatment options for their patients and should have a plan for implementing research findings. The perioperative education coordinator at one facility identified the occurrence of deep vein thrombosis as a significant problem. She conducted a literature review, created an education program for nurses, and implemented an evidence-based practice change. This article describes the steps in this process. Now, patients at the facility consistently are assessed for deep vein thrombosis and receive appropriate preventive treatment.

Orthopedic trauma. Managing secondary medical problems.

Caring for the multiply injured orthopedic trauma patient is a challenge. Managing secondary medical problems associated with injury is enhanced when rehabilitation clinical nurse specialists, orthopedic advanced practice nurses, and the interdisciplinary team are consulted immediately following trauma. Educating the public on actions and behaviors that reduce the likelihood of accidents is an important role of the RN. Nurses play a key role in restoring the patient to the preinjury level of functioning or assisting the patient in adapting to temporary/permanent disability. Early intervention may result in shortened length of hospital stay, earlier return to work, restoration of family role function, and healthier psychologic and physical recovery. All RNs must be actively involved in educating the public on injury prevention, which includes teaching responsible behavior and the adverse effects of alcohol use.

Living the Healthy Heart Path: Rehabilitation After a Cardiac Event

Although cardiac rehabilitation has traditionally been linked to specific programs in which patients participate after having a cardiac event, the concept of cardiac rehabilitation has expanded to many domains of nursing. Not only are critical care nurses the initiators of cardiac rehabilitation through thorough and accurate teaching of the cardiac event but all nurses should be attuned to the modifiable risk factors to direct patients at high risk for possible prevention of a cardiac event. It is a critical care nurse who is knowledgeable about the focus and goals of cardiac rehabilitation, who incorporates the patients family in the early rehabilitation stages, and who considers cultural variations who can provide optimal care to the patient, helping him or her lead a healthy and productive life.