Lori Candela

The structural relationships between organizational commitment, global job satisfaction, developmental experiences, work values, organizational support, and person‐organization fit among nursing faculty

UNLABELLED GUTIERAIM: The aim of this correlational study was to examine the relations between organizational commitment, perceived organizational support, work values, person-organization fit, developmental experiences, and global job satisfaction among nursing faculty. BACKGROUND The global nursing shortage is well documented. At least 57 countries have reported critical shortages. The lack of faculty is finally being recognized as a major issue directly influencing the ability to admit and graduate adequate numbers of nurses. As efforts increase to both recruit and retain faculty, the concept of organizational commitment and what it means to them is important to consider. DESIGN A cross-sectional correlational design was used. METHODS The present study investigated the underlying structure of various organizational factors using structural equation modelling. Data were collected from a stratified random sample of nurse faculty during the academic year 2006-2007. RESULTS The final model demonstrated that perceived organizational support, developmental experiences, person-organization fit, and global job satisfaction positively predicted nurse facultys organizational commitment to the academic organization. Cross-validation results indicated that the final full SEM is valid and reliable. CONCLUSIONS Nursing faculty administrators able to use mentoring skills are well equipped to build positive relationships with nursing faculty, which in turn, can lead to increased organizational commitment, productivity, job satisfaction, and perceived organizational support, among others.

Attaining organizational commitment across different generations of nurses

AIM To inform nurse managers about the generational differences that exist among nurses, how it affects the work environment and how this information can be used to encourage organizational commitment. BACKGROUND Every person is born into a generational cohort of peers who experience similar life experiences that go on to shape distinct generational characteristics. Thanks to delayed retirements, mid-life career changes, job re-entry and a small but significant group of younger graduates, the nursing profession is now experiencing four generations in the workforce: Veterans, Baby Boomers, Generation X and the Millennial Generation. At the same time, the literature on organizational commitment is expanding and can provide a compelling context through which to view generational differences among nurses. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT As part of an overall strategy to increase organizational commitment, consideration of generational differences in nurses can be helpful in leading to increased job satisfaction, increased productivity and decreased turnover among staff. In the face of the global nursing shortage, managers should increase their knowledge of generational diversity just as they have with ethnic and cultural diversity in the past. Understanding how to relate to the different generations and tap into their individual strengths can lead to improved nursing work environments.

Survey of generational aspects of nurse faculty organizational commitment

PURPOSE To describe organizational commitment and generational differences in nursing faculty. The study provides new knowledge on generational differences in organizational commitment among nursing faculty with regard to work values, perceived organizational support, perceived person-organization fit, developmental experiences, and global job satisfaction. METHODS A cross-sectional, descriptive design was used with random stratified sampling procedures. Surveys measuring organizational commitment and related constructs were sent electronically to 4886 faculty, yielding a 30% response rate. RESULTS Significant differences were noted between generations of faculty regarding organizational commitment and related measures. RECOMMENDATIONS Include specific strategies for fostering commitment from each generation.

Effects of overweight and obesity on walking characteristics in adolescents.

Child and adolescent obesity is growing at a staggering rate. Associated potential health risks have been acknowledged in the adult population, and similar concerns have been raised for children and adolescents. However, distinguishing locomotor characteristics related to obesity have yet to be clearly identified for adolescents. The aims of the study were to examine the effects of walking velocity and gender on spatio-temporal characteristics of gait between normal weight (NW) and overweight and obese (OWO) adolescents. In addition, we sought to identify characteristics of gait that are related to body mass index percentile (BMI%). Adolescent students in grades 7-10 (N=111) from a charter school participated in the study. All participants walked at two speeds (preferred, fast) over an instrumented walkway (120 Hz). Spatio-temporal characteristics of gait were extracted from four walkway passes and evaluated. Results identified significant (p<.05) differences in velocity, percent double support, percent swing phase, and stance width between groups. Only stance width was different (p<.05) between genders. Models to predict BMI% from kinematic walking parameters were of moderate strength (averaging 43.5% explained variance) and were generally stronger for females versus males. Percent double support was the primary predictor variable of BMI% across speed and gender. It is suggested that OWO adolescents may be challenged with control of movement of the center of mass during the support phase of walking.

An online doctoral education course using problem-based learning.

The number of doctoral nursing programs has greatly increased over the past several years. There has also been a shift toward delivering programs either partially or fully online. The literature lacks discussions about doctoral-level teaching methods in the online environment. This article describes the use of a semester-long problem-based learning activity in an online doctoral course focusing on nurse educator leadership. The Students-As-Faculty Experience created for this course features the use of a virtual nursing program in which students are cast as faculty members confronting issues via faculty meetings and sharing rotating roles as chairperson. Students were vested in the process by co-designing the course in terms of developing agenda items for the meetings and evaluation rubrics. Through playing the roles of faculty and chairperson, the students reported a distinct improvement in their leadership abilities and confidence at the end of the course.

Nurse Practitioner: Reflecting on the Future

The role of the nurse practitioner was first conceptualized in the late 1960s. Today, there are approximately 70,000 nurse practitioners in practice, they receive third-party insurance reimbursements, and they are in many specialty practices, as well as working in primary care practices promoting health and disease prevention. In the future, economics will shape our health care industry, placing a greater demand for nurse practitioners in this trillion-dollar marketplace. This article explores the evolving role of the nurse practitioner in education, practice, and research to meet the challenges of the health care needs into the 21st century.

Nursing's leadership in positioning human health at the core of urban sustainability

The United Nations predicts that by 2050 nearly three fourths of the worlds population will live in urban areas, including cities. People are attracted to cities because these urban areas offer diverse opportunities, including the availability of goods and services and a higher quality of life. Cities, however, may not be sustainable with this population boom. To address sustainability, urban developers and engineers are building green structures, and businesses are creating products that are safe for the environment. Additionally, efforts are needed to place human health at the core of urban sustainability. Without human health, cities will not survive for future generations. Nursing is the discipline that can place human health in this position. Nursings initiatives throughout history are efforts of sustainability-improving human health within the physical, economic, and social environments. Therefore, nursing must take a leadership role to ensure that human health is at the core of urban sustainability.

Modifying the Diabetes Prevention Program to Adolescents in a School Setting: A Feasibility Study

The growing epidemic of overweight children has led to a higher prevalence of youth being diagnosed with diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes. The current study modified the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) for use with 7th–10th graders in a school setting. The DPP is an evidence-based lifestyle intervention program that has been translated successfully in various adult settings. Yet the feasibility of modifying the DPP for use with middle and high school students has not been documented. A multidisciplinary university research team collaborated with a local charter school to include a modified DPP as part of the curriculum for one semester. Pre- and posttests included food knowledge, health locus of control, BMI, and performance on the 12-minute Cooper walk/run test. Findings suggest tentatively that the modified DPP was successful at increasing food knowledge and awareness of more rigorous physical activity as well as their association to improved health outcomes. Equally as important, results demonstrate that it is feasible to conduct interventions targeting healthy weight among adolescents in school-based settings by incorporating them in the curriculum.