Marie N. Bremner

The use of human patient simulators: best practices with novice nursing students.

Only recently have nursing educators begun to consider the enormous implications of using high-fidelity human patient simulation in general nursing education. As a first step in exploring the potential of this new technology with novice nursing students, faculty conducted a quantitative and qualitative analysis of students reactions to a simulation. In addition, from the analysis and the review of literature, the faculty identified specific best practices for using this educational methodology with novice nursing students.

Essential steps in implementing a comprehensive testing and review program.

Nursing education literature reveals a proliferation of articles about interventions designed to prepare undergraduate nursing students for success on the professional licensure examination. An intervention featured in much of this literature is a comprehensive testing program. However, there is little information about implementing a curricular adoption of such a program. The authors discuss this issue and provide guidance to faculty and schools of nursing in adopting a comprehensive testing and review program.

Effects of Reiki With Music Compared to Music Only Among People Living With HIV

&NA; Persons living with HIV (PLWH) often seek complementary treatments to improve their overall health and well‐being. Reiki, an ancient healing practice, has been found to be effective in reducing symptoms of stress, anxiety, pain, and depression. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Reiki as a complementary treatment for PLWH. Using a two‐group mixed‐methods experimental design, 37 participants were randomized to either a 6‐week Reiki with Music Group or a Music Only Group. Self‐reported and physiologic measures were obtained at baseline, 6 weeks, and 10 weeks. Significant improvements in relief of pain and stress in those receiving RMG were found. At the 6‐week assessment, semi‐structured interviews were conducted with all participants. Qualitative findings indicated that Reiki and music therapy helped reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Evidence‐based data regarding the effectiveness of Reiki will help nurses help patients better manage HIV‐related symptoms.

Reliability and Validity Testing of Pilot Data from the TeamSTEPPS ® Performance Observation Tool

Background: The TeamSTEPPS® Performance Observation Tool (TPOT) is an instrument used in the evaluation of team performance: however, no assessment of the tool’s reliability or validity exists among nurse educators. nMethods: A convenience sample of 31 nurse educators completed the TPOT to assess the reliability and validity of the instrument. nResults: Using Cronbach’s alpha, the TPOT demonstrated a strong internal consistency coefficient. Through cross-group analysis of scoring between undergraduate and graduate nursing faculty, some evidence for convergent validity was confirmed. nConclusion: This pilot study establishes the internal consistency reliability and convergent validity of the TPOT instrument when used by nurse faculty.

Doctoral preparation of nursing faculty.

Is the doctorate necessary for all nurse educators? Should nurse educators hold a doctorate or is a non-nursing doctorate acceptable? The authors report on a survey which looked at information concerning the number of doctorally prepared nursing faculty and the institutional requirement of a doctorate as the terminal degree in nursing.

Integrating Reiki and Community-Engaged Scholarship: An Interdisciplinary Educational Innovation

To provide students with a meaningful holistic care experience while integrating community-engaged scholarship, students partnered with a Reiki-prepared faculty member within a nurse-managed community clinic to offer Reiki to the clients and participate in the evaluation of the effectiveness of the modality. This article describes how students and faculty integrated holistic care, scholarship, and community engagement. This experience provided the students with an opportunity to embrace the art and science of holistic nursing while obtaining experience in measuring outcomes.

Setting a Benchmark for the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) V: Striving for First-Semester Success in Nursing School

Every nursing school strives to admit students who will be successful in completing their program and passing the NCLEX(®). Many schools use standardized testing, such as the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) V, as part of their admission criteria. This study was conducted to set an institutional benchmark of the TEAS V composite score, as recommended by the test developers. Having a benchmark would help the authors school of nursing to identify students who were more likely to be successful during the first semester of their nursing studies. Using past students composite TEAS V scores and ATI RN Fundamentals of Nursing 2010 Assessment results, a benchmark was identified.