Mary Ann Cantrell

Challenges to research productivity of doctoral program nursing faculty

The Institute of Medicine, responding to a national health care crisis and related nursing labor force concerns, has called for an increase in the proportion of registered nurses with baccalaureate or higher degrees to 80% and a doubling of the number of nurses with doctorates by 2020. Simultaneously, large numbers of senior faculty are starting to retire, whereas the movement of doctorally prepared nurses into academia is insufficient to replace them. Issues associated with the efforts of nursing programs to increase their capacity to respond to the Institute of Medicines recommendations, particularly the effect on scholarly productivity among nursing faculty in doctoral programs, are examined in this article. Creative strategies for promoting scholarly productivity among doctoral program faculty are identified.

A Profile of U.S. Nursing Faculty in Research- and Practice-Focused Doctoral Education

PURPOSE This study, which is part of a larger project, was conducted to profile the nursing faculty in the United States teaching in PhD and DNP programs. DESIGN This is a descriptive study. A sample of 554 nursing faculty who teach in PhD and DNP programs was recruited by email solicitation to represent all geographic regions of the United States. Data were collected from November 2013 through January 2014 using an online survey instrument. METHODS The instrument was developed based on results of review of the literature and of focus groups of doctoral faculty (faculty teaching in doctoral programs) to ascertain characteristics of faculty teaching in doctoral programs and of the schools in which they teach. Frequencies and descriptive statistics are reported. FINDINGS Growth in DNP programs has outpaced growth in PhD programs, and DNP graduates have moved into doctoral education in greater numbers than PhD graduates. DNP faculty report less prior experience and current productivity scholarship than faculty in PhD programs only or both types of programs. CONCLUSIONS Strategies are needed to ensure that doctoral programs are staffed by faculty who are prepared for doctoral education and the development of nursing science. CLINICAL RELEVANCE The Institute of Medicine has recommended doubling the number of doctorally prepared nurses in the United States by 2020 to ensure that sufficient numbers of faculty are available to prepare the nursing labor force that is needed for delivery of healthcare services. Nurse scientists are needed to contribute to improvement in patient care quality and safety, and practice leaders are needed to facilitate the translation of research into safe, high-quality, and cost-effective care. The landscape of doctoral education in nursing is rapidly changing.

The impact of a nurse externship program on the transition process from graduate to registered nurse: Part III. recruitment and retention effects.

This is the third and final part of a series of articles that report the findings of a study that investigated the effects of a summer externship program on the transition into a professional role among nurses who participated in a summer nurse externship program at an acute care pediatric hospital. Specifically, this article reports the retention and recruitment benefits of a summer nurse externship program for the institution from 1998 through 2003. A total of 153 externs out of the 193 (79.0%) assumed a registered nurse position at the institution, and 77% remained in that role for 12 months. Overall, the nurse extern program for this institution appeared to be an effective recruitment and retention strategy that is on par with the institution and national data for retention and turnover data.

The Art of Pediatric Oncology Nursing Practice

Pediatric oncology nursing practice must incorporate both the science and the art of the discipline to foster positive physical and psychosocial treatment outcomes for pediatric oncology patients, especially those outcomes related to their health-related quality of life. In this article, the art of nursing care is described within the context of scientifically based care, and the art of nursing practice is evident in the implementation of the scientific principles and standards for pediatric oncology nursing practice. The author proposes that the art of pediatric oncology nursing practice ought to be evident in care activities that the nurse provides within a therapeutic relationship that is steeped in nursing presence. Although the art of nursing care and the nature of an effective therapeutic relationship is tacit, valued knowledge among pediatric oncology nurses, as well as children and adolescents with cancer and their families, it is difficult to describe and challenging to quantify its effect on patient care outcomes. This article discusses the art of pediatric oncology nursing practice and its influence on treatment outcomes.

Recruitment and retention of older adolescent and young adult female survivors of childhood cancer in longitudinal research.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To describe the challenges encountered in the recruitment and retention of a sample of older adolescent and young adult female survivors of childhood cancer for a longitudinal study testing a targeted psychosocial intervention aimed at enhancing hope. DATA SOURCES Published literature on constructing longitudinal intervention studies and strategies in the recruitment and retention of childhood cancer survivors in research was used to develop the protocol of this study. DATA SYNTHESIS Using empirical literature to construct the studys design resulted in achieving certain goals for the design, but not in the recruitment and retention of study participants. Using online technology to deliver the intervention and collect data was efficient and effective. Traditional approaches to recruitment and retention of those survivors, however, were not effective. Use of more novel approaches to enroll study participants demonstrated only modest success. CONCLUSIONS Additional research is needed on strategies to successfully recruit and retain older adolescents and young adult female survivors of childhood cancer in longitudinal intervention studies. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING The improvement in the psychological well-being of female survivors of childhood cancer remains an important outcome in ongoing care. The need to continue to identify creative and effective ways to recruit and retain those survivors is warranted.

A Narrative Review Summarizing the State of the Evidence on the Health-Related Quality of Life Among Childhood Cancer Survivors

This narrative review summarizes the state of the evidence about the phenomenon of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among survivors of childhood cancer. A major strength of the state of the evidence on the HRQOL among survivors of childhood cancer is the availability and quality of the data generated from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS). Findings from most studies find comparable levels of HRQOL among survivors and constructed cohort samples; however, a poorer level of HRQOL exists among female survivors. Factors that predict a lower or poorer level of HRQOL among survivors include age at diagnosis, age attained, time since diagnosis, socioeconomic status (education level, household income, and employment status), physical role functioning, and health insurance. Those survivors who received cranial radiation, especially survivors of central nervous system tumors, are at an increased risk for poorer HRQOL and long-term negative effects.

Nursing Doctoral Faculty Perceptions of Factors That Affect Their Continued Scholarship

This focus group study was undertaken as part of a larger investigation of how the demand for increased production of nurses with doctorates affects doctoral facultys scholarly productivity. This study provided a basis for development of the national survey questionnaire. Two focus groups that included 29 faculty teaching in doctor of philosophy and/or doctor of nursing practice programs took place at one of two national conferences. The focus group interviews were transcribed and content analyzed for the identification of themes; all members of the research team reached consensus. The three major themes were the demands of teaching, the importance of institutional structure and climate, and the sustainability of ones self, the institution, and the discipline. Participants identified strategies for enhancing scholarly productivity. Findings are limited by the small sample size and the voluntary participation of conference attendees. The strength of emotion that participants revealed underscores the need for nursing leaders to address the increasing academic expectations for faculty. If the profession does not address the needs of its current and future faculty, goals explicated by the Institute of Medicine in The Future of Nursing cannot be achieved, and the health of the nation will suffer.

Multidisciplinary care in pediatric oncology

This paper describes the significant advances in the treatment of childhood cancer and supportive care that have occurred over the last several decades and details how these advances have led to improved survival and quality of life (QOL) for children with cancer through a multidisciplinary approach to care. Advances in the basic sciences, general medicine, cooperative research protocols, and policy guidelines have influenced and guided the multidisciplinary approach in pediatric oncology care across the spectrum from diagnosis through long-term survival. Two case studies are provided to highlight the nature and scope of multidisciplinary care in pediatric oncology care.

Work-life balance of nursing faculty in research- and practice-focused doctoral programs.

OBJECTIVES The growing shortage of nursing faculty and the need for faculty to teach doctoral students to address the shortage call for examination of factors that may contribute to the shortage, including those that are potentially modifiable, including work-life balance.This descriptive study examined work-life balance of a national sample of nursing faculty teaching in research-focused and practice-focused doctoral programs. METHODS Data were collected through an online survey of 554 doctoral program faculty members to identify their perceptions of work-life balance and predictors of work-life balance. RESULTS Work-life balance scores indicated better work-life balance than expected. Factors associated with good work-life balance included higher academic rank, having tenure, older age, years in education, current faculty position, and no involvement in clinical practice. Current faculty position was the best predictor of work-life balance. CONCLUSIONS Although work-life balance was viewed positively by study participants, efforts are needed to strengthen factors related to positive work/life in view of the increasing workload of doctoral faculty as the numbers of doctoral students increase and the number of seasoned faculty decrease with anticipated waves of retirements.

Enhancing the clinical experience for undergraduate nursing students: revisiting the clinical associate model.

The clinical teaching associate (CTA) model in which a staff nurse worked with a faculty member in the teaching of undergraduate nursing students was implemented in an acute care pediatric setting. The CTA model fostered learning outcomes by increasing opportunities for students to practice skills and by fostering positive relationships between the students and the nursing staff. Implications for staff nurse educators in the preparation of staff for the CTA role are discussed.