Pamela R. Cangelosi

Accelerated nursing programs: What do we know?

Accelerated nursing programs, also referred to as second-degree programs, are targeted to students who enter with a baccalaureate or higher degree in a field other than nursing. While these programs are rapidly increasing across the United States, a sparse amount of literature pertains to them. This article provides a review of the current literature related to accelerated programs in nursing and suggests areas of inquiry that could be developed to address the need for research in this area.

Expert to novice: clinicians learning new roles as clinical nurse educators.

&NA; The nursing shortage presents a challenge for both nursing education programs and clinical agencies to identify creative options for increasing the supply of nurse educators, especially those who can teach vital clinical skills to future nurses. Some clinicians have voiced that they would enjoy having opportunities to share their clinical expertise through teaching, but they lack preparation for this new role. Through written narratives of nurses enrolled in a Clinical Nurse Educator Academy, this study explored the research question: How can narratives of clinicians participating in a Clinical Nurse Educator Academy enhance understanding of the unique perspectives of these individuals as they prepare for roles as clinical nurse educators? Data consisted of 135 reflective narratives from 45 participants and were analyzed using van Manens approach to human science research. One overarching pattern, “The Phenomenon of Learning to Teach,” and three themes, “Buckle Your Seatbelt,” “Embracing the Novice,” and “Mentoring in the Dark,” emerged from the data. Implications for faculty and further research are offered.

The power of pretend: using simulation to teach end-of-life care.

Instruction in quality end-of-life care is gaining presence in the nursing curricula, yet how to best incorporate it remains undecided. Concurrently, high-fidelity simulation has quickly become a popular strategy for teaching nursing content. The authors describe the impact of teaching with simulation and the process of developing an end-of-life laboratory simulation for first year students in an associate degree nursing program.

Baby Boomers: are we ready for their impact on health care?

As the first of the Baby Boomer generation turns 65 this year, there is rising fear that a crisis awaits related to many mental health resources. This article describes the characteristics of Baby Boomers, their future mental health needs, and the extent of the impending insufficiency of mental health resources to meet those needs. Recommendations to address the unprecedented mental health demands of this generation are presented.

Caregiver Burden or Caregiver Gain? Respite for Family Caregivers

Many caregivers of older family members do not realize the need for respite until their own health begins to deteriorate. The mental, emotional, and physical stress of caring for a family member can seem overwhelming. Creative options for respite care are emerging, but there are barriers to effective use of these programs. This article discusses these barriers and proposes suggestions for overcoming them.

Walking for therapy with Man's best Friend

Recent research has shown that older people who walk dogs are more likely than those who walk with a human companion to engage in regular exercise and show more improvement in fitness. Studies with dogs and other animals have suggested new approaches for using animals to enhance both mental and physical health in older adults. With the current intense focus on health care reform, increased use of animals as therapy may serve as a cost-effective strategy for improving and maintaining health in older adults.

Expert Clinician to Novice Nurse Educator

Expert clinician to novice nurse educator : , Expert clinician to novice nurse educator : , کتابخانه دیجیتال دانشگاه علوم پزشکی اصفهان

Use of technology to enhance mental health for older adults.

Recent research suggests that older adults may gain significant mental health benefits from health resources made available through emerging modern technologies, especially because this population is becoming more Internet savvy. Technology-enhanced interventions for older adults have been shown to be helpful not only for general wellness activities (i.e., exercise), but also to specifically enhance mental health. This article focuses on two types of interventions for mental health: (a) cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression and anxiety and (b) assistive technology for individuals with dementia. Nurses should reevaluate their assumptions that older adults fear technology and explore whether different types of modern technology might be effective in enhancing mental health for these clients.

Evidence for promotion of nontenured faculty.

An increasing number of faculty members are choosing the nontenured path in academia. These faculty members bring expertise in teaching that must be recognized and valued. With the shortage of nurse educators, procedures to attract and retain these faculty members are needed. To address this problem, guidelines for promotion of nontenured faculty were developed. The authors describe the development process and the final criteria for promotion.