Victoria N. Folse

Suicide Risk Screening in an Emergency Department: Engaging Staff Nurses in Continued Testing of a Brief Instrument

A study was conducted to detect suicide risk in adolescents and adults seeking treatment in an emergency department (ED) in the Midwest as well as to continue testing reliability and validity of the 4-item Risk of Suicide Questionnaire (RSQ) developed by Horowitz et al. This study included ED staff nurses in a Level II Trauma Center who administered the RSQ to adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients, regardless of chief complaint or psychiatric history. Participants consisted of a convenience sample of 202 patients composed of 59 adolescents and 143 adults, including 36 geriatric patients. Psychometric analysis demonstrated a lower-than-expected degree of reliability and an adequate level of criterion-related validity for the RSQ in this sample. Interrater reliability was established. Approximately 42% of all patients who participated screened positive for suicide risk using the RSQ. Results support screening by nurses as part of the admission assessment to determine suicide risk in patients who present to the ED.

Family Experience With Eating Disorders Scale: A Systematic Way to Engage the Family in Treatment

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to measure congruence in perceptions of family dynamics in eating-disordered adolescents and their parents. DESIGN AND METHODS A pilot sample of 35 matched parent-child dyads completed either the Parent Version or the newly modified Client Version of the Family Experience with Eating Disorders Scale (FEEDS). FINDINGS Differences between parent and child perceptions on subscale totals were not demonstrated, but statistically significant differences on select items were shown. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS The FEEDS offers a systematic way to explore differences and commonalities in perception among family members and to engage the family in treatment.

The Creation of a Synchronous Learning Environment to Support a Study Abroad Program for Nursing Majors at a Traditional Liberal Arts University

In response to an increased need for Spanish-speaking and culturally competent nurses, a small private undergraduate-only liberal arts university implemented a semester-long study abroad program for nursing majors in Barcelona, Spain. Prior to the creation of this program, study abroad for nursing students was limited because of prelicensure requirements and limitations of a traditional nursing curriculum. Students studying in Spain enroll in four courses--including two core nursing courses delivered using Polycom hardware and telepresence software by nursing faculty who remain in the United States, a Spanish language course, and one general education course taught either by the Universitys Spain Director or by an experienced Spanish professor. Participants live with host families and participate in clinical and community observational experiences in Spanish health care agencies. Students then complete direct patient care requirements upon return to the United States. To our knowledge, no other undergraduate-only institution offers a semester-long study abroad experience for nursing majors embedded within the curriculum using synchronous learning; we believe our Spain program, which is in its fourth year being open to nursing majors, is truly an innovative approach to establish cultural competence for undergraduate nursing majors that could serve as a model for other schools of nursing and health disciplines.

Family Experience With Eating Disorders Scale: A Systematic Way to Engage the Family in Treatment: Family Experience With Eating Disorders Scale: A Systematic Way to Engage the Family in Treatment

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to measure congruence in perceptions of family dynamics in eating-disordered adolescents and their parents. DESIGN AND METHODS A pilot sample of 35 matched parent-child dyads completed either the Parent Version or the newly modified Client Version of the Family Experience with Eating Disorders Scale (FEEDS). FINDINGS Differences between parent and child perceptions on subscale totals were not demonstrated, but statistically significant differences on select items were shown. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS The FEEDS offers a systematic way to explore differences and commonalities in perception among family members and to engage the family in treatment.