Blog updates, Journal Club, and Nursing Student Work

Yes, the dissertation is done and approved, a couple of the kids’ birthdays are over, husband has gotten into a groove with the new business launch, and I finally have time to write… something.  Below are updates and things I find interesting.

More Journal Club Fun

The journal club gang had another great time this last week, the first time since we have been together since last spring, sans one great member.  There were great articles and discussion by all.  The following were the articles we discussed:

1.  Wade, G. & Kasper, N. (2006). Nursing students’ perceptions of instructor caring: An instrument based on Watson’s theory of transpersonal caring. Journal of Nursing Education, 45(5), 162-168.

This article focused on psychometric development about caring, but for the nurse educators in the group was an interesting concept to measure.  Most instructors want to know if they appear ‘caring’ to their students, while not being overly indulgent or showing signs of lateral/horizontal violence or some of the authoritative ‘old guard’ mentality that can create negative feelings in students toward the nursing profession. The initial statistics on the 31 item questionnaire were interesting, but we wondered if it would change based on the day/situation/emotional state of the student? Check it out and let us know what you think.

2. Newhouse, R. et al. (2011). Advanced Practice Nurse Outcomes 1990-2008: A systematic review.  Nursing Economic$.  Available for free at https://www.nursingeconomics.net/ce/2013/article3001021.pdf

This landmark systematic review of RCTs of NP to physician outcomes is a must read for all nurses and patients.  Likewise, it is an excellent example of a very well done systematic review, with charts, pictures, and excellent data. It would make a great example for a graduate research course.

3. Bonnel, W. (2008). Improving feedback to students in Online Courses. Nursing Education Perspectives, 29(5), 290-294

AND – Andresen, M. (2009). Asynchronous discussion forums: Success factors, outcomes, assessments and limitations. Educational Technology and Society, 12(1), 249-257.

These two articles reviewed the need for certain actions and characteristics of the faculty member in on-line learning, particularly as Bonnel points out, positive and energizing feedback to motivate students to self-improve.  Detailed and timely feedback by nursing instructors were also cited as much needed by Andresen.  Neither were really research, but had good points based in sound literature.

Be looking for our next update from the journal club coming in February!

Nursing Student Work

An excellent colleague who is finishing a certification as a nursing informaticist, has taken over the NUR3563 course I teach and is doing amazing things with it! She has wonderful insight, energy, and experience to take the course to the next level, which it so desperately needed. One of her RN-BSN students chose to do a multi-media project about how she saw Nursing Informatics.  It is very well done, with much work/effort/learning evident throughout.  You should check it out here.

She also continues to have the students blog and twitter, many with new found enthusiasm for use of technology.  Keep looking for them on twitter.

Blog Updates

NURSING STUDENTS and NEW GRADUATES – Check out the New Nurse Survival Guide at BestNursingDegree.com.  It looks very interactive and applicable.

I will post more soon. Thanks for reading and for supporting the profession of nursing! GO NURSES!