The Experienced Critical Care RN\u27s Perception of New Graduate RNs Competence in Critical Care Using Benner\u27s Novice to Expert

The purpose of the study was to describe the experienced critical care RNs\u27 perception of the new graduate RNs\u27 competence in critical care areas. Using the Six-Dimension Scale of Nursing Performance (Six-D Scale) by Patricia Schwirian, experienced nurses from critical care areas with at least three years of experience were asked to rate new graduate RNs in their critical care area on specific nursing activities. Benner\u27s theory of Novice to Expert is used as the theoretical framework. Findings revealed that experienced critical care RNs perception of new graduate RNs is greater than expected. All activities on the Six-D Scale were performed at least occasionally . Of the six subcategories, Professional Development had the greatest overall mean score. Teaching/Collaboration and Leadership had the least scores. Implications from the study show involving experienced nurses in selection, educating, and mentoring of new staff can be pivotal to each person\u27s success, departmental success, and improved recruitment and retention. Linking relationships between the experienced critical care RN and the new graduate RN can contribute

Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Exploring the Lived Experiences of College Students Who Do Not Request Accommodations

For this phenomenological study, thirteen participants from two private universities, located in the western region of the United States shared their lived experiences of being a college student who does not request accommodations. The author used recursive analysis to analyze qualitative data from semistructured interviews. Initial codes were combined to create interconnected families of codes. A second level of analysis resulted in seven spaces in which participants described their lived experiences. Findings suggest participants experience various tensions, ranging from incompatible options to competing perspectives, as they negotiate their identify and environment. including the principle of opportunity cost. Recommendations for college administrators and faculty, including Universal Design in higher education are included

Using the Virtual Reality-Cognitive Rehabilitation Approach to Improve Contextual Processing in Children with Autism

Background. This pilot study investigated the efficacy of a novel virtual reality-cognitive rehabilitation (VR-CR) intervention to improve contextual processing of objects in children with autism. Previous research supports that children with autism show deficits in contextual processing, as well as deficits in its elementary components: abstraction and cognitive flexibility. Methods. Four children with autism participated in a multiple-baseline, single-subject study. The children were taught how to see objects in context by reinforcing attention to pivotal contextual information. Results. All children demonstrated statistically significant improvements in contextual processing and cognitive flexibility. Mixed results were found on the control test and changes in context-related behaviours. Conclusions. Larger-scale studies are warranted to determine the effectiveness and usability in comprehensive educational programs

College Algebra - Large Section Versus Traditional Size

The economic crisis facing our nation forced many companies and universities to downsize and learn to operate with smaller budgets. Valdosta State University (VSU) was not immune to this economic crisis. To deal with this crisis VSU started offering large sections of core area courses, including College Algebra (MATH 1111). It is clear from a financial point of view that large sections will benefit the university during this financial crisis. What was not clear was the impact to student learning and success in College Algebra. In the fall 2010 and fall 2011 terms, VSU offered the first large sections of Math 1111 with 150 and 175 students, respectively. The course retention rate and the students’ performance on the departmental final exam for the treatment group, Large Section (LS), versus the control group, Traditional Section (TS) of 35 students, were compared. The LS had a statistically significant higher retention rate and departmental final exam average

The Importance of Mathematical Wording by Math Instructors

At times we the math instructors in a classroom are not careful enough to use proper Mathematical wording, e.g. sin2 + cos2 = 1 without any reference to the angle. Improper Mathematical wording can be confusing to a student at any level, especially at high school and/or at a college freshman or sophomore level. It may hinder the students’ progress in the present and the subsequent math courses

An Interesting Application of the Difference of Two Squares

A standard topic in a college algebra course is solving equations containing two radicals. In this paper, we present an interesting application of the difference of two squares to solve such an equation

Leslie Matrices and Women Population in the United States of America

This research tests the accuracy of the Leslie matrix, which is a discrete age-structured method that uses fertility and survival rates, as a tool for predicting women population. Based on available data for the year 2000, we have constructed a Leslie matrix that predicts female population in the United States for every five years from the years 2000 to 2020. To test the accuracy of this method, we compare the aforementioned obtained projected data for the year 2010 with the actual data for women population in the United States obtained by the 2010 U.S. Census

L-Band Photometry of L and T Dwarfs

We present K- and L-band photometry obtained with the Keck I telescope for a representative sample of L and T dwarfs. These observations were motivated in part by the dominant role water and methane play in shaping the flux near 2 and 3 microns and by the potential use of these bands as indicators of spectral class in the infrared. In addition, these observations aid the determination of the bolometric luminosity of L and T dwarfs. Here we report the K, L' and Ls magnitudes of our objects and the trends observed in the (K-L') and (K-Ls) colors as a function of L- and T-dwarf spectral class. We compare these colors with theoretical models, derive a relationship between effective temperature and L-spectral class, and compare our temperature estimates with others.Comment: Paper to be published in ApJL, 15 pages, 3 figure