Qualitative descriptive study of the experiences of nurse educators in developing and implementing concurrent enrollment ADN-BSN programs

Nursing leaders have called for more bachelor-of-science-in-nursing-(BSN)-prepared nurses to meet workforce demands. There is limited capacity in BSN programs to meet the projected demand. Currently, associate degree in nursing (ADN) programs produce the majority of registered nurses. To increase the number of BSN graduates, nurse educators recommend innovative educational models for seamless progression from the ADN to the BSN. Concurrent enrollment ADN-BSN programs offer one potential model to produce more BSN graduates. The purpose of this study was to describe the process of developing and implementing concurrent enrollment ADN-BSN programs. The research question was as follows: What is the experience of nurse educators in developing and implementing concurrent enrollment ADN-BSN completion programs? The method of inquiry was a generic qualitative descriptive study. Seventeen participants were recruited from concurrent enrollment programs across the country. Data collection occurred through semi-structured email interviews. The data was manually coded using holistic, descriptive and in vivo coding methods and then analyzed using situational mapping for similar patterns and thematic concepts. There were five conceptual themes that described the process of developing and implementing concurrent enrollment ADN-BSN programs. The five themes emerged as championing the program, establishing partnerships, predicting student success, promoting student success, and adapting to change. The implications to nurse educators are a better understanding of an innovative educational model to produce more BSN graduates. More BSN graduates benefits the nursing profession. Further research is needed to understand the benefits and drawbacks of concurrent enrollment programs and the factors that influence adoption of this educational model

Introduction: Nursing Research Project Posters

Nursing 363, Principles of Practice: Research as Foundation for Practice, is a required course in the undergraduate nursing curriculum at Old Dominion University. This course, offered every spring, focuses on the theories and concepts utilized in the scientific investigation of nursing practice. Students are introduced to scientific inquiry in nursing which forms the basis for nursing practice and theory. To meet course requirements, student groups create professional scientific research posters of their research proposal projects. What follows is a compilation of their research posters which were presented at the College of Health Sciences Interprofessional Poster Presentation day in the spring of 2017 and 2018. The research proposals address multiple community health issues such as illicit drug abuse in homeless adolescents, nutritional habits of school-aged children, and the perceived threat of nitrate-contaminated water in a rural community. From lessons learned from the research proposal projects, students are better equipped to design health promotion projects to improve health knowledge, attitudes, behaviors and the environments of the community

Infrared optical coatings for the EarthCARE Multispectral Imager

The Earth Cloud, Aerosol and Radiation Explorer mission (EarthCARE) Multispectral Imager (MSI) is a radiometric instrument designed to provide the imaging of the atmospheric cloud cover and the cloud top surface temperature from a sun-synchronous low Earth orbit. The MSI forms part of a suite of four instruments destined to support the European Space Agency Living Planet mission on-board the EarthCARE satellite payload to be launched in 2016, whose synergy will be used to construct three-dimensional scenes, textures and temperatures of atmospheric clouds and aerosols. The MSI instrument contains seven channels: four solar channels to measure visible and short-wave infrared wavelengths, and three channels to measure infrared thermal emission. In this paper, we describe the optical layout of the infrared instrument channels, thin-film multilayer designs, the coating deposition method and the spectral system throughput for the bandpass interference filters, dichroic beam splitters, lenses and mirror coatings to discriminate wavelengths at 8.8, 10.8, & 12.0 µm. The rationale for the selection of thin-film materials, spectral measurement technique, and environmental testing performance are also presented

The treatment effect of rivaroxaban on clot characteristics in patients who present acutely with first time deep vein thrombosis

BACKGROUND: The acute vascular disease deep vein thrombosis (DVT) requires oral anticoagulants to prevent progression. Monitoring therapeutic efficacy of direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC), including rivaroxaban, is problematic as no reliable test is available. Advances in rheometry have led to the development of a functional coagulation biomarker using Gel Point (GP) analysis which assesses clot structure formation. The biomarker measures incipient clot formation time (TGP) and quantifies fibrin clot structure in terms of fractal dimension (df).OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate clot structure formation in first time DVT and the effect of rivaroxaban treatment.METHODS: This prospective observational cohort study measured the GP and standard laboratory markers at three sample points: pre-treatment and at 20 and 60 days following 15mg BD and 20mg OD rivaroxaban respectively. RESULTS: Forty DVT patients (mean age 64 years [SD±14.8]; 23 males, 17 female) were recruited. The results show that DVT vs non-DVT patients did not have a significantly different GP profile (df: 1.72±0.06 vs 1.70±0.06 and TGP: 267±68sec vs 262±73sec) with both within the defined healthy index. In addition, rivaroxaban therapy increased TGP to 392s (±135s) after 20 days, and subsequently increased to 395s (±194s) at 60 days but did not significantly increase df (from 1.69±0.05 to 1.71±0.06). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate in this cohort of DVT patients there was no underlying hypercoagulable effect as determined by gel point analysis. Furthermore, the anticoagulant effect of rivaroxaban prolonged clotting, suggesting a protective effect against clot formation, without significantly reducing clot microstructural properties

Fecal Sludge Management: a comparative assessment of 12 cities

This paper outlines the findings of a fecal sludge management (FSM) initial scoping study in twelve cities. This short, desk-based study used innovative tools to assess the institutional context and the outcome in terms of the amount of fecal sludge safely managed. A range of cities was included in the review, all in low- and middle-income countries. None of the cities studied managed fecal sludge effectively, although performance varied. Where cities are seeking to address fecal sludge challenges the solutions are, at best, only partial, with a focus on sewerage which serves a small minority in most cases. FSM requires strong city-level oversight and an enabling environment that drives coordinated actions along the sanitation service chain; this was largely absent in the cities studied. Based on the findings of the review a typology of cities was developed to aid the identification of key interventions to improve FSM service delivery. Additional work is recommended to further improve the tools used in this study in order to enable better understanding of the FSM challenges and identify appropriate operational solutions

Fecal Sludge Management: analytical tools for assessing FSM in cities

This paper describes the results of a research study which aimed in part to develop a method for rapidly assessing fecal sludge management (FSM) in low- and middle-income cities. The method uses innovative tools to assess both the institutional context and the outcome in terms of the amount of fecal sludge safely managed. To assess FSM outcomes, a fecal sludge matrix and accompanying flow diagram was developed to illustrate the different pathways fecal sludge takes from containment in water closets, pits and tanks, through to treatment and reuse/disposal. This was supplemented by an FSM service delivery assessment (SDA) tool which measures the quality of the enabling environment, the level of service development and the level of commitment to service sustainability. The tools were developed through an iterative process of literature review, consultation and case studies. This paper considers previous work done on FSM, suggest reasons why it is often neglected in favour of sewerage, and highlights the importance of supporting the increasing focus on solving the FSM challenge. The tools are presented here as useful initial scoping instruments for use in advocacy around the need for a change in policy, funding or indeed a city’s overall approach to urban sanitation

Integration Methodologies for Disparate Software Packages with an Emphasis on Usability

This paper describes a novel approach to program script generation. The goals are twofold: to allow a number of different software packages to be implemented together and to permit a user with little or no programming skill to produce executable code. The principles and requirements of such a system are discussed and an outline approach is suggested. A case study based on electric motor design is presented for which early results are encouraging. Future development is considered in conclusion