Conceptualizations of test bias and adverse impact : implications of recent policy proposals

The purpose of this study was to investigate selected implications of recent proposals for the imposition of a set of test assembly procedures called the "Golden Rule procedures" in a wide variety of testing situations. These test assembly procedures stipulate that items selected for test inclusion should exhibit differences in performance between groups below a specified level, and should not be more difficult than specified, for either majority or minority groups. This study used data from the performances of 1807 examinees on four standardized tests completed during their eighth and tenth school grades. Synthetic tests composed of items from the original tests which conformed to the stipulations of the Golden Rule procedure were created. The effects of applying the procedures on the adverse impact and racial bias of test use were examined through comparisons between and among the properties of and results of using original tests and corresponding synthetic tests

A Writing Intensive Introductory Course for RN to BSN Students

This article describes learning strategies used with RN to BSN students in their 1st nursing course to successfully learn how to write formal papers using the American Psychological Association (APA) format. This 1st nursing course, a writing intensive, requires 4 short papers with self, peer, and teacher critiques and opportunities to rewrite. Students learn the style of professional nursing discourse, mastery of APA format, and development of additional skills in following directions and in critiquing their own work. An additional benefit is to enhance learning about professional nursing topics. By mastering writing skills in this initial course, students are able to successfully complete writing assignments in future courses and, in some cases, move on to publication

Teaching Pathophysiology: Strategies to Enliven the Traditional Lecture

The depth and breadth of pathophysiology content, foundational for nursing practice, is well suited for traditional lecture delivery. Use of creative strategies can deepen students’ understanding while respecting students’ diverse talents and ways of learning. The authors discuss strategies they used, including case studies, questions asked during lecture using immediate feedback technology, creative visual demonstrations, group pathophysiologic theory projects, short videos, and games, to enhance students’ understanding and retention of content

Older Adults: What Every Paediatric Nurse Should Know

Older adults have always been important parts of children's lives, playing a variety of roles including grandparent, caregiver, friend, and neighbour. Grandparents also play a variety of roles in families. Often a child's first encounter with serious illness or death involves a grandparent or other older adult. Grandparents are also increasingly serving as primary caregivers for children. Paediatric nurses have long recognised their role in helping children cope with grief and loss associated with illness or death of a grandparent. Paediatric nurses need to be able to provide appropriate interventions and teaching when older adults are primary caregivers or assisting parents in the day-to-day care of the child. They also need to have sufficient knowledge about older adults to help parents and children understand the normal changes they will see in their aging loved ones, and to help parents effectively incorporate grandparents and older adults into children's lives

The effect of critical care hospitalization on family members: Stress and responses

Family members of intensive care patients may experience stressors that threaten both personal health and family integrity. This study found that family members endure multiple concurrent stressors and exhibit numerous behavioral responses, including changes in eating, sleeping, activity, and family roles and responsibilities. Nurses can promote family integrity with interventions that address these behavioral changes and promote normal behavior patterns

Physical Activity, Obesity, Nutritional Health and Quality of Life in Low-Income Hispanic Adults With Diabetes

The study examined relationships among age, body mass index (BMI), physical activity, nutritional health, quality of life, and health-related quality of life in Hispanic adults with diabetes (N = 59) using the PRECEDE-PROCEED planning model as a framework. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews at clinics and communities. A regression model with predisposing factors (age, BMI), and behavior (nutritional health and physical activity) significantly predicted quality of life (R2 = 0.21, F = 3.63, p < .05) explaining 21% of variance. Physical activity and nutrition were the strongest predictors. Culturally competent intervention strategies must include factors that improve and enhance quality of life

Assessing medication knowledge and practices of older adults

An assessment instrument for home health nurses to use in assessing medication knowledge and practices of older adults was developed and tested on a convenience sample of 20 adults 65 and older admit to a local home health agency. The tool was found usable by nurses, understood by patients, and had adequate test-re-test reliability. The results emphasized the need for thorough medication assessments of all home health patients and provided a tool that home care nurses can use

Integrating gerontology competencies into graduate nursing programs.

Current demographic and health care utilization trends strongly indicate a rapidly increasing demand for nurses who are well qualified to care for older adults. Advanced practice nurses are positioned to assume leadership roles in geriatric nursing care; however, they must first acquire adequate preparatory education. This article describes two graduate nursing schools’ curricular innovations that were funded by The John A. Hartford Foundation, in collaboration with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), through the Geriatric Nursing Education Project: Enhancing Gerontological/Geriatric Nursing for Advanced Practice Nursing. These programs at University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Pennsylvania State University incorporated techniques to translate the Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Specialist Competencies for Older Adult Care [American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2004). Nurse practitioner and clinical nurse specialist competencies for older adult care. Washington, DC: AACN] into an advanced practice curriculum and developed strategies to sustain curricular innovations. Finally, lessons learned from these two projects are discussed and recommendations are made for integrating geriatric nursing competencies into graduate programs