J Contin Educ Nurs
-
Members of the CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Children's Hospital staff development committee identified a need for a mock code program which would address a range of learning needs for nurses and other caregivers with varying levels of knowledge, skills, and experience. ⋯ This mock code program serves as a unique way to include novice and experienced nurses in mock codes together. The knowledge, skills, and confidence of the code participants and the facilitators have matured. The design of the program allows for immediate teaching/learning where needed, as well as appropriate evaluation. This program develops stronger, calmer, more efficient, and more confident nurses during codes. Practice and equipment changes can be based on findings from the mock codes. The program is invaluable to patients, staff, and hospital.
-
This study examined nurses' personal experiences with pain and whether nurses' personal pain experiences were associated with initial pain management knowledge and ability to learn more about pain management. ⋯ Nurses' personal pain experience may impact their learning of pain management knowledge and should be considered when designing pain management education.
-
RNs in North Carolina were surveyed to determine their current knowledge and to determine if educational preparation, practice setting, or clinical specialty influenced their knowledge levels and attitudes. ⋯ The findings of this study support the concern of inadequate knowledge and inappropriate attitudes regarding pain management. It reveals the need for intensive continuing education and staff development.
-
Nursing practice outcomes of continuing education need to be measured and reported as one indicator of the value of nursing continuing education. This article makes the case that knowledge gain, the traditional measure of continuing education effectiveness, is not necessarily sufficient to assess changes in nursing practice. ⋯ This study found that a continuing education program triggered practice changes. The results of this study correlate with previous research that supports the need for practice outcome measurements.
-
Nursing informatics is a combination of computer, information, and nursing sciences. This new and expanding field addresses the efficient and effective use of information for nurses. ⋯ A model is presented that identifies six essential factors for preparing nurses for computerization. Strong leadership, effective communication, organized training sessions, established time frames, planned change, and tailored software are the essential factors to consider for development of a successful educational program.