Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Marybeth Ryan.
To help alleviate the nursing shortage, nurses from overseas are being recruited. These nurses must adjust to numerous cultural, social, and organizational experiences. Using Pilette's phases of adjustment and a theoretical framework, the author discusses a Buddy Program that has been instituted in a community hospital to provide support and resources to help international nurses with their earliest phase of acculturation.
A pilot program in gerontological nursing was developed for senior baccalaureate nursing students but could not be implemented due to lack of student interest. As a consequence, the authors conducted a descriptive survey research study to determine the knowledge base and attitudes of junior and senior baccalaureate nursing students toward older adults. A sample of 55 students was surveyed using two instruments: Palmore's revised Facts on Aging Quiz (FAQ 1) and Kogan's Attitudes Toward Old People Scale (KOP). While neither the junior or senior student group scored high on the FAQ 1, an analysis of variance revealed a significant difference between the groups in overall knowledge about the elderly. The mean KOP score of neither group indicated a high positive attitude toward the elderly and there was no significant difference between the groups in this area. The relationships between participants' demographic characteristics and KOP results also were explored. Findings support research indicating that nursing students often lack knowledge of the elderly and need opportunities to develop positive attitudes toward them. Implications are identified that relate to curriculum development, students, and faculty.
Research utilization and evidence-based practice are processes that require nurses to have research knowledge and skills. Yet many nurses are fearful of research and avoid reading nursing research studies or using research in their practice. Members of a hospital's Nursing Research Team developed nursing research self-study modules for use by the nursing staff. The goal of this innovative project was to enhance a nurse's ability to critically read nursing research studies and determine their usefulness for practice. As a result, it is hoped that nurses will be more knowledgeable about research and more comfortable participating in the evidence-based practice and research utilization processes. The development, implementation, and evaluation of nursing research self-study modules are described and implications for nursing practice identified.