Of 52 accredited California nursing schools, the majority had applicants with disabilities that most were able to accommodate; 82% felt accommodations were reasonable; 94% provided special services. However, some accommodations acceptable to nursing faculty were not acceptable in clinical placements. (SK)

Interviews with six nursing students identified themes related to change in the clinical environment: autonomy and recognition, peer support, job satisfaction, role clarity, quality of supervision, and learning opportunities. Revisions in curriculum and clinical placements were made based on the findings. (SK)

Psychiatric nursing students engage in 2-hour per week contacts with mental health clients during group sessions ranging from discussions of health topics to field trips to fitness classes. Students increased empathy, confidence in group leadership, and understanding of the role of psychiatric nurses. (SK)

Nursing students (n=47), entry-level nurses (n=48), and expert nurses (n=54) viewed and analyzed simulated nursing incidents. Findings determined that critical thinking and decision making increased with the level of clinical expertise. Grade point average was also correlated with critical thinking and decision making. (Contains 22 references.)…

Interviews with 17 fourth-year nursing students identified essential components in the process of learning clinical decision making: gaining confidence, building relationships with staff, connecting with patients, being comfortable with nurse identity, and understanding the clinical picture. Results indicate that, without the big picture, clinical…

A literature review identified nursing student support models in the practice environment, roles/responsibilities of preceptors, staff preparation and support for the role, benefits of preceptorship, and difficulties encountered. A partnership approach of shared ownership, responsibility, and commitment by stakeholders was found crucial to…

Nursing students received research training and used clinical assessment tools to gather information from women after cesarean births. The project enhanced skills for clinical assessment and helped students understand the relationship between the nursing process and nursing research. (Contains 16 references.) (SK)

Preceptors' leadership characteristics influence nursing students' clinical experience. Preceptors' leadership styles can be assessed with the Myers Briggs Type Indicator or Hersey and Blanchard's Leader Behavior Analysis II instrument, which identifies four styles based on situational leadership. (Contains 25 references.) (SK)

Offers suggestions about encouraging nursing students to expand their critical thinking skills. Reviews the attitudes, knowledge, and cognitive skills needed for developing critical thinking skills. (JOW)

A rationale for offering clinical clerkships in community pharmacies is presented, and the general structure and content of such a program are outlined. (MSE)

Reviews the medical laboratory career ladder. Indicates that because of the shortage of health care workers, there is a need to reassess the other avenue of career development, namely experience. (JOW) (This file contains 41 resumes, CS739175 to CS739215.)

The New England College of Optometry's two separate but integrated clinical postgraduate programs, one providing Veterans' Administration residencies and the other, college-based fellowships, are described. The shared curriculum components, exchange process, and evaluation system are highlighted. (MSE)

In Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, postgraduate nursing curricula were reformed, but discrepancies appeared between stated goals and actual content, due largely to inexperience with nursing education. Other difficulties included lack of literature in native languages and insufficient reading ability in English. (SK)

Responses from 516 of 596 Australian nurses revealed a significant positive relationship between professional development and six variables: autonomy/recognition, role clarity, job satisfaction, quality of supervision, peer support, and opportunities for learning. Some hospitals/wards were more conducive to learning than others; one factor was…

The 440 interventions completed by pharmacy residents in an inpatient on-call program were analyzed for their source (self-initiated, solicited by physician or staff pharmacist), type (selection of dosage, schedule, drug level monitoring, route of administration), impact on quality of care, cost of care, and clinical significance. (Author/MSE)