Sample sessions
Following are recaps of a few of the sessions presented today.

Clinical education in a rural undergrad nursing curriculum—What are the barriers to effective clinical education for undergraduates? How can the clinical facilitation model be used to improve clinical learning? Jackie Lea, RN, BN, MNurs(Hons), of the University of New England (UNE), presented “An evaluation of clinical education within a rural undergraduate nursing curriculum: Insights into the Clinical Facilitation Model,” and explained how she and co-researcher Helena Sanderson, RN, BN, MN, also of UNE,  answered these questions through student and facilitator interviews and focus group studies. Attendees learned how perceptions of the facilitator’s role contributed to the effectiveness of the model. 

Empowering nurses in Pakistan—Four faculty members from Aga Khan University School of Nursing (AKUSON) in Karachi, Pakistan, examined the school’s empowerment of nurses and the nursing profession. Results of the study indicated that AKUSON nurses felt more empowered than other nurses in Pakistan, and that the School of Nursing has played a pivotal role in enhancing the legitimacy of the nursing profession for Muslim women. Rozina Karmaliani, RN, MPH, PhD, presented the findings. Other participants in the study included Saleema A. Gulzar, MScN; Nasreen S. Lalani, MScN, RN; and Salma Amin Rattani, MScN, BScN, RN, RM, all of Aga Khan University.

Strategies to enhance nurse recruitment and retention—Recruiting and retaining nurses pose a challenge for many health care organizations. How can a mentoring program assist in that task? Debra Bournes, RN, PhD, explored the effectiveness of a mentoring program on hiring and keeping nurses in her presentation of “Critical care mentoring study: Educational strategies to enhance retention and recruitment of nurses.” This session also revealed additional benefits the program had for mentors, protégés and patients. Other participants in the study included Mary Ferguson-Pare, RN, PhD; Carolyn Plummer, RN, MHSc; Jane Hollett, RN, MSc; and Donna Sherman, RN, MScN, all of University Health Network.

Evaluating doctoral nursing education in South Africa—The first national study in South Africa to evaluate the quality of doctoral nursing education, from the perspectives of deans, faculty, doctoral students and doctoral graduates, was conducted by Siedine Knobloch-Coetzee, MCur, BCur, RN, RM, and Hester C. Klopper, PhD, MBA, RN, RM, BACUR, MCUR, both of North-West University in Potchefstroom, South Africa. Knobloch-Coetzee presented the results of the study. Baseline data are being analyzed, which will lead to strategies for improvement in South Africa’s programs. The research is part of an international collaboration among Australia, Japan, Korea, South Africa, Thailand, United Kingdom and the United States to compare the quality of doctoral nursing education.

Book signings

Cindy Saver signs copies of her new book, Anatomy of Writing for Publication for Nurses.

Two authors signed copies of their newly released books today.

Cindy Saver, RN, MS, editor of Anatomy of Writing for Publication for Nurses, greeted research congress attendees and signed copies of her book, published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI). Fifteen of nursing’s top writing experts contributed to the book, which covers topics ranging from peer review and online submission to mind-mapping and social media. Saver, a former book acquisitions editor for STTI, is president of CLS Development Inc., an editorial consulting firm.

Lois Marshall, author of Take Charge of Your Nursing Career, greets a research congress attendee.

Lois S. Marshall, PhD, RN, signed copies of her new book, Take Charge of Your Nursing Career, also published by STTI. The book provides practical career advice on topics that include choosing an advanced nursing degree, becoming a nurse entrepreneur and practicing the art of negotiation. Marshall, a nurse educator and principal of Lois S. Marshall Consulting, has mentored nurses for more than 30 years.  

Networking
One of the most important benefits of attending research congress ...

Taste of Orlando—Monday, 12 July
Taste of Orlando—Wednesday, 14 July
Taste of Orlando—Thursday, 15 July
Taste of Orlando—Friday, 16 July