According to the 2004 Surgeon General's report, more than 10 million people in the United States have osteoporosis, and another 34 million are at risk of developing this crippling disease that affects the quality of life. Efforts must be made to stem this disease that may be largely prevented with lifestyle changes. To engage in self-care to prevent osteoporosis, people need to have knowledge of risks and preventive behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine factors influencing osteoporosis knowledge in 255 people in a university community. The Facts on Osteoporosis Quiz (Ailinger, Lasus, & Braun, 2003) was used to measure osteoporosis knowledge. Findings indicated that respondents had inadequate knowledge about osteoporosis. Age was positively correlated with knowledge (r = .27, p < .000), but education was not. There were marked differences in mean scores among ethnic groups. The findings suggest topics that community health nurses need to focus on in their osteoporosis educational interventions.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of an online genetics course for improving nurse practitioners’ knowledge, competence, and comfort with genetic principles and their application to clinical practice. Data sources A genetics knowledge test and survey were administered to 232 nurse practitioner students, between 2011 and 2013, before and after completing a 15‐week online genetics course taught by a multidisciplinary team of instructors at a private east coast U.S. university. The 65‐item survey allowed participants to rate competence regarding genetic principles, diseases, and terminology, as well as comfort performing various clinical tasks related to genetics. The 21‐item knowledge test contained multiple choice questions regarding core competencies in genetics. Paired t‐tests were used to compare mean pre‐ and postscores. Conclusions Participants significantly increased postcourse knowledge (p < .001) and comfort with genetic core competencies and clinical skills related to genetics (p < .001). This study demonstrates the effectiveness of an online genetics course for increasing nurse practitioners’ knowledge, competence, and confidence with genetics and identifies specific topics educators should consider when designing curricula for nurse practitioners. Implications for practice Findings from this study can improve genetics education for nurse practitioners, which will in turn improve patient health.

Many new faculty are being hired to fill the ever-increasing vacancies created by the attrition of current faculty members. To meet the diverse demands of today's educational climate, new faculty must develop an understanding of a variety of learning environments and skill in traditional and contemporary teaching strategies. This article presents storytelling as one strategy for educating potential new faculty in online instruction in an undergraduate nursing research course.

Previous research has linked improper electronic health record configuration and use with adverse patient events. In response to this problem, the US Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology developed the Safety and Assurance Factors for EHR Resilience guides to evaluate electronic health records for optimal use and safety features. During the course of their education, nursing students are exposed to a variety of clinical practice settings and electronic health records. This descriptive study evaluated 108 undergraduate and 51 graduate nursing students' ratings of electronic health record features and safe practices, as well as what they learned from utilizing the computerized provider order entry and clinician communication Safety and Assurance Factors for EHR Resilience guide checklists. More than 80% of the undergraduate and 70% of the graduate students reported that they experienced user problems with electronic health records in the past. More than 50% of the students felt that electronic health records contribute to adverse patient outcomes. Students reported that many of the features assessed were not fully implemented in their electronic health record. These findings highlight areas where electronic health records can be improved to optimize patient safety. The majority of students reported that utilizing the Safety and Assurance Factors for EHR Resilience guides increased their understanding of electronic health record features.