Nursing home communication is frequently limited and task-focused and fails to affirm resident personhood. We tested the feasibility and effects of automated digital displays of resident photographs to remind staff (N = 11) of resident (n = 6) personhood. Historical photographs were displayed in digital photo frames mounted in each resident's room. To evaluate the intervention's effects, staff-resident conversations were audio-recorded prior to displaying the frames and repeated 2 weeks and 3 months later. Conversations were transcribed and statements were topic coded (task-focused vs. interpersonal). Staff person-centered talk increased from 11% to 32% (z = 2.37, p = .02) after the intervention and task-talk decreased from 64% to 40%. Resident interpersonal topics increased from 20% to 37%. Staff statements increased from 29 at baseline, to 37 postintervention, and 41 at 3-month follow-up and resident engagement and reminiscence also increased. Effects were reduced after 3 months. Automated photo displays are an easily implemented, low-cost intervention to promote person-centered communication.

BACKGROUND: Anxiety and stress are feelings often experienced during nursing course exams. According to the Yerkes-Dodson Law, enhanced performance occurs at mid-levels of anxiety while low and high levels hinder optimum performance.  PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of a Tai Chi (mind relaxation) intervention on test anxiety.  Approach: Test Anxiety was measured utilizing the Westside Test Anxiety Scale, Zero-to-Ten Self-Anxiety Scale, and pulse rates. Outcomes: Thirty-eight undergraduate nursing students enrolled in Health and Illness II during the fall and spring semesters participated in the study. An average of 15 students participated consistently in the Tai Chi intervention. Results demonstrated a significant difference in students’ anxiety scores before and after the Tai Chi intervention and with a post Tai Chi intervention anxiety scores reduction to a mid-level (M=4.73). CONCLUSION: This study supports Tai Chi as an effective intervention before examinations in reducing nursing students’ anxiety levels.

Leaders in nursing education embrace innovative, real‐world learning environments that transform today's generation of nursing students into critical thinkers. Scheduling exclusive child‐bearing practicums are challenging due to staffing, time, and maternal client presentation. Utilizing transformative learning theory a perinatal continuum of care clinical learning experience evolved. This paper will discuss the qualitative, descriptive study of Bachelor of Science in Nursing students in rural, Midwestern United States who completed maternal/infant didactic, high‐fidelity simulation, and real‐world experiences relative to women during the perinatal period. Participants (n = 50) consisted of third‐semester baccalaureate nursing students enrolled in the maternal/infant course. Data were collected from students' reflective journal blogs at the end of the semester. The aim of this study was to identify the outcomes of students learning through this perinatal experience. Three themes emerged from this study: self‐analysis, critical thinking, and self‐efficacy. Students' reflection indicated that through this comprehensive clinical experience, they developed a new self‐awareness. Students noted that the experience was unique to any they had encountered. The perinatal assignment provided an opportunity for professional growth in this specialty area due to the interface of theory, simulation, and clinical applications expounded in the reflective clinical blog throughout the experience.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the nurse-student relationship during clinical learning experiences.Methods: Students at all levels of a Bachelors nursing program completed the Nursing Student Perception of Civil and Uncivil Behaviors tool (NSPCUB) after clinical experiences during each semester over one calendar year at a small Midwestern university. The tool included 12 items, four demographic questions, and two qualitative questions.Results: A total of 302 surveys were returned. The majority of surveys were completed by second semester students on a medical-surgical unit. The majority of students had positive experiences. Night shift nurses had a significantly higher mean on two variables. There was also statistical significance between second and third semester students on two variables. There were no statistical differences between units and hospitals. Student’s comments were mostly positive, though negative experiences still occurred.Conclusions: Nurses can positively impact student’s clinical learning experiences. Students have both positive and negative experiences in the clinical setting. Several positive themes were identified including role modeling, skill acquisition/teaching, communication and critical thinking development. Negative themes also occurred including rudeness, feeling ignored and inappropriate behavior. Further research is recommended.

Yield and animal performance data from plantain/clover and resident ryegrass-based pastures were collected over several years from six properties on the East Coast of the North Island. This information was used in a FARMAX® model developed for a hypothetical farm based on data collected by the Beef + Lamb Economic Service. The hypothetical farm was 495 ha with 50 ha of flats used for silage and/or winter forage crop. The base model had a gross margin of $703/ha. The 50-ha flat block was modelled as if in a plantain rotation with two thirds in plantain and one third in annual ryegrass each year. The higher yields and better-quality feed on the plantain block improved animal performance and carcass weights. Early mating of one-year ewes for feeding on plantain provided a very high-returning enterprise. More ewes and lambs were killed early at heavier carcass weights with a premium before the onset of summer-dry conditions. This became a force multiplier across the entire farm as more feed was available for other stock and lamb carcass weights increased across the farm. Highest returns were generated by using the extra quality feed to increase ewe liveweights by 8 kg. Whilst ewe numbers had to be decreased, this was more than compensated for by the higher lambing percentage and greater number of lambs from mated hoggets. The combined effect was an increase in farm gross margin by around $200/ha and in farm returns of $100,000.