When the normal progression of life for an aging person is interrupted by a decline in physical and or mental abilities, adult children are often suddenly faced with assuming care of their parent(s). Currently, adult child caregivers of aging parents work up to 100 hours per month at caregiving. Most existing literature is focused on informal caregivers, which can consist of spouses, relatives, and friends' caregiving for persons with debilitating illnesses. Despite the amount of time dedicated to parental caregiving, little is known about the experience of this exclusive caregiver group. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the experience of adult children caregiving for aging parents at any stage of health. A qualitative phenomenological approach was used to interview six daughters and one daughter-in-law. Themes were identified and presented through the use of narratives and poetry. The participants expressed they felt unprepared for caregiving and their culture had a direct impact on the expectations of caregiving. A myriad of unpleasant emotions and loss were voiced, yet their outlooks remained extremely positive. The overall health of adult child caregivers needs to be supported to prepare them for what lies ahead with caregiving. Caregivers report their loved one(s) required several hospitalizations, which lead to performing medical/nursing tasks at home. Nursing then has a unique opportunity during discharge preparation, to identify those who need community, state, and faith-based services. Replication is needed to address the limitation of the number of participants, ethnic, and gender diversity. Keywords informal care, adult child caregivers, aging parents, family caregivers, caregiving in the United States, caregiving at home, sandwich generation 803559H HCXXX10.

Despite the abundance of servant leadership literature, scholars recognize the need for a more precise conceptualization of the concept. Although the predominant literature emanates from organizational management and industry describing servant leadership as a theory, model, philosophy, or leadership style, less attention has focused on servant leadership in academia, and most notably in nursing. The purpose of this analysis is to clarify the concept of servant leadership and to provide further delineation of this highly relevant, but elusive concept in nursing. Findings of this concept analysis identify a linkage among servant leadership characteristics, caring theories, and the profession of nursing.

Background: Prior psychiatric simulation experiences required our nursing students to role-play in an unknown area of nursing. Students confidence, clinical satisfaction, and use of clinical skills were negatively impacted leading to unmet course objectives. Objective: The aim of this pilot study was to strengthen our baccalaureate senior nursing students’ simulation experience in their psychiatric nursing course with the use of standardized patients (SPs) instead of student role-play and measure the impact of this strategy on students’ learning, satisfaction, and confidence in an unfamiliar area of nursing. Methods: A mixed method explanatory sequential design was used. Participants consisted of a convenience sample of senior nursing students enrolled in their psychiatric nursing course. A quantitative simulation tool and a four-item questionnaire were analyzed after completion of the simulations ( n = 47). Results: Findings of this study identified greater than 80% of students had increased level of learning, confidence, and satisfaction with the SP simulation experience. Nurse faculty were able to overcome simulation barriers, that is, a patient hearing voices, non-verbal signs of depression, and evaluate students meeting course learning outcomes. Conclusions: Findings from this study highlight students’ positive simulation experiences. Using SPs as an educational strategy can be effective for students to reach competency, achieve higher knowledge, and improve confidence. It is believed the use of SPs as a simulation strategy in psychiatric nursing will assist students with clinical judgment and better prepare them to meet the needs of vulnerable persons with psychiatric conditions.

This phenomenological secondary analysis of original research explored how adult caregivers of aging parents define the concept of being blessed. The disadvantages of caregiving dominate literature, but few research studies focus on positive aspects where caregivers emerge emotionally optimistic. Study participants expressed being blessed, such as being thankful, gaining a sense of peacefulness, reward, and meaningfulness. A conceptual definition of being blessed is proposed.