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PubMed2000

Sex differences on a computerized mental rotation task disappear with computer familiarization.

The area of cognitive research that has produced the most consistent sex differences is spatial ability. Particularly, men consistently perform better on mental rotation tasks than do women. This study examined the effects of familiarization with a computer on performance of a computerized two-dimensional mental rotation task. Two groups of college students (N=44) performed the rotation task, with one group performing a color-matching task that allowed them to be familiarized with the computer prior to the rotation task. Among the participants who only performed the rotation task, the 11 men performed better than the 11 women. Among the participants who performed the computer familiarization task before the rotation task, how ever, there were no sex differences on the mental rotation task between the 10 men and 12 women. These data indicate that sex differences on this two-dimensional task may reflect familiarization with the computer, not the mental rotation component of the task. Further research with larger samples and increased range of task difficulty is encouraged.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Six rules for computers and other stumbling blocks to obtaining an advanced degree.

BACKGROUND: The decision to return for an advanced degree in nursing, after many years outside the academic environment, can be fraught with uncertainty, doubt, and panic. The majority of returning students attempt to juggle career, family, community obligations, and school simultaneously. Nurse educators are in the perfect position to act as well-informed resource people, facilitators, and mentors for these returning students. METHOD: The expression "experience is the best teacher" proved to be true. The first author's (B.C.) return to a master of science program after 18 years out of school provided the opportunity to "learn as you go." This article was written with the desire to help ease the transition and lessen the fear for others. RESULTS: The first author (B.C.) graduates in May 1999 with a MS as a Family Nurse Practitioner, enriched and stronger because of the experience, enthusiastic, and facing the future of the nursing profession with a positive and energetic outlook. CONCLUSION: Provision of support; networking with other returning students; and understanding the basic tool in modern education, the computer, eases the return for an advanced degree. Nurse educators' involvement in educational growth, both individually and as proponents for nurses who are dependent on those educators' expertise, is vital to nursing and its evolution as a profession.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1995

Curricular trends in accredited generic baccalaureate nursing programs across the United States.

Rapid technological advances in health care delivery, changes in health care financing, and the increasing number of elderly in the American population have resulted in dramatic alterations in the nature and scope of health care, the needs of health care consumers, and the practice of nursing. A descriptive research study was conducted with 113 respondents from accredited generic baccalaureate nursing programs across the continental United States and the Virgin Islands to determine the presence or absence of current health care emphases and essential nursing knowledge and skills in professional nurse education curricula. Findings revealed that, with few exceptions (e.g., computer literacy, economics, legal issues), content addressing current health care emphases and essential knowledge was integrated within one or more required courses in most nursing curricula. Differences were noted in the teaching strategies used by different types of nursing programs and in different locations.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed2003

Results of a national survey indicating information technology skills needed by nurses at time of entry into the work force.

A national survey was conducted to determine the information technology skills nurse administrators consider critical for new nurses entering the work force. The sample consisted of 2,000 randomly selected members of the American Organization of Nurse Executives. Seven hundred fifty-two usable questionnaires were returned, for a response rate of 38%. The questionnaire used a 5-point Likert scale and consisted of 17 items that assessed various technology skills and demographic information. The questionnaire was developed and pilot tested with content experts to establish content validity. Descriptive analysis of the data revealed that using e-mail effectively, operating basic Windows applications, and searching databases were critical information technology skills. The most critical information technology skill involved knowing nursing-specific software, such as bedside charting and computer-activated medication dispensers. To effectively prepare nursing students with technology skills needed at the time of entry into practice, nursing faculty need to incorporate information technology skills into undergraduate nursing curricula.

Computer Literacy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Acceptability of computer assessments among ethnically diverse, low-income smokers.

PURPOSE: To examine the acceptability of computer-based assessments among an ethnically diverse, low-income population of primary care patients. Although computers have been used to provide assessments and interventions in health care settings, members of ethnic minority and low-income households have less access to computers than other groups, and therefore the acceptability of computers as a health care assessment and delivery tool needs to be examined. DESIGN: We examined the acceptability of computers for providing assessments of smoking history, nicotine dependence, and other related variables among an ethnically diverse, low-income primary care population. No intervention was used in this study. SETTING: Three inner-city primary care clinics located in hospitals were used as sites for this study. These hospitals were located in areas of the city where low-income and ethnic minority households are overrepresented relative to the total population. SUBJECTS: Adult male and female smokers (n = 522) were recruited while awaiting appointments in each primary care clinic. MEASURES: A questionnaire assessing smoking rate, patterns, history, motivation to quit smoking, and other smoking-related variables was administered using either a paper-and-pencil format or a laptop computer. RESULTS: Frequency counts, analysis of variance, and chi 2 tests were used where appropriate. Most subjects (78.5%) used the computer to complete the baseline survey. Almost all subjects (92%) rated the computer "very easy" or "easy" to use. Subjects who were Spanish-speaking, were born outside the United States, or were Hispanic tended to rate the program as slightly less easy to use than other subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Computer-based assessments appear highly acceptable to individuals in low-income populations.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

A comparison of the use of adaptive microswitches by students with cerebral palsy.

This paper describes systematic procedures used to assess, train, and compare the use of adaptive microswitches for microcomputers used by adolescents with cerebral palsy. A comparison is made of three students with cerebral palsy using microswitches to increase their production rates as part of a vocational training program. Future uses of adaptive microswitches in vocational and educational training programs are also considered.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Workstation robotics: a pilot study of a Desktop Vocational Assistant Robot.

Rehabilitation robots are increasingly being viewed as an appropriate assistive technology interface for persons with disabilities. The Desktop Vocational Assistant Robot (DeVAR) system is a voice-controlled robotic workstation designed to enable persons with severe mobility impairments to function independently in a work environment. This study examined the overall efficacy of the DeVAR system, the level of expertise required for therapist and support personnel, routine maintenance requirements, and the readiness of the device for a multicenter evaluation. Two precommercial DeVAR workstations were installed at selected sites. The pilot study spanned 8 months in which staff members and four subjects with high-level quadriplegia evaluated the systems extensively. Responses were generally favorable regarding ease of use and overall training process. Subjects recommended modifications, including incorporation of a noise cancellation microphone, more effective use of workstation space, and addition of vocational tasks. All respondents thought that if the recommended changes were implemented, DeVAR would have potential as a vocational assistant. The small number of subjects was due to the limited subject pool available for the study. On the basis of pilot results, the Veterans Administration Rehabilitation Research and Development Service, Baltimore, Maryland, is conducting a national multicenter evaluation to determine the overall utility and commercial readiness of the DeVAR system.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1993

Single-switch computer access for infants and toddlers.

Computer access was studied with children between the ages of 6 months and 18 months with no known handicapping conditions. The research focused on determining at what age young children can access a computer using a single-switch system to run a simple cause-and-effect program. The sample consisted of 80 children divided into four groups (6 to 8 months, 9 to 11 months, 12 to 14 months, and 15 to 17 months). Results demonstrated that some children as young as 6 months of age could control a computer-based, cause-and-effect program using a single-switch access system. Therefore, professionals who work with children with disabilities may consider introducing computers to children at this age or to children who are functioning near this cognitive developmental level.

Association Learning↗
PubMed1990

Continuing education needs of board members, administrators, and health care personnel.

Our society is becoming more aware of the basic fact that education is a lifelong process. The dynamic world in which we live requires that we continually update our knowledge and skills. Educational institutions that have traditionally viewed their mission as one of providing a sequence of courses leading to a specific degree are now expanding their role to include postgraduate nondegree offerings. The MIS area certainly ranks high among those fields that have a dynamic characteristic. Institutions with particular academic strength in this area can provide a needed service--and at the same time create a market niche for themselves--by developing and presenting continuing education programs in the area of MIS.

Computer Literacy↗
PubMed1990

Expectations and outcome skills of a generalist health care administrator.

The question of the degree of technical versus managerial competence to be found in future graduates from health administration programs is not easily resolved. In the HIMSS 1988 survey of CIOs the attributes needed for success are listed in descending rank order as follows: leadership ability, vision/imagination, knowledge of hospital systems, business acumen, decisiveness, and technical competence. CIOs ranked technical competence as less important than other attributes associated with general management success. The expectations for attitudes, knowledge, and skills presented in this article support the greater importance of management abilities relative to pure technical competence. However, it is vital that an appropriate level of technical knowledge and skill be maintained to enable future alumni of health administration programs to function effectively as administrators. Depending on their role in a health care organization, greater or lesser technical knowledge may be needed. Those pursuing a career path toward CIO must, of necessity, have greater technical knowledge and skill. We have discussed necessary and expected attitudes, knowledge, and skills that will be needed by the generalist health administration graduate in the future. It will be important to develop and maintain an attitude that MIS is a strategic tool, that health care technology is a corporate asset, and that information is power. Graduates must recognize the necessity of maintaining and enhancing their knowledge and skills through continuing education. The knowledge base of MIS education should focus on determining information needs to support strategic goals, understanding of general systems theory, principles of systems analysis, design, implementation and maintenance, awareness and exposure to standard application software, and an awareness of external sources of data.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Computer Literacy↗
PubMed1991

The 1990s and beyond: determining the need for community health and primary care nurses for rural populations.

Increased numbers of primary care and advanced practice nurses with unique generalist skills will be required to meet the accelerating physiologic and sociocultural health care needs of rural populations. Several factors have been identified that will influence the demands and position of community-based nurses in rural practice settings during the next decade. A back-to-basics type of health care offered out of a growing elderly population; technological breakthroughs that make it possible for more chronically ill patients to live at home; serious substance abuse and other adolescent problems; AIDS; and high infant morbidity and mortality statistics are only some of the concerns that will demand nursing intervention. These changes speak to the need for improved nursing coordination, stronger collegial relationships, and better communication between physicians and nurses. Health care is moving in new directions to offer more efficient and technologically sophisticated care. These changes enhance the need for clinically expert educators who teach and jointly practice in programs with a rural focus. Telecommunications, and heightened computer literacy, will play a major role both in nursing education and clinical practice. The goals of kindergarten through 12th grade health promotion and disease prevention strategies in school health will be the norm and will require better prepared, and positions for, school nurses. More midwives and public health nurses will be needed to care for the growing population of sexually active adolescents who are in need of family planning and prenatal care. Underinsured and indigent populations will continue to fall within the purview of midlevel practitioners, as will providing anesthesia services in small rural hospitals. The transition of some rural hospitals into expanded primary care units (e.g., EACHs and RPCHs), and new models of case management will greatly influence nursing demands. This paper will further identify critical areas of advanced practice nursing within community settings, including new relationships with other health care providers, and will introduce strategies upon which rural health policy recommendations for the 1990s can be addressed.

Community Health Nursing↗