Little is known about personality traits of nurse practitioners (NPs). This information would be useful to the individual NP, the profession as a whole, and to foster educational offerings to mentor these traits in future NPs. The purpose of this study was to identify the personality traits of a sample of student nurse practitioners (SNPs) and NPs using the Guilford Zimmerman Temperament Survey (GZTS). The Model of Nursing Knowledge developed by Chinn & Jacobs-Kramer (1988) was used as the conceptual framework for this study. This Model defines the specifics of self and other as they relate in a conversation.

The GZTS was self administered by Internet access to the forty-four volunteer participants of 11 SNPs and 34 graduate NPs from a community in northwestern Pennsylvania. A comparison was made between these two groups and between the two groups and the Guilford data bank base population of 619 nursing student applicants (Guilford 1976). Trained staff from Career Assessment Concepts, Inc. of Erie, PA analyzed each individual's results. Grouped data was then forwarded to the researcher. No significant differences were found among the study participant group as compared to the normative base population of nursing student applicants. Of the ten personality traits according to Guilford, the study participants had mean scores higher in the areas of general activity, restraint, assertiveness, and masculinity (Guilford, Zimmerman, & Guilford, 1976).

Additional research within a larger nurse practitioner population is recommended. This will up date the data base population to include specific personality trait information for the nurse practitioner. This study was supported in part by a grant from Sigma Thetu Tau, International, Nu Theta Chapter.

Many different types of educational materials are used by health care providers to enhance the teaching process in our current health care arena. Persons require simplified information about risk factors and prevention of risks to decrease the incidence and severity of brain attack or stroke. The signs and symptoms of brain attack also need to be emphasized in order that persons will seek emergency help as soon as possible should these symptoms occur.

A patient education pamphlet was created for use in a northwestern Pennsylvania medical center. The pamphlet was designed to teach persons about risk factors for brain attack and that brain attack is a medical emergency. The pamphlet included what occurs in the brain during a brain attack, the risk factors for brain attack, a brain attack prevention plan, how to reduce the risk for brain attack, and the signs and symptoms of brain attack. The McLaughlin (1969) SMOG readability formula was used to write the pamphlet at the eighth grade reading level. The Evaluating Printed Education Materials Model (Bernier & Yasko, 1991) was used to develop the pamphlet. Dorothea Orem’s (1995) Self-care Deficit Theory served as the theoretical framework for this scholarly project.

Asthma is the most common chronic childhood illness (Adams & Marano, 1995; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1995). As children with asthma enter school, their teachers may become involved in helping them manage their asthma. Research literature review reveals few studies on teachers’ knowledge of asthma, or on the effectiveness of asthma education programs. The American Respiratory Alliance of Western Pennsylvania conducted an asthma education inservice program for elementary school teachers as part of their School Asthma Initiative. This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of this inservice program. Malcolm Knowles’ Adult Learning Theory was the conceptual framework for this study. Thirty-six elementary school teachers participated in the study. Teachers’ asthma knowledge was tested using an identical Asthma IQ pretest and posttest. The teachers had a significant increase in their scores on the tests taken after the inservice program (p<0.01).

Responses to a researcher written survey revealed that although at least 60% of teachers reported having students with asthma, and almost one-half of teachers had previously had to assist a student with asthma symptoms, only two teachers had ever attended an asthma education program. Nearly all of the teachers perceived that they should have some role in assisting students to manage their asthma.

Children with asthma need proper support at school (National Institute of Health, 1997). Recognizing teachers, at least in part, as caregivers of children with asthma, and asthma, and networking in community based organizations to participate in asthma education programs, offers the nurse practitioner another opportunity for education.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between postmenopausal estrogen therapy and the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD), giving consideration to the other coexisting CAD risk factors of obesity, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and CAD history. A retrospective descriptive research design was utilized. Data were collected using a researcher-designed survey that included subject interview and medical record review. The sample of 36 postmenopausal women was classified into 3 groups according to estrogen use: current users (n=9), past users (n=5), and those who had never used estrogen (n=22). The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics and nonparametric tests. A p=0.05 level of significance was used. A Fisher’s exact test showed no statistically significant differences among the estrogen groups in the presence of CAD or presence of obesity, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and CAD history. A Cramer’s V was used for analysis of relationships in the study. A low positive correlation (PH).26) was found between estrogen use and the presence of CAD, however this was not statistically significant. A strong positive relationship (r=1.00) was found between history of CAD and presence of CAD in past users of estrogen (n=5), which was significant at p=0.03. The benefit of estrogen therapy as a means of CAD prevention in postmenopausal women cannot be inferred from the results of this study.

Literature indicates that college students have a higher prevalence of alcohol use than their noncollege counterparts (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1991). Heavy drinking causes problems for the drinker, threatens the quality and safety of the college experience for nondrinking students, and increases costs for colleges. (Harvard School of Public Health, 1995).

Colleges and universities have developed programs to combat binge drinking (five or more drinks in one sitting for men, four for women), and to heighten campus awareness of the problem (Harvard School of Public Health, 1995). Edinboro University of Pennsylvania has such a program in place. Using the Core Alcohol and Drug Survey, this study evaluated the program’s effectiveness by measurement of change in: (a) self-reported alcohol use, (b) negative consequences resulting from alcohol use, (c) student perception of other students’ use of alcohol, and (d) awareness of campus alcohol and drug policies. A comparison of pretest (N-68) and posttest (n=19) results showed percentage changes but Chi Square testing rejected a relationship between program participation and change in behavior or attitude toward the use of alcohol.

There has been a large increase over the last 10 years in the use of herbal remedies by the general population of the United States (Greenwald, 1998). The FDA does not regulate herbal remedies as drugs but as nutritional supplements (Glisson, Crawford, & Street, 1999). Up to 75% of patients are self-medicating with herbal remedies without consulting primary care physicians and practitioners (Glisson et al., 1999). There is a potential for drug-drug interactions, side effects from inappropriate dosing, and delay in the treatment of serious medical conditions with self-medication with herbal remedies (Barnes, Mills, Abbott, Willoughby, & Ernst, 1998) Understanding the reason for the nondisclosure of herbal remedy use is critical to the improvement of physician-patient communication and patient care and safety (Glisson et al.)).

A self-administered survey was conducted in a large rural primary care facility to further define demographics of herbal remedy users, to assess why they choose to utilize herbal remedies, and to assess the patient-provider communication barriers concerning herbal remedy use. The survey had an 86.5% return rate and showed that in this population sample of 865 subjects, 49% had used herbal remedies at some time. The herbal remedy users were more likely to be 36 to 45 years of age (%2=7.2, p=0.01), have about the same household income as nonusers, 2 be married, have some college or vocational education (% =13.4, p=0.001) or bachelor degree (X2=9.8, p=0.01), and, like nonusers, rate their overall health as "good" on the day of the survey.

In summary, the percent of herbal remedy users in primary care practices is much higher than the previous studies have shown. Fifty-seven percent of all subjects had not offered or asked information about herbal remedies from their providers and staff. Ninety-five percent of respondents had not been asked about them by the staff. Communication barriers may be causing a situation where herbal remedy users might have drug/herbal remedy interactions that would affect their medical care. Suggestions are offered for better provider/patient communication as well as future research.

Throughout history, humankind has experienced the unpleasant sensation of pain. Pursuant to this, relief from the discomfort of pain has been sought through whatever means conceivable including the use of magnets. This study was done to help provide a basis for the decision as to weather or not health care providers should advocate the use of static magnets in pain management. The theoretical framework of this study was the Four Conservation Principals by Myra Levine (1969), specifically the conservation of patient energy regarding the inflammatory process.

This research studied the effects of commercially available medical magnets, of varying size, on a convenient sample of 10 patients from the northwestern Pennsylvania area having somatic pain for more than one month. The McGill Pain Questionnaire was used at baseline, 24 hours, and 7 days after beginning magnetic therapy. The Student t test revealed a statistically significant improvement after 24 hours, which continued at 1 week, as measured by the three parameters of the McGill Pain Questionnaire that were addressed. To be considered significant the t value had to be greater than 1.833. The three parameters were: The Number of Words Chosen which had a net improvement of t = 3.1058 (p - 0.0009), the Present Pain Index which had a net improvement of t = 6.5000 (p < 0.0001), and the Pain Rating Index which had a net improvement oft = 5.3930 (p < 0.0001). Magnetic therapy continues to be vigorously studied and shows promising results (Whitaker & Adderly, 1998).

The purpose of this research was to assess the effectiveness of acupuncture for adults aged 20 to 50 with acute low back pain. Very little research has been conducted in this area, but case studies indicate that acupuncture has the potential to shorten disability, decrease medical costs, and hasten pain relief.

This retrospective study examined the difference in perception of pain experienced by subjects before and after a single acupuncture treatment. Acute low back pain was defined in this study as pain of less than 3 months duration in the absence of a serious underlying pathology. The subjects were between 20 an 50 years of age. This convenient sample of 12 patients completed a 0 to 10 pain scale prior to a single acupuncture treatment and again the day after the treatment. Treatments were administered by two certified acupuncturists. The results were analyzed using a one-tailed dependent t-test and revealed that there was a significant decrease in the perception of pain 24 hours after acupuncture treatment.

This study will enhance the knowledge of the health care community, as well as encourage additional research into acupuncture as a way of easing pain and decreasing medical costs. Recommendations for further research are made.

Literature indicates that family members suffer no adverse psychological effects from witnessing CPR efforts on a loved one (Robinson, Mackenzie-Ross, Hewson, Egleston, and Prevost, 1998). Therefore, this study was aimed at health care providers and their attitudes towards family witnessed resuscitation on an adult family member. A seven-item questionnaire was distributed to physicians and registered nurses to determine their attitudes towards family presence during resuscitation procedures.

The sample size was 38 HCPs, 12 being physicians and 26 registered nurses. Of the 38 respondents, 89.5% stated that they themselves would like to be given the opportunity to be present if the situation should arise with their loved one. In addition, of the HCPs who have been involved in situations where family members have been present during CPR efforts, 93.6% stated that this experience yielded benefits. This finding was higher than previously published research. The major benefit identified was that families were viewed as supportive to the loved one in the resuscitation room The major disadvantage was that families might interfere with resuscitation efforts. This study also found that 79.0% of the respondents felt that families have the right to be present during resuscitation. However, this study found that less than half of the HCPs felt that families may interfere with treatment, procedures may offend families, and families may be disruptive to staff members working.