Many intensive programs have shown success, but the resources required for these approaches may be unavailable to the typical community provider and family. However, using current guidelines, the primary care provider can initiate and manage ongoing interventions in pediatric obesity. A toolkit for primary care implementation and maintenance interventions is provided.

Mobile technology allows healthcare students to access current evidence-based resources. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the student experience of implementing point-of-care (POC) smartphone applications in a first-semester undergraduate nursing program. Teaching methods included using case studies in the laboratory to familiarize students with the apps. At community screening sites, evidence-based guidelines were referenced when students discussed screening results with patients. Surveys were administered prior to implementing this innovation and after the students utilized the apps in direct patient interactions. Survey results were analyzed to evaluate student perceptions and acceptance of mobile technology. Students felt that healthcare smartphone apps were a helpful and convenient way to obtain evidence-based clinical information pertinent to direct care settings. Over 90% of students planned to continue using healthcare smartphone apps. In conclusion, healthcare smartphone apps are a way for students to become comfortable accessing evidence-based clinical resources. It is important to encourage students to use these resources early in the curriculum. Community screenings are an independent health promotion activity which assists in the attainment of health equity and fosters nursing leadership.

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Smartphone apps promote active learning and the long-term retention of knowledge. This community-based activity supports the validity of independent health promotion activities in nursing practice. [J Nurs Educ. 2016;55(7):411-415.].

There has been both an increase in obesity and anti-obesity bias in the United States. The Harvard Weight Implicit Association Test (IAT) is a reliable, valid test that can measure unconscious weight bias. First semester Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students were surveyed anonymously mid-semester and at the end of the semester after completing the Harvard Weight IAT. Sixty-nine out of 77 students completed pre- and post-surveys. Weight preference towards others was not shown to be related to the respondent’s own self-reported body mass index (BMI). The majority of respondents exhibited more weight-related bias on the IAT than they realized. The three qualitative themes that emerged included Awareness of Personal Beliefs and Stereotypes, Reminder to be Impartial, and Skepticism about the IAT. It is important for undergraduate nursing students to be aware of possible unconscious weight bias in order to provide high-quality care to patients.

Appropriate screening can be incorporated easily into a primary care practice. High-risk groups that would benefit from this screening include men who have sex with men, HIV-infected men and women, immunocompromised men and women, women with a history of cervical or vulvar cancer (or high-grade cervical lesions), and women participating in receptive anal intercourse.

Providers can be prepared at every patient visit to address the smoking cessation needs of all patients. The toolkit provided in this article will help facilitate evaluation of readiness and support of effective, long-term smoking cessation and reduce eventual smoking-related morbidities.

Unintended pregnancies are an important public health issue. Long-acting reversible contraceptive methods (LARCs) are reliable, safe, highly effective methods for most women; however they are underutilized in the United States. Shared decision aids were added to usual care in five public health family planning clinics in the Southeastern United States, staffed by advance practice nurses and registered nurses. All five sites showed an increase in the use of LARCs during the time period that shared decision aids were used (results statistically significant to p < 0.001). It is important for women to make informed choices about contraception, and shared decision aids can be utilized to support this decision making. This resource has been adopted for statewide use in all public health clinics, and implications for practice suggest that the use of shared decision aids is an effective method to support informed patient decision making and acceptance of LARC methods of contraception.