A 9-member educational task force and a 4-member panel of experts was used to establish the validity of the PEDS-BKAT, which was modified from version 4 of the adult BKAT for critical care nursing. A sample of 105 pediatric ICU nurses from 6 settings took the PEDS-BKAT. Test results include a mean score of 78.9 points and a reliability of 0.86 (coefficient alpha). The PEDS-BKAT can be used to assess knowledge before and after orientation, to determine learning needs for veteran staff nurses, for advanced placement of new employees with previous experience in a pediatric ICU, and in nursing research. Copies of the PEDS-BKAT are available upon request.
BACKGROUND: Stress surrounding hospital discharge after acute myocardial infarction increases the likelihood that the condition will recur. Although increased age, a more severe illness and a higher incidence of persistent cardiac symptoms suggest that women would experience more stress at discharge, data comparing stress experienced by women and men have not been reported. PURPOSE: To compare the level of stress experienced by women and men at hospital discharge after acute myocardial infarction. SAMPLE: Data from 54 women and 182 men from a government hospital, two private community hospitals and a teaching/community hospital. RESULTS: Stress scores of women were not found to be different from those of men, nor were five of the six most stressful concerns identified in the study. No difference was found in severity of illness or age. CONCLUSIONS: Women and men experience similar levels of stress at hospital discharge after acute myocardial infarction. Furthermore, both genders can benefit equally from interventions designed to reduce stress.
Findings from this study of 54 subjects who used the BKAT-3 in their professional practice indicate that it is being used most frequently in orientation programs conducted in critical care units, and that content and scores of the BKAT have resulted in changes in those programs. Scores are also being used for placement of nurses with previous critical care experience. In addition, findings from this study and from the literature indicate that research continues to be conducted using scores on the BKAT as a dependent variable, and that moderate to moderately high correlations exist between intended and actual use of the BKAT.
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