Woodring F, Harmon MT. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for nursing students; equipping the next generation of nursing professionals.
Nurse Educ Today 2023;
121:105662. [PMID:
36470039 DOI:
10.1016/j.nedt.2022.105662]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is often used for patients who are temporarily non-speaking. However, considering AAC for these patients in intensive care units (ICUs) has only recently started to gain the attention of health care providers in the hospital setting. Currently, few nursing programs include content in their curricula as relates to this population.
OBJECTIVES
To investigate the feasibility of embedding a brief inservice into an existing undergraduate nursing course, and to determine the feasibility and relevance of AAC use during their clinical ICU rotation.
DESIGN
A longitudinal survey study using three time points: pre- and post-inservice, and post implementation following a clinical rotation.
SETTING
University nursing program classroom during an Adult Health and Illness course.
PARTICIPANTS
Twenty-seven undergraduate nursing students enrolled in the Adult Health and Illness course.
METHODS
The participants were given a brief inservice educating them on the use of AAC. The students were given AAC boards to use during their ICU clinical rotation. Survey data was collected before and after the inservice and at the end of the clinical rotation.
RESULTS
Pre-service nursing students responded favorably to a brief inservice embedded into an existing nursing course. Survey data indicated an increase in the students' knowledge of AAC (z = 4.52, p < .05) and awareness that AAC can improve communication between patients and staff (z = 2.24, p < .05).
CONCLUSION
An interdisciplinary activity between Communication Sciences and Disorders and Nursing departments about AAC could be a new and promising solution to increase communication with non-speaking patients in the ICU.
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