THE MAKING OF A GROUNDED THEORY: AFTER DEATH COMMUNICATION

Qualitative research provides understanding of phenomena with a depth and richness that cannot be generated through quantitative approaches. Qualitative methods, however, can often appear difficult, if not confusing. In this article, the authors take the reader through the grounded theory process using Devers's research, Experiencing the Deceased: Reconciling the Extraordinary (1994), a study of after death communication (ADC), to illustrate the use of this particular qualitative method.The authors hope that this article will leave the reader with a better understanding of grounded theory method and stimulate an interest in using it for studying other death-related topics.     

Expert clinician to clinical teacher: Developing a faculty academy and mentoring initiative

The lack of sufficient numbers of qualified nursing faculty to prepare nursing students for entry into the field of nursing is of national and international concern. Recruiting expert clinicians and preparing them as clinical teachers is one approach to addressing the faculty shortage. Adequate training for the new role is paramount to promote job satisfaction and reduce attrition. Various models for orienting and preparing expert nurse clinicians as clinical educators are reported in the literature with little consensus or research to support a single approach. This paper describes a collaborative effort to prepare experienced registered nurse clinicians for new roles as part-time clinical faculty. Using a blend of learning strategies (face-to-face, online, simulation, and group mentoring sessions), this training experience was designed to cover content while promoting discussion of issues and challenges and providing much-needed mentorship. Outcomes include 12 new clinical faculty, 25% from groups underrepresented in nursing, with nine newly employed as part-time clinical teachers.