This study was conducted to examine the effects of a communication empowerment program based on situated learning theory for nursing students.

A non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. The study participants were 61 nursing students (31 in the experimental group and 30 in the control group) from G city. Data were collected from November 3, 2015 to December 10, 2015. The experimental group received eight sessions of the program, which were scheduled twice a week, with each session lasting two hours. The data were analyzed using chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and an independent t-test using SPSS/WIN 20.0.

There were significant increases in self-efficacy for communication (t=2.62, p=.011), emotional intelligence (t=2.66, p=.010), and interpersonal communication competence (t=2.87, p=.006) in the experimental group compared to the control group.

Based on the findings, our study suggests a need to include content from communication curricula or clinical communication training programs for improving undergraduate nursing students’ communication skills in practice settings.

The purpose of this study was to compare the degree of cognitive level, nutritional status and depression in elderly according to living situations.

The subjects consisted of 173 elderly classifying three groups(living alone, living with spouse, living with children). Data was collected from March to June, 2003 by a structured questionnaire that included general characteristics, MMSE-K, nutritional status and depression scale. The collected data was analyzed by the SPSS program including descriptive statistics, χ²-test, ANCOVA, Scheffe test and Pearson Correlation Coefficient.

In MMSE-K, the living alone group showed suspicious dementia while the other groups were normal. The living alone group showed a high nutritional risk and all three groups showed depression. In MMSE-K, the nutritional status and depression were statistically significant by the living situation. In each group except living with spouse, MMSE-K indicated a significantly negative correlation to depression and nutritional status, while nutritional status showed a significantly positive correlation to depression.

It is necessary to develop supportive programs for decreasing the risk of bad health in the elderly and an individual approach according to their living situation. Especially, more concern and intervention is necessary for the solitary elderly.

This study was designed to explore the relationship of situational meaning with maternal self-esteem in mothers with high risk newborn.

The subjects of this study were 82 mothers with high risk newborn. Data were collected using a translated Family Meaning Attribution Scale and Maternal Self-Report Inventory. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, Pearson Correlation Coefficients and Stepwise Multiple Regression.

The average score of the situational meaning in high risk newborn mothers was 64.01(possible score is between 0-96) and the average score of each item was 1.98. The average score of the maternal self-esteem in high risk newborn mothers was 81.96(possible score is between 26-104) and the average score of each item was 3.15. No significant differences were found in situational meaning according to general characteristics except whether it was a planned pregnancy or not. No significant differences were found in maternal self-esteem according to general characteristics except disease or admission experience during pregnancy. There was significant positive correlation between situational meaning and maternal self-esteem.

It is necessary for nurses to provide high risk newborn mothers with care for improving situational meaning that is attributed to the mothers. It can be helpful to improve maternal self-esteem and in the end it will facilitate the maternal transition in mothers with high risk newborn.