Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Incorporating The Nursing And Midwifery Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Health Curriculum Framework Into A Bn Program, Rebekkah Middleton, Moira Stephens, Maria T. Mackay

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

When considering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's culture, the appropriate approach with students should be to explore and reflect upon cultural safety initially followed by context, with an overlay of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health throughout. * Learning outcomes should be reflective of this process throughout a curriculum - novice, intermediate and entry to practice, developing complexity throughout a degree to increase understanding and application. * Using the CATSINaM Nursing and Midwifery Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Curriculum Framework will facilitate progression and integration into curriculum. * How can I develop Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal partnerships to cocreate …

A Self-Determination Theory Perspective On The Motivation Of Pre-Registration Nursing Students, Anita Cregan, Dana J. Perlman, Lorna Moxham

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Research of current and past literature has identified an increasing shortage of mental health nurses, currently employed, within the Australian healthcare system. Strikingly more alarming is the rising number of mental health consumers; both with a lived experience and those with a current mental illness. This diversity between mental health nurses and mental health consumers only serves to increase the stigma and discrimination whilst further defining the barrier consumers experience when accessing health care services. This paper investigates how an innovative clinical placement, based on personal recovery and grounded in tenets of Self-Determination Theory of human behaviour, can influence the …

The Work Of Living With A Rare Cancer: Multiple Myeloma, Moira Stephens, Heather Mckenzie, Christopher Jordens

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Aim To report findings from a qualitative study of the experiences of long-term survivors of multiple myeloma. Background Multiple Myeloma is a malignant disease of the bone marrow. Until recently, it was rapidly fatal. Although it remains incurable, people diagnosed with it are living longer on average, largely due to new treatments, some of which have onerous side effects. Design Prospective descriptive study. Method A series of 47 in-depth interviews were conducted at 6-12 month intervals over 18 months in 2008-2010 with 10 long-term survivors of myeloma and their primary support person. Interviews were analysed using the constant comparative method …

Mature Aged "Baby Boomer" Students' Contributions To Understanding Nursing Education, Sandra Walker, Trudy Dwyer, Teresa Sander, Lorna Moxham, Marc Broadbent, Kristin Edwards

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Background: Mature aged nursing students of the 'Baby Boomer' generation are important for health workforce retention and planning because once graduated, they are viewed as being more loyal to the profession and consequently likely to remain in the nursing workforce. A challenge though, related to this group is providing them with a fulfilling and worthwhile work integrated learning experience that enables them to engage with their new profession. Methods: An exploratory study was conducted using an online survey with open-ended questions to explore the supports for and barriers to the learning opportunities of "baby boomer" aged undergraduate-nursing students (n = …

The Psychometric Properties Of Five Professional Identity Measures In A Sample Of Nursing Students, Leanne S. Cowin, Maree Johnson, Ian Wilson, Kaye Borgese

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Background: Researchers have yet to fully explore and adequately measure Professional Identity (PI) in nursing. Objectives: This paper aims to examine the psychometrics of five measures of PI and compare these results in first and third year nursing students. As a consequence of utilising multiple self-assessed survey tools this study also examines common methods bias. Design: The study utilised an on-line survey to gather responses from nursing students. Methods: The pilot study examined the validity and reliability of the five measures while investigating the potential for common methods bias. Results: All five measures tested demonstrated poorer psychometric properties or model …

Participatory Action Research: Relevance And Use For Contemporary Nursing Research, Lorna Moxham

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

This paper will demonstrate how, using a collaborative, inclusive research methodology, positive impacts on clinical practice and enhanced client outcomes can be achieved.

Innovative Initiatives To Gauge The Student Experience In An Undergraduate Bachelor Of Nursing Programme, Dominique Parrish

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

A key factor in the success of higher education institutions is their ability to appreciate student experience and integrate this awareness into the generation of institutional priorities (Poindexter 2006). Australian universities annually administer a number of surveys that are designed to collect data about the student experience. Universities receive detailed reports presenting the findings from these surveys. These reports are disseminated to faculties and schools and provide different insights and have varying degrees of significance to the multiple stakeholders. However, evidence suggests that the utilisation and informed strategic action in response to this valuable information is limited (Neumann 2000).

Assessing Competence During Professional Experience Placements For Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Systematic Review, Sharon Bourgeois, Denise Blanchard, Katherine Nelson

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Review Objectives To identify and synthesise the best available evidence about the meaningfulness of assessments of competence during the professional experience placement for undergraduate nursing students, with the overarching aim to make recommendations concerning strategies and initiatives that support assessment of competence for undergraduate nursing programs.

Review Questions What are undergraduate nurses‟ experiences of the clinical assessment of competence? What are registered nurses‟/health care professionals experiences of the clinical assessment of competence?

Practice Nurses Experiences Of Mentoring Undergraduate Nursing Students In Australian General Practice, Elizabeth J. Halcomb, Kathleen Peters, Susan Mcinnes

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Internationally, the delivery of health services has shifted from secondary to primary care, necessitating an exponential growth of the nursing workforce and expansion of the nursing role in general practice. This growth, and the subsequent need to develop this workforce, has created a need to expose undergraduate nurses to general practice nursing as a viable career option. Concurrently, universities are struggling to find sufficient clinical places for their undergraduate students to gain clinical experience. It is logical, therefore, to increase the number of undergraduate nursing student placements in general practice. Through qualitative research methods, this paper seeks to explore the …

Stimulating An Interest In Mental Health Nursing, Lorna Moxham, Renee Brighton, Terry Froggatt, Susan Liersch, Patrea Andersen

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

A team of researchers at the University of Wollongong are currently examining the experiences of Bachelor of Nursing (BN) students as they engage in a stimulating learning experience in mental health.

Using Research To Identify Teaching And Learning Innovations That Will Better Prepare Nursing Students For Professional Practice, Dominique Parrish, Kay Crookes, Patrick A. Crookes

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

In Australia, data is collected by universities across students' institutional tenure to measure and monitor student learning, engagement and experience (DEEWR 2009). This data is often used to assess the performance of a subject, course, faculty or university and also to inform potential marketing materials and campaigns. However, there is very little data (if any) collected to enable universities to assess how well their educational programmes are preparing students for professional practice. This paper is based on a pilot study that aimed to address this gap by asking recent university graduates to provide some feedback on how their undergraduate nursing …

Measuring ‘Magnetism’ In Australian Nursing Environments, Joanne T. Joyce-Mccoach, Patrick A. Crookes

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Objective The aim of this research project was to use the NWI‑R:A tool to measure the organisational features that impact on ‘magnetism’ in Australian health facilities. Design The cross sectional survey questionnaire incorporated the Nursing Work Index‑Revised: Australian (NWI‑R:A) developed by Joyce and Crookes (2007). Subjects Participants were registered nursing staff (n=262) including ward nurses and managers within a group of four Australian hospitals. Main outcome measures To measure the organisational features that impact on ‘magnetism’ in Australian health facilities using the NWI‑R:A tool specifically developed for the Australian context. Results The results have identified a number of consistent patterns …

A Strong Commitment To Mental Health Nursing, Renee Brighton, Angela Brown, Terence Froggatt, Susan Liersch

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health (SNMIH) at the University of Wollongong, places great emphasis on providing nursing students with fundamental education and knowledge in mental health nursing. There are two dedicated undergraduate mental health subjects delivered within the Bachelor of Nursing (BN) program. Both subjects are placed in adjacent sessions to provide a consolidated speciality experience for all BN students. The two subjects incorporate core values and principles to guide the teaching of mental health nursing, learning outcomes that reflect the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMC) competencies and are based on recommendations from the Mental Health …

Tomorrows Workforce: Factors Influencing Nursing Students' Development Of Nursing Assessment & Clinical Skills, Andrew Horne, Patrea Andersen, Roy Brown, Patrick A. Crookes

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Research Design - The aim of this research was to: •Describe student nurses experiences undertaking nursing assessments on clients in clinical practice. •Identify factors influencing the students’ ability to perform assessments. •Determine the types of nursing assessments undertaken by students and the frequency of these. •Identify student involvement in completing assessment documentation on nursing assessments.

An Exploration Of Person-Centredness In Practice, Tanya Mccance, Brendan Mccormack, Jan Dewing

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

'Person-centredness' is a term that is becoming increasingly familiar within health and social care at a global level; it is being used to describe a standard of care that ensures the patient/client is at the centre of care delivery. In this article we explore the relevance of person-centredness in the context of nursing, taking account of the ongoing critical debate and dialogue regarding developments in this field. Person-centredness is recognised as a multidimensional concept. The complexity of the concept contributes to the challenge of articulating its shared meaning and describing how it can be applied in practice. The aim of …

Implementation Of A Major In Mental Health Nursing In Australian Universities, Brenda Happell, Lorna Moxham, Karen-Ann Clarke

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The difficulty recruiting and retaining an adequate mental health nursing workforce is acknowledged. The major in mental health nursing has been identified as a strategy to promote this specialist area of practice as desirable for students’ future careers. Measuring its success requires the collection of detailed data about the structure, content, and uptake of these programmes. A survey was specifically developed to elicit descriptive information about the structure and content of a major in mental health nursing programmes. Fourteen universities participated in this research. Eight had implemented a major, one intends to do so in 2011, and five had abandoned …

Developing Person-Centred Care: Addressing Contextual Challenges Through Practice Development, Brendan Mccormack, Jan Dewing, Tanya Mccance

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Developing person-centred care is not a one-time event; rather it requires a sustained commitment from organisations to the ongoing facilitation of developments, a commitment both in clinical teams and across organizations. Contextual factors pose the greatest challenge to person-centredness and the development of cultures that can sustain person-centred care. We will begin with a general comment on 'context' and its meaning before exploring three particular factors that influence the practice context, namely, workplace culture, learning culture, and the physical environment. Next we explore a particular approach to developing person-centred care through emancipatory practice development. We highlight the importance of facilitation …

Competency Assessment Using A Standardised Tool Across Nursing Programmes In Australia, Roy A. Brown, Patrick A. Crookes

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

No abstract provided.

Rethinking Scholarship: Implications For The Nursing Academic Workforce, Kylie M. Smith, Patrick A. Crookes

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

No abstract provided.

Nursing Sensitive Outcomes: Identifying A Definition, Exploration Of Conceptual Challenges And An Overview Of The Literature, Jenny Sim, Patrick A. Crookes, Kenneth D. Walsh

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Introduction/background: A literature review on nursing sensitive outcomes has been conducted as part of a larger research project. The literature was reviewed to: - identify a definition of nursing sensitive outcomes - determine the conceptual models used to describe nursing sensitive outcomes - identify significant contributions made by researchers on the development and use of nursing sensitive outcomes in clinical practice.The overall aim of the research project is to develop a set of indicators that provides a balanced view of nursing care and its contribution to patient outcomes. It is anticipated that this research will broaden the debate on nursing …

A Comparative Study Of Assessment Grading And Nursing Students' Perceptions Of Quality In Sessional And Tenured Teachers, Yenna Salamonson, Elizabeth J. Halcomb, Sharon Andrew, Kathleen Peters, Debra Jackson

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Purpose: Although the global nursing faculty shortage has led to increasing reliance upon sessional staff, limited research has explored the impact of these sessional staff on the quality of teaching in higher education. We aim to examine differences in (a) student satisfaction with sessional and tenured staff and (b) assessment scores awarded by sessional and tenured staff in students' written assignments. Design: A comparative study method was used. Participants were recruited from students enrolled in the three nursing practice subjects across the 3 years of the baccalaureate program in an Australian university during the second semester of 2008. Methods: This …

Casualisation Of The Teaching Workforce: Implications For Nursing Education, Elizabeth J. Halcomb, Sharon Andrew, Kath Peters, Yenna Salamonson, Debra Jackson

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Internationally, nursing faculty shortages have been reported and there is a potential for them to worsen into the next decade as existing faculty age. To, in part, address this issue, across disciplines there is clearly an international trend towards the increasing casualisation of the higher education workforce. Despite the potential impact of this two-tiered workforce structure, there has been limited examination of the discipline specific issues related to the employment of a growing number of sessional nursing staff. This paper provides a critical review of the literature related to the employment of sessional teachers in higher education. The paper advances …

Medication Administration And Final Year Nursing Students, Kerry Reid-Searl, Lorna Moxham, Sandra Walker

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

The literature continues to report on medication errors occurring within Australian health care facilities every year. For this reason anyone who is admitted into a health care facility and is required to have medications is at risk of being the recipient of an unintentional medication error. Because nurses are primarily the health care professionals who administer medications to patients, students in undergraduate nursing programs are taught that this skill demands absolute vigilance in safety. This paper reports on a PhD study aimed at identifying the experiences of final year undergraduate nursing students when administering medications to patients in the clinical …

Developing A Tool To Measure 'Magnetism' In Australian Nursing Environments, Joanne T. Joyce-Mccoach, Patrick A. Crookes

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The magnet hospital concept, developed in the United States of America (USA) in the early eighties, identified characteristics successful in attracting and retaining nursing staff. The nursing profession in Australia is currently focused on issues of recruitment and retention; therefore it is relevant and timely to consider the significance of the magnet concept to Australian health facilities. The project was undertaken in two stages: one using focus groups to revise the tool for use in Australia; and a second, using a questionnaire to test the reliability, validity and usability, of this revised tool, in a sample of Australian hospitals. The …

Promoting The Students Practicum: A Cd Rom For Nursing Preceptors, Kerry Reid-Searl, Lorna Moxham

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Students who undertake a degree that leads to a professional qualification, such as nursing, are often required to undertake a practical component in their course of study. This frequently involves the use of industry to support, mentor and assess student progress. Such a role is vitally important if the student is to achieve successful learning outcomes. In order to facilitate learning opportunities and evaluate student progress, the industry educators require knowledge to undertake the role with confidence and effectiveness. Using nursing as a case study, but acknowledging that this process is applicable to a variety of disciplines, this paper showcases …

Better Ways To Cook Bacon - Reflecting On Nursing, Kenneth Walsh

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Editorial

Can We Teach Problem Solving In A Clinical Nursing Laboratory?, E Ashcroft

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Can we teach problem solving in a clinical nursing laboratory? Elfi Ashcroft Technical Officer & Nursing Laboratory Manager University of Wollongong Abstract: The objectives of clinical nursing laboratories are the acquisition of psychomotor skills and the simulation of realistic clinical situations (Reilly and Oerman, 1992). A successful educational experience should also encourage the student to identify their development needs and initiate their own learning response (Neary, 2000). Laboratory classes are congested with factual information and demonstration (show and tell). Students, however, rarely have enough time to explore equipment and to acquire technical problem solving skills. The idea to develop a …

Practising Nursing Therapeutically Through Acting As A Skilled Companion On The Illness Journey, Alan Pearson, Sally Borbasi, Ken Walsh

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This article explores nursing's heritage as a healing, therapeutic activity. It examines the central characteristics of nursing as skilled companionship and links them with the foundational core of nursing-a therapeutic relationship based on an understanding of the illness experience. In addition, it discusses the role of literature and performance in developing knowledge to advance nursing as a therapeutic activity.