Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Sustainability Of Future Professionals, Selma Alliex

Nursing Conference Papers

As educators it is our responsibility that we not only teach our students sustainability strategies but also practices to sustain them in a world that is ever changing. This study addresses the theme of this conference because it deals with teaching students strategies to equip themselves with practices that will impact on their role as professionals. This pilot study aimed to assess effectiveness of a 3 week self-care intervention program from the perspective of 3rd year nursing students at the University of Notre Dame Australia. The methodological approach underpinning the study was Descriptive and the students were engaged as active …

Do Inquiries Make A Difference Or Are They A Waste Of Time?, Heather Gluyas

Nursing Conference Papers

Government inquiries into system failures are expensive, time consuming and have an enormous impact professionally and personally on those involved. They are set up to investigate systemic failures in healthcare delivery. Such major failures are different from a single event failure that may capture media attention or be the focus of a coronial inquest. Health system failures that result in an inquiry are distinguished by the scale and magnitude of the breakdown in care. The timescale of the events may stretch over months or years, and there are a number of different occasions where poor patient outcomes (including patient deaths) …

Collaborative Education: An Innovative Method Of Teaching Undergraduate Nursing Students, Karen Clark-Burg

Nursing Conference Papers

The aim of this presentation is to provide you with an insight into the structure of a unit I teach at Notre Dame University, where we have incorporated the idea of collaborative education as a method of teaching our undergraduate nursing student.

As a definition, “Collaborative education is an active learning experience crossing institutional, professional and historical boundaries”. That active learning experience is the essence of collaborative education, and is often expressed with the phrase, “learning by doing”. Academics and health care organisations become experts in the collaborative process only by immersion in it through actively working with each other …

Looking Forward To A Safer Future: The New Who Guidelines For Safe Surgery, Jed S. Duff

Nursing Conference Papers

Each year in Australia there are approximately 2 million hospital admissions for surgical services (Australia’s Health, 2008) and this number is set to grow significantly, with forecasts of at least a 22% increase by 2021 (Birrell, Hawthorne & Rapson, 2003). Surprisingly, for such a high-risk high-volume specialty, we have very little data on perioperative adverse events. This lack of even basic data means that we are unable to track event rates, leaving us oblivious to the full extent of the problem.

Research on intraoperative adverse events tells us that the rate of major complications is between 3-16%, with a mortality …

Clinical Placement Experiences In The Highlands Of Vietnam, Heather Gluyas, Annette Fraser

Nursing Conference Papers

There is a considerable body of literature which supports the value of international placements, however there is little reported in the literature where these experiences have been in remote third world countries. This presentation will present the experiences of the students and their clinical supervisors who traveled to the remote Highlands of Vietnam to provide health assessment clinics and health education in schools.

The objectives were to provide the opportunity for students to develop professionally and personally through:

• Experiencing a clinical placement within a health care system other than the Australian system

• Working within a health care system …

Glasgow Coma Scale: Improving Practice In Non-Neuro Specialty Wards, Lauren Rullis, Tracey Thornley

Nursing Conference Papers

The Glasgow Coma Scale published in 1974 was designed with simplicity in mind. The tool was developed for use in a wide range of clinical environments and for staff who had no specialised training (Teasdale and Jennett 1974) ensuring standardisation in assessment. Evidence (Waterhouse 2008) however suggests that there are ongoing problems in the use of the GCS assessment, and the impact that this might have on patient outcomes are unknown. Variations in practice have been found in all areas, including neurological specialty wards, however the skill level of nursing staff in non neurological areas is concerning with inconsistencies in …

Critical Factors Within An Inquiry Process That Influence Positive Changes In Clinical Governance, Heather Gluyas

Nursing Conference Papers

Major failures in patient safety often lead to high profile inquiries set up to establish the facts, and to identify areas of improvement to prevent further failures. In order to learn from inquiries, we need to be able to identify if, and how, the inquiry process influences improvements.

Using a case study strategy, this research study examined the impact or influence of the Douglas Inquiry on KEMH’s clinical governance systems. The research focused on two areas that were highlighted in the final Inquiry report as requiring reform. These systems deal with the clinical credentialing and performance review and the involvement …

Interactive Video Method Of Teaching And Assessment: Poster Presentation, Karen Clark-Burg, Selma Alliex, Annie Das

Nursing Conference Papers

The School of Nursing (University of Notre Dame Australia) was very keen to trial a method of teaching and assessment in one of the Nursing skills units. Students were divided into two groups to experience both traditional and interactive video methods using a commercially available software program in a cross-over research. It was expected that this strategy would enhance students ‘deeper learning’ and better standards of skills.

Videoing As A Teaching And Learning Tool In An Undergraduate Nursing Curriculum, Selma Alliex, Karen Clark-Burg, Annie Das

Nursing Conference Papers

This conference addressed a range of critically important themes related to nursing education. It was designed to bring together nursing educators from across the globe, who are proactive in providing innovative educational practice to meet the changing needs of nursing; nursing students and healthcare personnel.

Web 2.0: Experiences In Teaching Quality Use Of Medicines (Qum) To Undergraduate Nurses., Jed S. Duff, Karen Baskett

Nursing Conference Papers

Quality Use of Medicine (QUM) means selecting management options wisely; choosing suitable medicines if a medicine is considered necessary; and using medicines safely and effectively. Even though QUM has been a key component of the national medicines policy since 1992, there is much concern that it is not widely known or understood by nurses, one of the professional groups responsible for its implementation. The challenge for nurse educators is to try and incorporate QUM into the nursing curriculum. Unfortunately, lecturers are already pressured by the insufficient time allocated for teaching pharmacology. These time pressures force students to memorise long lists …

Utilising The Clinical Excellence Commission’S Performance Indicators For Quality Use Of Medicines, Jed S. Duff

Nursing Conference Papers

Like other aspects of health care, Quality Use of Medicine (QUM) can be considered in terms of structures, processes and outcomes. These components of QUM can be measured with performance indicators. This poster describes the Clinical Excellence Commissions (CEC) new performance indicators and their use in a warfarin practice improvement project.

Aim: - To measure performance indicators in order to; Comprehensively audit warfarin therapy.

- Benchmarking current practices.

- Identify opportunities for practice improvement.

- Measure practice change>

Method: Auditing structures, processes, and outcomes requires different tools and methods. For this project, the following tools were utilised;

- The CEC …

Perceptions Of External Stakeholders Regarding The Development Of Clinical Governance: A Western Australian Perspective, Heather Gluyas, Selma Alliex

Nursing Conference Papers

The current context of healthcare delivery is one that emphasises patient safety and high quality care. This focus on patient safety within the health industry has lead to the widespread adoption of the term clinical governance. Clinical governance has two aspects. Firstly, this term describes the systems and processes that a health agency has in place to detail accountability and responsibility for patient safety. Secondly, the term clinical governance also encompasses the mechanisms used to monitor and measure patient outcomes to ensure optimum quality care (Balding, 2005).

The growing awareness of the vulnerability of patients to safety related incidents was …

Sink Or Swim: Bridging The Gap Between The Flags, Karen Clark-Burg

Nursing Conference Papers

The focus of this presentation is on the nursing undergraduate curriculum at Notre Dame University and its contribution towards the recruitment of perioperative nurses in the nursing workforce. I will display aspects of the undergraduate curriculum that supports student nurses therefore preventing them from floundering in the breakers ‘sinking’ in the Deep blue ocean of perioperative nursing.

Bridge Over The Theory-Practice Divide, Judith Wilson

Nursing Conference Papers

This qualitative study was conducted to explore how the student midwife in the final stages of her Postgraduate Diploma of Midwifery Course perceived the theory practice gap. Much research has been published about the theory practice gap from the perspective of educators or employers but little is published on the view of the student who sits in the centre of this dilemma. This study was conducted by interviewing 5 student midwives with a set of open ended questions. The first of these questions sought to ascertain if indeed the student perceived such a gap existed. Further questions explored factors, if …

An Innovative Educational Experience: The Use Of Video To Enhance Learning Of Practical Skills In The Undergraduate Nursing Curriculum, Karen Clark-Burg, Annie Das, Selma Alliex

Nursing Conference Papers

Interactive video analysis program was used as a teaching and assessment tool in an undergraduate nursing curriculum at the University of Notre Dame Australia. Using a software program, students were required to code their footage into predetermined categories according to competencies set out for that skill. They could then review, reflect, and critically annotate their performance of the skill. The software program is designed to provide immediate analysis and student feedback, exemplify key lecture content, and moderate student performance.

It was decided that two 1st year nursing skills would be piloted. The lecturer was videoed demonstrating a particular skill and …

Emoderation: Contextualising Online Learning In Undergraduate Nurse Education, Adrian K. Morgan

Nursing Papers and Journal Articles

The wide availability of flexible, mixed-mode methods of course delivery to nursing students places increased demands on the skills and adaptability of nurse educators. The rapid uptake of computer-moderated learning, in particular, has required educators to reconsider some of their long-established pedagogical beliefs and practices which, over time, have faithfully sustained face-to-face teaching in classrooms. Inevitably, a certain degree of pedagogical adjustment is required when teaching online to ensure that the qualities of educational processes are consonant with expected learning outcomes. This paper discusses these important aspects, together with strategies that can help optimise educational practice, with a view to …

Bridging The Theory Practice Gap, Judith Wilson

Nursing Papers and Journal Articles

The gap between theory and practice has long been identified as a problem in nursing and midwifery. In the past this has been described as an “embarrassing failure” (Rafferty et al., 1996 p.685) and presently there is a strong consensus that the existence of this gap is not only pressing but increasing (Spouse 2001; Landers 2000).

This article reports the findings of a qualitative descriptive study conducted. The purpose of this study was to explore the theory practice gap from the perspective of the midwifery student. This was considered to be a unique angle on this well researched and debated …

Towards A Conceptual Framework For Preceptorship In The Clinical Education Of Undergraduate Nursing Students, Melanie Zilembo, Leanne Monterosso

Nursing Papers and Journal Articles

A recent study undertaken by the authors (2007) highlighted that undergraduate nursing students were subjected to varying experiences in clinical practice, which were mediated by a number of factors. Mediating factors included continuity of preceptors, student attitudes, the clinical setting environment, student and preceptor expectations of the clinical practice experience and interactions between the student and preceptor.

Of note, interactions with preceptors were seen to 'make or break' the practical experience. Therefore, the relationship that is forged between preceptor and student is vital in shaping the student's experience of the clinical area and of the real world of nursing work. …

The Influence Of Health Inquiries On Clinical Governance Systems: A Case Study Of The Douglas Inquiry, Heather Gluyas

Theses

Major failures in patient safety often lead to high profile inquiries set up to establish the facts, and to identify areas of improvement to prevent further failures. In order to learn from inquiries, we need to be able to identify if, and how, the inquiry process influences improvements. Using a case study strategy, this research study examined the perceptions of external stakeholders in regards to the impact or influence of the Douglas Inquiry on KEMH’s clinical governance systems. The research focused on two areas that were highlighted in the final Inquiry report as requiring reform. These systems deal with the …

Implementing A Forensic Educational Package For Registered Nurses In Two Emergency Departments In Western Australia, Christine M. Michel

Theses

The results of violence are a major public health problem that infiltrates hospital emergency departments (ED) daily. Often, ED nurses are the first healthcare professionals to see patients, speak with family members, handle personal property and collect laboratory specimens. Such actions can be of extreme importance to the 27 different categories of forensic patients. To adequately address forensic patient issues, ED nurses need exposure to forensic education. The aim of this research was to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a clinical forensic education package on ED nurses’ perceptions, knowledge and care of forensic patients. To accomplish this aim, this …