Sort by
Exploring clinical facilitation and student learning on undergraduate nursing placements through a community of practice lens: A qualitative study

Background: High-quality clinical placement experiences are important for preparing undergraduate student nurses for practice. Clinical facilitation and support significantly impact student placement experiences and their development of skills, knowledge, and attitudes in the healthcare setting. Aim: This research aimed to explore university-employed clinical facilitators’ perspectives on providing quality clinical facilitation and student learning on placement. Design: An exploratory, descriptive research design was used to examine the perspectives of n = 10 university-employed clinical facilitators working in regional New South Wales, Australia (March 2020-December 2021). Methods: Semi-structured interviews were used to explore the experiences of a purposeful sample of university-employed clinical facilitators. Data was thematically analysed using Miles et al.'s (2014) qualitative data analysis framework. Results: Five key themes were identified 1) relationships at the core of quality, 2) a culture of commitment to student learning, 3) connection to the curriculum, 4) examining the model, and 5) empowering growth and development. Clinical facilitators perceive their role as misunderstood, undervalued, and isolating and that they require further preparation and ongoing professional development to provide quality facilitation. Building rapport and relationships with staff and students was at the core of quality clinical facilitation. Conclusions: The clinical facilitator role has an important function in preparing student nurses for practice and needs further recognition and continued professional development. Education providers and healthcare organisations need to examine strategies to provide inclusive and supportive work environments, building communities of practice for clinical facilitators and stakeholders to share their experiences and knowledge, promoting individual and group learning, thus improving the student placement experience and fostering the professional identity of clinical facilitators.

Open Access Just Published
Relevant
The voice of the second-level regulated nursing role: a qualitative approach

Background With an international nursing shortage, there is a need to navigate towards an improved nursing workforce structure where each nursing role is valued and recognised for the work they contribute. The second-level regulated nursing role is seen as integral; however, there is role confusion, especially with the registered nurse, and high attrition. To implement strategies to retain an integral nursing workforce, there is a need to better understand the role from the experiences and expectations of the second-level regulated nursing role. Aim To gain a better understanding of the second-level regulated nursing role in the Australian nursing workforce. Design Qualitative descriptive study from a larger mixed methods study. Method Five focus groups in 2018. The findings were analysed through the lens of organisational behaviour. Results The findings identified that enrolled nurses’ intrinsic and extrinsic motivators influenced levels of job satisfaction and sense of feeling valued. The findings also identified key determinants that influence job satisfaction and occupational stress: enrolled nurses’ understanding of their role and scope of practice; the registered nurses’ understanding of the enrolled nurses’ role and their role when working with the enrolled nurse; and the organisation’s understanding and recognition of their role. When these determinants align, there is job satisfaction, less occupational stress and enrolled nurses feel valued. At a professional level, the title does not reflect the role, and there are no career pathways. Conclusion This study explained why recurrent challenges impact the role and what contributes to those in the role feeling valued. Challenges that affect job satisfaction and occupational stress for the second-level (enrolled) nurse are related to the working environment and with whom the nurse works. From a professional level, there are limited career opportunities that recognise and retain the enrolled nurse in their role.

Just Published
Relevant
Perspectives on the implementation of health informatics curricula frameworks

Background The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the necessity of equipping health professionals with knowledge and skills to effectively use digital technology for healthcare delivery. However, questions persist about the best approach to effectively educate future health professionals for this. A workshop at the 15th Nursing Informatics International Congress explored this issue. Objective To report findings from an international participatory workshop exploring pre-registration informatics implementation experiences. Methods A virtual workshop was held using whole and small group interactive methods aiming to 1) showcase international examples of incorporating health informatics into pre-registration education; 2) highlight essential elements and considerations for integrating health informatics into curricula; 3) identify integration models of health informatics; 4) identify core learning objectives, resources, and faculty capabilities for teaching informatics; and 5) propose curriculum evaluation strategies. The facilitators’ recorded data and written notes were content analysed. Results Fourteen participants represented seven countries and a range of educational experiences. Four themes emerged: 1) Design: scaffolding digital health and technology capabilities; 2) Development: interprofessional experience of and engagement with digital health technology capabilities; 3) implementation strategies; and 4) Evaluation: multifaceted, multi-stakeholder evaluation of curricula. These themes were used to propose an implementation framework. Discussion Workshop findings emphasise global challenges in integrating health informatics into curricula. While course development approaches may appear linear, the learner-centred implementation framework based on workshop findings, advocates for a more cyclical approach. Iterative evaluation involving stakeholders, such as health services, will ensure that health professional education is progressive and innovative. Conclusions The proposed implementation framework serves as a roadmap for successful health informatics implementation into health professional curricula. Prioritising engagement with health services and digital health industry is essential to ensure the relevance of implemented informatics curricula for the future workforce, acknowledging the variability in placement experiences and their influence on informatics exposure, experience, and learning.

Open Access Just Published
Relevant
Nursing applicants’ desire to work in nursing and related factors: a cross-sectional study

Background The desire to work in the nursing profession has recently been identified as an important aspect to consider in the selection process of nursing students but very little is known about nursing applicants’ or students’ desire to work in nursing. Aims The study aimed to describe and explain the desire of undergraduate nursing applicants to work in nursing. Design A cross-sectional study design. Methods The Desire to Work in Nursing Instrument was used to collect the data. All nursing applicants (N = 974) who took part in an entrance examination organised in six Universities in October 2018 were eligible to participate. Eight Hundred and Forty-one applicants (response rate 86%, 102 males) participated in the study. Statistical analysis included the use of descriptive statistics and linear regression was used to assess if dependent variables explained the observed outcomes. Results A strong desire to work in nursing was demonstrated in all the four areas. The most common reason to desire this work was suitability to nursing and the nature of work, and the least common was the career opportunities. Gender, previous education, and a realistic image best explain the desire. Conclusions The assessment of desire to work in nursing may assist career choice of nursing applicants, and may enhance recruitment and retention in nursing education. Applicants need to be more aware of the career development possibilities. Further studies are needed to investigate if the desire to work in nursing is different to men than to women to inform recruitment strategies.

Relevant
Work characteristics, job satisfaction and intention to leave: a cross-sectional survey of advanced nurse practitioners

Background Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs) are highly skilled health care professionals with the potential to play a major role in improving the quality and accessibility of health care services. However, there is emerging evidence of disquiet among nurse practitioners who often work in suboptimal work environments. Therefore, it is important to understand the elements that contribute to ANPs’ job satisfaction and retention in healthcare services. Aim To examine the effects of commitment to the workplace, work engagement, and influence at work on job satisfaction and intention to leave of ANPs. Methods A total of 153 ANP’s on the advanced practice section of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland register completed a web survey between July and August 2020. Independent variables (commitment to the workplace, work engagement, and influence at work) were measured using the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between dependent and independent variables. Results Participants who reported higher levels of influence at work and higher levels of commitment to the workplace were also satisfied in their job (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01-1.09, p = 0.025), (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.06–1.14, p < 0.001) respectively. Additionally, ANPs with higher levels of commitment to work were significantly less likely to leave their role (OR 0.94, 95% CI .92–.96, p < 0.001). Conclusion Healthcare organisations can improve job satisfaction and decrease intention to leave by creating environments in which ANPs are supported by their colleagues and supervisors, and facilitate their practice to the full extent of their capabilities.

Open Access
Relevant
‘Capacity building skills in the implementation of evidence-based practice for community health nurses: an exploratory descriptive cohort study’

Background: While nurses are strategically placed to support the achievement of universal health, their practice may not always be informed by evidence, especially in a context where research evidence is not commonly used to inform practice. Objective/Aim/Hypothesis: Improve management of clients with CNCDs in Caribbean community through evidence-based practice (EBP) capacity building workshops. Design/Methods: A descriptive, quantitative design was used for this study. Participants included Community Based Nurses who attended an initial and recall workshop on EBP in a Caribbean island. All participants were included as the sample. Data were collected as a Pre-Test and Post Test before the initial workshop and at the recall workshop. Analysis was done quantitatively. Since the sample was small, only descriptive statistics were used. Results: Data showed 64% of participants had no experience with EBP, 55% needed more essential resources to participate in EBP and 55% recognized a need to include EBP to change their clinical practice effectively. Conclusions: The nurses and district supervisors observed a high level of interest and commitment to initiating and completing EBP projects. However, the reality of significant workplace demands, and limitations in consistent logistical and supervisory support impacted long-term sustainability.

Relevant