Implications For Workforce Research Articles

Abstract WP72: National Assessment of Trainee and Non-Vascular Neurology Acute Stroke Decision-Making at StrokeNet Regional Coordinating Centers

Background: The impact of acute stroke treatment changes, including development of Vascular Neurology, advances in neuroimaging, and endovascular treatment (EVT), on stroke team trainee utilization and decision-making are unknown. For insight into high-performance teams, we surveyed StrokeNet Regional Coordinating Centers (RCCs). Methods: A confidential, self-administered, pilot-tested survey was distributed to the site PIs of all 27 StrokeNet RCCs. The survey assessed in-person acute stroke response staffing, involvement of trainees, decisional autonomy, and attitudes regarding decision-makers. Absent data fields excluded. Descriptive statistics presented. Results: 18 of 27 RCCs completed the survey (gross response rate 66%). 67% (12/18) reported trainees (Resident and/or Fellow) always respond to ED and inpatient activations and 39% (7/18) that trainees always respond to EVT activations. 44% (7/16) and 27% (4/15) reported Nurse Practioner (NP) and Physician Assistant (PA) involvement in ED stroke responses, respectively. Thrombolytic decision-making authority (prior to attending staffing) rested with Fellows and Residents in 61% (11/18) and 18% (3/17), respectively. No NP or PA independent use was identified (0%). 89% (16/18) reported attending Emergency Physicians did not order thrombolytics prior to stroke team consultation. Apart from Vascular Neurology, which was universally acceptable, acceptability by attending specialty for thrombolytic ordering was: Emer Med (88%), Gen Neurology (75%), Neurosurgery (33%), Fam Med (12%), Int Med (11%) and Radiology (6%). Acceptability for EVT decisions was Neurosurgery (94%), Gen Neurology (59%), Radiology (50%), Emer Med (44%), Fam Med (12%) and Int Med (11%). Conclusions: At StrokeNet RCCs, acute stroke teams have significant trainee involvement in both ED and inpatient acute stroke responses and allow trainees significant autonomy. Stroke team involvement likely occurs early in the ED, as few reported attending emergency physicians ordering thrombolytics prior to consultation. Respondents varied in acceptability of different specialties as decision-makers for both thrombolytics and EVT. These findings have potential workforce, education, and training implications.

A mathematical analysis of teleoperator optimization using multiple sensors

As the role of remote vehicle operation gains prominence, ensuring robust wireless communication systems is crucial. Prior studies have delved into various aspects of vehicle teleoperation, including its legal framework and workforce implications. Some have even formulated models to estimate the number of remote operators for large automated vehicle fleets. These models suggest that automated vehicles overseen by remote operators could supplant a significant portion of current driving jobs in the United States. Such findings underscore the need for governmental review and policy adjustment to better accommodate the burgeoning field of teleoperation, which could substantially accelerate the advancement of vehicle automation. The present study focuses on evaluating the reliability of a bi-directional communication channel based on key variable parameters. This assessment aids in determining the optimal parameter settings, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of teleoperation systems.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Fear of Job Displacement in Banks in Bangladesh

The rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the banking sector is modernizing operations, with significant implications for employee roles. This study investigates the relationship between AI adoption and the fear of job displacement among bank employees in Bangladesh. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, data were collected through surveys of 120 bank employees and interviews with 10 senior managers from leading banks. The survey focused on employees' perceptions of AI technologies, their readiness for change, and concerns regarding job security, while the interviews explored management perspectives on AI implementation and workforce implications. Quantitative analysis revealed that 80% of employees feared AI-driven job displacement, particularly those in clerical or routine roles. However, management expressed optimism, viewing AI as an opportunity to streamline operations and create new job opportunities, albeit with a need for reskilling. The study found a significant link between employee training and reduced fear of displacement, highlighting the importance of workforce development initiatives. Senior management underscored the necessity of reskilling and upskilling programs to facilitate a smoother transition to AI-driven environments. The findings suggest that while AI can enhance operational efficiency, it also creates anxiety about job loss, emphasizing the need for strategic planning and training programs to alleviate these fears. Further research is recommended to explore the long-term employment impacts of AI in the banking sector.

The Effect of Training on an Ageing Workforce’s Attitude to Digital Transformation of a Communications Company

The rapid pace of technological change has significant implications for the modern workforce, particularly for organizations with an aging employee population. This study sought to explore the notion that a workforce nearing retirement are not interested in technology intensive training. The study employed a qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews with 13 purposively selected participants who were employees aged 55 or older in a large communications company in South Africa company. In terms of its findings, participants aged 55 and above with extensive tenure in communications companies, emphasized that aging goes beyond chronological age, reflecting a mind-set towards learning and adaptation. Contrary to stereotypes, older employees expressed a desire for technology training, but organizational barriers hindered access to such opportunities. Limited exposure to emerging technologies and discontinuation of training impedes digital transformation efforts. The study challenges misconceptions that older employees do not want to learn, revealing organizational barriers to technology training. Recommendations include providing technology training for older employees and ensuring continuous exposure to emerging technologies. The study underscores the importance of addressing age-related barriers to foster digital innovation and organizational growth in communications companies.

Workforce Implications of Large-scale Land-use Change in Aotearoa New Zealand

Workforce Implications of Large-scale Land-use Change in Aotearoa New Zealand

Getting back to the real world

Today, STEM and/or STEAM frameworks dominate the discourse around science education and what constitutes a ‘scientific’ literacy. While no one definition prevails in the literature, this literacy is often defined in the context of a current national concerns and focuses largely on Eurocentric (western) models of science and/ or scientific knowledge in terms of concepts, models, theories, or principles. As it currently stands, the term STEM is mostly used when addressing educational policy and curriculum choices in schools, aimed at improving competitiveness in science and technology with implications for workforce and economic development (often with some missing voices from women and Indigenous communities). Without an important socio-cultural critique, education of this kind can maintain and promote hegemonic beliefs and values while ignoring collateral problems relating to scientific or technological development: many of which have been linked to social and environmental injustice. In this paper, I offer three perspectives in an effort to decentre the discourse around the STEM movement. Using the overlapping themes of biocultural diversity, two-eyed seeing and guided inquiry, I offer suggestions on how to reframe science education as an interdisciplinary practice centred on student and community needs. In these ways, science education can ‘get back to the real world’ and promote creative approaches to science literacy, problem solving and cultural inquiry.

Negative Impact of COVID-19 on the Small & Medium Garments Manufacturers & Suppliers of Bangladesh and Possible Solutions to Overcome the Outbreak

In the context of the pervasive global pandemic, this research article meticulously investigates the detrimental repercussions inflicted upon Bangladesh's small and medium-sized garment industry by the relentless onslaught of COVID-19. Through a comprehensive lens, it scrutinizes the intricate challenges faced by manufacturers and suppliers, ranging from disrupted supply chains and diminished consumer demand to financial strain and workforce implications. Delving into the nuanced layers of this crisis, the research articulates the profound impact on the economic landscape and social fabric of the nation. The article not only highlights the adversities but also serves as a beacon of resilience, presenting an array of potential solutions to navigate and transcend the challenges posed by the pandemic. These solutions encompass strategic adaptations in business models, leveraging technology for operational efficiency, policy recommendations for industry support, and fostering international collaborations to bolster recovery efforts. This research article thoroughly examines the adverse repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on Bangladesh's small and medium-sized garment industry, specifically focusing on manufacturers and suppliers. The detailed abstract delves into the multifaceted challenges faced by these entities, ranging from disrupted supply chains to decreased consumer demand. The article also provides a comprehensive analysis of potential solutions, proposing strategies and interventions aimed at helping the industry recover and thrive despite the ongoing outbreak.

From “Local Control” to “Dependency”: Transitions to Single-Vendor Integrated Electronic Health Record Systems and Their Implications for the EHR Workforce

BackgroundHealthcare systems that previously used either a single legacy electronic health record (EHR) system or a “best-of-breed” combination of products from multiple vendors are increasingly adopting integrated, single-vendor EHR systems. Though healthcare leaders are beginning to recognize the dramatic collateral consequences of these transitions, their impact on the EHR workforce — internal actors most closely involved in governing and supporting the EHR — is poorly understood.ObjectiveIdentify perceived impacts of adopting single-vendor, integrated EHR systems on the institutional EHR workforce.DesignIn this qualitative study, we conducted semi-structured phone interviews in four healthcare systems in the USA that had adopted an integrated EHR within the previous five years.ParticipantsForty-two staff members of four geographically and organizationally diverse healthcare systems, including 22 individuals with formal informatics roles.ApproachTranscribed interviews were coded and analyzed using qualitative content analysis methods.Key ResultsAcross organizations, participants described a loss of autonomy by the EHR workforce at the individual and institutional level following the adoption of an integrated EHR. We also identified references to transformations in four key professional functions of the EHR workforce: communication, governance, optimization, and education.ConclusionsTransitions to integrated EHR systems can have important implications for the autonomy and professional functions of the EHR workforce. These findings may help institutions embarking on similar transitions better anticipate and prepare for these changes through such practices as revising job descriptions, strengthening EHR governance structures, and reinforcing pathways to engage frontline clinicians in supporting the EHR. Findings may also help institutions structure vendor contracts in a way that anticipates and mitigates loss of autonomy.

206 Changing needs in a rehabilitation setting—fact or fiction?

Abstract Background Various pathways have been developed for older persons in our region, e.g. Reablement and the Integrated Care Team for Older Persons. Do these developments impact on referrals to our rehabilitation unit? The perception is that our client base is becoming more complex. A service evaluation was completed to examine this. This has implications for the planning of resources for us and the region in line with the National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare (2012). Methods A retrospective chart audit was performed on all discharged physiotherapy charts for 2019, 2021 and 2022. Categories were themed for: reason for admission to acute services, transfer ability (bed to chair) preadmission, on admission to the rehabilitation unit and on discharge. Levels of assistance needed were itemised as: independent, assistance of one, assistance of two, use of a Sara Steady and use of a hoist. Discharge destination was reviewed. Results A total of 339 charts were reviewed. Reason for admission to acute services was consistent: acute medical reasons, stroke, hip fracture and ‘falls’. The majority of clients were independent in transfers before admission: 93% in 2019 which dropped to 81.5% in 2022. On admission to the rehabilitation ward those needing assistance of two people rose from 16.8% (2019) to 21.8% (2022). The use of a hoist rose by 6%. On discharge, those assessed as being independent dropped from 63% (2019) to 44.6% (2022). Those needing assistance of 1 increased from 21.8% (2019) to 41.1% (2022). Those requiring a hoist rose; 2% (2019) to 7.2% (2022). The majority of clients were discharged home; 75% (2019) which fell to 65% in 2022. Conclusion The review highlights that there is a trend towards increased levels of assistance needed for clients admitted onto, and being discharged from, the rehabilitation unit. This has workforce and environmental implications for our unit in terms of planning of resources. Further evaluation is warranted to examine ongoing trends.

To the Economy and Workers: Challenges and Opportunity

The rapid development of automation and new technologies over nearly two centuries has sparked heated discussions. Programmable, repetitive jobs are being replaced by technology, leaving large numbers of middle-skilled workers unemployable, and causing employment difficulties. But at the same time, the development of automation has created new employment opportunities for another group of laborers. Similarly, the development of automation once accelerated economic growth, but as the development of automation slowed down, economic growth encountered a corresponding bottleneck as well. In this paper, it is mainly used to refer to the historical development of literature research, analyze and summarize, so that the observed specific situation can be summarized. In addition, there are also descriptive studies, which generally describe the experience of the predecessors, play a revealing role, and further analyze and demonstrate. The research questions in this paper revolve around the economic and workforce implications of advances in automation. The source of this thinking is that automation replaces labor, resulting in a large number of middle-skilled workers being unemployed and abandoned by the market because they do not have the ability to use new technologies. This group has a huge base in society, and improving this situation will help reduce poverty, break through the economic bottleneck. The conclusion of this paper is that workers need to improve their competitiveness in the market, and the government needs to adjust policies to adapt the labor force to the market, and that the market is close to meeting the employment needs of the labor force.

Workforce Implications of Increased Referrals to Hereditary Cancer Services in Canada: A Scenario-Based Analysis.

Over the last decade, utilization of clinical genetics services has grown rapidly, putting increasing pressure on the workforce available to deliver genetic healthcare. To highlight the policy challenges facing Canadian health systems, a needs-based workforce requirements model was developed to determine the number of Canadian patients in 2030 for whom an assessment of hereditary cancer risk would be indicated according to current standards and the numbers of genetic counsellors, clinical geneticists and other physicians with expertise in genetics needed to provide care under a diverse set of scenarios. Our model projects that by 2030, a total of 90 specialist physicians and 326 genetic counsellors (1.7-fold and 1.6-fold increases from 2020, respectively) will be required to provide Canadians with indicated hereditary cancer services if current growth trends and care models remain unchanged. However, if the expansion in eligibility for hereditary cancer assessment accelerates, the need for healthcare providers with expertise in genetics would increase dramatically unless alternative care models are widely adopted. Increasing capacity through service delivery innovation, as well as mainstreaming of cancer genetics care, will be critical to Canadian health systems' ability to meet this challenge.

Characteristics of Emergency Medicine Residency Programs With Unfilled Positions in the 2023 Match

The unprecedented number of unfilled emergency medicine post-graduate year 1 (PGY-1) residency positions in the 2023 National Resident Matching Program shocked the emergency medicine community. This study investigates the association between emergency medicine program characteristics and the likelihood of unfilled positions in the 2023 Match. This cross-sectional, observational study examined 2023 National Residency Matching Program data, focusing on program type, length, location, size, proximity to other programs, previous American Osteopathic Association (AOA) accreditation, first accreditation year, and emergency department ownership structure. We constructed a generalized linear mixed model with a logistic linking function to determine predictors of unfilled positions. A total of 554 of 3,010 (18.4%) PGY-1 positions at 131 of 276 (47%) emergency medicine programs went unfilled in the 2023 Match. In our model, predictors included having unfilled positions in the 2022 Match (odds ratio [OR] 48.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 21.04 to 110.15), smaller program size (less than 8 residents, OR 18.39, 95% CI 3.90 to 86.66; 8 to 10 residents, OR 6.29, 95% CI 1.50 to 26.28; 11 to 13 residents, OR 5.88, 95% CI 1.55 to 22.32), located in the Mid Atlantic (OR 14.03, 95% CI 2.56 to 77.04) area, prior AOA accreditation (OR 10.13, 95% CI 2.82 to 36.36), located in the East North Central (OR 6.94, 95% CI 1.25 to 38.47) area, and corporate ownership structure (OR 3.21, 95% CI 1.06 to 9.72). Our study identified 6 characteristics associated with unfilled emergency medicine residency positions in the 2023 Match. These findings may be used to guide student advising and inform decisions by residency programs, hospitals, and national organizations to address the complexities of residency recruitment and implications for the emergency medicine workforce.

Staff experiences of training and delivery of remote home monitoring services for patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in England: A mixed-methods study.

Remote home monitoring services for patients at risk of rapid deterioration introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic had important implications for the health workforce. This study explored the nature of 'work' that health care staff in England undertook to manage patients with COVID-19 remotely, how they were supported to deliver these new services, and the factors that influenced delivery of COVID-19 remote home monitoring services for staff. We conducted a rapid mixed-methods evaluation of COVID-19 remote home monitoring services during November 2020 to July 2021 using a cross-sectional survey of a purposive sample of staff involved in delivering the service (clinical leads, frontline delivery staff and those involved in data collection and management) from 28 sites across England. We also conducted interviews with 58 staff in a subsample of 17 sites. Data collection and analysis were carried out in parallel. We used thematic analysis to analyse qualitative data while quantitative survey data were analysed using descriptive statistics. A total of 292 staff responded to the surveys (39% response rate). We found that prior experience of remote monitoring had some, albeit limited benefit for delivering similar services for patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Staff received a range of locally specific training and clinical oversight along with bespoke materials and resources. Staff reported feeling uncertain about using their own judgement and being reliant on seeking clinical oversight. The experience of transitioning from face-to-face to remote service delivery led some frontline delivery staff to reconsider their professional role, as well as their beliefs around their own capabilities. There was a general perception of staff being able to adapt, acquire new skills and knowledge and they demonstrated a commitment to continuity of care for patients, although there were reports of struggling with the increased accountability and responsibility attached to their adapted roles at times. Remote home monitoring models can play an important role in managing a large number of patients for COVID-19 and possibly a range of other conditions. Successful delivery of such service models depends on staff competency and the nature of training received to facilitate effective care and patient engagement.

Stakeholder Analysis in Hospitality Management: An Examination of Tourism Infrastructure Reform and the Impact on the Workforce in Brazil

This study provides an in-depth analysis of stakeholder dynamics in Brazil's hospitality sector amid ongoing tourism infrastructure reforms and their implications for the workforce. Stakeholder analysis is a critical tool in hospitality management, aiding in understanding the perspectives, interests, and potential impacts of various stakeholder groups on industry trends and reforms. In the context of Brazil's hospitality industry, key stakeholders range from government agencies and investors to local communities, customers, and the workforce itself. Brazil has launched substantial tourism infrastructure reforms under programs such as "Brasil Mais Turismo," aiming to enhance the country's attractiveness as a global tourist destination. These reforms target improvements in accommodations, transportation, visitor amenities, and overall accessibility. However, the reform process is complex and multifaceted, implicating various stakeholder interests and carrying significant implications for the hospitality workforce. The study emphasizes that the interests and influences of stakeholders can shift rapidly in response to societal, economic, and industry changes. Therefore, stakeholder analysis should be an ongoing process, constantly updated and adapted to reflect these shifts. Further, the study analyzes the impact of tourism infrastructure reforms on the hospitality workforce in Brazil. The reforms present both opportunities and challenges for the workforce. While they promise improved working conditions, skill development opportunities, and job creation, they also pose challenges such as potential job displacement and skill mismatches. The study concludes with recommendations for enhancing stakeholder engagement in Brazil's hospitality sector and optimizing the benefits of tourism infrastructure reforms. These include strengthening partnerships among key stakeholders, adopting a proactive approach to workforce development, and implementing robust feedback and adjustment mechanisms to ensure the reforms remain responsive to evolving stakeholder needs and industry trends. Keywords: Stakeholder analysis, Hospitality management, Tourism infrastructure reform, Workforce, Brazil

Mental Health Needs Due to Disasters: Implications for Behavioral Health Workforce Planning During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Public health emergencies impact the well-being of people and communities. Long-term emotional distress is a pervasive and serious consequence of high levels of crisis exposure and low levels of access to mental health care. At highest risk for mental health trauma are historically medically underserved and socially marginalized populations and frontline health care workers (HCWs). Current public health emergency response efforts provide insufficient mental health services for these groups. The ongoing mental health crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic has implications for the resource-strained health care workforce. Public health has an important role in delivering psychosocial care and physical support in tandem with communities. Assessment of US and international public health strategies deployed during past public health emergencies can guide development of population-specific mental health care. The objectives of this topical review were (1) to examine scholarly and other literature on the mental health needs of HCWs and selected US and international policies to address them during the first 2 years of the pandemic and (2) to propose strategies for future responses. We reviewed 316 publications in 10 topic areas. Two-hundred fifty publications were excluded, leaving 66 for this topical review. Findings from our review indicate a need for flexible, tailored mental health outreach for HCWs after disasters. US and global research emphasizes the dearth of institutional mental health support for HCWs and of mental health providers who specialize in helping the health care workforce. Future public health disaster responses must address the mental health needs of HCWs to prevent lasting trauma.

Contemporary trends in cardiac electrophysiology procedures in the United States, and impact of a global pandemic.

There are limited data on trends in nationwide cardiac electrophysiology (EP) procedures in the United States before and during the global COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to understand contemporary EP procedural trends and how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted them. Trends were obtained from publicly reported Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services data from 2013 to 2020 (latest available). Rates of catheter-based EP procedures (EP studies and ablations) and cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) procedures were analyzed. All procedural rates were calculated per 100,000 Medicare beneficiaries (year specific). Procedure physician subspecialty was also reported. From 2013 to 2019, annual rate of all cardiac EP procedures increased from 817.91 to 1089.68 per 100,000 beneficiaries. Catheter-based EP procedures increased from 323.73 to 675.01, while CIED rates decreased from 494.18 to 414.67. While all ablation procedures increased over time, relative proportion of ablation procedures being pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) increased (9.9% of ablations in 2013, to 18.2% in 2019). In 2020, rates of both catheter-based EP procedures and CIED procedures decreased; however, PVI share of ablation continued to increase in 2020 comprising 25.2% of ablation procedures. Rates of EP procedures have increased among Medicare beneficiaries, with catheter-based procedures now eclipsing CIEDs. Additionally, a greater proportion of catheter-based EP procedures are PVI, but they still represent a minority of all ablations. In 2020, rates of EP procedures were attenuated, yet the proportion of PVI ablations increased to over one-fourth of ablation procedures. These data have important implications for the EP workforce.

Resilience to hazards overlapping a pandemic: A shelter resource stabilization model

COVID-19 and the resulting financial impacts had budget and workforce implications for organizations involved in emergency shelter provision. To address distancing and sanitation protocols as well as virus transmission and vaccination rates, shelter supplies, facility modifications, and staffing adjustments were needed. As funding and authorizations to implement public health guidance and stabilize the workforce expired, emergency managers had to determine whether to continue pandemic protocols. In order to understand these relationships, we conducted a workshop in September 2021 with 137 emergency managers, public health leaders, and other government and nonprofit practitioners from 20 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Canada to identify resource reallocation strategies utilized for sheltering from post-lockdown to post-vaccine periods of the COVID-19 pandemic. We applied a fiscal recovery framework to explore how these operational changes were influenced by and have implications for fiscal and policy support as well as operational adaptability. Results show that as fiscal and policy support waned, some pandemic protocols were suspended, thereby shifting and reducing human and facility resource needs. Distancing protocols benefited from improvements in masking, vaccine, and testing availability without consistent mandates, but non-congregate shelter provision was reduced as authorizations and funding expired. Modified service contracts and increased utilization of special needs registries can realign resources with health and safety needs. Based on participant responses, we developed a Retractable Stabilization Model to indicate how shelter resources can be reallocated and supported by future policy interventions to provide a range of emergency sheltering options during pandemics and overlapping hazards.

Why Loneliness Matters in Clinical Practice: A Primer for Clinical- and Neuro-Psychologists.

Aims: Loneliness has an adverse impact on mental health, yet it is often overlooked in psychological services. To inform clinical practice, we provide an overview of research hotspots on loneliness and mental health, the ‘state of the art’ in assessment and treatment, and workforce implications. Methods: Narrative synthesis. Results: Loneliness occurs in all age groups, with peaks in younger and older adults. It is a well-established risk factor for mental ill-health, neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, and other problems prompting people to seek psychological care. A variety of psychometrically sound self-report measures are available for assessment purposes, though some lack structural or cross-cultural validity. The most promising interventions use cognitive-behavioural therapy to change maladaptive social cognitions. Recent studies are focused on identifying mechanisms of change, the role of social networks, and the use of digital technologies to augment treatment. The stigma of loneliness can prevent clients and healthcare professionals from talking openly about it, but the best strategies for combating loneliness stigma are unclear. Conclusion: Loneliness and mental ill-health are mutually reinforcing; hence, loneliness should be routinely considered in clinical practice. Psychological interventions are moderately effective at alleviating loneliness but further research and practice-based evaluation of solutions for loneliness is needed.

The Influence of Busyness on the Therapeutic Relationship, Nursing Activities and Teamwork: An Ethnography

ABSTRACT To explore a notion of busyness within the context of pediatric acute care and how this influences the therapeutic relationship, nursing activities and teamwork between pediatric nurses and families. Ethnography was the research design. Semi-structured interviews and non-participant observation were used for data collection, which was undertaken in a level four pediatric inpatient unit in Sydney, New South Wales Australia. Brewer’s (2000) ethnographic framework for analysis and interpretation was utilized and findings are presented as a realist tale. Interviews with 10 pediatric nurses and 10 parents, and 40 h of non-participant observations were conducted. Three themes are presented, which detail the cultural dimensions of busyness: i) the meaning of busyness; ii) relationships within the pediatric nursing team; and iii) shaping the therapeutic relationship. This ethnography identified how pediatric nurse and parental expectations and collaborative partnerships were re-shaped by busyness. Importantly, the ethnography has presented how busyness is perceived by pediatric nurses and parents, which require new negotiations and a rebalance of workload. Findings have implications for the healthcare workforce and organizational structure. Future research is required to explore how different ways of working better support the pediatric nurse and families during busyness.

Aside from Deterministic Prophecies, What Is Missing in the Contemporary Debate on Automation and the Future of Work? The Case of Automated Vehicles

Debates around the future of work have (re-)emerged strongly as concerns about a new era of workplace automation grow from a plethora of narratives estimating the potential of machine substitution. This research aims to analyse how these perspectives dictate current discussions based on taken-for-granted assumptions about work. The analysis takes the lens of work psychology and delves into the case of automated vehicles (AVs), an oft-debated form of automation by its implications for the transport workforce. We explore how the debate is subdued to a deterministic “metrological universe”, overloading the present epoch with certainty about imaginaries of “driverless futures”. However, when we move our attention beyond the quantitative speculation of future employment and connect automation with the concrete socio-professional realities of transport workers, such imaginaries are deconstructed while key issues regarding the quality of work with AVs emerge. By arguing that such issues remain “forgotten” in dominant technological discussions, bipartite and tripartite actions towards decent work are gathered, considering the institutional constellation in road transport. As future research, we propose to challenge those governance models predicated on the language of AV acceptance, which ultimately places the responsibility of managing the uncertainties that AVs hold on the shoulders of transport workers.