Membership In Professional Organizations Research Articles

Caseloads in forensic anthropology

AbstractObjectivesThere are currently no baseline data regarding the amount and types of case reports produced by forensic anthropologists. This research fills that gap by providing data on caseloads of practicing forensic anthropologists and identifying variables that may contribute to amount and type of casework.Materials and methodsA survey was distributed to practicing forensic anthropologists (n = 364) to explore number of case reports written and possible influential factors. Questions included demographic information, employment type, institution where master's degree or PhD were obtained, type of reports written, professional organization membership, certification, graduate research focus, among others. Data were analyzed using summary statistics, a random forest model, network analysis, and structural equation modeling.ResultsThe mean number of sole‐authored skeletal analysis reports per year was 12.33 and field recovery reports was 2 per year. Statistical analyses identified several variables influencing case loads which included: number of fieldwork reports per year, current employment, total number of cases analyzed, age, publication record, and institution of doctoral degree. Network analyses revealed that individuals in academic settings tended to have a bioarchaeological research focus from their graduate work, whereas those in an applied setting had a focus on forensic anthropology. Further, degree institution influenced employment type.Discussion/conclusionsThese data address expectations for the number of cases analyzed by a forensic anthropologist per year and set a baseline for expectations and performance. Based on these results, we suggest that forensic anthropology is underutilized in the medicolegal death investigation system and more forensic anthropologists should be employed within Medical Examiner/Coroner's Offices.

From the Past President of RUSA: Looking Back, Looking Forward

On March 4, 2020, just a few days before changes and closures associated with the global COVID-19 pandemic swept across the United States and the world, our previous issue (vol. 59, no. 2) was published. It is accurate to say, though a bit of an understatement, that a lot has happened since then.This period has surely been one of the most unusual and challenging years ALA, its members, and indeed the world, have ever faced. Like each of you, and like professional membership organizations everywhere, both ALA and RUSA faced challenges of various types through this period. Let me offer my sincere apologies to all of you, our authors, column editors, and readers, for the disruptions and delays in publication and communications for the journal.

PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING ORGANIZATIONS IN EUROPE

Background. Accounting and auditing play an important role in ensuring an efficient and sustainable economy. This is facilitated by the introduction of a system of common standards and approaches, coordination and supervision, support and harmonization by professional organizations. The aim of the article is to determine the role of professional organizations in the field of accounting and auditing in Europe, the characteristics of the tasks and results of their activities, the importance of Ukraine's membership in European professional organizations. Materials and methods. During the study, the methodological basis of general and special methods of cognition: grouping, comparison, abstraction, generalization, analysis, synthesis, induction, system approach is used. Results. Professional organizations in Europe assist member states in their efforts to implement international standards, codes of ethics and best practices to harmonize and improve the reporting of enterprises, improve financial stability, promote international and domestic investment, and social and economic progress. This is achieved through the exchange of experiences, proposals and best practices, the formation of a common vision in the development of guidelines, standards and assistance and support in matters relating to accounting, financial reporting, auditing, consulting services. A significant role is played by Accountancy Europe, which lobbies the professionalinterests of accountants at European level in order to better harmonize accounting practices in Europe. Conclusion. The main role of professional organizations in the field of accounting and auditing is to protect the public interest, improve the efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and accountability of business, increase the relevance, reputation and value of the accounting profession, dissemination of best practices. International investors with global investment need quality, transparent, reliable and comparable information on companies 'activities on climate and other environmental, social and management issues, confidence in the conclusions and confidence in the reliability of the auditors' opinions. That is why the role of professional organizations in the field of accounting and auditing is relevant today and will grow in the future for Ukraine, Europe and the world.

Live From My Living Room: Perceived Organizational Support Among TV News Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

As members of the media, TV news workers were considered essential employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many employees went into the field to cover stories related to the pandemic, which included anti-mask and lock-down protests. This mixed-methods study explored the extent to which TV news workers perceived organizational support from their news organizations during the crisis. Findings of a national survey of TV news employees (N = 173) show market size (larger), membership in professional organizations, access to counseling services, and resources on best practices of covering COVID-19 correlated with positive perceptions of employers during the pandemic. In turn, these positive perceptions, as well as manageable job demands and high decision authority each correlated with overall job satisfaction. Qualitative findings further illustrated the varying steps TV news managers took to support and protect their employees’ health and safety during the crisis.

Clinical neuropsychology in Canada: Results from the 2020 AACN, NAN, SCN professional practice and “salary survey”

Objective: The current study summarizes the results of a 2020 survey that solicited information regarding backgrounds, beliefs, practices, and incomes of clinical neuropsychologists who practice in Canada. Methods: Clinical neuropsychologists who practice in Canada were invited to participate in an online survey that was available from 1/17/20 to 4/02/20. Available survey findings were obtained from 111 respondents, which reflects a response rate of 51.3% of the 216 doctoral-level Canadian neuropsychologists identified in at least one major North American or international professional organization membership list (AACN, INS, NAN, or SCN). Results: Most of the current respondents were White/Caucasian women who identified as adult providers and worked full-time in urban institutional settings. Four Canadian provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec) accounted for more than 91% of the current respondent sample. Incomes and career satisfactions were largely encouraging, though some important variations were noted by province, work setting, and professional identity. Incomes were significantly associated with forensic practices and years of clinical experience. Most respondents made use of technician support in their practices, largely to increase productivity and patient volume. Only a small minority of respondents were board-certified and there was generally limited interest in future board certification. Conclusions: While important similarities were observed in the current Canadian sample relative to recent survey findings obtained in a U.S. sample, results also reveal a number of important differences that serve as important areas of future consideration.

Working in Creative Partnership with Students to Co-Produce Neuroanatomy e-Learning Resources in a New Era of Blended Learning.

Anatomists are well placed to tackle the transition from face-to-face to blended learning approaches as a result of the rapidly forced changes brought about by Covid-19. The subject is extremely visual and has, therefore, previously been a target for the development of technology-enhanced learning initiatives over the last ten years. Today's students have come to expect the integration of technology in the classroom and remotely. They adjust quickly to the innovative use of new applications and software and have begun to integrate it within their own workflow for note taking and study aids. Given the intense drive toward blended deliveries of anatomy as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is easy to picture how the benefits of working in partnership with students (in order to achieve many of these aims) would be possible, particularly in difficult subjects like neuroanatomy. In doing so, it provides anatomists with new opportunities to engage students in a way that aligns well with best practice frameworks for engaging students through partnership. The current United Kingdom guidelines set out by Advance HE (a professional membership organization for promoting excellence in higher education) strongly encourages the higher education community to seek out appropriate academic contexts where a balance of power can be struck between staff and student to create a community of practice. If such an approach can be fully embraced by anatomists, a strong argument can be made for seizing the opportunity to optimize the benefits of student partnership work in this discipline.

Perceptions regarding training across four domains of pharmacy practice: A survey of new pharmacist practitioners

AbstractIntroductionUpon completion of professional pharmacy studies, licensed pharmacists can pursue postgraduate pharmacy training (PGT), like residency and fellowship, further education, or enter the workforce. The perceived benefits and risks of PGT have been infrequently assessed for pharmacists several years removed from completion of all training and have generally focused on single domains of pharmacy practice.ObjectiveTo compare perceptions of new pharmacist practitioners on the quality, satisfaction, and mentorship received during their training across four domains: clinical skills, teaching, research, and leadership.MethodsThis was an observational, cross‐sectional study of new pharmacist practitioners, defined as U.S. pharmacy school graduates within the previous 10 years (2008‐2018). An Internet‐based survey instrument was developed, validated, and distributed using professional organization membership lists. Perceptions regarding quality, satisfaction, and mentorship during either PGT or pharmacy school rotations across the domains were assessed. Respondents were stratified based on the highest level of training, with a predefined ascending hierarchy of no PGT, then postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) residency, then PGY2 residency, and then fellowship. For the primary analysis in each domain, the Kruskal‐Wallis test was performed, and a post‐hoc Dunn's test was subsequently performed for any domain with an adjusted P‐value <.05.ResultsThe primary analysis included 193 respondents, 178 having completed PGT (92.2%) and 15 with no PGT (8.4%). Between‐group comparisons revealed significant differences in perceptions toward clinical skills and teaching training, driven by respondents who completed PGY2, and in research training, driven by respondents who completed fellowship. There was no significant difference in leadership training perceptions.ConclusionPerceptions regarding quality, satisfaction, and mentorship in clinical skills, teaching, and research training were significantly different among new pharmacist practitioners based on the highest level of PGT completed, but this was not observed for leadership training.

Defining the urology nurse practitioner role in the United States: A Delphi study.

Nurse practitioners (NPs) achieve expertise in urology environments due to on-the-job training and independent study, coupled with mentoring. This creates a wide variety of preparation and role descriptions, and despite the availability of sought NP certification in urology, there is not a current definition for a "urology NP." This project sough to develop a contemporary definition of the urology NP role, based on expert opinion. Study design was the Delphi method, which evaluates consensus and opinion when there is incomplete knowledge or lack of evidence. Participants were a nonrandom panel of experts on the urology NP role with at least 2 years as a full-time urology NP. This exempted study collected data via an online platform that ensured anonymity, and was completed in two rounds. The following definition is proposed after the study results: "The Urology NP provides acute and chronic care to individuals experiencing urological health care needs across the lifespan, engages in office-based urology procedures in accordance with the state Board of Nursing, maintains membership in professional organizations and acts as preceptor to all health care disciplines." Certification in the specialty role was deemed important. Results demonstrated the very patient-care centered nature of this specialty NP role, as professional roles of the NP were given less weight. The project offers a definition of the urology NP role that can be offered to educators and other stakeholders.

The Evolution of Federal Child Welfare Policy through the Family First Prevention Services Act of 2018: Opportunities, Barriers, and Unintended Consequences

The Family First Prevention Services Act of 2018 affords child welfare agencies a new opportunity to fund evidence-supported interventions to prevent children’s removal into public foster care and ensure that youth in care receive appropriate treatment in the least restrictive (most family-like) setting. The new law has been generally heralded as a much-needed improvement over prior funding constraints, but there are concerns among a growing number of child welfare leaders, researchers, professional membership organizations, and advocacy groups that its focus on the families of children who are at immanent risk of removal because of maltreatment is too limiting and that overreliance on strict evidence standards may contribute to racial disparity. This article considers how child welfare agencies can best leverage the opportunities presented by Family First while addressing potential barriers posed by the paucity of evidence-supported prevention programs and avoiding the unintended consequences of limiting reimbursement to only selective prevention services that meet rigorous evidence standards of effectiveness.

Teacher Instructional Competence and Learners Performance in Social Studies: Basis for Enhancement Program

One of the goals of today’s pre-service and in-service training of teachers is to promote teacher’s competencies. According to the Department of Education, it is a big factor in the academic achievement of the students. Included under teacher competencies are teaching effectiveness, professional recognition and awards, membership and participation in professional organizations, scholarly abilities, and creative productiveness, and university and community service. In the daily life of students, they encounter different kinds of teachers. The purpose of this study is to determine the teachers’ Instructional competence and the students’ MPS and quarterly grade performance involving 46 respondents in the City Schools Division of Laguna. The level of teachers’ instructional competence of the teachers and principals Competence in curriculum content, Competence in transmitting the content to the learners, Competence in preparation of lesson log/plan, Competence in preparation of students’ engagement, Competence in classroom management; and Competence in providing conducive learning environment are interpreted as very satisfactory. The level of learners’ quarterly grade and MPS were fairly satisfactory for the grade and low mastery level for MPS. There is a significant difference between learning environment competence and learners’ quarterly grade and MPS. But there is no significant difference between the four aforementioned variables between learners’ quarterly grades and MPS.

Participation in Social Work Membership Organizations: Opportunities and Challenges in a Changing Society

Professional membership organizations provide a wide range of services to and on behalf of the members of the profession. These services range from legislative advocacy to promote and protect the profession, to outlining practice guidelines for service delivery. Though these services benefit the entire profession, increasingly smaller numbers of professionals are joining and maintaining their membership in the organization. Furthermore, inclusivity continues to be of concern as membership numbers in such groups appear to reflect primarily Caucasian descent. As such, a state chapter of a national social work organization in the Midwest commissioned a study to explore member satisfaction, understand why members join and/or stay with the organization, and utilize this information in chapter development activities. Utilizing a survey distributed to its membership, the authors asked closed and open-ended questions geared toward detailed information and responses. Members shared concerns around lack of communication and recent changes in the national organization. Members are generally satisfied with the organization and valued the connection to the profession as well as the work the organization does on behalf of social workers; however, the authors challenge that we, as a profession, can do more to be inclusive and strengthen diversity within professional memberships overall. Recommendations are offered to improve membership satisfaction and retention. These include advocacy for clients and the social work profession, guidance for members regarding how to get involved, and the importance of connecting with peers and colleagues face-to-face.

Female Representation on Radiology Journal Editorial Boards Around the World: Geographical Differences and Temporal Trends

We examined the status of women's representation on radiology journal editorial boards around the world and evaluated temporal trends in female board representation. Data on the gender of editorial board members, deputy editors, and editors-in-chief of top general radiology journals from the United States and from five continents outside North America was collected, based on listings in mastheads of each journal at 5-year intervals from 1998 to 2018. Female editorial board representation was compared to female membership in national professional radiology organizations and national physician registries. One of 42 editors-in-chief (2.4%), 24 of 135 deputy editors (17.8%), and 345 of 2545 (13.6%) editorial board members were female for the 20-year period. The overall percentage of female editorial board members increased from 9.7% (41 of 423) in 1998 to 17.0% (97 of 569) in 2018 (p < 0.0001). In 2018, women were less represented on the editorial boards than female professional society membership for all geographic regions except Australia/New Zealand; this difference reached statistical significance in Korea, Brazil, Europe, and China. Female editorial board representation ranged from 11.3% to 33.3%, with no significant difference between the United States (21.5%) and other countries. Although the proportion of female editorial board members of radiology journals worldwide has increased over the past two decades, female editorial board composition generally underrepresents the percentage of female radiologists. Editorial board female representation does not differ significantly between the United States and other countries.

The Need for a National Accreditation Programme for Professionals Working in the Field of Animal Training and Behavioural Modification in New Zealand.

Simple SummaryCompanion animals play an important role in the lives of New Zealanders. Animals’ guardians often engage professional behaviour and training support to ensure their companion animal’s behaviour is compatible with their lifestyle and expectations. The methods these professionals use vary substantially and potentially subject animals to psychological (and physical) harm where outdated, incorrect or aversive methods of training or equipment are used. The national regulation of training methods or techniques would safeguard the welfare of the animal benefactors of these services. In the absence of such regulation, the development of a national accreditation body may act to protect animal welfare by certifying the experience, qualifications and training methods of the professionals offering these services. We investigated industry opinion and readiness for the establishment of an accreditation body via an online survey and found that accreditation, promoting the use of reward-based training and behavioural modification techniques, was generally supported. We conclude that the establishment of a national accreditation body would ensure that those seeking services source professionals who use best practice when it comes to training and behavioural modification, resulting in lasting benefits to animal welfare. Companion animals are at risk of psychological (and physical) harm if outdated, incorrect or aversive methods of training or equipment are used during training and behavioural modification. Companion animal guardians often engage professional animal behaviour and training services, yet this industry is not regulated in New Zealand. A voluntary national accreditation and registration programme could act to protect the welfare of animals by robustly evaluating the experience, qualifications and training methods of industry professionals. To investigate industry readiness for a national accreditation programme, we conducted an online survey and analysed the responses of 262 animal trainers, behavioural consultants, dog safety educators, veterinarians and veterinary nurses. A national accreditation programme, promoting the use of reward-based training and behavioural modification techniques, was generally supported, especially by individuals holding qualifications and membership of professional organisations. The implementation of such a programme would ensure that those seeking these services are able to source professionals that use best practice when it comes to training and behavioural modification, with lasting benefits to animal welfare.

Characteristics of postgraduate year 2 ambulatory care pharmacy residency programs in the United States.

A survey was conducted to evaluate the characteristics and structures of postgraduate year 2 (PGY2) ambulatory care pharmacy residency programs in the United States. The survey results can serve as a guide for current and newly emerging programs. A 24-question survey was sent to 138 US PGY2 residency program directors (RPDs) in February 2017 to identify key program characteristics, including program type (single-site or multisite), primary practice site, number of residents, length and type of rotations, staffing requirements, additional residency activities, precepting and teaching opportunities, RPD training and credentials, and number and qualifications of preceptors. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the findings. A 40.6% response rate was achieved. Well over half (57%) of programs had been established within the preceding 5 years. A majority of RPDs reported that their program had 1 (53%) or 2 residents (31%) and/or was a single-site program (80%). Overall, 44 different types of rotations or experiences were offered by the programs. All surveyed programs offered additional teaching opportunities. There were no formal staffing duties in 29% of programs; professional organization membership and conference attendance were highly encouraged but typically not required of residents. Qualifications of the RPD and preceptors closely mirrored those delineated in residency accreditation standards. There is an increased need for specialized training in ambulatory care in order to prepare pharmacists for the changing landscape in healthcare. The profession is adapting to this need, as evidenced by the rapid growth of PGY2 ambulatory care residency programs. Understanding characteristics can benefit continued growth to meet the needs of the profession.

Landscape Analysis of Breastfeeding-Related Physician Education in the United States.

Background: Breastfeeding is the preferred form of infant nutrition supporting optimal health of mothers and children. Research shows that medical training is deficient in preparing physicians to develop the knowledge base, clinical management skills, and attitudes to provide optimal support for breastfeeding families. We developed this project to assess the current gaps in breastfeeding education during medical training for physicians and to inform the plan to address those gaps. Materials and Methods: We conducted key informant interviews with nine professionals representing medical education, physician professional membership organizations, and ancillary stakeholders with an interest in improving physician education and training with respect to breastfeeding. Using those results, we developed and conducted a survey of physicians to identify training in breastfeeding received during medical school, residency/fellowship, and continuing medical education; confidence in managing breastfeeding; and attitudes about breastfeeding training. A total of 816 respondents completed the survey from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Results: Gaps exist in the training of physicians in terms of knowledge base, and clinical skills in breastfeeding support as highlighted through detailed key informant interviews and physician surveys. Physicians surveyed in the disciplines of pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and family medicine indicated a desire to have more breastfeeding education integrated into their training, especially addressing clinical evaluation and management of breastfeeding problems. Conclusion: The landscape analysis demonstrates that medical education in breastfeeding remains inadequate despite previous efforts to address the gaps and that physicians desire more training in breastfeeding, especially clinical skills training, to improve provider confidence and competence. The analysis provides the foundation for further efforts to develop a comprehensive plan to enhance physician education in breastfeeding.

Exploring pharmacy residency program director preference of pharmacy student organization membership and leadership involvement on residency candidate interview selection

IntroductionPharmacy student professional organization involvement and leadership are important qualifications of a pharmacy residency candidate. It is unknown if membership in specific student pharmacy organizations or types of leadership roles within these organizations are preferred by residency program directors (RPDs). The purpose of the study was to determine preference and importance of specific pharmacy student professional organization membership and leadership involvement when selecting residency candidates for an interview by RPDs. MethodsA descriptive study was conducted using an online survey. Pharmacy RPDs with involvement in reviewing applicants for interviews were included. RPDs ranked the importance and preference of specific student professional organization membership, breadth versus depth of involvement, and leadership position held on selecting candidates for an interview. ResultsThe survey was sent to 2084 RPDs. A total of 232 respondents met inclusion criteria and completed the survey. The majority (95.5%) of RPDs reported student membership as important, while 28.6% had preference for a specific organization. A total of 56.3% of RPDs reported student leadership as “very important” and 76.1% preferred depth over breadth of involvement. A total of 55.6% of RPDs preferred applicants with a high-level leadership position. ConclusionsPharmacy student professional organization membership is important to RPDs when selecting residency candidates for an interview. The majority of RPDs have no preference for a specific organization, while 28.6% report a preference that affects interview selection. RPDs report leadership as important and place higher importance on depth versus breadth of involvement, with greater preference for a high-level leadership position.

Experiences of Professionalism Attributes among Undergraduates Nursing Students and Nurses

Context: Professionalism is an essential ingredient in the nursing profession that begins during the foundational educational program when the student nurses learn the knowledge, skills, and attitudes and continue during their practices in the real world.&#x0D; Aim: This research aimed to assess the main attributes of professionalism among undergraduates nursing students and nurses.&#x0D; Methods: This study utilized a descriptive comparative correlational design. The current study was conducted in the faculty of nursing, as well as in Intensive Care Units, Neonatal Intensive Care Units, Cardiac Care Units, and Neurology Intensive Care Units at Tanta University Hospital. Subjects. The sample consisted of (897) nursing students and (149) nurses. The data collection’s tool was the nursing professionalism attributes' questionnaire that was developed by the authors. It contains three dimensions, including; professional identity (12 statements), professional ethics (12 statements), and professional behaviors (16 statements).&#x0D; Results: This study suggested that the undergraduate nursing students perceived the high mean score in all professionalism attributes more than the practicing nurses did.&#x0D; Conclusion: This study concluded that the development of professionalism in nursing is an essential feature of the nursing profession and practice. The nurse students were high in areas of patients and colleagues’ rights, obeying orders, commitment and collaboration, physical appearance, continuing education, and caring of the patient. While the nurses had very low scores in membership in the nursing association, autonomy, and research areas, this study recommended the encouragement of nurses and students' participation in scientific research activities, including; membership in professional organizations or associations, attending nursing conferences/workshops/symposium as a producer or consumer, and fellowship.

THE IMPACT OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND CAPABILITIES ON THE GROWTH OF SMALL FIRMS: EVIDENCE FROM TURKEY

This paper explores impact of human resources and capabilities on growth of small firms. Human resources and capabilities of the small firm are analyzed from two dimensions: resources and capabilities of owner/manager and labor. Age, gender, education and training, work experience, professional organization membership, having entrepreneurial parents, and responsibilities in other firms are considered as the resources and capabilities of the owner/manager. The human resources and capabilities for the small firm are identified as availability of human resources, recruitment, selection, orientation, training, compensation, appraisal and career management. Regression analysis results show that training and compensation are determinants of sales growth. Owner/managers with entrepreneurial parents, members of professional organizations and additional responsibilities in other firms are important owner/manager’s resources and capabilities for small firm growth.

Professional Organization Membership: The Benefits of Increasing Nursing Participation.

Membership in professional organizations is a way for professionals with similar objectives to join together to have the voice of many, versus the voice of one. Joining an organization can lead to personal growth, enhanced professional prospective and knowledge development, and support for creating change.

How Many Citations to Women Is “Enough”? Estimates of Gender Representation in Political Science

ABSTRACTRecent studies identified gendered citation gaps in political science journal articles, with male scholars being less likely to cite work by female scholars in comparison to their female peers. Although journal editors, editorial boards, and political scientists are becoming more aware of implicit biases and adopting strategies to remedy them, we know less about the proper baselines for citations in subfields and research areas of political science. Without information about how many women should be cited in a research field, it is difficult to know whether the distribution is biased. Using the gender distribution of membership in professional political science organizations and article authors in 38 political science journals, we provide scholars with suggested minimum baselines for gender representation in citations. We also show that women represent a larger share of organization members than the authors in sponsoring organizations’ journals.