Professional Work Environment Research Articles

Balancing act: exploring work-life balance among nursing home staff working long shifts

BackgroundNursing home staff often face challenges in achieving a satisfactory work-life balance, particularly because of the nature of shift work. While long shifts offer extended periods off work, their impact on the delicate balance between work and leisure remains understudied in the context of nursing homes. This study investigated the experiences of nursing home staff in Norway working long shifts lasting 12–14 h and their perceptions of the balance between family life and work.MethodsEighteen nursing home staff members were interviewed following a semi-structured qualitative approach. The participants worked in three types of long shifts and provided insights into their experiences, addressing issues such as work hours, shift patterns, and work-family balance.ResultsThe study revealed four main categories: (1) impact of long shifts on family life—the highs and lows; (2) maximizing time off with long shifts; (3) reducing job stress with long shifts; and (4) full-time work leads to predictable hours and stable income. The participants emphasised the distinct separation between work and leisure during long shifts, acknowledging limited social life during working periods but appreciating extended periods off. Family life posed challenges, especially with young children, but the participants found benefits in the longer periods of family time during days off. Longer rest periods and reduced commuting time were perceived as advantages of long shifts, contributing to better sleep, reduced stress and overall well-being. Long shifts also allowed for more predictable working hours and income, supporting a stable work-life balance.ConclusionBalancing work and family life involves more than just the number of hours spent at work; it also encompasses the quality of those hours both at work and at home. Our findings underscore the complex interplay between work and family life for nursing home staff working long shifts. While challenges exist, benefits such as extended time off, improved sleep, reduced stress, and predictable working hours contribute positively to their work-life balance. Long shifts in nursing homes offer a unique perspective on achieving work-life balance, revealing both the challenges and advantages inherent in such schedules. Understanding the experiences of nursing home staff in this context can inform future innovations in shift scheduling, promoting a more balanced and sustainable work environment for healthcare professionals. For some healthcare staff, extended shifts can lead to a better work-life balance.

Learning professionalism using creativity and diversity concepts

ABSTRACT Clinical relevance Professionalism is a multidimensional sociocultural construct that is abstract, evolving and context-dependent in nature. This has made the teaching and assessment of professionalism in healthcare complex and challenging. A lack of professionalism can increase patient risk and litigation. Background This article examines group creativity and diversity across healthcare and non-healthcare disciplines and how they can assist students in constructing their own understandings and knowledge of professionalism. It is proposed that linking professionalism to creativity will improve understanding on how to help students studying healthcare learn about professionalism better. Methods A total of 30 students from different tertiary levels and across disciplines participated in the study. They explored either a gallery or museum and examined an artefact relating to professionalism. Learning experiences were evaluated via survey results and thematic analyses of their reflective essays and semi-structured interviews. Results Participants reported increased understanding of professionalism and appreciation of perspectives and skills of others. The creative aspect of the task was fun and engaging, and group diversity enabled different opinions and perspectives to be heard and shared. This is analogous to a professional working environment. Themes generated from the essays were: (a) intrinsic motivation, (b) diversity, (c) learnings of professionalism, and (d) challenge encountered. Conclusion The results of this research make a meaningful contribution to existing literature by empirically demonstrating that students from different disciplines could better construct their own understandings of professionalism when their learning activities were performed in an authentically creative and diverse setting. This educational concept is underpinned by diverse types of creativities that are not mutually exclusive. It is hoped that this first piece of evidence will stimulate more studies on utilising group creativity and diversity in healthcare education.

EMPLOYER BRANDING IN EMPLOYEES’ PERCEPTION

Human resources are an organisation's most valuable asset. The advantage in a highly dynamic and challenging market economy will be gained by companies that motivate their employees, give them the opportunity to develop and broaden their perspectives in a healthy and professional working environment. Employer branding is a set of strategies used by companies as employers to attract employees and make them related to its organisational culture and values. This article highlights a number of key items that lead to the shaping of an attractive Employer Branding for HR, as well as some examples of values that are well known for effective HR management.

The Critical Robot: Impact of Performance Feedback on Intrinsic Motivation, Self-Esteem and Psychophysiology in Human–Robot Interaction

AbstractSocial, anthropomorphic robots are increasingly used in professional work environments to collaborate with humans. However, little is known about how these robots affect human workers in performance-critical aspects, such as feedback. The present study investigates differences between the effects of a robot and a human feedback giver on self-esteem, intrinsic motivation, and psychophysiological reactions. Using a mixed model design for subjective data and a between-subject design for psychophysiological data, we tested 72 participants who performed a cognitive task on working memory, namely the 3-back task. The results indicate that people are more motivated to perform the task when receiving feedback from a robot, but their electrodermal activity and heart rate are higher after receiving positive feedback from a human. There is no difference in electrodermal activity following negative feedback from a human or a robot. Additional analyses show that individuals report feeling less comfortable and perceiving less social warmth when receiving feedback from a robot compared to a human. Furthermore, individuals exhibit higher skin conductance responses when perceiving greater social warmth in their interactions, regardless of whether their interaction partner is a human or a robot. The results suggest that social robots may serve as surrogates for social interaction. However, they seem to have less social presence, which leads to reduced psychophysiological reactions. This knowledge may be used to calibrate arousal in feedback situations.

An investigation of employer perceptions of Irish nutrition graduate competencies.

Undergraduate nutrition programmes prepare students and graduates for a wide range of employment opportunities. However, little is known about how employers perceive current nutrition education practices in Ireland and how well graduates are prepared for the realities of today's workforce. The present study aimed to explore employers' perspectives of nutrition placement students and graduates' competencies for the workforce. Interviews were conducted with 12 nutrition employers across Ireland and the UK who currently or have recently employed Irish nutrition graduates or supervised placement students. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Three themes were identified including: "adapting to modern workforce needs", "professional competency expectations" and "valuing competency-based educational and professional systems". Employers reported an overall positive experience with Irish nutrition placement students and graduates. They are perceived as adaptable, willing to learn and professional. Many felt nutrition students and graduates had received quality education with knowledge, skills and attitudes meeting expectations of nutrition education being provided but felt that students and graduates often lacked confidence in their abilities. Employers remarked that graduates who had undergone placements were better prepared for the professional work environment. However, gaps were identified because employers felt nutrition curricula lack training on business skills and digital competencies. Employers had a positive experience with Irish nutrition graduates and students and felt they were competent for the workforce. Addressing the gaps identified by employers to adapt curricula to modern workforce needs would further enhance graduate employability.

Web 2.0 technologies and translator training: assessing trainees’ use of instant messaging as a collaborative tool in accomplishing translation tasks

Web 2.0 technologies have had a significant impact on collaborative communication practices in teaching, learning, and professional work environments. In translation studies, computer-supported collaborative translation tasks have mainly been discussed within the project-based learning framework, where research has foregrounded correlations between collaboration and performance. However, trainees’ specific uses of collaborative tools, including transcripts of real-time exchanges, have neither been sufficiently investigated nor informed pedagogical strategies and approaches in any tangible way. This study bridges this gap by evaluating trainees’ collaborative practices while they translated a text, localized a restaurant menu, and simulated the design and launch of a language service agency. Data was gathered from a questionnaire, in-class presentations, and real-time instant messaging (IM) transcripts. Data analysis of the real-time IM exchanges unveiled considerable trainee communicative practices during collaborative tasks. Furthermore, correlations were established between the volume of instant messages, time of exchange, role played by trainees, and conversation themes with the teams’ final assessment performances. This study provided valuable insights into the effectiveness of IM as a collaborative tool in training environments. It also informed our suggested guidelines for properly integrating IM into the translator training curriculum.

Antecedents of Turnover Intention in Millennial Employees: Employee Engagement and Organizational Culture as Mediation Variables

This research aims to find the antecedents of turnover intention in millennial employees, where employee engagement and organizational culture mediate. This research was conducted at banks in Bali Province. The population was all banking employees in Bali Province. From this population, 230 samples were taken, namely bank employees. Data was collected using a questionnaire method. The collected data was then analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) Partial Least Squares (PLS). This research shows that professional identity and work environment negatively impact turnover intention, and professional identity positively impacts employee engagement and organizational culture. Next, the work environment positively impacts employee engagement and organizational culture. Employee engagement has a negative and significant effect on turnover intention; Organizational culture does not affect turnover intention, and Employee engagement can mediate the influence of professional identity on turnover intention. Employee engagement can mediate the influence of the work environment on turnover intention. Organizational culture cannot mediate the influence of professional identity on turnover intention. And organizational culture cannot mediate the influence of the work environment on turnover intention.”

Undergraduate students' choices around community service and internship: A single faculty study.

The Internship and Community Service Programme (ICSP) places newly graduated health professionals for a compulsory training period. Universities adopt multiple strategies to encourage students to select rural placements for ICSP. This study describes ICSP choices among final-year MBChB and Health and Rehabilitation Science students at a South African university and the factors influencing their decisions. A cross-sectional qualitative descriptive study was conducted using a self-developed online questionnaire. Eighty-five final-year students were recruited. Most respondents (n = 38, 45.8%) chose the Western Cape (WC) as their first choice placement. There was a significant difference between MBChB and other health science students' choice of level of healthcare (χ = 10.39, p = 0.006), with MBChB less likely to choose primary healthcare (PHC) level placements. District and tertiary care options were perceived as better sites for learning and practice, while PHC and rural sites, considered underresourced and understaffed, were avoided. Although MBChB students indicated a lower preference for rural placements, this was not significant.Factors influencing ICSP application decisions included professional support, work environment, and social and personal considerations. Students' placement choices were based on their perceptions of clinical exposure, learning opportunities, mentorship and supervision. Placements closer to home were preferred. UG clinical exposure and rural background seem to have some impact on choice but need further investigation. Universities should continue to explore ways to improve students' readiness for practice in underresourced settings. Improved exposure to rural and PHC sites during training could encourage better uptake during ICSP placement.

The impact of a climate of perceived organizational support on nurses' well-being and healthcare-unit performance: A longitudinal questionnaire study.

To investigate the relationship between nurses' climate of perceived organizational support, and their well-being and healthcare-unit performance. A two-wave cohort questionnaire study among nurses within six hospitals in Sweden. Hypotheses were tested using cross-lagged path models on the individual (organizational support, job satisfaction, burnout, intention to stay) and aggregate levels (care-unit organizational support, team effectiveness, patient safety climate and patient safety). Analyses were based on 1.817 nurses in 228 care-units (T1), 1.362 nurses in 213 care-units (T2) and longitudinal samples of 711 nurses and 140 care-units. Organizational support (T1) positively influenced job satisfaction (T2) and tended to decrease burnout (T2) but did not affect turnover intent. Reversed relationships were also found. No statistically significant prospective effects were found on the aggregate level. The results indicated a prospective reciprocally reinforcing relationship between organizational support and job satisfaction. Burnout and intention to stay were predictors rather than outcomes of the organizational support climate. A climate where nurses perceive that their organization values their contributions and cares about their well-being is beneficial for their job satisfaction and health, which, according to previous research, may influence nurse retention. The study addressed perceived organizational support as a potential predictor of nurses' well-being and healthcare-unit performance. A mutually reinforcing relation was indicated between organizational support and nurses' job satisfaction and health. Job dissatisfaction, burnout symptoms and turnover intentions were prospectively negatively related to the organizational support. Identifying and implementing a variety of practical measures to support perceptions of organizational support may be an effective way for healthcare management to start and sustain the development of a healthier work environment for healthcare professionals. STROBE statement for cohort studies. No patient or public contribution.

Violence against physicians working in public tertiary care hospital of Bangladesh: a facility-based cross-sectional study

BackgroundViolence against physicians in the workplace is a prevalent global issue, and Bangladesh is no exception. Such violence significantly disrupts healthcare delivery and the attainment of universal health coverage. This...

Factors That Influence Accounting Students' Interest in A Career as A Public Accountant

This research aims to analyze the factors that influence accounting students' interest in a career as a public accountant. The research data is primary data with data collection using a questionnaire with purposive sampling method. The results showed that academic ability, labour market considerations, and financial rewards had a positive and significant effect on accounting students' interest in a career as a public accountant. Professional training, work environment, and professional recognition have no effect on accounting students' interest in a career as a public accountant. This research provides evidence of which factors influence accounting students' interest in a career as a public accountant.

INFLUENCING FACTORS ACCOUNTING GRADUATES IN CHOOSING OTHER ACCOUNTANT CAREER

This study aims to determine the effect of professional training, personality, labor market considerations, financial rewards and the work environment on the choice of a career other than accountant for accounting alumni of ITS Mandala (d/h) STIE Mandala Jember. The population of this study were alumni of accounting batches 16, 17 and 18. The sample in this study was 52 people. The sampling technique used in this study was purposive sampling, in order to obtain a sample of 52 people from a total of 111 populations. The data collection method used in this study was by distributing questionnaires via the Google form. The data analysis method used is Multiple Linear Regression Analysis. The results of this study indicate that professional training, personality, financial rewards and work environment do not significantly influence the choice of a career other than accountant for ITS Mandala (d/h) STIE Mandala Jember Accounting alumni. Meanwhile, labor market considerations have a significant effect on career choices other than accountants for ITS Mandala (d/h) STIE Mandala Jember Accounting alumni.

THE ROLE OF HR IN PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IN HEALTHCARE SETTINGS: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

This review delves into the critical role that Human Resources (HR) plays in fostering mental health and well-being within healthcare settings. The healthcare industry, known for its demanding and high-stakes nature, places substantial strain on the mental health of its workforce. Recognizing the impact of mental well-being on both individual performance and patient outcomes, this comprehensive review explores the multifaceted responsibilities of HR in addressing mental health challenges. The paper examines HR strategies that aim to create a supportive and healthy work environment for healthcare professionals. These strategies include the implementation of employee assistance programs, stress management initiatives, and mental health awareness campaigns. The review highlights the importance of destigmatizing mental health issues within the healthcare workforce, emphasizing HR's role in fostering a culture that encourages open communication and seeks to remove barriers to seeking help. Additionally, the paper explores HR's involvement in talent acquisition and retention, recognizing the link between job satisfaction, mental well-being, and overall staff retention in healthcare settings. It discusses recruitment practices that prioritize the holistic well-being of employees and the role of HR in developing and implementing policies that promote work-life balance. Furthermore, the review explores the incorporation of mental health training and education into HR programs, ensuring that healthcare professionals possess the necessary tools to manage stress and navigate the challenges inherent in their roles. The review concludes by underlining the need for a collaborative approach between HR professionals, healthcare leadership, and employees to create a workplace culture that prioritizes mental health, ultimately benefiting both the well-being of healthcare professionals and the quality of patient care.
 Keywords: HR, Mental Health, Healthcare, Well-being, Review, Management.

Use and impact of the ANA Code: a scoping review.

Adherence to professional ethics in nursing is fundamental for high-quality ethical care. However, analysis of the use and impact of nurses' codes of ethics as a part of professional ethics is limited. To fill this gap in knowledge, the aim of our review was to describe the use and impact of the Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements published by the American Nurses Association as an example of one of the earliest and most extensive codes of ethics for nurses with their interpretative statements and constituting a strong basis for the International Council of Nurses' Code of Ethics for Nurses. We based our review on previous literature using a scoping review method. We included both non-scientific and scientific publications to provide an analysis of codes of ethics which can be utilized in development and revision of other nurses' codes of ethics. In the searches, we used CINAHL and PubMed databases limiting publications to texts with a connection to the Code of Ethics for Nurses published from January 2001 to November 2022 and written in English. Searches yielded 1739 references, from which 785 non-scientific and 71 scientific publications were included for analysis of the data. Although non-scientific and scientific publications addressed different number of categories, the results indicated that in the both groups the use and impact focused on professional ethics, nursing practice, and work environment and less on education, research, or social health issues. Nurses' ethical standards were not addressed in non-scientific publications, and clinical issues and leadership were not in focus in scientific publications. To increase evidence-based knowledge of the impact of codes of ethics additional research is needed. Good scientific conduct was followed.

Nursing Professional Commitment as a Mediator of the Relationship Between Work Environment and Missed Nursing Care Among Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Nursing care plays a pivotal role in promoting patient well-being and optimizing health outcomes. The nursing profession is characterized by its commitment to delivering high-quality care to patients. The purpose of the study was to explore the role of nursing professional commitment as a mediator between the work environment and missed nursing care. A cross-sectional analysis study "STROBE guideline" used an online structured questionnaire to collect data. It was conducted on a sample of 813 nurses who worked at seven governmental hospitals in Egypt, in the hospital wards, operating rooms, intensive care unit (ICU) or outpatient clinics, during a 4-month period from April to August 2022. Researchers used Characteristics of nurses, Nursing Work Index-Revised, Nursing Professional Commitment Scale, and MISSCARE Questionnaire to collect the data. Structural equation modeling by AMOS was used for testing nursing professional commitment as a mediator between the work environment and missed nursing care. Nurses' professional commitment was used as a mediator between work environment and missing nursing care. The working environment has a direct impact of -0.175, an indirect impact of -0.139, and a total impact of -0.314. Furthermore, professional commitment has a direct impact of -0.421. Additionally, when the working environment increases by 1, professional commitment increases by 0.33. Similarly, when the working environment increases by 1, missed care decreases by 0.175. Moreover, when professional commitment, as a mediating factor, increases by 1, missed care decreases by 0.421. In conclusion, the findings of this study highlight the significant role of professional commitment as an intermediary factor between the working environment and missed nursing care. According to these results, it is necessary to formulate and implement intervention strategies to improve nurses' professional commitment and working environment, which is the key to reducing their missed nursing care.

Analisis Komprehensif: Perbandingan Platform Perangkat Lunak Artificial Intelligence (AI) untuk Meningkatkan Inovasi dalam Desain Interior

This research aims to conduct a comparative study of artificial intelligence (AI) software platforms used in interior design. The focus of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness, sophistication, and performance of various AI platforms in supporting innovation and efficiency in the internal design process. This research method involved an in-depth analysis of several leading AI platforms used in interior design, reviewing their superior features, personalization capabilities, and integration with other design tools. In addition, this research will evaluate the impact of using these platforms on project completion time, design results accuracy, and client satisfaction. The results of this research can provide valuable insight for interior design professionals. By understanding how AI platforms compare, professionals can make more informed decisions in selecting the solution that best suits their project's needs. In an era of rapid technological development, this research can provide helpful guidance for optimally utilizing AI technology, thereby achieving interior design results that are not only innovative but also efficient. The conclusions from the research can provide beneficial advice in optimally utilizing AI technology to achieve innovative and efficient interior design results. By identifying the strengths and weaknesses of each platform, interior design professionals can optimize the use of AI technology according to their project needs and preferences. As a result, this research can positively contribute to the development of the interior design industry, creating a more productive and satisfying work environment for professionals and clients.

Rehabilitation Practices Delivered by Physical and Occupational Therapists to Brazilian Children With Congenital Zika Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) is a health condition that has affected the development of thousands of children in Brazil. Because it is a new condition, its understanding is an ongoing process. Therefore, it is important to know the rehabilitation interventions being delivered to improve the functioning of these children. We aimed to describe the practices of physical therapists (PTs) and occupational therapists (OTs) who provide follow-up care for children with CZS in Brazil. This cross-sectional study included PTs and OTs who assist children with CZS in Brazil. An online questionnaire was used to verify the participants' personal characteristics and professional work environment, as well as the rehabilitation programs they implemented in Brazil for children with CZS. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. A total of 116 professionals (79 PT and 37 OT) who work mainly in public health services (81.9%) participated in the study. Of these, 24.1% plan interventions based on reading scientific articles, 66.4% did not report using the biopsychosocial model, 52.6% do not perform any assessments before starting an intervention, 31.9% use neurodevelopmental treatment, and 22.4% use sensorimotor stimulation interventions. The majority of the interventions are delivered 1 to 2 times a week, lasting up to 1 hour. Professional training and knowledge translation strategies are needed to implement evidence-based practices and improve the quality of rehabilitation programs for Brazilian children with CZS.

Quality provision in Pakistani health care system: insights into a major obstacle and the way forward.

Madam, Safety, cost-effectiveness, efficiency and equity are all components of quality healthcare. Key factors determining quality are’ and their families’ satisfactions and better disease outcomes.1 Doctors, paramedics, pharmacists, laboratory technicians, administrative staff, pharmaceutical companies, government agencies and policymakers are the caregivers who have an essential direct or indirect role in providing, sustaining and improving health care.1 A population's health is crucial to a state's stability and growth. Quality in healthcare has been a subject of discussion across the globe for decades, with developed nations contributing the majority of its measures and recommendations6. In contrast it is still battling to fully establish and function in emerging nations like Pakistan. The health system in Pakistan comprises primary, secondary and tertiary health centres. The latter are found in a few urban cities and are run by both the public and private sectors. Private bodies include profit as well as welfare-based organizations.2,3 According to the WHO, on average, there are 6.3 hospital beds per 10,000 population in Pakistan, which is below its recommendation and much less compared to other developing nations.2 Majority of the population reside in rural areas and thus their option in various illnesses is primary or secondary health unit.3 The major drawback in such centres is lack of attendance by doctors and paramedical staff, lack of competent clinician or general practitioner along with absence of equipment, state-of-the-art laboratory and latest treatment options, all contributing to delays in diagnosis and management.4,5 There is also a lack of patient registry, long-term follow-ups, appropriate and timely referrals to higher health care centre and disease discussion between clinicians.3 Due to such weakened basic units, many patients directly visit an urbanized tertiary health center, which is a major cause of overcrowding of our hospitals. Some break-through policies which could address this dilemma is giving incentives to the assigned staff, providing commute in case of long travels, improving the infrastructure and facilities within the centers, installation of biometrics and having regular audit of attendance, number of patients treated and medications provided. Conducting education seminars regarding work ethics would also contribute towards a professional working environment leading to better patient outcomes.3,4 Creating awareness regarding the responsibility and crucial role of general practitioners in primary and secondary health units along with recognition of their importance, would also help in diverting medical community towards opting for such roles.6 ---Continue

The Future of Workplace in Greater Jakarta: Hybrid Office in the Post Covid-19 Pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic has taught us the importance of flexibility and adaptability. Nearly every business adopted work from home (WFH) during the pandemic, which finally caused the business to re-evaluate the significance of the workplace. Work flexibility is becoming even more critical because of the transition from physical to virtual space. During the pandemic, the advantages of working remotely, such as more autonomy, flexibility, and better work-life balance, were evident. On the contrary, employees also miss the office’s social connection, professional working environment, and collaboration. Arguably, a hybrid working system balances the benefits of working in an office and from home. This study examines the future office and how it can adapt to the changing needs of the post-Covid-19 workplaces. A qualitative method using interviews with professional from architectural and interior design firms and a real estate management company was conducted to explore the phenomena. This study also discusses the potential of the hybrid model to become a model for future offices and how offices are more likely to become a place to develop corporate culture, conduct training, socialise, meet clients, and attract potential talent. Workspaces will need to be restructured or repurposed so that remote and on-site employees can collaborate.

Evaluating Onsite and Online Internship Mode Using Consumptive Metrics

The paper aims to assess the effectiveness between onsite and online internship mode by measuring the critical components of learning through the Kirkpatrick's ‘consumptive metrics' model. The primary goal of internship is to assist university students in their progression from the academic to a professional work environment. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted this process where it temporarily moved to online mode. Hence, the authors use Kirkpatrick's ‘consumptive metrics' (CM) for evaluating the learning resources consumed using two constructs namely ‘reaction' and ‘learning'. Using 21 onsite and 20 online intern reports, researchers objectively measured the difference in alignment of theory with practice between onsite and online mode. The research revealed that while the CM components namely ‘course satisfaction' and ‘training relevance' on the interns are similar for both modes, there is a considerable reduction in the effectiveness of internship in terms of the CM components namely the ‘training environment', ‘knowledge gained', and ‘career advancement' in an online mode.