Workforce Preparation Research Articles

Strategies in Vocational Education for Workforce Readiness in Guangdong

Strategies in Vocational Education for Workforce Readiness in Guangdong

Optimizing Nursing Productivity: Exploring the Role of Artificial Intelligence, Technology Integration, Competencies, and Leadership

Background. In the rapidly evolving healthcare management landscape, technology integration and artificial intelligence utilization play pivotal roles in shaping employee productivity. This research investigates these dynamics within Riyadh Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, focusing on the relationships between technology integration, the use of artificial intelligence in nursing profession, nursing workforce competencies, technological leadership, and employee productivity. Methods. A quantitative approach was employed, involving 329 nurses from five hospitals in Riyadh Province. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling facilitated comprehensive analysis of direct and indirect relationships among variables. Results. Findings reveal that technology integration significantly enhances nursing productivity, while the use of artificial intelligence initially presents disruptions before yielding productivity gains. Nursing workforce competencies mediate these relationships, emphasizing the critical role of workforce readiness in harnessing technology’s benefits. Surprisingly, technological leadership did not significantly moderate these effects. Conclusions. This research offers vital insights for healthcare organizations, advocating strategic technology integration and workforce development. It underscores the significance of nursing competencies in navigating technological transformations and affirms the enduring importance of leadership in guiding these changes. As healthcare evolves, these findings provide guidance for optimizing technology and artificial intelligence to enhance employee productivity and patient care.

Perioperative Nursing Shortages: An Integrative Review of Their Impact, Causal Factors, and Mitigation Strategies

Aim. This study aims to explore contributing factors, impacts, and strategies to address perioperative nursing shortages. Background. Health facilities worldwide are experiencing nursing shortages, especially in specialty fields such as perioperative nursing. Evaluation. This integrative review is reported according to the PRISMA guidelines. The title, abstract, and full article screening, as well as the quality appraisal process, were performed by two independent reviewers, with a third for disagreement. This review focused on empirical and theoretical research published from 2013 to 2023 using databases including CINAHL, Embase, Emcare (via OVID), Medline (via EBSCOhost), Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, Overton, and GreyNet. Key Issues. This study thoroughly reviewed 84 articles. The perioperative domain confronts significant staffing challenges due to increased demand, lack of experienced nurses, insufficient new entrants, high turnover, and an aging workforce. Notably significant are the deficiencies in recruiting new nurses and the elevated turnover levels, potentially amendable issues. The shortages negatively impact the remaining nurses, patient care quality, and hospital revenue. Strategies to address perioperative nursing workforce challenges include promoting the specialty to undergraduate nursing students, bolstering recruitment efforts, and retaining experienced perioperative nurses. However, none of the studies examined in this review adopted a comprehensive approach. Furthermore, the effectiveness of these strategies relative to one another remains uncertain due to a lack of reliable measurements. Conclusion. Perioperative nursing faces considerable challenges, including an aging workforce, limited new recruits, and high turnover rates. Present strategies primarily prioritise workforce preparation over supporting current staff. Mitigating the perioperative nursing shortages requires comprehensive approaches integrating preparation, recruitment, retention, and retirement plans. In addition, these strategies must be adapted to the diverse regulatory environments of different countries, recognising the absence of a one‐size‐fits‐all solution to perioperative nursing shortages globally. Implication for Nursing Management. Perioperative nursing managers are vital in reducing shortages.

In their own words: Mental health nurses' experiences of trauma-informed care in acute mental health settings or hospitals.

Trauma-informed care has emerged as a prominent strategy to eliminate coercive practices and improve experiences of care in mental health settings, with advocacy from international bodies for mental health reform. Despite this, there remains a significant gap in research understanding the integration of trauma-informed care in mental health nursing practice, particularly when applied to the acute mental health or hospital-based setting. The study aimed to explore the experiences of mental health nurses employed in acute hospital-based settings from a trauma-informed care perspective. The study design was qualitative, using a phenomenological approach to research. A total of 29 nurses employed in acute mental health or hospital-based environments participated. Three over-arching themes were uncovered: 'Embodied Awareness': highlighting mental health nursing emotional capabilities are deeply rooted in bodily awareness. 'Navigating Safety': signifying spatial elements of fear and how some mental health nurses' resort to coercive or restrictive practices for self-preservation. 'Caring Amidst Uncertainty': revealing the relational influences of security guards in mental health nursing. The study reveals a significant gap in trauma-informed care implementation when applied to the context of mental health nursing practice in this setting. Limited evidence on trauma-informed care for mental health nurses, coupled with inadequate workforce preparation and challenging work environments, hinder the effective integration of it. To genuinely embed TIC in acute mental health settings, the study emphasises the need for a thorough exploration of what this entails for mental health nurses.

The Relations between Students’ Intercultural Communication Competencies and Employability

In today’s globalised world, businesses operate on an international level. Most business and economics graduates will interact with colleagues, clients, and partners from diverse cultural backgrounds. Intercultural competencies are essential for their success and effective collaboration in the labour market. A special questionnaire was compiled to investigate students’ intercultural competencies. Based on the statements and responses of the questionnaire, the examination aimed to establish the principal components of the intercultural communication competencies of the students of a Hungarian university. In the next phase of the research, the principal components served to create student clusters which were analysed from a labour market point of view, focusing on advantages and disadvantages. The crucial question was: which cluster is in demand the most in the labour market? By utilizing a principal component analysis, the dataset was reduced to three key components. Subsequently, to classify the students into groups, a multivariate statistical procedure, i.e., cluster analysis, was used to reveal the structures by clearly considering the similarities of a relatively heterogeneous population and to create a relatively homogeneous subset. The study revealed five distinct student clusters, each with varying advantages and disadvantages for employers. In this context, the Interculturally Active and Open with Good Language Skills cluster proved to be the most competent, with the least ideal collection indisputably being the Interculturally Reluctant in Cooperating cluster. The research underscores the importance of intercultural communication competencies for employees and enriches our understanding of the dynamics between intercultural communication competencies and workforce readiness. Developing these competencies in foreign language classes will significantly facilitate our students’ employment.

PREPARING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OLDER ADULTS: WORKFORCE, TRAINING, AND EDUCATION ISSUES

Abstract Due to projected growth in the older adult population in the United States, those working in healthcare and education will encounter increasing numbers of older adults. This population shift presents challenges and opportunities for individuals working in these settings to be ready to meet the needs of older adults. In this symposium, we highlight research on several issues critical to preparing the workforce in healthcare and education for older adults’ specific needs. Poon’s paper addresses geriatric behavioral health workforce needs identified by a survey of licensed behavioral health providers. Several barriers to providing care to older adults are identified by these providers. Rodriguez et al. investigated the clinical practice experiences and challenges from ten years’ worth of alumni of the VA Geriatric Scholars program. This training program provides a model for improving clinical practice with older adults. Hollis-Sawyer examines older students’ first experiences taking a course in an online teaching setting and provides specific suggestions to maximize their learning environment. Patterson et al. present an extensive scoping review of end-of-life training for medical students that identified several themes that can direct efforts to improve end-of-life care for older adults. Finally, Caskie et al. address health biases and age biases in doctoral psychology trainees’ anticipated clinical work with depressed older adult clients of varying health statuses and provide guidance to psychology programs for improving training. This symposium aims to provide those working in healthcare and educational settings with ways to address workforce preparedness to meet the needs of older adults.

Educational Innovation for Industry 4.0: An Exploration of Integrated Work-Based Learning's Contribution

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to explore the role of integrated work-based learning in preparing students to meet the challenges of the Industry 4.0 work environment. It aims to investigate how incorporating work-based learning elements into the educational curriculum can enhance students' readiness for the dynamic and technology-driven landscape of Industry 4.0. Theoretical framework: This study is grounded in the theoretical framework of constructivism and experiential learning. Constructivism emphasizes active learning and the development of meaningful understanding through real-world experiences. Experiential learning theories, particularly Kolb's model, inform the research, highlighting the importance of concrete experiences, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation in the learning process. Method/design/approach: A mixed-methods approach will be employed for this research. Quantitative data will be collected through surveys and assessments to measure the impact of integrated work-based learning on students' technical and soft skills. Qualitative data will be gathered through interviews and focus groups to explore students' perceptions and experiences. Results and conclusion: The results will provide insights into the effectiveness of integrated work-based learning in enhancing students' technical and soft skills. It will reveal the impact on their readiness for Industry 4.0 careers, as well as their ability to navigate the complexities of the modern workplace. Research implications: This research holds implications for educational institutions, policymakers, and industry stakeholders. It underscores the need to integrate work-based learning elements into curricula to better prepare students for Industry 4.0 careers. The findings will inform the development of strategies that enhance students' workforce readiness. Originality/value: This research contributes to the growing body of literature on work-based learning and its role in Industry 4.0 preparedness. It provides original insights into the effectiveness of integrated work-based learning programs, their impact on students, and their value in addressing the demands of the rapidly evolving work environment.

Work readiness of pharmacy graduates: An exploratory study.

IntroductionThe recent global pandemic of Covid-19 caused various disruptions. Among them were face-to-face teaching and learning activities being switched to virtual sessions in accordance with health authorities recommendations. The impact of these changes on work readiness of pharmacy graduates is unknown. AimThis study aims to determine the impact of pharmacy graduate's work readiness, particularly those that had their studies disrupted from the pandemic. MethodsPracticing pharmacists with supervisory experience were interviewed on their opinions on work readiness of early career and intern pharmacists. Specifically, they were asked to comment on work readiness of pharmacy graduates who had their later stage of pharmacy education impacted by the pandemic. Data was transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. This was also supplemented with quantitative data from graduating students in 2020 and 2021 using the Work Readiness Scale. ResultsQualitative feedback showed four themes related to workforce readiness: work competence, social intelligence, personal characteristics, and organizational acumen. Preceptors interviewed noted differences in communication abilities when interacting with patients. However, this improved with time. Quantitative data collected from graduates via the validated Work-Readiness Scale also showed a more positive agreement towards perceived work readiness. These graduates were comfortable with using technology as they had used these extensively in their learning during the pandemic and thus was comfortable in adopting digital health tools in their practice. ConclusionAlthough graduates reported to be work ready, there were gaps in communication skills and confidence levels when interacting with patients, as reported by supervising preceptors. Graduates also described this sense of ‘missing out’ from not having the opportunity to attend face-to-face activities like their originally planned hospital placements and how it impacted their choice of career. As pharmacists continue to play vital roles as members of the broader healthcare workforce, both in clinical and nonclinical settings, learnings from this study should be considered in designing educational activities to train and develop the workforce of the future.

Longitudinal growth in college student self-efficacy and intercultural competence attenuated by anxiety/depression

IntroductionA wide range of stakeholders, including prospective students, parents, accreditors, future employers, and the general public, require detailed data on college outcomes. However, there are many challenges to producing such complex research tracking change over time in the higher education setting.MethodsThis multi-method longitudinal study at three different colleges was grounded in Input-Environment-Output and Social Cognitive theoretical frameworks. It examined: potential change on five different key psychosocial outcomes (i.e., self-efficacy, anxiety, intercultural competence, ethnic identity, and cognitive empathy), associations between these variables, and the role of race/ethnicity.ResultsMultilevel growth modeling revealed within and between subject changes over time. The findings provide evidence that liberal arts colleges focused on global learning can produce significant growth for students of all races on self-efficacy and intercultural competence, both outcomes that are valued for workforce readiness. However, the results also show that anxiety and depression symptoms attenuate growth in intercultural competence, which is concerning given other recent data on students’ mental health and wellness concerns.DiscussionWe discuss implications for student development practitioners and faculty alongside potential future directions for research in other higher education settings.

Curricular Relevance and Workforce Preparedness: Student Perspectives on Practical Experiences in Urban Planning and Construction Courses

Abstract This study conducted at Ovidius University of Constanta, Romania, examines the integration of practical experiences into urban planning and construction curricula, involving 318 students from Construction, Law, and Administrative Sciences faculties. The study stresses the significance of these experiences in preparing students for the workforce, while assessing their perspectives on the relevance of their courses to future careers, with a particular emphasis on the influence of internships and real project involvement. The findings suggest that students who engage in practical activities view their courses as more relevant to their career advancement. This pattern is consistent across an array of courses, with various statistical analyses revealing degrees of significance. The study underscores the need of aligning educational programmes with labour market standards and professional requirements, particularly within fields that emphasise practical competencies. It also highlights the essential roles of construction engineers and public administration professionals, emphasizing the importance of understanding practical and legal aspects in their education.

Technically prepared: Librarians' perceptions on LIS curricula and technical services workforce preparedness

Academic libraries frequently require that professional librarians obtain a master's degree from a Library and Information Science (LIS) program accredited by the American Library Association (ALA) as a condition of employment. Within these programs, “academic libraries” are a common area of concentrated study available to LIS students interested in targeting a particular path for their future careers. As ALA identifies the master's degree as the terminal degree for all types of librarians, this coursework represents the majority of education and training librarians receive prior to entering the workforce. Though duties and responsibilities vary widely between individual institutions, librarians working in technical services roles are generally responsible for a broad range of activities related to the acquisition, discovery, and preservation of library materials. This study examines the results of a survey measuring the perceptions of current technical services librarians working in academic libraries on their LIS curricula in order to identify the coursework and skills most valuable to them in their work. The survey also identifies areas in which technical services librarians report having greater reliance on continuing education and professional development opportunities to supplement their knowledge in order to remain current in their areas of expertise.

416 Urgency to Address Infrastructure in Animal sciences–A Preliminary Report

Abstract The purpose of the ASAS Public Policy Committee (PPC) is to help ASAS shape public policy and public opinion on current issues affecting farms and companion animals. PPC sets goals to make federal agencies aware of the scientific expertise and resources available within ASAS that could be used to develop science-based federal policies affecting poultry and livestock production. Recent reports point to a poor state of agricultural facilities at public colleges of agriculture which puts research priorities related to adaptation to and mitigation of climate change, food safety, zoonotic disease preparedness, animal populations and their care, diet-health, nutrition, biosecurity, new biobased packaging, energy innovations, and advanced market analysis at risk (APLU, 2021). To ascertain input specific to the Animal Sciences (AS), an IRB approved ‘Survey About Infrastructure in Animal Sciences’ (#22-495) was offered by the PPC to department heads and faculty of Animal Science programs across the country. The survey instrument was constructed to allow open-ended responses as well as 5-point Likert scale questions regarding participants views about infrastructure (IF) and thereby learn what members closest to the animal sciences community perceive to be the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement in our research infrastructure. Analysis of coded responses in the open-ended questions among varied disciplinary arenas within AS revealed ‘facilities’ as the largest Grand Challenge. About 98% of respondents affirmed sustainable food and animal production is a critical national asset in terms of economic growth and development and 98% indicated an overlooked maintenance of IF in AS undermines national food security. Additionally, 68% indicated the state of core labs, at least for AS programs are only average or below. All respondents (100%) agreed that without comprehensive investment in infrastructure within AS, the USA will continue to fall behind in competing with other countries in areas of research. Study results provided insight into potential consequences of deferred maintenance which should elevate awareness of urgency to address the deficiencies. Since IF needs included future workforce development and working environments, an eroded IF and consequences of deferred maintenance threatens the capacity of AS to pursue Grand Challenges in research and ability to create future workforce readiness of graduates from AS programs.

How do I sound? Vowel production of multilingual students at Ma Chung University

This study aims to evaluate the Indonesian, English, and Mandarin vowel production of Ma Chung University students, a prominent Indonesian institution with a strong emphasis on workforce readiness. Given the university's language offerings encompassing Indonesian, English, and Mandarin, we employed a descriptive qualitative approach in acoustic-phonetic theory. Our respondent pool comprised of 15 PPBM (Chinese language major) students selected based on intermediate proficiency levels in all three languages, as indicated by TOEIC and HSK scores. First and second formant data for monophthongs were recorded in PRAAT tools and the data is compiled on Microsoft Excel, forming the foundation for Vowel Space Area (VSA). The data reveals a notable phenomenon: students' native language (Indonesian) influences their pronunciation of both the second (English) and third (Mandarin) languages. Particularly, English displays a distinct pattern of compressed vowel spread compared to the standard VSA table due to the lingering impact of L1 VSA. This effect accounts for observed vowel anomalies in student pronunciation. Importantly, this L1 and L2 influence is evident in their attempts to articulate L3 (Mandarin) sounds, exemplified by the significant deviation of /ə/ from the VSA. Moreover, students navigate a linguistic shift by modifying phonemes to align with their L1, inadvertently resulting in substantial deviations during English and Mandarin speech production.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Community Pharmacy Workforce.

This study sought to describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on community pharmacy practice and its workforce. Interviews were conducted with 18 key informants from pharmacy associations and community pharmacists representing chain and independent pharmacy organizations across the United States from January to May 2022. Interview notes were analyzed using a rapid content analysis approach. Four themes resulted: (a) patient care at community pharmacies focused on fulfilling COVID-19 response needs; (b) pharmacists' history as immunizers and scope of practice expansions facilitated COVID-19 response efforts; (c) workforce supply shortages impeded COVID-19 response efforts and contributed to burnout; and (d) maintaining community pharmacy workforce's readiness will be critical to future emergency preparedness and response efforts. Formalizing scope of practice expansion policies and reimbursement pathways deployed during the COVID-19 pandemic could facilitate the community pharmacy workforce's ability to address ongoing public health needs and respond to future public health emergencies.

Workforce preparation for delivery of nurturing care in low- and middle-income countries: Expert consensus on critical multisectoral training needs.

Services to support nurturing care through early childhood development (ECD) in low- and middle-income countries are hampered by significant workforce challenges. The global early childhood workforce is both diverse and complex, and it supports the delivery of a wide range of services in extremely diverse geographical and social settings. In the context of contemporary global goals for the universal provision of quality early childhood provision, there is an urgent need to build appropriate platforms for strengthening and supporting this workforce. However, the evidence base to support this work is severely limited. To contribute to evidence on how to strengthen the ECD workforce in low- and middle-income countries, this study used a Delphi methodology involving three rounds of data collection with 14 global experts, to reach consensus on the most critical training needs of three key early childhood workforce groups: (i) health; (ii) community-based paraprofessionals, and (iii) educational professionals working across ECD programmes. The study identified a comprehensive set of shared, as well as distinct, training needs across the three groups. Shared training needs include the following: (i) nurturing dispositions that facilitate work with children and families in complex settings; (ii) knowledge and skills to support responsive, adaptable delivery of ECD programmes; and (iii) systems for ECD training and professional pathways that prioritise ongoing mentoring and support. The study's detailed findings help to address a critical gap in the evidence on training needs for ECD workers in low-resource contexts. They provide insights into how to strengthen content, systems, and methods of training to support intersectoral ECD work in resource-constrained contexts.

Artificial Intelligence in Project Management & Its Future

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a disruptive force, transforming industries and revolutionizing business processes. Among the domains significantly impacted, project management holds immense potential for transformation. AI’s integration promises intelligent automation, data-driven decision-making, and predictive capabilities, addressing challenges in traditional project management methodologies. Successful AI implementations have revolutionized project management, improving forecasting, resource allocation, and risk assessment. Despite the benefits, challenges hinder AI adoption, including data quality, investment uncertainties, workforce readiness, and change management. However, AI’s potential to address gaps in project management is substantial, enabling data-driven decisions, real-time monitoring, resource optimization, and enhanced agility. This research examines AI’s evolution, successful implementations, challenges, and potential implications, providing insights for effective AI integration in project management. Key Takeaways: • Project management is one domain that stands out as highly impacted by artificial intelligence, offering immense potential for transformation through AI integration. • AI-driven solutions in project management promise intelligent automation, data-driven decision-making, and enhanced predictive capabilities, addressing traditional methodological limitations. • Despite challenges, AI holds substantial potential to address existing gaps in project management practices.

Concepts and Challenges in the Implementation of Talent Management in Improving Employee Performance at the Company

This study aims to determine and analyze the effect of implementing talent management which consists of workforce preparation, workforce development and workforce management on employee performance through employee engagement. Talent management is one of the important issues that has become a topic of conversation in the world of human resource management. This is a logical consequence of the limited availability of talent, while the need for them continues to increase. One of the signs of this era is increasingly fierce business competition, including the necessity for local companies to compete with companies from regional and even global environments. Every company wants to dominate business and market competition. In realizing this there are three assets that must be owned by a company, namely financial capital, products and labor, but among the three most important assets is the workforce they have. Companies must be able to get and retain the best employees.

Expanding the Core Competences of Librarianship through Designing a Credit-Bearing Information Literacy Course for Social Work

In contemporary knowledge society, the impact of library and information professions has expanded to practical workforce preparation in many adjacent fields, including social work, that heavily rely on information competencies to promote community well-being and public good.This poster adds a practitioner perspective to the ongoing conversation about the need to reimagine LIS education to better align curricular priorities with the demands of the increasingly interconnected information landscape. Through a tale of a subject librarian and Social Work faculty partnership to develop a tailored credit-bearing information literacy course for Social Work pre-majors, the author illuminates the evolving role of librarians who are called upon to educate members of other information-intensive professions in the use of general and subject-specific resources essential for their field. The poster highlights the shared values that inform the practice of both librarianship and social work in response to the issues faced by communities in times of uncertainty and change. Built around the ALA’s Core Competences of Librarianship and the Social Work Competencies established by the Council on Social Work Education, the project reflects on the challenges and opportunities associated with integrating information literacy education into a domain where advanced information literacy skills are an indispensable component of the current professional practice. Finally, the project discusses several implications for LIS programs keen on creating a better connection between the LIS foundational values and other professional competency frameworks today’s librarians lean on, particularly in such vital areas as user services, lifelong learning and continuing education, and social justice.

Fostering Holistic Development: A Comprehensive Empirical Analysis of Soft Skill Acquisition and Enhancement in the Bhopal Region

This study investigates the level of preparedness of individuals within the Madhya Pradesh Region concerning the acquisition and comprehension of soft skills within the workplace context. Employing a sample of 119 respondents through the Snowball sampling technique, data analysis was conducted utilizing an Abductive approach. The assessment focuses on evaluating the proficiency of respondents in various soft skills, including critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership abilities. This exploration addresses the critical need to bridge the gap in soft skills within the Indian professional landscape. The distinctiveness of this research lies in its contribution to the understanding of the current status of soft skill development among individuals in the Madhya Pradesh Region. In the face of a significant soft skills deficit in India's workforce, this study highlights the specific soft skills that individuals are adept at and actively cultivating within their workplace environments. The findings of this research have profound implications for the optimization of human resource development and training programs. They offer crucial insights into the areas warranting focused enhancement in soft skill cultivation to enhance overall workforce readiness.

Assessing the pharmacy workforce's preparedness for a workplace violence event.

The purpose of this article is to describe the planning, implementation, and findings of a "person with a weapon" exercise for an inpatient pharmacy department. There has been an increased focus on workplace violence in healthcare within the last few years. The health-system pharmacy workforce should take an active role in planning for workplace violence events by completing a risk assessment analysis and performing tabletop and functional exercises. This study provides an example of how health-system pharmacists collaborated with an emergency management team, security, and communications to carry out a person with a weapon exercise in an inpatient hospital pharmacy. Areas for improvement were identified for pharmacy, communications, and security during education sessions and the tabletop and functional exercises, demonstrating the importance of a multidisciplinary approach when planning for a person with a weapon event. As a result of this exercise, there was increased awareness of the "run, hide, fight" tactic, an increase in workplace violence education and staff awareness, and an enhancement of security measures, including technology improvements. This workplace violence exercise provides an example of how the pharmacy workforce can engage in emergency preparedness planning and risk mitigation for a workplace violence event. Other health systems can use the action plan, findings, and improvements to raise awareness and train about workplace violence events and support the safety of the pharmacy workforce.