This paper discusses best practices in teachers’ professional development (PD) in the United States (U.S.). We begin by presenting a conceptual framework for effective professional development, which ...suggests five key features that make professional development effective—content focus, active learning, coherence, sustained duration, and collective participation. We then describe the findings from recent U.S. research that has tested the five features, with an emphasis on the results of rigorous randomized control trials. We discuss several insights gained from this work and that have helped refine the framework. They are that (a) changing procedural classroom behavior is easier than improving content knowledge or inquiry-oriented instruction techniques; (b) teachers vary in response to the same PD; (c) PD is more successful when it is explicitly linked to classroom lessons; (d) PD research and implementation must allow for urban contexts (e.g., student and teacher mobility); and (e) leadership plays a key role in supporting and encouraging teachers to implement in the classroom the ideas and strategies they learned in the PD. We then examine three major trends in how professional development for teachers is evolving in the U.S.—a move away from short workshops, linking teacher PD to evaluations, and the use of video technology to improve and monitor the effects of PD. Finally, we discuss the challenges faced by districts and schools in implementing effective professional development.
This article explores the role of the teenage and young adult (TYA) blood and marrow stem-cell transplant clinical nurse specialist (CNS) from the author's perspective, and the challenges of ...developing a novel role. The article aims to provide insight into the role, and review the benefits of the CNS to patient care, thus highlighting the value of developing such a role within other stem-cell transplant centres in the UK.
Assertive communication is a skill that many nurses, particularly nursing students, find challenging. This article describes the findings of phenomenological study that set out to explore third-year ...student nurses' experiences of using assertive communication in the clinical setting. A narrative enquiry approach reviewed six reflective written accounts of their experiences. In addition, seven students took part in an in-depth semi-structured group discussion of their clinical experiences. Data were analysed using a hybrid interpretive phenomenological analysis and discourse analysis framework. Three key themes emerged: a sense of responsibility/duty and a sense of failure when this is not upheld, the importance of mentors in promoting self-confidence and self-esteem, and a sense of belonging on placement. The students responded well to positive role models and were able to identify negative role models. Accurate, constructive feedback and support was important to help students reflect appropriately.
Background:
Missed nursing care is a global issue in acute healthcare settings. It is a complex phenomenon that refers to nursing care that is required by patients but left undone or significantly ...delayed.
Aim:
To investigate the nature of missed nursing care and influencing factors in a general medical ward in an acute care hospital in Brisbane, Australia.
Method:
This is a descriptive case study. The study was carried out in a 29-bed inpatient general medical/cardiology/telemetry ward in an acute care tertiary hospital.
Results:
The study ward has been identified as a high complexity unit. The survey data found that the most frequent nursing care elements missed, as reported by the patients, were oral care, response to machine beep, and response to call light. The most frequent nurse-reported missed care items were ambulation, monitoring fluid intake/output and attendance at interdisciplinary conferences.
Conclusion:
Despite mandating nurse-to-patient ratios in the study ward, inadequate staffing was still perceived as being problematic and one of the most frequent reasons leading to missed nursing care. This possible disconnect between mandated staffing ratios and the persistence of perceived missed care suggests a more complex relationship than can be managed by macro (large-scale) resourcing formulas alone.
The qualitative study reported in this article set out to develop an understanding of how staff supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities deliver health promotion in their practice. The ...aim was to determine how social care managers working within an intellectual disability care setting in Ireland perceived health promotion and their role within it. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect the data. Participants perceived health promotion to be a priority for this population group that should be tailored to meet individual needs. Study participants recognised that they have a role in supporting and providing health promotion for this population, but also that they themselves required more training and education on the issue. Health promotion enablers identified in the study for this client group need to be enhanced and ways to reduce the barriers to access identified. The results reflect observations reported in the literature and indicate a need to prioritise health promotion with this population by establishing policies and practices in the organisation to promote it. A requirement for relevant training and education for social care managers—and other staff, as appropriate—was identified, as were areas for further research.
Background:
The use of a nursing information system (NIS) provides significant benefit to the nurses in the management of real-time patient data and contributes to improving the operational ...effectiveness of nursing services.
Aim:
To assess the knowledge of, attitude towards and use of an NIS.
Methods:
A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out among 230 hospital nurses in India, using a validated questionnaire including demographic characteristics, and questions on knowledge of, attitude towards and use of an NIS.
Findings:
The study found that more than 70% of nurses had good computer skills and knowledge about the information system. About 75% of the nurses reported that the NIS could be a tool to support them in improving patient care, and medical documentation, although 42% claimed that the use of NIS depersonalises nursing care. Seventy-one per cent of the nurses expressed the need for formal education and training on using an NIS during and after their nursing education.
Conclusion:
Training and demonstration of NISs during nurse education would improve nurses' knowledge, build confidence and positive attitudes, and enhance the acceptability and sustainability of NISs in healthcare settings.
Background:
Pituitary patients often experience psychosocial symptoms associated with their condition.
Aims:
To explore the condition management experiences of pituitary patients and their ...psychosocial symptoms and to explore the impact of these on quality of life.
Methods:
A sample of 748 individuals aged 18 to more than 65 years) completed a questionnaire relating to quality of life and the psychosocial impact of pituitary conditions.
Findings:
Analysis of the qualitative sections using content analysis identified four themes: social isolation, emotional and behavioural issues, appearance distress and physical and cognitive effects including fatigue and pain. An overarching theme of hidden disability emerged.
Conclusion:
The study identified multiple biopsychosocial factors that impact quality of life, with symptoms not visible to others most likely to impact negatively. Nurses are well placed to provide support and information to patients about the possible psychosocial impact of pituitary conditions to enable positive adjustment.
Background:
A 4-week simulation placement for first-year student nurses using an innovative blended approach was developed and delivered in one university. This was the first tariff-funded simulation ...placement in the UK for student nurses.
Aims:
To describe how this flexible simulation placement was developed, operated and adapted due to COVID-19 while exploring the student nurses' experiences and preparedness for practice.
Methods:
An anonymous online survey was undertaken and a placement evaluation was completed and compared with traditional clinical placement evaluations by previous students at the same point in their studies.
Results:
Students were as satisfied with the simulation placement as students who had attended real practice placements: 92% of students were satisfied with their simulated placement experience and 92% felt prepared for practice.
Conclusion:
This simulated placement has been an acceptable replacement for traditional practice placements, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nursing is one of the most trusted professions, yet it is poorly defined. There are many definitions and characterisations of nursing. This study sought to pilot a survey exploring the views of ...nursing in the 21st century. Methods: This study piloted an electronic survey with open and closed questions. Descriptive statistics were collated for closed questions using Excel. Open-ended questions were analysed using the text analysis program Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) for tone, emotion and criticality. Results: This pilot study recruited 72 participants from professional and non-professional backgrounds. Respondents displayed diversity in their perceptions of nursing, the role of nurses and the role that nurses perform. Conclusion: Nursing is a complex, multifaceted profession. The view of nursing was generally positive and authentic although not easy to define. Nursing was felt to be an inclusive profession; however, it is extremely diverse in nature. Further research is required to explore these concepts in greater depth.
Abstract
There is much interest in the UK, and elsewhere, in the Dutch Buurtzorg model of providing district nursing, and there a number of published, external evaluations of pilot projects. We are ...nurses who worked in one such pilot that used an adapted Buurtzorg model called neighbourhood nursing using neighbourhood care principles. This article reflects on our experience and describes how we organised ourselves and, our experiences of working in such ways as well as the challenges. This article also offers advice for others who are considering introducing such models
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