Perceptions from the front line : Professional identity in mental health nursing
- Authors: Hercelinskyj, Gylo , Cruickshank, Mary , Brown, Peter , Phillips, Brian
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Mental Health Nursing Vol. 23, no. 1 (2014), p. 24-32
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- Description: In the context of a growing population of people experiencing mental illness worldwide, mental health nurses are a crucial workforce. Their recruitment and retention, however, is in decline. Drawing on qualitative data obtained from interviews with mental health nurses () in ictoria, Australia, the paper employs a range of concepts from role theory to explore professional identity within mental health nursing. The data highlight three key issues in relation to the future recruitment and retention of : (i) the ambiguity of the role; (ii) the weak definition and lack of understanding of the scope of the role by nursing students; and (iii) a lack of communication about as a profession to a wider audience. These findings indicate three avenues through which recruitment and retention in mental health nursing could be improved: (i) public communication; (ii) training and educating of the next generation of ; and (iii) more accurately defining the role of the MHN.
The support needs of new graduate nurses making the transition to rural nursing practice in Australia
- Authors: Lea, Jackie , Cruickshank, Mary
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Clinical Nursing Vol. 24, no. 7-8 (2015), p. 948-960
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- Description: Aims and objectives. The aim of this paper is to present the findings from the new graduate nurse participants of a larger study that explored the transitional experiences of newly graduated nurses making the role transition in rural health care facilities in Australia. Background. Evidence indicates that workload, skill mix and organizational pressures are still of concern for new nursing graduates within the Australian context and internationally. Many graduates are expected by employers to have high levels of independence, well developed problem solving abilities and be able to assume management and leadership responsibilities early in their graduate year. Design. An exploratory, descriptive, qualitative case study design was utilised to determine the particular support needs over time that would assist with a safe transition to the rural nursing workforce. The aims of the study were to: (1) Explore the new graduate nurses’ perceptions and experience of the nature and timing of support throughout their Transition to Practice Program in a rural setting; (2) Identify the functional elements of rural graduate nurse transition programs and develop guidelines that will assist in the design of Transition to Practice Programs that match the rural context and capacity. Methods. A purposive sample of 15 new graduate nurses who had commenced a 12 month Transition to Practice Program within a rural health facility from northern New South Wales, Australia, participated in this study. In-depth individual interviews with the new graduate nurses were conducted at time intervals of three to four months, six to seven months and 10 to 11 months. Results. One of the key findings of this study is that as the new graduate nurse making the transition to professional rural nursing practice moves along the transition continuum, there are particular and unique aspects of the rural nurse’s role and responsibilities for which the new graduate nurse will require specific learning support during their transition. Conclusions. When the new graduate moves from the role of the student to the less familiar role of professional practitioner, it is important that a rural Transition to Practice Program offers an incrementally staged workload and responsibilities that recognises the graduate’s beginning nurse status. Relevance to clinical practice. The study contributes new knowledge to the discussion of issues concerning support mechanisms for new graduate nurses as they make the transition to rural nursing practice.
Venous access : The patient experience
- Authors: Robinson-Reilly, Melissa , Paliadelis, Penny , Cruickshank, Mary
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Supportive Care in Cancer Vol. 24, no. 3 (2016), p. 1181-1187
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- Description: The evolution of venous access via peripheral cannulation, particularly in relation to the risks and the benefits of this procedure, is reported widely in the literature. However, there is limited research specific to the patient experience of undergoing venous access. The intent of this qualitative study was to understand patients' experience of venous access, with the aim of bringing forth their voices about the experiences of repeated venous access/cannulation attempts. This qualitative study used a hermeneutic phenomenological approach to explore the experiences of 15 participants in two rural oncology units in Australia. The participants had experienced repeated peripheral cannulation in order to receive chemotherapy. Study participants were asked to describe what it was like for them to be repeatedly cannulated. Data were collected via audiotaped individual interviews, the participants' stories were transcribed and analysed thematically. Themes emerged from the participants' stories that provided insights into their perceptions of the experience of being cannulated and the decision-making processes regarding how and where the procedure occurred. The findings suggest that a holistic approach to care was often missing causing the participants to feel vulnerable. Gaining insight into their experiences led to a greater understanding of the impact of this procedure on patients and the need to improve care through encouraging more collaborative decision-making processes between clinicians and patients. The implications for policy and practice focus on improving patient outcomes via procedural governance and education, with the intent of translating the findings from this research into evidence-based practice.