A systematic literature review of workplace physical activity programs : an exploration of barriers and enabling factors
- Authors: Dabkowski, Elissa , Porter, Joanne , Barbagallo, Michael , Prokopiv, Val , Snell, Christopher , Missen, Karen
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Cogent Psychology Vol. 10, no. 1 (2023), p.
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- Description: Physical inactivity continues to be a global issue with many adolescents and adults failing to meet the recommendations for daily exercise. Efforts to reduce physical inactivity in adults include the incorporation of strategies such as workplace physical activity programs, especially for sedentary workers. In this systematic literature review we examined current literature about the efficacy of workplace physical activity programs, as well as the barriers and enablers to these programs. Six EBSCO databases were searched (Academic Search Complete, CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE, APA PsycInfo, APA PsycArticles and SPORTDiscus with full text) between a ten year period (2011 to 2021). The search terms used were “physical activity”, “workplace” and “program” along with their variations. Following a systematic process, eighteen papers met the eligibility criteria. The authors analysed the findings using a narrative synthesis, in which four themes emerged from the data. These include Benefits to physical health, Benefits to mental health, Barriers to workplace physical activity and Workplace activity enablers. These findings provided several recommendations for organizations that endeavour to improve the health of workplace employees. Generalised workplace physical activity programs were viewed favourably by both employees and employers. Incorporating these practices into daily work structures may provide favourable outcomes such as increased work productivity and reduced physical inactivity. © 2023 The Author(s). This open access article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 license.
An exploration into early childhood physical literacy programs : a systematic literature review
- Authors: Porter, Joanne , Dabkowski, Elissa , Prokopiv, Val , Missen, Karen , Barbagallo, Michael , James, Michelle
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Australasian Journal of Early Childhood Vol. 48, no. 1 (2023), p. 34-49
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- Description: This review explored the impact of physical literacy programs designed to engage two- to five-year-old preschool children. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) was used. Six EBSCO host databases were searched for the period 2011 to April 2021 using the search terms “physical literacy,” “early childhood,” and “impact.” Articles were excluded if physical literacy was not the focal intervention. The final data set consisted of seven-peer reviewed articles meeting the eligibility criteria and quality assessment for this review. Three themes were created using Braun and Clark’s (2006) approach to thematic analysis: Holistic benefits of physical literacy, Barriers to physical literacy and Education begins at home. Early childhood physical literacy programs provide holistic benefits for children; however, further research is needed in an Australian context. Families and community members working in the early childhood sector could benefit from further education and training to improve physical literacy awareness. © The Author(s) 2022.
Exploring hospital inpatients’ awareness of their falls risk : a qualitative exploratory study
- Authors: Dabkowski, Elissa , Cooper, Simon , Duncan, Jhodie , Missen, Karen
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol. 20, no. 1 (2023), p.
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- Description: Patient falls in hospital may lead to physical, psychological, social and financial impacts. Understanding patients’ perceptions of their fall risk will help to direct fall prevention strategies and understand patient behaviours. The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions and experiences that influence a patient’s understanding of their fall risk in regional Australian hospitals. Semi-structured, individual interviews were conducted in wards across three Australian hospitals. Participants were aged 40 years and over, able to communicate in English and were mobile prior to hospital admission. Participants were excluded from the study if they returned a Standardised Mini-Mental State Examination (SMMSE) score of less than 18 when assessed by the researcher. A total of 18 participants with an average age of 69.8 years (SD ± 12.7, range 41 to 84 years) from three regional Victorian hospitals were interviewed for this study. Data were analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis identifying three major themes; (1) Environment (extrinsic) (2) Individual (intrinsic), and (3) Outcomes, as well as eight minor themes. Participants recognised the hazardous nature of a hospital and their personal responsibilities in staying safe. Falls education needs to be consistently delivered, with the focus on empowering the patient to help them adjust to changes in their clinical condition, whether temporary or permanent. © 2022 by the authors.
Adult inpatients’ perceptions of their fall risk : a scoping review
- Authors: Dabkowski, Elissa , Cooper, Simon , Duncan, Jhodie , Missen, Karen
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Healthcare (Switzerland) Vol. 10, no. 6 (2022), p.
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- Description: Patient falls in hospitals continue to be a global concern due to the poor health outcomes and costs that can occur. A large number of falls in hospitals are unwitnessed and mostly occur due to patient behaviours and not seeking assistance. Understanding these patient behaviours may help to direct fall prevention strategies, with evidence suggesting the need to integrate patients’ perspectives into fall management. The aim of this scoping review was to explore the extent of the literature about patients’ perceptions and experiences of their fall risk in hospital and/or of falling in hospital. This review was conducted using a five-stage methodological framework recommended by Arksey and O’Malley. A total of nine databases were searched using key search terms such as “fall*”, “perception” and “hospital.” International peer-reviewed and grey literature were searched between the years 2011 and 2021. A total of 41 articles, ranging in study design, met the inclusion criteria. After reporting on the article demographics and fall perception constructs and measures, the qualitative and quantitative findings were organised into five domains: Fall Risk Perception Measures, Patients’ Perceptions of Fall Risk, Patients’ Perceptions of Falling in Hospital, Patients’ Fear of Falling and Barriers to Fall Prevention in Hospital. Approximately two-thirds of study participants did not accurately identify their fall risk compared to that defined by a health professional. This demonstrates the importance of partnering with patients and obtaining their insights on their perceived fall risk, as this may help to inform fall management and care. This review identified further areas for research that may help to inform fall prevention in a hospital setting, including the need for further research into fall risk perception measures. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing students' perceptions of being a nurse : a scoping review
- Authors: Allen, Louise , Cooper, Simon , Missen, Karen
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Journal of Professional Nursing Vol. 42, no. (2022), p. 281-289
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- Description: Background: High attrition rates in new graduate nurses maybe attributed to unrealistic perceptions of being a nurse. It is therefore important to identify nursing students' perceptions and the factors that influence them. Aim: The present study was conducted to identify and describe the literature relating to nursing students' perceptions of being a nurse. Research questions guiding the review were: (1) What are nursing students' perceptions of nursing? (2) What factors influence nursing students' perceptions of nursing? Method: A scoping literature review was conducted between the years 2008 and March 2022 to capture nursing student perceptions from multiple countries, and year levels of study to note the changes in perceptions overtime. The data sources consisted of five electronic data bases; CINAHL, Medline, PsychINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science and search engine Google Scholar revealed 39 relevant sources. A scoping review methodology informed by the Joanna Briggs Institute and a published Scoping Review Checklist guided this review. An inductive thematic analysis identified five key themes. Results: Key themes: Attributes and characteristics of nurses; Nursing as a profession; Skills required for nursing; Gender perceptions; and Influence of time and previous health work experience. Findings provide insight for future research to ensure the adequacy of curricula experiences in preparing new graduates for having realistic perceptions for practice. Conclusion: For nursing students to be prepared for the role of a nurse they must have realistic perceptions of what it means to be a nurse. Whilst it is evident that perceptions can be influenced by a variety of sources, this review highlights a lack of research pertaining to perceptions related to the physical, emotional, and social effects on an individual from being a nurse. © 2022
Bachelor of Science in Nursing students' perceptions of being a nurse: A scoping review
- Authors: Allen, Louise , Cooper, Simon J. , Missen, Karen
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of professional nursing Vol. 42, no. (2022), p. 281-289
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- Description: High attrition rates in new graduate nurses maybe attributed to unrealistic perceptions of being a nurse. It is therefore important to identify nursing students' perceptions and the factors that influence them. The present study was conducted to identify and describe the literature relating to nursing students' perceptions of being a nurse. Research questions guiding the review were: (1) What are nursing students' perceptions of nursing? (2) What factors influence nursing students' perceptions of nursing? A scoping literature review was conducted between the years 2008 and March 2022 to capture nursing student perceptions from multiple countries, and year levels of study to note the changes in perceptions overtime. The data sources consisted of five electronic data bases CINAHL, Medline, PsychINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science and search engine Google Scholar revealed 39 relevant sources. A scoping review methodology informed by the Joanna Briggs Institute and a published Scoping Review Checklist guided this review. An inductive thematic analysis identified five key themes. Key themes: Attributes and characteristics of nurses Nursing as a profession Skills required for nursing Gender perceptions and Influence of time and previous health work experience. Findings provide insight for future research to ensure the adequacy of curricula experiences in preparing new graduates for having realistic perceptions for practice. For nursing students to be prepared for the role of a nurse they must have realistic perceptions of what it means to be a nurse. Whilst it is evident that perceptions can be influenced by a variety of sources, this review highlights a lack of research pertaining to perceptions related to the physical, emotional, and social effects on an individual from being a nurse. •The databases reviewed ensured the inclusion of multiple countries and year levels of study.•Nursing students' perceptions of nursing change over the time of the nursing program.•Further investigation is required to identify what experiences within the program influence changes in perceptions.•Nursing students lack realistic perceptions pertaining to the physical, emotional and social factors of being a nurse.
Evaluating the effects of a therapeutic day rehabilitation program and inclusion of gardening in an Australian rural community health service
- Authors: Missen, Karen , Alindogan, Mark , Forrest, Scott , Waller, Susan
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Journal of Primary Health Vol. 27, no. 6 (2021), p. 496-502
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- Description: Therapeutic day rehabilitation (TDR) is a non-residential intensive structured program designed for individuals recovering from substance misuse. A weekly afternoon of therapeutic gardening was a new incentive initiated in a TDR program at one Australian community health service, designed to give participants the opportunity to spend time outdoors connecting with nature and each other. The aim of this study was to explore perceptions of participants enrolled in this program by employing a convergent parallel mixed-method design using qualitative individual, semi-structured interviews (n = 14) and longitudinal quantitative quality of life (QOL) data at three different intervals (n = 17). The analysis of the quantitative data showed that there was a statistically significant increase in the participants' QOL scores in three of four domains (physical health, psychological, social relationships) when comparing baseline and post completion of the TDR. These observed changes were maintained at the 4-week follow up. The key findings from the semi-structured interviews include positive effects for participants on social connectivity, structure and achievement, understanding of recovery and relaxation from contact with nature. This study shows that a combination of TDR and therapeutic gardening can improve participants' physical health, psychological health and social relationships. © 2021 La Trobe University.
Evaluation of an assessment model to reduce waitlist times for occupational therapy in a rural community health setting
- Authors: Missen, Karen , Mills, Alyssa , McDonald, Georgia , Di Corleto, Erin , Telling, Laura , Davey, Alice
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Journal of Rural Health Vol. 29, no. 6 (2021), p. 987-992
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- Description: Objective Community occupational therapy services have seen an increase in demand over the last three years, resulting in longer waitlist times for service provision, particularly in rural areas where it is difficult to recruit experienced occupational therapists. Utilising a demand management model, the Basic Assessment Model Pre‐Screening Tool was developed by a team of Occupational Therapists and allied health assistants to decrease client waitlist times at one rural community health service. Design An evaluation of the implementation of an assessment model with comparison of quantitative data pre and post intervention. Setting Rural Community Health Service in Victoria, Australia Participants 456 clients that were registered as community‐based clients requiring occupational therapy services. Main Outcome measure Following the implementation of the newly developed Basic Assessment Model the number of occupational therapy assessments increased and there was a decrease in the median wait time that clients were on the waitlist in comparison to pre implementation. Results There was a statistically significant decrease (p<0.001) in the median number of days spent on the waitlist for the post intervention group (80 days) compared to the pre intervention group (105 days). Conclusion The results of this study suggest that waiting lists for community occupational therapy services can be reduced by implementing this basic assessment model ultimately improving the health outcomes of clients.
Reflections on an international nursing placement experience in Nepal : a thematic analysis
- Authors: Peel, Rebecca , Missen, Karen , Florentine, Singarayer
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Nurse Education Today Vol. 106, no. (2021), p.
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- Description: Background: Increasing patient diversity, as a result of growing global interaction, has necessitated that nursing academics better prepare nursing students to provide culturally appropriate and respectful care to their patients, particularly in culturally diverse countries such as Australia. One approach to improve cultural awareness of nursing students is a cultural immersion placement, and this paper describes such an experience which has been embraced by undergraduate participants. Purpose of this paper was to describe experiences, cultural awareness and challenges encountered by final year undergraduate nursing students undertaking a 22-day cultural immersion placement in Nepal. The researchers accompanied one group of students per year on this trip, which was repeated for three consecutive years. Describing and reflecting on the lived experience of nursing students engaged in this cultural immersion placement has helped to discern how this experience affects the cultural awareness of undergraduate nursing students and helps to decrease the challenges for similar placements in the future. Design and methods: To gain insight into the way this initiative impacted on the development of the participant's cultural competence, a qualitative descriptive design was chosen. Semi-structured interviews were carried out over three consecutive years with final year undergraduate nursing students upon their return from Nepal over three consecutive years. Data analysis followed standard suggestions for a systematic, unbiased approach to dealing with the condensed text, and was analysed using thematic analysis. Results: The findings suggested that this experience, albeit of limited duration, provided a significant contribution to students' understanding of cross-cultural awareness in the context of providing health care. Conclusions: There was a strong implication from the outcomes that this cultural immersion placement should be permanently integrated into the undergraduate nursing course. There was, however, indication that there is room for added reflection and advantages to be made from the experience. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd
The impact of intellectual disability nurse specialists in the United Kingdom and Eire Ireland: An integrative review
- Authors: Bur, Jennifer , Missen, Karen , Cooper, Simon
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Nursing open Vol. 8, no. 5 (2021), p. 2018-2024
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- Description: Aim To identify and evaluate the impact of Intellectual Disability Nurse Specialists person‐centred care for people with intellectual disability. Design An Integrative review of the literature was performed between January 2007–December 2017. Methods Searching the PubMed Library of Medicine, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Medline Ovid, PsychINFO, Health Source: Nursing/Academic edition. A total of eight articles were selected for the final study example, including four mixed methods studies and four qualitative studies. Results Three Intellectual Disability Nurse Specialist models were evaluated, and three main themes emerged: person‐centred care, organizational and practice development. Conclusion The Intellectual Disability Nurse Specialist expert knowledge and skills contribute to the development of effective systems and processes. The results highlighted the complex nature of the Intellectual Disability Nurse Specialist role and the importance of ongoing development, promotion and evaluation and their contribution to care in the healthcare setting.
A review of code blue activations in a single regional Australian healthcare service : a retrospective descriptive study of RISKMAN data
- Authors: Porter, Joanne , Peck, Blake , McNabb, Tiffinee , Missen, Karen
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Clinical Nursing Vol. 29, no. 1-2 (2020), p. 221-227
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- Description: Background: In the case of life-threatening conditions such as respiratory or cardiac arrest, or the clinical deterioration of the patient, a Code Blue activation may be instigated. A Code Blue activation involves a team of advanced trained clinicians attending the emergency needs of the patient. Aims and objectives: The aim of the study was to explore the number of cases of Code Blue activations, looking at the timing, clinical ward, diagnosis and activation criteria while noting cases where escalation from a Medical Emergency Team (MET) call occurs in one Regional Healthcare Service in Victoria, Australia, over a six-year period. Methods: A quantitative retrospective descriptive study of Code Blue emergencies over a six-year period from June 2010 to June 2016 was conducted. Data collected from the RISKMAN program operating at a single site was imported into SPSS (V 22) for descriptive statistical analysis. A STROBE EQUATOR checklist was used for this study (see File S1). Findings: The majority of Code Blue activations were male (59%, n = 127) and aged between 70 and 89 years of age (43%, n = 93). A Code Blue activation was more likely to occur at 08:00 hr, 14:00 hr or 22:00 hr, corresponding to the nurses’ change in shift, with the majority of Code Blues (27.8%, n = 60) occurring in the emergency department. Cardiac arrest was the main activation criterion with 54.6% (n = 118) cases followed by respiratory arrest (14%, n = 32). Interestingly, 20% (n = 45) of the Code Blue activations were upgraded from a Medical Emergency Team (MET) call. Conclusion: This project has produced several interesting findings surrounding Code Blue activations at one regional healthcare service which are not present in existing literature and is worthwhile for further investigation. Relevance to clinical practice: Understanding Code Blue activation criteria, common timings (month, time of day) and patient demographics ensures clinicians can remain vigilant in watching for the signs of patient deterioration and improve staff preparedness Code Blue events. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Comparative analysis of paper vs online stuttering severity rating scales used in the Lidcombe Program
- Authors: Missen, Karen , Robinson, Adrienne , Tucker, Amy
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology Vol. 22, no. 2 (2020), p. 95-100
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The meaning of ‘worried’ in MET call activations : A regional hospital examination of the clinical indicator
- Authors: Raymond, Anita , Porter, Joanne , Missen, Karen , Larkins, Jo-Ann , de Vent, Kerry , Redpath, Simone
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Collegian Vol. 26, no. 3 (2019), p. 378-382
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- Description: Little is known about why nurses escalate a Medical Emergency Team (MET) response based on ‘worried’ criteria or what clinical findings define a ‘worried’ MET call. Limited clarity exists in nursing literature regarding the clinical definition of ‘worried’ in medical emergencies. Commonly ‘worried’ terminology is associated with nursing intuition about a patient's condition before signs of decline in clinical condition. This research has identified the exact clinical cause of ‘worried’ escalations, with evidence to support that clinical reasoning and patient deterioration are the main cause of ‘worried’ activation. This research has also highlighted areas for further professional development to enhance levels of patient safety and quality care within a regional hospital setting.
Adult deterioration detection system (ADDS) : An evaluation of the impact on met and code blue activations in a regional healthcare service
- Authors: Missen, Karen , Porter, Joanne , Raymond, Anita , de Vent, Kerry , Larkins, Jo-Ann
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Collegian Vol. 25, no. 2 (2018), p. 157-161
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- Description: Aims: To evaluate the impact of Acute Deterioration Detection System (ADDS) charts introduced to a regional healthcare service. Background: To assist health professionals in identifying essential elements for recognizing patient clinical deterioration, a national initiative introduced track and trigger observation charts, to hospitals in Australia. This study investigated whether the introduction of ADDS charts had an impact on the number of Medical Emergency Team (MET) and Code Blue activations at one regional healthcare service, according to their incident recording database. Method: A retrospective study of all Code Blue and MET activations was undertaken at a regional hospital, pre and post the introduction of ADDS charts in a two year period, June 2012 to June 2014. Results: There was a significant increase in MET activations from 5.91 to 11.27 per 1000 admissions (p < 0.01) after the implementation of ADDS charts. There was also an unexplained non-significant increase from 0.50 to 0.88 per 1000 admissions in the activations of Code Blue during this period (p = 0.05). It was also found that ADDS charts did not overly influence the activation criteria for calling a MET/Code Blue, except for an increase in reports of high heart rate and a decrease in the use of the criteria ‘worried’. Conclusion: The introduction of ADDS charts has provided health professionals with a clear track and trigger set of criteria, improving the detection of early signs of deterioration in patients. This study demonstrated an increase in activations as a result of the introduction of ADDS charts in one regional healthcare service.
Are we there yet? Graduate readiness for practice, assessment and final examinations
- Authors: Missen, Karen , McKenna, Lisa , Beauchamp, Alison
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Collegian Vol. 25, no. 2 (2018), p. 227-230
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- Description: Background This paper reports on one aspect of a larger doctoral project which investigated the perceptions of qualified nurses on the abilities of newly registered nursing graduates. Aims To explore qualified nurses’ perceptions on national examinations for registration in Australia.
Physical deterioration in an acute mental health unit : A quantitative retrospective analysis of medical emergencies
- Authors: Porter, Joanne , Cant, Robyn , Missen, Karen , Raymond, Anita , Churchill, Anne
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Mental Health Nursing Vol. 27, no. 5 (2018), p. 1364-1370
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- Description: Nursing management of physical deterioration of patients within acute mental health settings is observed, recorded, and actively managed with the use of standardized Adult Deterioration Detection System (ADDS) charts. Patient deterioration may require the urgent assistance of a hospital rapid response or Medical Emergency Team. A five-and-a-half-year (2011–2016) audit of hospital-wide Medical Emergency Team attendances was conducted in an acute mental health unit of a single large 250 bed regional hospital in Victoria, Australia. Data were extracted from the hospitals’ quality and patient safety program, RISKMan, and entered into a statistical data program for analysis. A total of 140 patient records were analysed, and the ‘Worried’ category (34%, n = 47) was the principle reason for a Medical Emergency Team call in a mental health ward, followed by hypotension (23%, n = 31) and a low Glasgow Coma Score (16%, n = 22). Upon further investigation of the ‘Worried’ category, the most common conditions recorded were an altered conscious state (22%, n = 9), low oxygen saturation (20%, n = 8), or chest pain (17%, n = 7). Activation of Medical Emergency Team calls predominantly occurred in the daylight morning hours (6am–12md). When data were compared to the general hospital patients, the context of the physiological deterioration of the mental health patients was strikingly similar. Further research is recommended to ascertain the extent and frequency with which staff working in mental health units are performing vital signs monitoring as an essential component of detection of early signs of physiological deterioration.
Graduate nurse program coordinators' perspectives on graduate nurse programs in Victoria, Australia : A descriptive qualitative approach
- Authors: Missen, Karen , McKenna, Lisa , Beauchamp, Alison
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Collegian Vol. 23, no. 2 (2016), p. 201-208
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- Description: Aims: The purpose of this study was to describe the formal preparation nursing graduates are given throughout their first year of nursing in terms of educational structure and content of work-based year-long graduate nurse programs, from the perspectives of Graduate Nurse Program Coordinators. Background: In Australia, graduate nurse programs aim to provide a supportive learning environment, assisting nursing graduates in applying their theory to practice and supporting them in becoming safe, competent and responsible professionals. Internationally, research has demonstrated an increase in the job satisfaction and more importantly retention rates of newly qualified nurses who are supported in their first year of employment in some type of transition program. Method: Using a descriptive qualitative approach, individual semi-structured interviews were used. These interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed to reveal themes and sub-themes. Results: The interviews provided an insight into the various aspects of preparation that nursing graduates are given in their first year of practice with the main theme to emerge from analysis, nature of transition programs. The three subthemes associated with nature of transition programs consisted of composition of rotations and study days and supernumerary strategies. Findings indicate variation in pedagogical models underpinning graduate nurse programs across Victoria. Clinical rotations varied between three to twelve months, the number of study days offered were between four and thirteen days and there was variation in supernumerary time and strategies within the programs investigated. © 2015 Australian College of Nursing Ltd.
Qualified nurses' perceptions of nursing graduates' abilities vary according to specific demographic and clinical characteristics. A descriptive quantitative study
- Authors: Missen, Karen , McKenna, Lisa , Beauchamp, Alison , Larkins, Jo-Ann
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Nurse Education Today Vol. 45, no. (2016), p. 108-113
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- Description: Background: Evidence from the literature and anecdotally from clinical settings suggests that newly graduated nurses are not fully prepared to be independent practitioners in healthcare settings. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this studywas to explore perceptions of qualified nurses in relation to the practice readiness of newly registered nursing graduates and determine whether these views differ according to specific demographic characteristics, clinical settings, and geographical locations. Design: A descriptive quantitative design was used. Methods: An online survey tool was used to assess how qualified nurses (n = 201) in Victoria, Australia, rated newly graduated nurses' abilities on 51 individual clinical skills/competencies in eight key skill areas. A composite score was calculated for each skill area and a comparative analysis was undertaken on the various cohorts of participants according to their demographic and clinical characteristics using one-way ANOVA and post hoc tests. Results: Newly graduated nurses were found to be lacking competence in two key skill areas and were rated as performing adequately in the remaining six skill areas assessed. Significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) in performance were found according to the age of the nurse, number of years registered, the educational setting in which they undertook their nurse education, their role, and the clinical area inwhich theyworked. There were no significant differences according to whether the nurse worked in the private or public healthcare sector. Few differences were found between nurses working in a metropolitan vs. regional/rural healthcare setting. Conclusion: This is the first study to quantify the scale of this problem. Our findings serve as a reference for both nurse education providers and healthcare settings in better preparing nursing graduates to be competent, safe practitioners in all clinical areas.
Qualified nurses' rate new nursing graduates as lacking skills in key clinical areas
- Authors: Missen, Karen , McKenna, Lisa , Beauchamp, Alison , Larkins, Jo-Ann
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Clinical Nursing Vol. 25, no. 15-16 (2016), p. 2134-2143
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- Description: Aims and objectives: The aim of this study was to explore perceptions of qualified nurses on the abilities of newly registered nursing graduates to perform a variety of clinical skills. Background: Evidence from the literature suggests that undergraduate nursing programmes do not adequately prepare nursing students to be practice-ready on completion of their nursing courses. Design: A descriptive quantitative design was used. Methods: Participants were recruited through the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, Victorian branch. A brief explanation of the study and a link to the survey were promoted in their monthly e-newsletter. A total of 245 qualified nurses in the state of Victoria, Australia participated in this study. A survey tool of 51 clinical skills and open-ended questions was used, whereby participants were asked to rate new nursing graduates' abilities using a 5-point Likert scale. Results: Overall participants rated new nursing graduates' abilities for undertaking clinical skills as good or very good in 35·3% of skills, 33·3% were rated as adequate and 31·4% rated as being performed poorly or very poorly. Of concern, essential clinical skills, such as critical thinking and problem solving, working independently and assessment procedures, were found to be poorly executed and affecting new registered nurses graduates' competence. Conclusion: The findings from this study can further serve as a reference for nursing education providers to enhance nursing curricula and work collaboratively with healthcare settings in preparing nurses to be competent, safe practitioners on completion of their studies. Relevance to clinical practice: Identifying key areas in which new nursing graduates are not yet competent means that educational providers and educators from healthcare settings can focus on these skills in better preparing our nurses to be work ready.
Registered nurses' perceptions of new nursing graduates' clinical competence : A systematic integrative review
- Authors: Missen, Karen , McKenna, Lisa , Beauchamp, Alison
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Nursing and Health Sciences Vol. 18, no. 2 (2016), p. 143-153
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- Description: Over the past decade, many questions have been raised about graduates' clinical competence and fitness for practice upon completion of their undergraduate education. Despite the significance of this issue, the perspectives of registered nurses have rarely been examined. This systematic review explores the perceptions of experienced registered nurses regarding the clinical competence of new nursing graduates. Original research studies published between 2004-2014 were identified using electronic databases, reference lists, and by searching "grey literature." Papers were critically reviewed and relevant data extracted and synthesized using an approach based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis. From 153 studies initially identified, 15 original research papers were included. Four main research themes were identified: clinical/technical skills, critical thinking, interaction/communication, and overall readiness for practice. Areas of concern in relation to the clinical competence of new nursing graduates specifically related to two themes: critical thinking and clinical/technical skills. Further research is required on strategies identified within the literature with the ultimate aim of ensuring new nursing graduates are safe and competent practitioners.