scholarly journals The role of postgraduate education for registered nurses working in the aged care sector

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Susan Elizabeth Tansley

<p>This New Zealand based study explored the perspectives of registered nurses working in aged residential care and their views and experiences on postgraduate education. There is very little research in the area of aged care in New Zealand and none involving postgraduate education. This was a qualitative study using mixed method data triangulation which included a document review, focus groups and interviews. The study was conducted at four aged care facilities in the lower North Island. Focus groups and face to face interviews were carried out with Nurse Managers (n = 5) and Registered Nurses (n =15) who had (n = 7) and had not (n = 13) engaged in postgraduate education. The study found development of nursing knowledge was important for improving quality of older person’s care, and career prospects and progression were the main reason nurses engage in postgraduate education. External agencies such as the local District Health Board and tertiary education providers play a role in postgraduate opportunities and how these agencies communicate with nurses plays a significant role in the uptake of postgraduate education. In addition work place support and personal factors such as choices and timing affect the uptake of postgraduate education. A multipronged approach is therefore needed to address postgraduate education in aged care.</p>

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Susan Elizabeth Tansley

<p>This New Zealand based study explored the perspectives of registered nurses working in aged residential care and their views and experiences on postgraduate education. There is very little research in the area of aged care in New Zealand and none involving postgraduate education. This was a qualitative study using mixed method data triangulation which included a document review, focus groups and interviews. The study was conducted at four aged care facilities in the lower North Island. Focus groups and face to face interviews were carried out with Nurse Managers (n = 5) and Registered Nurses (n =15) who had (n = 7) and had not (n = 13) engaged in postgraduate education. The study found development of nursing knowledge was important for improving quality of older person’s care, and career prospects and progression were the main reason nurses engage in postgraduate education. External agencies such as the local District Health Board and tertiary education providers play a role in postgraduate opportunities and how these agencies communicate with nurses plays a significant role in the uptake of postgraduate education. In addition work place support and personal factors such as choices and timing affect the uptake of postgraduate education. A multipronged approach is therefore needed to address postgraduate education in aged care.</p>


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann McKillop ◽  
Cheryl Atherfold ◽  
Gary Lees

Background. A programme of postgraduate study was developed in partnership between a health board and a university in New Zealand, having identified critical thinking and practice change as key determinants of good care delivery. Aim. To explore the impact after 12 months of a postgraduate programme for registered nurses on patient assessment and clinical reasoning, and the status of implementation plans for improved patient care. Design. Outcome evaluation using a survey and focus groups. Setting. On location at a hospital in a small city in New Zealand that provides healthcare services for 102,000 people across rural and urban areas. Participants. Registered nurses who had completed the programme (N=28) and seven clinical mentors. Methods. A survey, focus groups, and follow-up data about quality improvement projects were used to explore how the programme was experienced and its impact. Results. The survey revealed perceptions of improved knowledge and skills but a lack of confidence in communicating with medical staff. Of 28 quality improvement projects planned, all but three had been implemented and were still in use. Two themes were generated from focus group data: “new ways of thinking” and “doing things differently.” Conclusions. This academic/clinical partnership positively influenced nurses’ knowledge and skills, encouraged critical thinking and self-efficacy, and resulted in the sustained implementation of nurse-initiated projects intended to improve patient care.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 61-72
Author(s):  
Melinda McGinty ◽  
◽  
Betty Poot ◽  
Jane Clarke ◽  
◽  
...  

The expansion of prescribing rights in Aotearoa New Zealand has enabled registered nurse prescribers (RN prescribers) working in primary care and specialty teams, to enhance nursing care, by prescribing medicines to their patient population. This widening of prescribing rights was to improve the population’s access to medicines and health care; however, little is known about the medications prescribed by RN prescribers. This paper reports on a descriptive survey of self-reported RN prescribers prescribing in a single district health board. The survey tool used was a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet to record nurse’s area of practice, patient demographic details, health conditions seen, and medicines prescribed and deprescribed. Simple data descriptions and tabulations were used to report the data. Eleven RN prescribers consented to take part in the survey and these nurses worked in speciality areas of cardiology, respiratory, diabetes, and primary care. Findings from the survey demonstrated that RN prescribers prescribe medicines within their area of practice and within the limits of the list of medicines for RN prescribers. Those working in primary care saw a wider range of health conditions and therefore prescribed a broader range of medications. This survey revealed that the list of medications available for RN prescribers needs to be updated regularly to align with the release of evidence-based medications on the New Zealand Pharmaceutical Schedule. It is also a useful record for both educational and clinical settings of the types of medications prescribed by RN prescribers.


2003 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 214-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Graves ◽  
Tanya M. Nicholls ◽  
Arthur J. Morris

AbstractObjective:To model the economic costs of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) in New Zealand, by type of HAI.Design:Monte Carlo simulation model.Setting:Auckland District Health Board Hospitals (DHBH), the largest publicly funded hospital group in New Zealand supplying secondary and tertiary services. Costs are also estimated for predicted HAIs in admissions to all hospitals in New Zealand.Patients:All adults admitted to general medical and general surgical services.Method:Data on the number of cases of HAI were combined with data on the estimated prolongation of hospital stay due to HAI to produce an estimate of the number of bed days attributable to HAI. A cost per bed day value was applied to provide an estimate of the economic cost. Costs were estimated for predicted infections of the urinary tract, surgical wounds, the lower and upper respiratory tracts, the bloodstream, and other sites, and for cases of multiple sites of infection. Sensitivity analyses were undertaken for input variables.Results:The estimated costs of predicted HAIs in medical and surgical admissions to Auckland DHBH were $10.12 (US $4.56) million and $8.64 (US $3.90) million, respectively. They were $51.35 (US $23.16) million and $85.26 (US $38.47) million, respectively, for medical and surgical admissions to all hospitals in New Zealand.Conclusions:The method used produces results that are less precise than those of a specifically designed study using primary data collection, but has been applied at a lower cost. The estimated cost of HAIs is substantial, but only a proportion of infections can be avoided. Further work is required to identify the most cost-effective strategies for the prevention of HAI.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Jarrod Coburn

<p>Residents’ groups have been in existence in New Zealand for almost 150 years yet very little is known about them. The collection of residents’, ratepayers’ and progressive associations, community councils, neighbourhood committees and the like make up a part of the community governance sector that numbers over a thousand-strong. These groups are featured prominently in our news media, are active in local government affairs and expend many thousands of volunteer hours every year in their work in communities… but what exactly is that work? From the literature we see these groups can be a source of local community knowledge (Kass et al., 2009), a platform for political activity (Deegan, 2002), critical of government (Fullerton, 2005) or help maintain government transparency and accountability (Mcclymont and O'Hare, 2008). They are sometimes part of the establishment too (Wai, 2008) and are often heard promoting the interests of local people (Slater, 2004). Residents’ groups can be set up to represent the interests of a specific demographic group (Seng, 2007) or focus on protecting or promoting a sense of place (Kushner and Siegel, 2003) or physical environment (Savova, 2009). Some groups undertake charitable activities (Turkstra, 2008) or even act in a negative manner that can impact on the community (Horton, 1996). This research examines 582 New Zealand organisations to derive a set of purposes that residents’ groups perform and ascertains how their purposes differ between geo-social and political locality and over three distinct eras of community development. The thesis also examines the relationship between residents’ groups and councillors, council officers, district health board members and civil defence and seeks to uncover if the level of engagement (if any) has an affect on their overall raison d’etre. The research concludes with a typology of New Zealand residents’ groups along with the key purposes of each type.</p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 57 ◽  
pp. 41-48
Author(s):  
Rachel Cassie ◽  
Christine Griffiths ◽  
George Parker

Background: Interprofessional communication is a critical component of safe maternity care. The literature reports circumstances in Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas when interprofessional collaboration works well between midwives and obstetricians, as well as descriptions of unsatisfactory communication between the two professions. Aim: To explore and define effective collaboration between midwives and obstetricians at the primary/secondary interface in maternity care, in order to generate suggestions to foster positive collaboration. Method: Eight primary care midwives, three obstetricians and two obstetric registrars from a single District Health Board in Aotearoa New Zealand were interviewed about their interactions at the primary/secondary interface and their understanding, and use, of the Referral Guidelines. The theoretical perspective was Appreciative Inquiry. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings: Results indicate usually positive interprofessional interactions. Dominant emergent themes are the need to negotiate differing philosophies, to clarify blurred boundaries that sometimes lead to lack of clear lines of responsibility, and the importance of three-way conversations. Of the three themes, this article focuses on three-way communication between midwife, obstetrician/registrar and woman. Participants reported that, when effective three-way communication between woman, midwife and obstetrician occurred, philosophical difference could be negotiated, blurred boundaries clarified and understanding of the respective roles of the LMC midwife and the obstetric team promoted. Participants value the Referral Guidelines but report some limitations to their applicability. Conclusion: Effective three-way communication promotes good maternity care. This study has identified ways to support optimal communication.


Author(s):  
Inna P Piven

The case explores international students' learning experiences with Facebook-based activities within the eight-week study term known as the intensive mode of course delivery. By implementing participant observation and two asynchronous Facebook focus groups, the study investigates the potential values of Facebook for learning from international students' perspective. In addition, the case looks at the challenges faced by students and discusses key factors that may impact international students' experiences with courses that incorporate Facebook as a learning tool. The research is framed in the context of New Zealand tertiary education and intended as a contribution to the emerging body of educational research on social media.


2009 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jae Bon Hoem ◽  
Ngaire Kerse ◽  
Shane Scahill ◽  
Simon Moyes ◽  
Charlotte Chen ◽  
...  

INTRODUCTION : Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality for older New Zealanders. Medication prescribing for secondary prevention of cardiovascular events in residential care is unknown and prescribing patterns for aspirin and statins by general practitioners (GPs) in residential care facilities in Auckland, New Zealand are reported here. METHODS: A representative sample of residential care facilities, all residents over age 65 years and their GPs in one district health board region in Auckland were recruited. Prescribing and medical records were audited by a trained nurse and medications coded into classes according to a standardised process. Diagnoses from summary sheets and hospital letters were recorded. Descriptive statistics were used to show variability in proportion of residents prescribed aspirin and statins. RESULTS: Of a total of 24 facilities approached, 14 consented to participate (58%); 537 residents (88% of eligible) agreed to participate and 533 completed the study. Residents took on average 8.3 (standard deviation 2.4) medications. On average 2.64 (range 1–6) GPs serviced each facility with eight GPs working in more than one facility. On average 54% of residents with documented CVD were prescribed aspirin and 31% of those with CVD and/or dyslipidaemia were prescribed statins. Variability between prescribers and facilities was high. DISCUSSION: Prescribing in residential care does not appear to be guidelines-based. The reasons for this are unknown. Ongoing social debate about the role of prevention for older people and interventions for GPs and residential care facilities may impact prescribing rates. KEYWORDS: Cardiovascular diseases; residential care; aspirin; statins; prescribing patterns; general practitioners


2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 205-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol Wham ◽  
Emily Fraser ◽  
Julia Buhs-Catterall ◽  
Rebecca Watkin ◽  
Cheryl Gammon ◽  
...  

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