scholarly journals Words matter: interpretations and implications of “para” in paraprofessional

2021 ◽  
Vol 109 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Schilperoort ◽  
Alvaro Quezada ◽  
Frances Lezcano

Objective: While studies from the early 1990s show that library staff in nonlibrarian roles interpret the term “paraprofessional” as being demeaning to their roles, no recent research has been conducted on this topic. This study aims to investigate if health sciences library staff continue to have similar negative associations with the term “paraprofessional” and to determine if another term is preferred.Methods: The authors conducted a literature review to identify terms used to categorize library staff in nonlibrarian roles. Using these terms, we created an online Qualtrics survey asking participants to rank terms by preference. We distributed the survey via thirty-six professional email discussion lists, including MEDLIB-L, thirty-three MLA chapter and caucus email discussion lists, DOCLINE-L, and ACRL-HSIG-L. Survey participants included full-time and part-time health sciences library staff in any nonlibrarian position. Responses from librarians were not accepted.Results: Based on 178 completed surveys, “library staff” was the top choice of 49% of participants, over “other” (19%), “paraprofessional” (13%), “library support staff” (11%), “paralibrarian” (7%), and “nonprofessional” (1%). Although “library staff” was the top choice of participants across all ages, older participants (aged 45–75) preferred “library support staff” and “paraprofessional” to a greater degree than younger participants (aged 18–44), while younger participants preferred “other” to a greater degree. Out of 36 participants who specifically mentioned the terms “paraprofessional” or “paralibrarian,” 32 (89%) of those comments were negative, indicating that the “para” in “paraprofessional” and “paralibrarian” is either insulting, inapplicable, or unfamiliar.Conclusions: Our results suggest that although the term “paraprofessional” may not intentionally be used to demean library staff, many library staff interpret the term to be demeaning to their roles. Instead, “library staff,” a more inclusive and less divisive term, was preferred by survey participants. In accordance with our results, we believe the term “paraprofessional” should no longer be used in library and information scholarly literature or professional discourse.

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-39
Author(s):  
Josip Brezić ◽  
Biljana Kurtović ◽  
Adriano Friganović

Introduction. Hemodynamic monitoring is of great importance because it covers all vital organic systems and their functioning, and any error in the interpretation of the monitored parameters can lead to a drastic deterioration of the patient’s condition and cause death. Aim. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of knowledge about hemodynamic monitoring of full-time and part-time students of the first, second, and third year of the undergraduate study of nursing at the University of Applied Health Sciences in Zagreb. Methods. A cross sectional study was conducted. The survey subjects were students at the University of Applied Health Sciences in Zagreb (N=280) in the period between December 2020 and February 2021. For the purposes of the study, the authors created a questionnaire that students filled in using an online platform, and the results of the questionnaire were anonymous. Results. The research found that most students have an adequate level of knowledge in the field of hemodynamic monitoring. By determining differences in knowledge of part-time and full-time nursing students, it was observed that students with work experience showed statistically significantly better results (p<0.05). Conclusion. The conducted study showed an adequate level of knowledge of nursing studies, since a high number of students, outside of their faculty obligations, have not been in contact with hemodynamic monitoring. The specificity and complexity of work in the intensive care unit comes from a particularly vulnerable population of patients who require maximum care, which is why nurses need continuous education, skill improvement, and training regarding new monitoring methods.


2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 54-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Kobena Osam ◽  
Matt Bergman ◽  
Denise M. Cumberland

The composition of the college population has shifted from a bastion of full-time 18- to 22-year-old students to a far more diverse population that typically works part-time or full-time, has greater family commitments, is over 24, and is juggling various competing responsibilities while attending college. This shift has prompted researchers to examine the challenges that this student body of adult learners face in their pursuit of a college education. The purpose of this integrative literature review is to offer an updated synthesis of empirical findings on the barriers faced by adult learners who are seeking a college degree. In addition, this review offers potential solutions to college institutions to help their adult learners overcome the barriers they face.


2016 ◽  
Vol 157 (37) ◽  
pp. 1476-1482
Author(s):  
Bálint Bánfai ◽  
Ádám Éliás ◽  
Tamás Nagy ◽  
Emese Pék ◽  
József Betlehem

Introduction: Resuscitation knowledge is necessery for emergency care workers. Aim: The aim of the authors was to investigate the advanced life support knowledge of paramedic students in Hungary. Method: The research has been executed at University of Pécs – Faculty of Health Sciences, Semmelweis University – Faculty of Health Sciences, and University of Debrecen – Faculty of Health Care. 97 students (n = 97) were involved in the study from third and fourth grades. Data were recorded with a self-fill-in questionnaire. Results: Average scores were 67.79%. There was no significant difference between women and men (p = 0.725). Younger age improved significantly scores (p = 0.003). Full-time students completed the test significantly better than part-time students (p = 0.004). There was no significant difference between the students from different locations (p = 0.254). Conclusions: It would be appropriate to increase the number of resuscitation courses and to tighten the exams. The authors propose that it would be reasonable to examine the students’ practical skills. Orv. Hetil., 2016, 157(37), 1476–1482.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 1552-1563
Author(s):  
Denise A. Tucker ◽  
Mary V. Compton ◽  
Sarah J. Allen ◽  
Robert Mayo ◽  
Celia Hooper ◽  
...  

Purpose The intended purpose of this research note is to share the findings of a needs assessment online survey of speech and hearing professionals practicing in North Carolina to explore their interest in pursuing a research-focused PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) and to document their perceptions of barriers to pursing a PhD in CSD. In view of the well-documented shortage of doctor of philosophy (PhD) faculty to attract, retain, and mentor doctoral students to advance research and to prepare future speech and hearing professionals, CSD faculty must assess the needs, perceptions, and barriers prospective students encounter when considering pursuing a doctoral research degree in CSD. Method The article describes the results of a survey of 242 speech and hearing professionals to investigate their interest in obtaining an academic research-focused PhD in CSD and to solicit their perceived barriers to pursuing a research doctoral degree in CSD. Results Two thirds of the respondents (63.6%) reported that they had considered pursuing a PhD in CSD. Desire for knowledge, desire to teach, and work advancement were the top reasons given for pursuing a PhD in CSD. Eighty-two percent of respondents had no interest in traditional full-time study. Forty-two percent of respondents indicated that they would be interested in part-time and distance doctoral study. The barriers of time, distance, and money emerged as those most frequently identified barriers by respondents. Conclusion The implications inform higher education faculty on how they can best address the needs of an untapped pool of prospective doctoral students in CSD.


2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-60
Author(s):  
Treinienė Daiva

Abstract Nontraditional student is understood as one of the older students enrolled in formal or informal studies. In the literature, there is no detailed generalisation of nontraditional student. This article aims to reveal the concept of this particular group of students. Analysing the definition of nontraditional students, researchers identify the main criteria that allow to provide a more comprehensive concept of the nontraditional student. The main one is the age of these atypical students coming to study at the university, their selected form of studies, adult social roles status characteristics, such as family, parenting and financial independence as well as the nature of work. The described features of the nontraditional student demonstrate how the unconventional nontraditional student is different from the traditional one, which features are characteristic for them and how they reflect the nontraditional student’s maturity and experience in comparison with younger, traditional students. Key features - independence, internal motivation, experience, responsibility, determination. They allow nontraditional students to pursue their life goals, learn and move towards their set goals. University student identity is determined on the basis of the three positions: on the age suitability by social norms, the learning outcomes incorporated with age, on the creation of student’s ideal image. There are four students’ biographical profiles distinguished: wandering type, seeking a degree, intergrative and emancipatory type. They allow to see the biographical origin of nontraditional students, their social status as well as educational features. Biographical profiles presented allow to comprise the nontraditional student’s portrait of different countries. Traditional and nontraditional students’ learning differences are revealed by analysing their need for knowledge, independence, experience, skill to learn, orientation and motivation aspects. To sum up, the analysis of the scientific literature can formulate the concept of the nontraditional student. Nontraditional student refers to the category of 20-65 years of age who enrolls into higher education studies in a nontraditional way, is financially independent, with several social roles of life, studying full-time or part-time, and working full-time or part-time, or not working at all.


2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 249
Author(s):  
Anna Xheka

Women’s entrepreneurship is a powerful source, regarding to the women’s economic independence and empowerment, as well as regarding employment generation, economic growth and innovation, development and the reduction of poverty as well as one of the terms of gender equality. This poster presents the situation of women's entrepreneurship in Europe in comparative terms, with special focus in Albania. The paper has a descriptive nature. Describes three different plans in comparative terms; the representation of men and women in entrepreneurship, the representation of women in entrepreneurship in different countries of Europe and of Europe as a whole, as well as compare to gender quota. Through the processing of secondary data from various reports and studies, this poster concludes that although that the gender equality goal is the equal participation of men and women in all sectors, including the entrepreneurship, in this sector, gender gap it is still deep. Another significant comparative aspect, it is the difference between full and part –time women entrepreneurship. While in full time entrepreneurship in a convince way, men are those that dominate, in part time entrepreneurship clearly it’s evident the opposite trend, women's representation is much higher. It’s very interesting the fact, that the women’s entrepreneurship in Albania, presented in a significant optimistic situation, ranking in the second place, after Greece in the European level


Author(s):  
Almaziya G. Kataeva ◽  
◽  
Sergei D. Kataev ◽  

The modern development of society determines the forms and content of the process of teaching foreign languages. The quantity and quality of information in the field of mastering a foreign language is constantly growing as a means of sociocultural, linguistic and cultural and professional development of an individual. A foreign language is currently considered as an integral part of intercultural communication in various fields of objective reality and the development of a culture of interethnic communication. In the process of teaching a foreign language, technologies are becoming increasingly important which makes it possible to achieve the required level of communicative competence in speaking and writing in a shorter time frame and to recreate a virtual spatial temporal communication environment with native speakers. In this regard, the form of distance learning can be more and more prospective, being psychologically more comfortable for students and teachers; many of its elements can be integrated into other forms of training. The article exposes certain information technologies, the use of which increases the effectiveness of teaching a foreign language in distance, part-time and full-time courses. On the example of specific interactive multimedia Internet resources in the field of learning the German language, the urgent importance of using computerized teaching methods for acquiring and enhancing pronunciation, lexical and grammatical skills and knowledge with the aim of forming linguistic and cultural and professional competence of students is emphasized. At the same time, the article highlights importance of non-verbal forms of communication for achieving the desired effect of verbal communication, while relying on relevant audiovisual Internet resources.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 60
Author(s):  
Kamlesh Kumar Sahu

Psychiatric Social Work teaching has completed seven decades in India which was started with master course in medical and psychiatric social work at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai in 1948 followed by various schools of social work across the country but unfortunately even after two year full time or part time course they are not counted as a mental health professional; still they need two more years of specialized training in mental health as Master of Philosophy in Psychiatric Social Work (M.Phil. PSW) which was offered in just a few institutions. Recently the Government of India formulated manpower development schemes under the national mental health programme to address the shortage of men power in mental health. Under this scheme, 25 centre of excellence in mental health are already stabilised and various post graduate departments were upgraded and M.Phil. PSW course is started or will be started. This figure is in raise in Government intuitions and few private institutions also. The prominence of social work in mental health is expected to enhance by this effort as highly trained social workers will be available to practice in the mental health field but there are some challenges to overcome to get the maximum outcome from this opportunity to expand.    Keywords:Psychiatric social work, mental health, men power development, India  Â


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document