Cath Rogers-Clark

Retaining rural and remote area nurses - The Queensland, Australia experience

Because higher-than-average turnover rates for nurses who work in remote and rural areas are the norm, the authors conducted a study to identify professional and personal factors that influenced rural nurses’ decisions to resign. Using a mail survey, the authors gathered qualitative and quantitative data from nurses who had resigned from rural and remote areas in Queensland, Australia. Their findings, categorized into professional and rural influences, highlight the importance of work force planning strategies that capitalize on the positive aspects of rural and remote area practice, to retain nurses in nonmetropolitan areas.

The value of a breast care nurse in supporting rural and remote cancer patients in Queensland

The role of the breast care nurse (BCN) in the Queenslands Supporting Rural Women With Breast Cancer Project was evaluated by mixed methodology. Through questionnaire and interview, patients provided views about the nurses role under the categories of awareness, access, coordination, information, and psychosocial, emotional, and practical support. Of the 51 participants, 37 resided in rural and remote areas. Eighteen lived between 100 and 500 miles from specialized breast care services. The BCN met patients at their regular hospital visits and was available by telephone at any time. There was overwhelming agreement among the participants that the timing of contact, ease of accessibility, information provided, and support offered were extremely valuable in making their treatment and recovery easier. Most participants would recommend hospitals with a BCN to their friends. Members of the multidisciplinary care team provided views on awareness of the BCN, influence on care management, communication, and patient outcomes. They recognized the benefits of the BCN to patients and to coordination and liaison of the team. The findings concur with unpublished Australian reports that demonstrate the success of BCNs. The BCN model of care could be used to support other medical conditions in rural and remote Australia.

Exploring temperament and character traits in nurses and nursing students in a large regional area of Australia

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To describe individual temperament and character trait profiles associated with nurses and nursing students in a large regional health district and university in Australia. BACKGROUND Identification of personality characteristics have been undertaken in most professions; however there is little extant literature on nurses which looks at specific aspects of temperament and character. DESIGN A cross-sectional quantitative study of nurses and nursing students in a large regional health service district and university in South East Queensland, Australia. METHOD   An online survey to nurses and nursing students included a demographic questionnaire and the temperament and character inventory (TCI) to identify levels of the seven basic dimensions of temperament and character. Univariate analysis made multiple and covariate comparisons between TCI scores, nurses, students, working status and age. RESULTS The target number of responses was exceeded and totalled 451. Results are reported for females who comprised 90% of respondents; 53.5% students and 46.5% nurses. Significant main effects for age and student status were detected in several temperament and character inventory dimensions. Working students had significantly different temperament and character profiles compared to non-working students. CONCLUSIONS Overall, this sample displays levels of temperament and character traits congruent with a profession requiring high levels of persistence, self-directedness, cooperativeness and reward dependence. Our findings prompt further investigation of whether individuals with the requisite temperament traits are attracted to nursing, or do individuals develop certain character traits as a product of their professional experiences/training. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE The identification of distinct profiles of temperament and character traits among different nursing roles may provide insight into what traits are conducive to retention of nurses in these roles. The predictive potential of the temperament traits plus the modifiable component of character traits may provide scope for nursing educators and policy-makers to assist in recruitment and retention of nurses in the workforce.

'Once I became a pensioner I became a nobody - a non-entity': The story of one woman's experience of the health care system

Abstract This article highlights one socially isolated older person’s experiences of ageing in a large metropolitan Australian location and the problems she encounters in attempting to access appropriate and timely health care. As society moves into a phase of rapid demographic ageing, this personal account provides health professionals with an in-depth insight into what it can be like to live in social isolation as one ages and needs ever increasing health care. Win is part of a larger study investigating difficulties encountered by socially isolated older people in accessing health care needs, and preferred her real name to be used for this article. All other names used are fictitious to preserve anonymity.