Clare Bennett

Providing a Positive Learning Experience for International Students Studying at UK Universities: A Literature Review.

Much of the current literature relating to international students at university level tends to highlight their experiences from a deficit perspective and in some cases even problematises the experience for the student and university. Other studies tend to focus on recruitment and motivation rather than the lived experiences of the student, thereby providing little assistance to guide the student, academic and host university in their preparation for, and working with, the international student. International students choose to study in the United Kingdom for a variety of positive reasons. However, these factors have the potential to become stressors as the student makes the transition to studying in a foreign country. Rather than viewing these stressors from a negative perspective, this literature review identifies how, with planning, support and understanding, universities can provide and develop a positive experience for all concerned.

Using storyboarding to gain appreciative reflection in the classroom

This paper reviews the use and value of a storyboarding approach in a classroom setting for healthcare professionals. This approach is used with adult students from foundation to postgraduate level of study. It describes how the authors used a positive appreciative reflection approach to storyboarding in order to develop the narratives of the students’ lived experience. The authors identify how the storyboarding helped to develop one student’s narrative into a group activity. This approach provided the students with space and time to work together on creating the storyboard and gain ‘collective wisdom’ from their peers and facilitators in the process. The paper acknowledges some of the limitations and benefits of using this approach to storyboarding within the classroom setting.

Fathers as sexuality educators: aspirations and realities. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Abstract Men can play a significant role in teaching their children about sexuality but fathers’ practices and perceptions in this domain remain under explored. This study presents an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of eight fathers’ perceptions and practices in educating their ten-year-old children about physical maturation, reproduction and relationships. A Foucauldian analysis with a focus on governmentality and biopower revealed tensions and contradictions between the fathers’ aspirations and their realities, which appeared to be underpinned by the dynamic, contradictory, shifting, plural nature of fatherhood identities. Whilst fathers wished to adhere to the cultural imperative for father–child emotional closeness, a disparity between their ambitions and their conduct emerged. Care appeared to be a deeply gendered concept for the fathers and despite their aspirations for an intimate relationship with their children, gendered norms for motherhood and fatherhood prevailed resulting in passivity in their role as sexuality educators. The study concludes by arguing that challenges to structures and subcultural contexts, which may deter fathers from fully engaging with their sons and daughters in this aspect of communication are required.

Portfolios in the nursing profession – Use in assessment and professional developmentPortfolios in the Nursing Profession - Use in Assessment and Professional Development Norman Kay(Ed) Quay Books £24.99 9781856423427 3

This book is an outstanding resource for pre-registration students and post-registration nurses who need to present portfolios for academic assessment and evidence of continuing professional development.

The reality of nursing research – politics, practices and processes Davina Allen The reality of nursing research – politics, practices and processes Patricia Lyne (Eds) Routledge 95pp 20.99 0 415 34628 2 0415346282

Nursing research can give rise to all kinds of issues around politics, power and control, but they are rarely addressed in the fields literature.

Compendium of Clinical Skills for Student Nurses Ian Peate (Ed) Compendium of Clinical Skills for Student Nurses Whurr 180pp £19.50 186156 469 4 1861564694

This compendium is intended to support nursing students in practice-based learning. It addresses a broad range of clinically oriented topics such as contemporary nursing, the nursing process, minimising healthcare-associated risk, sexuality and sexual health, and death and dying.

A unique career: The pay is poor and the hours are unsocial. so why would anyone be a nurse? Clare Bennett has some answers

The pay is poor and the hours are unsocial. so why would anyone be a nurse? Clare Bennett has some answers