Hilde Zitzelsberger

Doing ‘technological time’ in a pediatric hemodialysis unit: An ethnography of children

Since the 1960s, hemodialysis has been a common intervention for children with end-stage renal disease, however little is known about how they experience hospital-based hemodialysis. A focused ethnography was undertaken to explore children׳s perspectives of the time, space and technology of a hemodialysis unit at a Canadian pediatric urban hospital. The children׳s temporal and socio-spatial positions were an effect of their technologically mediated embodiment and shaped their perspectives, evaluations and expectations. The findings suggest that further explorations are needed to envision ways to create with children an overall positive place that merges and balances technological care with child focused care.

EXPLORING SIMULATION UTILIZATION AND SIMULATION EVALUATION PRACTICES AND APPROACHES IN UNDERGRADUATE NURSING EDUCATION

Simulation-based learning (SBL) is rapidly becoming one of the most significant teaching-learning-evaluation strategies available in undergraduate nursing education. While there is indication within the literature and anecdotally about the benefits of simulation, abundant and strong evidence that supports the effectiveness of simulation for learning and evaluation in nursing education is slow to emerge and has yet to be fully established. As the use of SBL increases in nursing education, the need to evaluate students appropriately, accurately, and in reliable ways intensifies. Furthermore, as nursing programs increasingly consider SBL as direct clinical replacement in the context of increased student enrolment and dwindling clinical placements, standardized evaluation must play a vital role. Our study investigated simulation utilization and simulation evaluation practices and approaches employed among undergraduate nursing educational programs in Ontario, Canada, using a mixed methods approach. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected through a confidential online survey. The goal of our study is to establish a “picture” of current trends, practices, and approaches related to simulation that is employed within this entire province. An overview of the study findings and recommendations that have potential to make a substantial contribution to the growing evidence for best practices in the science of simulation will be discussed. Keywords: Simulation; Simulation-based Learning, Evaluation; Undergraduate Nursing Education