Katrina Cubit

Tailoring a Graduate Nurse Program to meet the needs of our next generation nurses

Graduate Nurse (GN) transition into clinical practice is recognised by nursing academics and clinicians alike as being problematic on a number of levels, particularly around GN support. The general consensus is that Graduate Nurse Programs (GNP) provided by health care organisations are the most effective strategy for providing support to GN during their first 12months in clinical practice. This study reports on the redevelopment of an existing GNP in response to GN feedback. The new GNP incorporated specific strategies to meet the needs of the newest cohort of Graduate Nurses - Generation Y. Evaluation of the new GNP was undertaken through on-line surveys and two focus groups. The findings confirmed that GNs continue to experience stress and anxiety during their first year, but this can be mitigated by participation in a formal GNP which has a strong focus on support and socialisation. Further, by directing attention toward meeting some of the more specific needs of Generation Y GNs the retention of this valuable resource can be increased. In 2009, the retention of GN for the 12months following completion of the GDP was 88% compared to 64% in 2008.

A survey of the frequency and impact of Behaviours of Concern in dementia on residential aged care staff

Objectives:  To investigate staff perceptions of the frequency of Behaviours of Concern (BoC) exhibited by residents with dementia; to rank order the BoC causing most disruption to the everyday running of facilities, and the most personal distress to staff.

Informed consent for research involving people with dementia: A grey area

Abstract Research involving people with dementia has been flagged as a key priority by Alzheimer’s International. Dementia has been an Australian National Health Priority since 2005, yet there are no clear guidelines for seeking and obtaining informed consent from people with dementia to participate in observational research. Informed consent is an ethical requirement for the conduct of research involving humans. Although many people with dementia are able to express a desire to be involved in research, the insidious progression of the disease reduces a person’s ability to understand and appreciate the consequences of involvement. This paper explores the author’s journey of seeking and obtaining informed consent for a mixed methods study which involved the observation of older people with dementia.

Student nurses’ experiences of the body in aged care

Abstract Little is known about how student nurses deal with ‘old bodies’ in the process of providing nursing care to nursing home residents. It was an issue raised by student nurse participants involved in a pilot research project designed to develop support structures for students on placement in aged care settings. During the research discussions, where students explored their experiences of working in aged care, it became apparent that the process of providing ‘hands on’ care to residents with ‘old wrinkly bodies’ was very confronting. However, in the context of the research project, students had an opportunity to share stories of their experiences of providing care to residents and critically reflect on the issues raised. Participation in these critically reflective discussions facilitated a process whereby students could challenge taken for granted understandings of older people and their bodies and develop a new appreciation of aged care. This was most evident in a significant positive shift in their attitude to working in the sector following graduation.

Taking the pressure off in the Emergency Department: evaluation of the prophylactic application of a low shear, soft silicon sacral dressing on high risk medical patients

Pressure injuries are key clinical indicators of care standard. In Australia, pressure injuries increase length of hospital stay by 4·31 and cost

Qualitative study of Enrolled Nurses transition to Registered Nurses

285 million annually. This pilot study examined the effectiveness of sacral dressing in reducing the prevalence of pressure injuries in older, high‐risk patients. A non randomised one‐sample experimental design was used in this study comprising of four phases. Of the 51 patients recruited to the study, one patient developed a sacral pressure injury compared to six patients identified in a known group with similar demographics who were not approached to participate in the study. The results indicated that patients in the known group were 5·4 times more likely to develop a pressure injury than the intervention group. Findings suggest that applying a protective sacral dressing with a low shear backing as part of a simple standardised prevention injury prevention regime commencing in the Emergency Department was beneficial in the prevention of pressure injury in older ‘at high risk’ medical patients.

Nurses under threat: A comparison of content of 28 aggression management programs

AIM This paper is a report of a study which aimed to explore the transition experiences of graduate Registered Nurses (RN) who had previously practised as Enrolled Nurses. BACKGROUND The literature suggests that graduate RN who have previously practised as Enrolled Nurses (EN) have specific support needs during their first year of clinical practice. METHODS A qualitative descriptive study using focus group interviews was undertaken in the Australian Capital Territory, Australia in 2009. Eight graduate nurses (GN) were interviewed 1 week after the graduate nurses programme (GNP) had commenced and five GN at the middle and four GN at the end of the programme. Content analysis of the transcribed data was used to explicate themes. RESULTS Three main categories were identified from the data: stepping out of their comfort zone, being taken advantage of and needing support like any other new RN. The GN pleaded that they need to be treated as any other new nurses undertaking the graduate nurse programme and for staff to forget that they used to be Enrolled Nurses. CONCLUSION Registered Nurses who had previously practised as Enrolled Nurses preferred not to be identified as having previous nursing experience as they feared being treated by their nurse managers as already capable of practicing as RN when in fact they needed support similar to any new graduate.