Faculty of Education - Theses
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ItemThe graduate nursing program : an exercise in reality orientation for the beginning practitioner in transition( 1995)Graduate Nurse Education, so long taken for granted, has of recent times been trust into the clinical spotlight. This, from the clinician practitioners, as much as anyone, has come about from the changed focus of undergraduate preparation. Whilst completing baccalaureate preparation in a University has had perceived positive results from a professional perspective it has arguably resulted in graduates demonstrating different attributes to their predecessors. No longer bureaucratically encultured, and with limited exposure to the clinical setting, the requirements of the contemporary graduate program is vastly different to its historical counterpart. Whilst the academics argue the role and place of the "Graduate Year Program" this dissertation seeks to illuminate the requirements of such a program from the unique perspective of the graduate clinician participants. That a program is a requirements is taken as granted, and arguments into the role and place of these programs are presented. The abundant literature related to the experience is discussed, in a focussed sense, within the constructs of its Australian application and in particular the Victorian precepts. The sense of "de ja vue" experienced whilst reviewing the Kramer and Benner experience arguably illuminates the discussion. The Phenomenological approach to the research task, utilising the notion of grounded theory facilitates the story of the Graduates as they experience the first three months of clinical practice in a major metropolitan hospital. An attempt is made to return to the academic agenda the notion of the "Graduate Internship" with recognition of the differing emotions that this notion evokes. The experience is further validated by canvassing the Nurse Unit Manager perceptions of the process. The findings demonstrate the importance of a clinically based transition program, one that this author believes is best offered as a component of a service based practice year. The components of a practice based year are demonstrated as best being advocated by the clinician participants of the program. The validity of their insight into their requirements are born out in this dissertation. What is important is their continued exposure to the rigours of clinical practice. This, to best translate their theoretical preparation into a capacity to meet clinical service needs. Whether these objectives have been successfully achieved will be judged by the readers of this work. Make no mistake, however, that this is an important topic and requires of the profession critical reflection and revision of the impact of the critical first few months of clinical experience for the neophyte practitioner. This is a testament to their own experiences. Experiences that they have agreed to share with us. Listen to the lesson they give, and learn for the future, the future of the Nursing Profession.
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ItemHealing hands: a study of the healing skills and practices of overseas educated registered nurses and the implications for nurse education in Australia( 1996)Australia's health care clientele reflects the diversity of this multicultural society. Patients and health care professionals have expectations of health care which may not be met to their satisfaction, or needs. The perceived inadequacies and increased demands on the Australian health care system are reflected in the literature and by active political lobbying, thus there is an urgent need to investigate how the health care system can be improved or modified to meet these deficits. One mechanism which may provide some of the changes required, is to utilise the skills, experience, and qualifications of Non-English Speaking Background (NESB) nurses. In utilising this valuable and available resource nursing education curricula can be modified to adequately incorporate transcultural nursing practices so that nurses can provide culturally sensitive nursing care for their patients. This study describes some of the dimensions of the cultural diversity in Australia, as it relates to health care. In particular reflections and observations of NESB educated nurses of the Australian health care system are discussed, in particular standards of care, nursing care, nursing education and issues related to the interweaving of cultural diversity within the Victorian health care system and the nursing profession. The purpose of this study is to provide insights on how to enrich the education of all nurses to meet the challenges of caring for Australia's multicultural population. Recommendations for the establishment of the Migrant Health Professionals Network and additional courses to meet the specific needs of NESB health professionals have already come to fruition.