Copyright (c) 2010 All rights reserved. http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode Recent documents in Stephen Kermode en-us Wed, 06 Oct 2010 01:31:01 PDT 3600 http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/106 http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/106 Mon, 04 Oct 2010 20:24:02 PDT A study conducted in 1985 and 1986 attemptes to discover if a curriculum based on a conceptual framework results in students using the concepts in a way that indicates they are of value. Results showed that students were able to recognize and articulate some of the concepts examined in the study, but there was no evidence that this ability was transferred to problem solving activity in either simulation or clinical practice. The central issue to emerge was the lack of predictability of student performance on tasks requiring use of concepts examined. Further questions were raised regarding the differential performance of students identified as belonging to minority groups. Stephen Kermode http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/105 http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/105 Mon, 04 Oct 2010 20:24:01 PDT A study of nursing staff turnover is being carried out by the Nursing Research Team from the Riverina-Murray Institute of Higher Education for the New South Wales College of Nursing and the New South Wales Department of Health. The general aim of the study is to provide information about the annual rate of loss of registered nurses from public hospitals and licensed private hospitals in NSW. This paper provides background details about the project and recent attempts to understand the problem of nursing staff turnover. Brief mention is made of Australian and overseas literature and recent calls for methodological and conceptual precision in calculation nursing turnover. Reference is made to 'Nursing Turnover Indices' and other statistical descriptors used to guide this research. David Battersby http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/104 http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/104 Mon, 04 Oct 2010 19:43:03 PDT The clinical setting is the most valuable educational resource available to teachers of undergraduate nursing students. Proper use of this resource should involve adequate pre-clinical preparation of students, suitable clinical experience and clinical evaluation appropriate to the clinical context. A study carried out in August 1987 has shown justification for attempting to adequately prepare students in areas of clinical skills, communication and interaction skills. There is little value in students entering the clinical setting without such preparation, and without consideration of their learning needs. Stephen Kermode http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/103 http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/103 Mon, 04 Oct 2010 19:26:07 PDT This paper exaimines the theory of clinical supervision as applied to teacher education and nurse education, and identifies many similarities between the two areas. The theory underlying the phenomenon of clinical supervision seems equally applicable in either setting. There is some evidence from studies done at the Riverina College of Aadvanced Education (R.C.A.E.) which suggests that theories of clinical supervision are relevant to the clinical practicum experience of student nurses. Stephen Kermode http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/102 http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/102 Mon, 04 Oct 2010 18:12:53 PDT There are distinct benefits for teachers, learners and clinicians if nursing knowledge is organized within a coherent conceptual framework. This paper examines the way such a framework was developed and used to organize for the basic nursing curriculum at Riverina Murray Institute of Higher Education (RMIHE). The importance of logic and clarity in framework development is emphasized and it is stressed that, to be of use to clinicians, concepts must be both practical and effective. Stephen Kermode http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/101 http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/101 Mon, 04 Oct 2010 18:06:01 PDT In 1996, Health of Indigenous Australian Peoples, was introduced as a compulsory unit in a Bachelor of Health Science in Nursing course and as an elective unit for students from other courses. The first cohort of students in the unit were surveyed to determine whether their attitudes to 21 issues that affect the health of Aboriginal people were more appropriate at the end of the unit than they had been before the unit. The findings were that the student group's post-unit attitudes were more appropriate in all 21 areas. The results support a recommendation that units designed to increase health workers understanding of issues that affect the health of Aboriginal people must be compulsory if reconciliation is to be achieved between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. Lyn Ramsay http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/100 http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/100 Mon, 04 Oct 2010 18:01:31 PDT During 1988, a study of nursing staff turnover was undertaken for the NSW College of Nursing and the NSW Department of Health. The general aim of the study was to provide information about the annual rate of loss of registered nurses (RNs) from public hospitals and licensed private hospitals in NSW. A total of 362 hospitals were surveyed with the response rate being 75.4%. This paper gives background details about the study and the procedures used to determine nursing staff turnover, reports the major findings and makes suggestions for further investigations. Stephen Kermode http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/99 http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/99 Mon, 04 Oct 2010 17:07:08 PDT In this study, 757 participants reported data on quality of life (QOL), health and self-esteem. Findings indicated that older people experienced higher QOL than people in other age groups. Variables contributing to higher QOL include having good relationships with their partner, with their children, and God. Caring for others, or carrying a disability or illness diminished QOL scores. High positive self esteem scores were important in overall indices of QOL. High positve self esteem and absence of negative self esteem were substantial contributors to the 'happiness' dimension of QOL. Having a good sex life, or not having sex was more important than having poor sexual relationships. Stephen Kermode http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/97 http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/97 Thu, 29 Apr 2010 18:38:31 PDT Stephen Kermode http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/95 http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/95 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:57:22 PDT Stephen Kermode Socio-cultural parameters of health http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/93 http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/93 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:57:19 PDT Nursing literature has not been immune to the influences of postmodernist thought. It has been argued that postmodernism is relevant and important to the development of the occupation and the discipline of nursing. This paper attempts to demonstrate that there are serious weaknesses in such claims. Stephen Kermode Nurse Education http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/92 http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/92 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:57:17 PDT Stephen Kermode Socio-cultural parameters of health http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/91 http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/91 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:57:15 PDT Science is under threat from a number of sources. In nurse education a range of discourses have been attempting to marginalise science and to replace it with epistemologies which are deemed to be more appropriate. This paper examines the 'not-science' discourses of postmodernism and feminism and evaluates their importance to nursing through their relationship to, and effect on science. Stephen Kermode Nurse Education http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/90 http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/90 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:57:14 PDT The Hilmer Report has been having a significant influence on national and state governments since its release in 1993. Many of its recommendations are being introduced and the impact felt in all sectors of the community. This analysis looks at what it means for nurses. Stephen Kermode Nurse Education http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/89 http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/89 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:57:12 PDT Biodiversity is nature's expression of the principle of holism. This 'natural holistic imperative' is manifested in all aspects of the environment. While environmental health originated through a concern for protecting humans from environmental risks, it is now concerned with protecting the environment from the activities of humans. In order to protect the health of humans, there is a need to be concerned with protection of the biosphere. Moreover, the environmental crisis is essentially a crisis in spirituality, and a spirituality that respects and nurtures the non-human parts of our universe as much as it does the human ones is likely to be the only means of securing the health and happiness of humanity. Stephen Kermode Socio-cultural parameters of health http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/88 http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/88 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:57:11 PDT In 1996 a government review of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) was commissioned by the Victorian, Mew South Wales and Queensland health departments with a view to making recommendations on the need for occupational regulation of TCM practitioners. This article summarises the key findings of that review on the education of TCM practitioners in Australia. The principal characteristics of Australian TCM education are presented and contrasted to current practice in China. Traditional Chinese Medicine is composed of a number of treatment modalities, most notably acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. Acupuncture has been the focus of TCM education in Australia for the past two decades. Chinese herbal medicine education programs are now increasing and the standard of TCM education is approaching that in China. Alan Bensoussan Clinical Practice http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/87 http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/87 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:57:09 PDT The use of natural and complementary therapies in Australia seems to be increasing. There is an emerging body of literature which describes the prevalence and patterns of usage of such therapies. This paper reports the findings of a telephone survey of 645 residents of the North Coast of New South Wales which set out to describe the use of natural and complementary therapies in the region Stephen Kermode Socio-cultural parameters of health http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/86 http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/86 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:57:07 PDT Stephen Kermode Nurse Education http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/85 http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/85 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:57:06 PDT 'Critical perspectives on health' provides students with a critical overview of the social and political context of health and health care systems for beginning health care systems. Stephen Kermode Socio-cultural parameters of health http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/84 http://works.bepress.com/stephen_kermode/84 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:57:04 PDT The re-constitution of the Australian labour force has seen the emergence of the organisation as the dominant employment setting. This is the case for professions as well as non-professions. With organisations have come increasingly bureaucratic forms of controlling work. The 'ideal type' which characterises the work of professions is, it would seem, under threat from the organisation, and this has significant implications for nursing. Stephen Kermode Socio-cultural parameters of health