Search

A hypothetical model was formulated to explore factors that influenced academic and clinical achievement for undergraduate nursing students. Sixteen latent variables were considered including the students' background, gender, type of first language, age, their previous successes with their undergraduate nursing studies and status given for previous studies. The academic and clinical achievement of 179 undergraduate nursing students were estimated by measuring their performance using two separate assessment parameters, their completing grade point average scores and outcomes of their final clinical assessment. Models identifying pathways leading to academic and clinical achievement were tested using Partial Least Square Path Analysis (PLSPATH). The study's results suggest that undergraduate nursing student achievement can be predicted by four variables, which account for 72 percent of the variance of scores that assess academic and clinical performance at the completion of the third year level of nursing studies. The most significant predictors and those that had direct influence on undergraduate nursing student achievement were: (a) grades achieved in topics undertaken at the beginning of their last year of study and (b) those achieved just prior to course completion (c) where the undergraduate nursing students had undertaken their final allocation for clinical experience, and (d) students' self rated need for clinical supervision at course completion. Measures of performance according the grade point average scores, student gender, age and type of first language used were not directly related to the performance outcomes. (Contains 2 tables and 2 figures.)

This study seeks to identify factors that influence the perceived complexity of providing nursing care to others (who are dependent on alcohol and tobacco) and the confidence of undergraduate student nurses to carry out this care. The research project is designed to explore whether there is a difference between the perceived complexities of 57 different nursing tasks and skills as understood by student nurses and their differing ages, gender and types of first language used. By using a probabilistic measurement approach (Rasch model), the study seeks to assess whether a scale of performance for learning can be constructed based on the difficulty of nursing care required and the self-rated capacity of the undergraduate nursing students to provide the nursing care. Outcomes of the study suggest that nursing students do differ significantly both in how they view the complexity of providing nurse care and their capacity to provide that nursing care. Recommendations are made for informing nursing education programs, in a bid to make nursing care as it relates to others who are substance dependent, more effective. (Contains 2 tables and 9 figures.)

A hypothetical model was formulated to explore factors that influenced academic and clinical achievement for graduate-entry medical students completing their third year of university studies. Nine latent variables were considered including the students' background, previous successes with their undergraduate and postgraduate studies and their assessed ability to study graduate-entry medicine based on their scholastic aptitude and their interview selection scores. The academic and clinical achievement of 99 graduate-entry medical students were estimated by measuring their performance on two separate assessment procedures, a 150 item multiple choice examination and a 20 item objectively structured clinical evaluation (OSCE) test. These two assessments were taken across two years (to include two student groups) and were equated using Rasch scaling procedures. Models identifying causal pathways leading to academic and clinical achievement were tested using Partial Least Squares Path Analysis (PLSPAT). The study's results suggest that medical student achievement can be predicted by variables, which account for 6 to 22 per cent of the variance of scores that assess academic achievement and clinical performance at the third year level respectively. The most significant predictors and those which had direct influence on graduate-entry medical student achievement were: (a) student gender, undergraduate grade point average scores, type of undergraduate studies undertaken, and where those studies were carried out that were related to the OSCE scores, and (b) whether or not the graduate-entry medical students had pursued other studies prior to undertaking the medical course and age that were both negatively related to achievement on the multiple choice examination. Measures of performance at interview and student scores for GAMSAT that were used in the selection process were not related to the performance outcomes assessed. (Contains 3 figures.)

Aim: First, to identify which aspects of missed care accurately define the integration of care and context of care dimensions of the Fundamentals of Care Framework. Second, to test the Framework for validity and reliability and lastly, to explore how leadership influences care integration. Design: A non‐experimental research design using self‐audit data collected information about variations in nursing care as exemplars for dimensions of the Framework. Methods: A multi‐variate approach using path analysis was used to apply the consensus scores of 3079 Australian residential care nurses and carers to define the dimensions of the Framework. Results/Findings In the Australian residential care setting, the factors that define both the contexts of care and the integration of care dimensions constructs are now empirically established. The most direct predictor for the integration of care dimension arises from both the leadership and resource allocation variables, while the remaining context of care factors have indirect but significant effects. The integration of psychosocial care in the residential care sector is not influenced by any of the Framework's context‐based factors. Conclusion: The component variables of the Framework show both good reliability and convergent validity. These findings confirm a predictive relationship exists between the elements of the context of care and the different types of nursing activities that form the integration of the care dimension, including organizational leadership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Only a limited number of items involved in missed nursing care inventories specifically focused on infection control practices. The study aimed to adapt and evaluate psychometric properties of the Czech and Slovak version of the Infection Control Missed Care survey; and to assess and compare the amount, type,and reasons for missed nursing care in infection prevention and control amongCzech and Slovak nurses. Methods: The convenience sample of 1459 nurses from the Czechand Slovak republic was recruited. Analysis of the nurses' responses to both subscales of the surveys and validation of their data was undertaken using the item response theory (Rasch scaling). Results: The now-modified Czech version consists only of 20 items measuring the type and frequency of missed care and 11 items focusing on the reasons for missed care. The now modified Slovak version consists of 34 items measuring the type and frequency of missed care and 17 items measuring the reasons for missed care. Reliability estimates with the removal of unreliable items showed acceptable reliability estimates for both sub-scales of the instrument. Conclusions: With modification to the two subscales used in the survey (removal of poorly fitting items) it should be reliable, and the resulting data could be used for further investigation such as factor analysis or modelling. The modified Infection Control Missed Care survey could be useful in further research investigating a relationship between nurse staffing, skill mix, and infection control outcomes in acute care hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to quantify types and frequencies of missed infection control care and to develop a theoretical model for estimating nurses' consensus scores about this form of missed care. Design: A non‐experimental research design using self‐audit data was selected to collect information about the types and frequencies of missed infection control care from nurses employed in hospitals located in three different countries. Data collection commenced mid‐year 2018. Methods: A multivariate approach was used to apply the consensus scores of 1.911 internationally based nurses in the missed opportunities for maintaining infection control. Results/findings: Thirteen variables exert direct effects on the nurses' total scores underpinning missed infection control care. These include the methods used to prevent hospital‐acquired infections, surveillance and hand hygiene practices. Significant nurses' demographic factors also included their countries of origin, employment status, employer type, job retention intentions, work intensity, length of clinical experience and staff development attendance. Conclusion: In magnitude of importance and having the largest effect on missed infection control care is missed care related to reducing hospital‐acquired infections followed closely by surveillance. Missed infection control care can be quantified, and variances in its practices can be accounted by exploring the nurses' differing demographic factors, including the nurses' country of origin. Impact: Variations in missed infection control care can be accounted for across three countries. While ward hygiene is underestimated by staff as a mechanism to minimize nosocomial infections, infection control surveillance remains the key to reducing hospital‐acquired infections. The study's outcomes invite the use of an ongoing, whole‐of‐organization approach to infection control with scrutiny being needed for improved staff adherence particularly with hand hygiene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SOME COMPANIES ARE IMPLEMENTING INTERORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS (IOSs) WITH TRADING PARTNERS THAT ALLOW THEM TO SHARE DATA AND software across organizational boundaries. The authors explore the effect of IOSs on [...]

Aims: To estimate and model the types and frequencies of care that nurses and carers self‐identify as being missed in the Australian residential aged care sector. Background: The study advances missed care research to explore how the care of elderly Australians is compromised. Methods: A multi‐variate approach was used to apply the consensus scores of 2,467 staff to missed opportunities for resident health promotion and restorative care. Results: Eight latent care variables have direct predictor effects on missed Australian residential aged care, all of which are largely under the control of residential care management, with the exception of the physical locality of the aged care settings. Conclusion: Missed care, associated with maximizing the residents' life potential, relieving their distress and maintaining their current health can be quantified and predicted. Implications for Nursing Management: Aged care policies that maximize adequate staffing numbers with appropriate levels of skill are paramount to minimizing missed Australian residential care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]