| 2003 |
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YEAR BOOK |
Waterford Institute of Technology
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Department of Nursing and Health Sciences
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Palliative care for children
In spite of significant advances in medical and nursing care, it is a sad fact that some children will die as a result of illness. With an award of a research grant from the Department of Health and Children, a national study is taking place (in collaboration with the Department of Social Policy and Social Work, University College Dublin) to establish a comprehensive audit of existing palliative care services for children and their families and the identification of current and prospective needs of such children and their families. This research will guide the planning of child and family sensitive palliative care services in the future and, in so doing, optimise the quality of life for children and their families facing death arising from life-limiting conditions.
Nursing education
Classroom teaching and clinical learning experience are integral and essential parts of nursing education. With this as a focus in nursing education, we have/are engaged in small projects:
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i) A phenomenological study of student nurses (N=10) and their experiences of their first clinical placement after nine weeks. Students' experiences moved from negative feelings of uselessness and vulnerability to a more active phase of becoming part of a team. An inadequate preparation of clinical skills was also reported that caused interpersonal conflict between the clinical staff and the participants.
ii) Assessment of clinical competency in undergraduate nursing students utilising Objective Structured Clinical Assessment. iii) The use of computer assisted technology to enhance student psychiatric nurses' learning. iv) The development and integration of art and drama as a teaching and learning approach in personal and professional development of undergraduate student nurses. v) A descriptive survey approach using a self-administered questionnaire (N=133) was used to discover the facts regarding the nature of part-time work and its perceived effects on academic performance among student nurses. The findings suggest that the majority of student nurses are undertaking part-time work for reasons relating to financial hardship. vi) The benefits and merits of developing an integrated modular approach in critical care nursing that acknowledge two key components of patient adaptation to critical illness: knowledge of science (physiology and pathophysiology) and knowledge of the humanities (psychosocial theories). |
While all of these small studies are focused within the educational activities of our own department, they, nonetheless, provide useful data to inform our teaching endeavours. In the future, our challenge is to build on these studies to engage in national research projects that will enhance our understanding of nursing education at this critical time in the professional development of nursing in Ireland.
Internationally we are engaged in the Tuning Educational Structure in Europe Project. For further information on the project, see http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/policies/educ/tuning/tuning_en.html
Mental Health
A soft systems study of hospital based sheltered work units for people with long-term mental illness
Utilising a systems framework, data were gathered through individual interviews with staff, referrers and users (N=40); participant observation; photographic analysis of building structures; the administration of the Parker Life Skills Profile (N=150) and the Lancashire Quality of Life Profile (N=60) to clients. Each group held a different perspective on the purpose and value of the unit. Nurses highlighted the therapeutic importance, trainers emphasised its industrial purpose. Clients emphasised its socialising and financial worth, whilst referrers its utility as a place to send individuals for whom there were no alternative services. The findings of this study represent a challenge for future service development. The South Eastern Health Board funded this study.
Community mental health and mental health policy interpretation at 'street level'
This is a UK based on-going examination of the processes that individual managers, clinicians and community mental health teams (CMHTs) engage in when interpreting ambiguous and conflicting central policy directives for the purpose of implementation. The study utilises a Frameworks Analysis approach and is funded by the General Nursing Council Trust, UK. Findings will provide an understanding of how best to implement government policy in health care delivery.
Contact: Dr Jean Clarke, Department of Nursing and Health Sciences, Waterford Institute of Technology;
Tel: +353 51 845542; E-mail: [email protected]