#StrongerTogether, Can Symbols of Nationalism be Transformed? A Case Study of the Springboks: South Africa’s National Rugby Team

This study examines whether symbols, particularly those associated with nationalism, can undergo transformation in meaning and be co-opted to represent ideas or values contrary to their original intent. To explore this question, the study employs the case of the Springbok emblem, a symbol historically linked to the South African national rugby team. Originally, the Springbok was closely associated with the apartheid regime, embodying Afrikaner nationalism, exceptionalism, and, by extension, White supremacy. However, in the post-apartheid era, there have been growing efforts to reimagine the Springbok symbol by promoting greater inclusivity within the national rugby team. These efforts aim to transform the emblem into a symbol of unity, reflecting the rainbow nation ideal championed by South African leaders in the wake of apartheid\u27s demise. This investigation is conducted through a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. Specifically, I analyze the racial composition of Springbok teams and South African professional rugby teams more broadly, examining changes over time. This analysis seeks to assess how shifts in racial representation align with the broader goals of transforming the sport to better reflect South Africa\u27s diverse population. In addition, I conduct interviews with a range of stakeholders involved in or impacted by the transformation process. These include sports administrators, journalists, coaches, and prominent sports figures who possess in-depth knowledge of the internal dynamics of transformation efforts. Through these interviews, I aim to explore the perceived impacts, opportunities, weaknesses, and strengths of the transformation initiatives, highlighting areas of success as well as those requiring further attention. This study, in a broader sense, investigates the intricate relationship between human society and the human psyche, emphasizing how societal structures and dynamics are fundamentally shaped by human cognition and agency. It focuses particularly on constructs such as identity and power, which are created, maintained, and adapted by human beings. By examining these constructs, the study seeks to illuminate the pivotal role of human agency in shaping the conditions of our existence, the organization of society, and our collective understanding of the world. Central to this exploration is the question of how individuals and communities can navigate and potentially transcend the limitations imposed by self-constructed frameworks. These frameworks, whether consciously or unconsciously established, can sometimes act as restrictive structures, perpetuating cycles of constraint and dependency. The study ultimately aims to advocate for a heightened awareness of our capacity to redefine, resist, or reimagine these limitations, thereby empowering individuals to exercise greater agency over their lives and environments

Improving Self-Care in Nursing Professionals

Abstract Background: Nurses in high-acuity settings like telemetry units face intense physical and emotional demands, often leading to burnout and secondary traumatic stress. This project aimed to integrate self-care into nursing culture through leadership and evidence-based strategies to support resilience and well-being. Problem: At a telemetry unit in Stanislaus County, 67% of nurses reported burnout or secondary traumatic stress despite institutional focus on well-being. Barriers like high patient acuity and lack of standardized self-care practices persist. In addition, the unit has consistently scored below the 65% benchmark on the Glint People Pulse “Culture of Health Index,” with survey engagement dropping from 85% in 2022 to 73–75% in 2024. Interventions: The initiative began with a survey to assess baseline well-being. Nurses then participated in educational sessions on self-care and stress management. Leadership supported the initiative by modeling healthy behaviors, promoting open dialogue, and ensuring access to mental health resources. The goal was to create a supportive environment where self-care is embedded into daily routines. Outcome Measures: Reduce burnout from 67% to 50% or less by July 2025. Secondary measures included improving the “Culture of Health Index” and increasing engagement in the People Pulse survey. These metrics aimed to evaluate both individual well-being and broader cultural change. Results: Reduction in burnout (from 67% to the target of 50%) and (a reduction in) secondary traumatic stress, and an increase in compassion satisfaction. Conclusion: Embedding self-care in nursing practice fostered resilience and reduced burnout. Leadership-driven strategies enhance nurse well-being and improved patient care. Keywords: Self-care, nursing, job satisfaction, stress management, burnout

IJHRE Vol. 9: Queering Human Rights Education: Research, Praxis and Liberation for LGBTQIA2S+

This special issue of the International Journal of Human Rights Education, Queering Human Rights Education: Research, Praxis and Liberation for LGBTQIA2S+, presents research, reflection on practice, and reviews of new scholarship that highlight the experience of LGBTQIA2S+ students, educators, and activists through a human rights lens. The articles draw on diverse methodologies, perspectives, and intersecting identities to reimagine not just schools but all spaces of learning, from ballrooms to the internet, as sites for LGBTQ+ joy and liberation. The scholarship in this issue is “queer” not only in its focus on LGBTQ+ stakeholders in education but also in the way it challenges all that is considered normal and natural. It queers education, human rights, and human rights education by troubling power, questioning assumptions about sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) and replacing binary thinking with more complex, situated, fluid ways of understanding. And in a world where the news about SOGIESC is mostly bad, the authors in this issue also hold on to the agency, desires, and creativity of the queer community while at the same time documenting the incredible challenges of this moment. This moment in queer rights calls for the kind of thinking and action at the core of this journal: clearly, queer rights are an international concern that need to be framed as human rights and secured through, among other means, education

Sustainability in Sports: Exploring Scope 3 Emissions, Transparency the Need for Standardized Frameworks

Professional sports leagues contribute to environmental impacts through large-scale travel and event-related operations, particularly from fan and team transportation. While many leagues have made public commitments to sustainability, there is limited consistency in how those efforts are tracked or reported. Scope 3 emissions, which include fan and team travel, are often overlooked despite being a significant part of a sports organization’s carbon footprint. For example, in the 2024 season, the MLB, NBA, and NFL collectively took an estimated 7,502 flights to away games. This number does not account for the millions of fans who travel to stadiums each season, often by car due to convenience or lack of public transit options. This study uses GIS analysis to assess transit accessibility to four California stadiums, compares 4 sustainability frameworks used across professional sports, and evaluates the transparency of select teams sustainability reporting. Findings suggest that even when public transit is available, many fans choose to drive, indicating that convenience plays a stronger role than distance in shaping travel behavior. While some teams cite sustainability frameworks, there is little consistency in how goals are defined, or progress is tracked. Few teams provide third-party verification or clear emissions metrics making it difficult to measure real impact. The lack of standardized reporting increases the risk of greenwashing and limits accountability. To address these issues, the study explores the potential of more structured approaches, including the adoption of alternative frameworks such as Certified B Corporation standards and recommends partnerships with academic researchers

GIS and the 1944 U.S.–Mexico Treaty: Rethinking Transboundary Governance under Climate and Demographic Stress

This thesis examines the structural limitations of the 1944 U.S.–Mexico Water Treaty in the context of intensifying climate stress and growing population demand. Using GIS-based raster analysis of precipitation from 1981 to 2024, it maps hydrological trends in treaty-bound basins—particularly the Rio Grande and Lower Colorado—which exhibit persistently low and variable precipitation. These conditions, coupled with institutional rigidity, threaten the sustainability of binational water management. In addition to quantitative analysis, the study includes a qualitative assessment of transboundary governance dynamics, highlighting how institutional fragmentation and policy contention impede adaptive responses. The Treaty’s current surface-water-only framework excludes groundwater management, real-time data integration, and demographic forecasting. To address these gaps, the study proposes six targeted policy reforms and evaluates the feasibility of treaty renegotiation, ultimately recommending a region-specific framework for the Rio Grande basin that is adaptive, coordinated, and responsive to 21st-century environmental and demographic pressures

Downstream Delays: Effects of Flooding on Childrens Education and Time Use in Peru

Flooding is a major cause of destruction and economic loss affecting over 80 million people annually. Flooding during childhood can lead to educational setbacks with long term economic impacts. This study investigates the causal impacts of flood shocks on educational achievement and children\u27s time use using the Young Lives Survey, a panel dataset surveying children in Peru over 19 years of childhood. This study finds that flooding causes a temporary positive spike in girls hours of labor immediately after a flood which subsides by three to six years after flooding. The additional hours of labor does not reduce hours of study, but instead reduces hours of leisure. Flooding may cause a reduction in grade progression and enrollment for boys

The Wright Way: Advancing Pediatric Perianesthetia Nursing Competencies

Objective Implementing the Donna Wright Competency Model at a Bay Area Children’s Hospital in its peri-anesthesia units. Throughout available literature it was possible to observe the positive effects of implementing a competency model such as the DWCM has on the confidence of nursing staff and patient outcomes. An important point shown by literature was addressing more than technical skills and incorporating critical thinking and ethical considerations regarding patient care. Aim We aim to improve nurse competency in pediatric peri-anesthesia units at a Bay Area Children\u27s Hospital by implementing Donna Wright’s Competency Model. Data obtained in August 2024 from a series of surveys identified areas of need. Executed over a two-month period, foreseeing a 15% increase in competency self-assessment ratings from 65% to 80%. Improving nurses\u27 knowledge and skills by avoiding unnecessary repetition and being goal oriented, enhancing patient safety and care quality. Methods Areas of need were addressed throughout several skill days where nursing staff were able to reinforce their understanding through didactic, simulations, and hands-on learning. The nurse’s self-rate their competency levels prior to and after participating in the skill days. Results Data obtained from the surveys showed a competency increase greater than 15%. Additionally, nurses provided useful feedback that will be used to make future changes to skill days, further improving competency amongst nurses. Conclusion Results obtained from implementing the DWCM showed that having a standardized form of competency assessment where nursing staff take ownership and control of their learning leads to an increase in competency and confidence

Enhancing Patient Outcomes: Improving HCAHPS Scores via Implementing Pressure Injury Prevention Care Bundle Education in Acute Care Setting

Objective: Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) have a powerful effect on patient outcomes, satisfaction, and health costs. In the face of multiple interventions, nurse-patient communication failures and decreased HCAHPS scores reveal patient safety hazards. Aim: The purpose of this quality improvement effort was to enhance HCAHPS nurse communication scores by instituting a Pressure Injury Prevention Care Bundle (PIPCB) on a 93-bed medical-surgical/telemetry unit. Methods: The intervention was nurse-implemented education through educational posters and education cards distributed at admission and shift report. Nurse participation and education delivery were measured through pre- and post-intervention questionnaires and observations. The change in the HCAHPS nurse communication score was the main outcome and the nurse-reported education practice and patient comprehension were the secondary outcomes. Results: The HCAHPS did decline from 70.31% to 63.29%, though the results of the follow-up survey showed 100% of the nurses recommended continued utilization of the educational materials and 70% of the nurses agreed or strongly agreed the educational materials improved patient comprehension. Conclusion: The quantitative goal of the HCAHPS was not met while the intervention improved education process delivery and the role of the nurses. Future steps involve the implementation of relational communication strategies, bilingual materials for patient access, and education workflow integration. The research displays the merit of combining patient education and relationship-centered communication to improve patient satisfaction and outcomes of safety

Association Between Decisional Conflict and Quality of Life Among Parents with a Child Undergoing Hospital-based Treatment for a Recent Cancer Diagnosis

Having a child with a chronic illness, such as cancer, can cause families significant distress. Parents of these children must make frequent decisions relating to their child’s care. Depending on factors such as health literacy and support from medical staff, parents may have varying levels of decisional conflict (DC) throughout the decision-making process. Compounding stress throughout their child’s illness can often contribute to lower levels of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) while their child is receiving hospital-based treatment. Parents with a non-English language preference (NELP) often have greater challenges navigating healthcare systems due to a lack of resources and limited health literacy. The present study investigated the association between parental DC and HRQoL among 35 Latinx and White parents caring for a child with cancer. Differences in DC and HRQoL between three language groups: monolingual English, monolingual Spanish, and bilingual English and Spanish were also examined. Results indicated that higher DC was a statistically significant predictor of lower HRQoL. Additionally, there was no significant difference between language groups on either DC or HRQoL. Results suggest the need for further support for parents making decisions for their children to limit possible impacts on their HRQoL while caring for their child. Future research should include studies in various geographic locations to gain data from more diverse hospital systems and improve the generalizability of results. Furthermore, qualitative research studies could be implemented to provide parents with opportunities to explain their experiences more in-depth, which could help inform directions for additional quantitative studies