Exploring Compassion for the Community and Diversity through Nursing Experiential Learning

Background: The aim of Jesuit education is total growth leading to action (Jesuit Institute, 2014a), plus higher Jesuit education seeks to transform students through examining the world around them. The promotion of experiential learning is noted in Ignatian Pedagogy (2014a) by urging the whole person to enter the learning experience. Nursing education, at a Jesuit University, involves educating the whole person within a service-oriented profession. Thus, experiential learning in a nursing course at a Jesuit University is an active component of Ignatian pedagogy, promoting Jesuit values and Catholic identity. This has been challenging since the COVID-19 pandemic forced universities to move classes to virtual platforms to replace face-to-face (FTF) teaching (Gamage et al., 2020). However, there is still a need to offer services to vulnerable individuals and is increasingly essential since the demand for assistance has expanded, (Croghan, 2020; Nonprofit Business Advisor, 2018), during the pandemic. Problem Statement: When COVID-19 pandemic required the suspension of FTF teaching and implemented mandatory social distancing measures, FTF service learning with COVID safeguards in place was not the only option for nursing students, at a Jesuit University. Nursing faculty strived to offer, direct, indirect or virtual experiential learning opportunities in the community. Although virtual experiential learning for nursing students is feasible, evidence of its effectiveness is scarce. In light of the gap, the researchers examined the effectiveness of FTF and virtual experiential learning experiences by comparing compassion and diversity outcomes. Theoretical Framework: Using the Social Change Model as the framework for the study, it strongly aligns with the Jesuit University’s mission. Likewise, it seeks to develop nursing student’s self-knowledge and leadership competence, both of which are required for the service-oriented nursing profession. Methodology: The study utilized a pre-post survey design in the first nursing class for sophomore students, along with reflective writing requirements. Results: In total, 79 students participated in the research. Fifteen individuals completed service virtually, 29 completed food-based service learning, and 27 completed nonfood-related service-learning. The remanding participants completed miscellaneous service-learning experiences. For the objective outcome related to compassion through service, the pre-survey M=4.35 and post-survey M=4.57, constituting a significant change of 0.22. For engagement with diverse community’ objective outcome, the pre-survey M=4.28 and post-survey M=4.43 indicated a positive change of 0.15. Implications to Practice: The research advances the literature by comparing the experiential service learning opportunities in the community. The results suggest that virtual experiential learning could be included in higher nursing education, especially for developing nurturing compassion and enhancing an understanding of diversity. Compassion develops early within the social change model and is represented in the first nursing course. Likewise, diversity competence usually occurs later in life per the social change model and is represented in the same course towards the end of the semester at the Jesuit University. The findings suggest that virtual service-learning opportunities may be an alternative mode of FTF service-learning that can be used in the future, even after the pandemic, by allowing students to serve the community as long as they can access the internet

Invertible Dirac operators and handle attachments on manifolds with boundary

For spin manifolds with boundary we consider Riemannian metrics which are product near the boundary and are such that the corresponding Dirac operator is invertible when half-infinite cylinders are attached at the boundary. The main result of this paper is that these properties of a metric can be preserved when the metric is extended over a handle of codimension at least two attached at the boundary. Applications of this result include the construction of non-isotopic metrics with invertible Dirac operator, and a concordance existence and classification theorem.Comment: Accepted for publication in Journal of Topology and Analysi

The power of peers in GTA development of practice: evaluation of an equal-status teaching observation project

Peer observation of teaching is a well-established professional development practice and can occur through a range of different activities (e.g., micro-teaching, lesson study, performance reviews, etc.). There is evidence that these various activities are being increasingly used to support Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs). This paper reports the findings of a pilot project that implemented equal-status, interdisciplinary and developmental peer observations. As a collaborative project, it was co-designed and evaluated by eight GTAs and an academic developer. Our observation framework involved GTAs’ undertaking the observee and observer roles and retaining five of six identified dimensions of control. The findings show that the observation experiences encouraged both new and experienced GTAs to take a self-reflective and critical stance to their teaching and disciplinary approaches. This confirms the value of GTAs’ experiencing the observer role and their exposure to other disciplinary environments. The post-observation ‘learning conversations’ provided significant opportunities for GTAs to discuss and reflect on their practice contexts and experiences together. This represents an effective example of peer supported learning, which also reduces the sense of isolation that GTAs often experience

Cardiopulmonary exercise capacity and quality of life of patients with heart failure undergoing a functional training program : study protocol for a randomized clinical trial

Background: Exercise intolerance is a common finding in heart failure that generates a vicious cycle in which the individual starts to limit his activities even more due to progressive fatigue. Regular physical exercise can increase the cardiopulmonary exercise capacity of these individuals. A new approach to physical exercise, known as functional training, could improve the oxygen consumption and quality of life of patients with heart failure; however, there is no information about the effect of this modality of exercise in this patient population. This randomized trial will compare the effects of 36 sessions of functional training versus strength training in heart failure patients. Methods: This randomized parallel-design examiner-blinded clinical trial includes individuals of both sexes aged ≥40 years receiving regular follow-up at a single academic hospital. Subjects will be randomly allocated to an intervention group (for 12-week functional training) or an active comparator group (for 12-week strength training). The primary outcomes will be the difference from baseline to the 3-month time point in peak oxygen consumption on cardiopulmonary exercise testing and quality of life assessed by the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire. Secondary outcome measures will include functionality assessed by the Duke Activity Status Index and gait speed test; peripheral and inspiratory muscular strength, assessed by hand grip and manovacuometry testing, respectively; endothelial function by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation; lean body mass by arm muscle circumference; and participant adherence to the exercise programs classified as a percentage of the prescribed exercise dose. Discussion: The functional training program aims to improve the functional capacity of the individual using exercises that relate to his specific physical activity transferring gains effectively to one’s daily life. In this context, we believe that that functional training can increase the cardiopulmonary exercise capacity and quality of life of patients with heart failure. The trial has been recruiting patients since October 2017