Workplace learning – a healthcare perspective

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the complex relationship between the learner and the learning environment. As a method case study research was employed to examine the student's experience of the learning environment. Work experience is considered to be an essential course requirement for vocational programmes throughout the world. This paper exclusively describes the learning environment and presents a number of significant processes that the learner experiences, each one having an impact on the learning experience. This paper will be of interest to policy makers, academics and educators who face the challenge of trying to understand how students learn in the workplace. Design/methodology/approach – Case study research was used to systematically investigate the learning environments and examine five students’ experience of learning in healthcare settings which included nurseries, nursing homes and hospitals while studying on a two-year health studies Further Education (FE) programme. Through critical incident interviews, observations and documentation data were collected and analysed. Findings – This study has identified the learning environment as a complex entity comprising of six significant processes: physical environment, interaction communication, self-awareness, tasks, feelings and learning. These processes illustrate the multidimensional nature of the learning environment, how dependent they are on each other and how they coexist within the learning environment. Practical implications – In studying this particular student group many similarities have been found with pre-registration nurses and other professional groups studying on undergraduate programmes in higher education who rely on the “workplace” for learning, particularly where the workplace may provide up to half the educational experience in a programme's curriculum. Social implications – This study only really provides a snapshot of a number of healthcare settings that exist in one geographical area, and coupled with the size of the sample itself further limits the study. However, what is inherent in qualitative research particularly in a case study design is the focus on in-depth contextual data. Originality/value – This paper is unique as it examines the learning experience of students on a health studies programme in FE. It describes and discusses their experience of workplace learning. </jats:sec

Using case study research as a rigorous form of inquiry

Aim: To describe how case study research (CSR) was used inductively as an all-encompassing theoretical framework to examine learning in the workplace. Background: Case study research is a method with strong philosophical underpinnings which provides a framework for exploratory research in real-life settings (Yin 2009). Data sources: A study of five students' experiences of learning in healthcare environments to explore real-life contexts over the course of two years. The study was rich with empirical data, offering a pragmatic framework for learning in the workplace. Review methods: Observations, interviews and documents were used. Discussion: As a result of using CSR, the findings were analysed systematically and rigorously. Using multiple methods verified data and strengthened the significance of the findings. Conclusions: This paper focuses on the strengths of using the CSR methodology. CSR embraces qualitative research methods in a rigorous and systematic manner. CSR has been applied to one example of research, addressing each step of the research protocol to use CSR to its full potential. Implications for practice/research: CSR enables real-life settings to be studied systematically and rigorously, offering examples of practice in nursing and education. © 2014 RCN Publishing Ltd

‘Poetry in motion’ a place in the classroom: Using poetry to develop writing confidence and reflective skills

Background Non-traditional students entering nursing programmes at university often experience difficulties with the academic literacy requirements of their courses, in particular academic and reflective writing. Levels of student anxiety may also be affected by other issues including the pressures of managing work, family and study commitments. Objectives To explore how classroom-based poetry writing activities might support students in developing their skills as student-writers and reflective practitioners. Design A qualitative approach was employed to explore emergent themes in students' poems and students' reactions to creative writing teaching strategies. Setting A university based in the South East of England. Participants A cohort of 25 students undertaking a Health Science Foundation Degree. Methods Data collected from student poems were analysed thematically using the framework of Braun and Clarke (2006). Results Students found the experience of writing poetry challenging at first, but ultimately rewarding. Compared with writing more formal academic reflections, many students valued the opportunity to express their emotions and experiences more freely. Analysis of the student poems also revealed a rich bank of data relating to key professional themes and students' lived experiences. Conclusions Poetry writing helps students to develop writing craft and reflective skills. It encourages students to articulate often complex emotions associated with their professional worlds, thereby providing invaluable insights into the everyday lives of healthcare workers. This paper should provide others working in nursing education with a deeper understanding of possible benefits of incorporating poetry writing into the curriculum

Exploring the application and significance of case study research in nursing

Background Case study research (CSR) has gained popularity across disciplines due to its ability to provide detailed insights into specific phenomena. Aim To explore the philosophy and methodology of CSR, drawing from notable authors who have contributed to its development. Discussion This article discusses the characteristics of CSR in terms of design and method in both quantitative and qualitative approaches. It examines CSR’s advantages and disadvantages as a research method. It draws on two example case studies to emphasise the use of CSR for exploring complex healthcare and social care settings. Conclusion CSR has proven valuable in nursing research for investigating complex clinical problems, patient-care scenarios, and organisational dynamics and phenomena. Implications for practice CSR provides a methodological framework for nursing research that offers a unique lens for exploring multifaceted, complex issues. This ultimately improves patient care outcomes

Using the Relating to Older People Evaluation tool to measure ageism in higher education

The global population is ageing, and this trend is expected to continue. Cultures around the world socialise with older people differently with distinctive attitudes towards ageing. Ageism is a complex multifaceted concept that includes attitudes and behaviours. In the UK, ageism and discriminatory practices exist within nursing, and nurse educationalists and clinicians need to address ageist attitudes and promote older people care as healthcare needs increase. Within the context of nursing there is a lack of synthesised evidence which measures ageism amongst nursing students. This paper examines the Relating to Older People Evaluation (ROPE) questionnaire which has been used in different student populations in Higher Education (HE) including nursing students. A systematic search across databases was conducted from June 2007 to December 2017 resulting in 6 quantitative studies. Statistical analysis of ROPE was not possible, so a thematic analysis of the narrative was completed identifying two themes: attitudes predict behaviour and socialisation to ageism in HE. There remains a need to explore ageism and ageist attitudes of student nurses in HE. The ROPE is a suitable tool to measure student nurses’ ageist attitudes and behaviours

The development and evaluation of an analytical framework to explore student nurses’ cultural beliefs of dementia

Background: People diagnosed with dementia need culturally sensitive person-centred care in order to promote their health and wellbeing. Therefore, healthcare professionals should be able to provide culturally competent care, of which an element is understanding their own cultural heritage and how this impacts on their beliefs regarding dementia. This is essential as cultural norms and values provide meanings and understanding of chronic conditions such as dementia. The current study explored student nurses’ cultural beliefs of dementia through the completion of focus groups, which generated a large amount of data. The analysis of this large qualitative data set required structure and a framework. Purpose: One purpose of the current paper was to present the methodological analysis of the study and this encompasses the analytical framework. The second purpose was to apply the framework in understanding the cultural beliefs of dementia among student nurses from an international perspective. Methods: Focus groups with student nurses from five Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) in England, Philippines, Slovenia and New Zealand were completed, audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. The qualitative data was analysed using the framework method of analysis. Data from the focus groups conducted at two HEIs in England were analysed, which encompassed synthesising, refining and agreeing on the codes, categories/themes established separately by four researchers. The analytical framework developed was then tested on the qualitative data obtained from focus group conducted in Slovenia, the Philippines and New Zealand. Results: The results are presented in three parts; the cultural analytical framework, the process of developing the initial categories/themes and the final themes that emerged from the data obtained from the focus groups. Conclusion: An analytical framework was developed and applied to student nurses in order to understand their cultural values and beliefs of dementia

Spinal cord compression is associated with brain plasticity in degenerative cervical myelopathy.

The impact of spinal cord compression severity on brain plasticity and prognostic determinates is not yet fully understood. We investigated the association between the severity of spinal cord compression in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy, a progressive disease of the spine, and functional plasticity in the motor cortex and subcortical areas using functional magnetic resonance imaging. A 3.0 T MRI scanner was used to acquire functional images of the brain in 23 degenerative cervical myelopathy patients. Patients were instructed to perform a structured finger-tapping task to activate the motor cortex to assess the extent of cortical activation.

Menopause at work—An organisation-based case study

Aim: The aim of the study was to explore and understand the organizational culture of a workplace in terms of support and well- being for staff experiencing perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms at work. Design: It is widely acknowledged that perimenopause and menopause symptoms are experienced by a large percentage of the female workforce. There is a lack of research into how nurses are supported through menopause (Cronin et al. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 42, 2021, 541–548). The perimenopause and menopause transition can be a challenging time where many may require symptom management and support (RCN, The Menopause and Work: Guidance for RCN Representatives, 2020). This paper presents a case study research (CSR) approach to examine one healthcare organization. Methods: CSR design was used: A survey distributed to all staff employed, a review of the available documentation on menopause and interviews with managers from different levels of the organization. The COREQ consolidated criteria was used for reporting the qualitative research reported this study. Results: The case study generated both quantitative and qualitative data using sur-veys, interviews and documentation. Data from the organization (n= 6905) showed a majority female workforce of 81.9% with 40.6% aged between 41 and 55 years old, meaning a third of the organization working through perimenopause and menopause. Survey responses (n= 167) collected biographical and psychometric data on the prevalence of perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms. Seven managers were interviewed highlighting two themes: Access to support and culture of menopause and 13 documents from the organization on menopause were analysed for content. The study design permitted an iterative approach to data collection and providing an in-depth understanding of the needs and support for those experiencing perimenopause and menopause. The findings help healthcare organizations to understand their workforce and take in to account the larger numbers of female employees particularly nurses with the need to provide person-centred support mechanisms and an organizational approach for all employees