Student nurses' experiences of discrimination and racism on work placements: What can higher education institutions do?

Background There is persistent interpersonal, institutional and structural racism within the health sector and higher education. Such anti-Black and anti-Brown racisms are experienced by nursing students, nursing apprentices and fully qualified nurses. This discrimination intersects with other characteristics, namely gender and student status, which can make the nursing profession an unsafe environment for many. Objectives To understand student nurses' experiences of racism and intersecting oppressions, at university and on work placement. Design A qualitative descriptive study with individual interviews and focus groups. Settings A widening participation higher education institution in London, UK. Participants Twenty-four student nurses and nurse apprentices studying on an adult nursing programme. Methods Students were recruited through purposive sampling. In-depth data relating to student nurses' perspectives and experiences were gathered through two focus groups and three individual interviews conducted by student nurse peers. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and open coding was used to analyse transcripts using comparison and thematic analysis. Results Three key themes arose: safety and support in the university space; hierarchical treatment in work placements due to intersecting race and ‘student’ identities, and; direct racism by patients and staff in work placements. Conclusions Student nurses expressed their vulnerability to discrimination and racism whilst on placement in the National Health Service. More opportunities within university curricula are needed for student nurses to learn about, reflect on, and gain support for managing experiences of discrimination in the health system

Effect of added dietary lysine and methionine above recommended levels, on growth performance, breast meat yield and financial returns in broilers

This study investigated the effect of added lysine and methionine above recommended levels in broiler diets, on their growth, breast meat yield and financial returns. A total of 175 one-day-old Cobb 500 chicks were assigned to seven dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. Treatment one (T1) was a control diet formulated to breed specifications. Treatments two (T2) and three (T3) contained 1.2 times recommended levels of Lys and Met respectively. Treatment four (T4) contained Lys and Met at 1.2 times recommended levels. Treatments five (T5) to seven (T7) had similar combinations of Lys and Met as T2 to T4 but their inclusions were 1.4 times recommended levels. On day 43 five birds per treatment were slaughtered for breast meat yield measurements. Broilers on T6 had heavier (P<0.05) breast meat (691.6 g) and tenderloin weights (126.4 g) compared to birds on T1 (491.2 and 93.8 g respectively). The premium on the price of breast meat more than offset the added feed cost of the nutrient dense diets. However, if the finished dressed broilers are to be sold whole and uncut, this trial showed that it is better to feed the birds at the manufacturers recommended levels of Lys and Met. Keywords: Lysine; Methionine; Broilers; Breastmeat; Financial analysi

Elevated Circulating Angiogenic Progenitors and White Blood Cells Are Associated with Hypoxia-Inducible Angiogenic Growth Factors in Children with Sickle Cell Disease

We studied the number and function of angiogenic progenitor cells and growth factors in children aged 5–18 years without acute illness, 43 with Hemoglobin SS and 68 with normal hemoglobin. Hemoglobin SS subjects had at least twice as many mononuclear cell colonies and more circulating progenitor cell than Control subjects. Plasma concentrations of erythropoietin, angiopoietin-2, and stromal-derived growth factor (SDF)-1α were significantly higher in children with Hemoglobin SS compared to Control subjects. In a multivariate analysis model, SDF-1α concentration was found to be associated with both CPC number and total white blood cell count in the Hemoglobin SS group, suggesting that SDF-1α produced by ischemic tissues plays a role in mobilizing these cells in children with Hemoglobin SS. Despite having a higher number of angiogenic progenitor cells, children with Hemoglobin SS had slower migration of cultured mononuclear cells

“It was touching”: Experiences and views of students in the June 3 flood and fire disaster relief response volunteerism in Accra, Ghana

Evidence from Africa on the motivations and experiences of student volunteers in community disaster relief response programs are rare. This study explores the experiences and views of the students who volunteered at the emergency mental health relief response site after the June 3, 2015, flood and fire disaster in Accra, and the implications for future professional response work in Ghana. Thematic analysis of 15 qualitative in-depth interviews showed that, overall, the student volunteers were both self-oriented and other-oriented. The students viewed work at the emergency response site as a touching experience and a call of duty. The response work provided the students with practical pathways to linking their clinical and community learning experiences. This study recommends that, rather than an ad hoc response team, the Ghana Psychological Association should consider setting up a standing disaster relief response network to provide mental health relief and recovery response in community emergency situations in Ghana

Student nurses' experiences of discrimination and racism on work placements: What can higher education institutions do

Background There is persistent interpersonal, institutional and structural racism within the health sector and higher education. Such anti-Black and anti-Brown racisms are experienced by nursing students, nursing apprentices and fully qualified nurses. This discrimination intersects with other characteristics, namely gender and student status, which can make the nursing profession an unsafe environment for many. Objectives To understand student nurses' experiences of racism and intersecting oppressions, at university and on work placement. Design A qualitative descriptive study with individual interviews and focus groups. Settings A widening participation higher education institution in London, UK. Participants Twenty-four student nurses and nurse apprentices studying on an adult nursing programme. Methods Students were recruited through purposive sampling. In-depth data relating to student nurses' perspectives and experiences were gathered through two focus groups and three individual interviews conducted by student nurse peers. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and open coding was used to analyse transcripts using comparison and thematic analysis. Results Three key themes arose: safety and support in the university space; hierarchical treatment in work placements due to intersecting race and ‘student’ identities, and; direct racism by patients and staff in work placements. Conclusions Student nurses expressed their vulnerability to discrimination and racism whilst on placement in the National Health Service. More opportunities within university curricula are needed for student nurses to learn about, reflect on, and gain support for managing experiences of discrimination in the health system

Prevalence of self-harm among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender adolescents: a comparison of personal and social adversity with a heterosexual sample in Ghana

Objectives We sought to estimate the prevalence of self-reported self-harm among adolescents identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) in Ghana, and compare self-reported personal and social adversities related to self-harm in this group to those in a random sample of heterosexual adolescents from the same locality. Results A total of 444 adolescents aged 13-21 years, comprising 74 LGBT adolescents and 370 heterosexual adolescents, provided data. The lifetime prevalence estimate of self-harm was higher in the LGBT group (47%) than the heterosexual group (23%). The LGBT group reported a higher rate of self-harm during the previous 12 months (45%), compared to the heterosexual group (18%). LGBT adolescents reported more alcohol and substance use and more personal social adversities, including various forms of victimisation, than heterosexual adolescents. They were no more likely to report difficulty in making and keeping friends or schoolwork problems than were heterosexual adolescents

Review of post-process optical form metrology for industrial-grade metal additive manufactured parts

The scope of this review is to investigate the main post-process optical form measurement technologies available in industry today and to determine whether they are applicable to industrial-grade metal additive manufactured parts. An in-depth review of the operation of optical three-dimensional form measurement technologies applicable to metal additive manufacturing is presented, with a focus on their fundamental limitations. Looking into the future, some alternative candidate measurement technologies potentially applicable to metal additive manufacturing will be discussed, which either provide higher accuracy than currently available techniques but lack measurement volume, or inversely, which operate in the appropriate measurement volume but are not currently accurate enough to be used for industrial measurement

“We now have a patient and not a criminal” : An exploratory study of judges and lawyers’ views on suicide attempters and the law in Ghana

This study explored the views of judges and lawyers of the superior courts of Ghana on the law criminalizing attempted suicide. Qualitative data were collected from 12 experienced legal practitioners of the superior courts (five judges and seven lawyers) using a semi-structured interview schedule. Thematic analysis of the data yielded three main perspectives: In defence of the Law, Advocating a Repeal, and Pro-Health Orientation. Although exploratory, the findings of this study offer cues for stepping up suicide literacy and advocacy programmes toward either a repeal of the law or a reform

Adolescents at risk of self-harm in Ghana: a qualitative interview study exploring the views and experiences of key adult informants

Background In Ghana, rates of self-harm in young people are as high as they are in high income countries. Self-reported interpersonal, familial and societal stressors form the most important background, and self-harm is seen by young people as a way of responding to that stress. In the present study, we obtained the views of key adult informants about self-harm among adolescents in Ghana – what they thought as possible reasons for self-harm in young people and what actions might be needed at an individual or population level to respond to the problem. Methods We interviewed face-to-face 11 adults, using a semi-structured interview guide. We used an experiential thematic analysis technique to analyse the transcribed interviews. Results The analysis identified five themes: “underestimating the prevalence of self-harm in adolescents”, “life on the streets makes self-harm less likely”, “self-harm in adolescents is socially and psychologically understandable”, “ambivalence about responding to adolescent self-harm”, and “few immediate opportunities for self-harm prevention in Ghana”. Adolescent self-harm was acknowledged but its scale was underestimated. The participants offered explanations for adolescent self-harm in social and psychological terms that are recognisable from accounts in high income countries. Low rates among street-connected young people were explained by their overarching orientation for survival. Participants agreed that identification was important, but they expressed a sense of inadequacy in identifying and supporting adolescents at risk of self-harm. Again, the participants agreed that self-harm in adolescents should be prevented, but they recognised that relevant policies were not in place or if there were policies they were not implemented – mental health and self-harm were not high on public or political priorities. Conclusions The adults we interviewed about young people who self-harm see themselves as having a role in identifying adolescents at risk of self-harm and see the organisations in which they work as having a role in responding to individual young people in need. These are encouraging findings that point to at least one strand of a policy in Ghana for addressing the problem of self-harm in young people