The Techno-Numerate Nurse: Results of a Study Exploring Nursing Student and Nurse Perceptions of Workplace Mathematics and Technology Demands

In this paper, we report on the findings of a research study that sought to answer the following questions: (i) How do current nursing students’ perceptions compare with those of actual working nurses regarding the mathematics and technology demands involved in nursing?; and, (ii) What types of course structures, content, pedagogy, or other recommendations could more effectively prepare nurses for the realities of the workplace in light of mathematics and technology demands? The study involved online open-response questions and semi-structured interviews. Seventy-six participants, including both 4th-year nursing students (n = 8) and working nurses (n = 68), completed the online component. Three of the practicing nurses, each working in very different healthcare contexts (mental health, neo-natal intensive care, acute care), volunteered to take part in subsequent in-depth interviews to share further insights. No statistically significant differences were found between nursing students’ and working nurses’ perceptions of mathematics and technology preparation for nursing within their undergraduate experiences. Based on the analysis of open-response item data and interview transcripts, we discuss the following emergent themes: math skills required for practice; math admission requirements; math-related course offerings and instructional strategies; technology skills required for practice; technology addressed in nursing programs; and, issues surrounding evidence-based practice and Internet access. The paper concludes with a list of seven recommendations for nurse education programs, as well as suggested directions for future research. _ Résumé Dans cet article, nous rapportons les résultats d\u27une recherche menée pour répondre aux questions suivantes : (i) quelle est la différence entre la perception des étudiantes en sciences infirmières et celle des infirmières sur le marché du travail concernant les exigences liées aux mathématiques et à la technologie dans le domaine des sciences infirmières? (ii) Quels types de structures de cours, de contenu, de méthodes pédagogiques ou quelles autres recommandations permettraient de mieux préparer les infirmières aux réalités du milieu du travail à la lumière des exigences liées aux mathématiques et à la technologie? La recherche a été réalisée à l\u27aide d\u27entrevues semi-structurées et de questions à réponses ouvertes accessibles en ligne. Soixante-seize participantes, dont des étudiantes de 4e année en sciences infirmières (n=8) et des infirmières en milieu de travail (n=68) ont répondu aux questions en ligne. Trois des infirmières en milieu de travail, toutes travaillant dans des contextes de soins de santé très différents (santé mentale, soins intensifs en néonatalogie, soins aigus), ont accepté de participer aux entrevues en profondeur pour partager davantage sur le sujet. Aucune différence statistiquement significative n\u27a été observée entre les perceptions des étudiantes en sciences infirmières et des infirmières en milieu de travail relativement à la préparation dans les domaines des mathématiques et des technologies pour les sciences infirmières dans le cadre de leurs études de premier cycle. D\u27après l\u27analyse des données issues des questions à réponses ouvertes et des transcriptions d\u27entrevues, nous discutons des thèmes émergents suivants : habiletés en mathématiques requises pour la pratique; exigences d\u27admission en mathématiques; offre de cours et stratégies d\u27enseignement touchant les mathématiques; habiletés en technologie requises pour la pratique; technologie abordée dans les programmes de sciences infirmières; et les questions concernant la pratique fondée sur des résultats probants et l\u27accès à Internet. Cet article se conclut par une liste de sept recommandations pour les programmes de formation en sciences infirmières, ainsi que par un ensemble d\u27orientations proposées pour les recherches futures

On the track for an efficient detection of Escherichia coli in water : A review on PCR-based methods

Ensuring water safety is an ongoing challenge to public health providers. Assessing the presence of fecal contamination indicators in water is essential to protect public health from diseases caused by waterborne pathogens. For this purpose, the bacteria Escherichia coli has been used as the most reliable indicator of fecal contamination in water. The methods currently in use for monitoring the microbiological safety of water are based on culturing the microorganisms. However, these methods are not the desirable solution to prevent outbreaks as they provide the results with a considerable delay, lacking on specificity and sensitivity. Moreover, viable but non-culturable microorganisms, which may be present as a result of environmental stress or water treatment processes, are not detected by culture-based methods and, thus, may result in false-negative assessments of E. coli in water samples. These limitations may place public health at significant risk, leading to substantial monetary losses in health care and, additionally, in costs related with a reduced productivity in the area affected by the outbreak, and in costs supported by the water quality control departments involved. Molecular methods, particularly polymerase chain reaction-based methods, have been studied as an alternative technology to overcome the current limitations, as they offer the possibility to reduce the assay time, to improve the detection sensitivity and specificity, and to identify multiple targets and pathogens, including new or emerging strains. The variety of techniques and applications available for PCR-based methods has increased considerably and the costs involved have been substantially reduced, which together have contributed to the potential standardization of these techniques. However, they still require further refinement in order to be standardized and applied to the variety of environmental waters and their specific characteristics. The PCR-based methods under development for monitoring the presence of E. coli in water are here discussed. Special emphasis is given to methodologies that avoid pre-enrichment during the water sample preparation process so that the assay time is reduced and the required legislated sensitivity is achieved. The advantages and limitations of these methods are also reviewed, contributing to a more comprehensive overview toward a more conscious research in identifying E. coli in water.Diana Mendes (SFRH/BDE/33752/2009) was recipient of a fellowship from the Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) and Frilabo, Lda. The authors thank Tatiana Aguiar (Centre of Biological Engineering) for English proofreading, the financial support from the Project "Desenvolvimento de um kit de detecao e quantificacao de E. coli e bacterias coliformes em aguas", Ref. 2009/5787, Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2 - O Novo Norte), QREN, FEDER, the FCT Strategic Project PEst-OE/EQB/LA0023/2013 and the Project "Biolnd-Biotechnology and Bioengineering for improved Industrial and processes", REF. NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000028 Co-funded by the Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2 - O Novo Norte), QREN, FEDER

Variability in bacteria and virus-like particle abundances during purging of unconfined aquifers

Standard methodologies for sampling the physicochemical conditions of groundwater recommend purging a bore for three bore volumes to avoid sampling the stagnant water within a bore and instead gain samples representative of the aquifer. However, there are currently no methodological standards addressing the amount of purging required to gain representative biological samples to assess groundwater bacterial and viral abundances. The objective of this study was to examine how bacterial and viral abundances change during the purging of bore volumes. Six bores infiltrating into unconfined aquifers were pumped for five or six bore volumes each and bacteria and virus-like particles (VLPs) were enumerated from each bore volume using flow cytometry. In examination of the individual bores trends in bacterial abundances were observed to increase, decrease, or remain constant with each purged bore volume. Furthermore, triplicates taken at each bore volume indicated substantial variations in VLP and bacterial abundances that are often larger than the differences between bore volumes. This indicates a high level of small scale heterogeneity in microbial community abundance in groundwater samples, and we suggest that this may be an intrinsic feature of bore biology. The heterogeneity observed may be driven by bottom up processes (variability in the distribution of organic and inorganic nutrients), top-down processes (grazing and viral lysis), physical heterogeneities in the bore, or technical artifacts associated with the purging process. We suggest that a more detailed understanding of the ecology underpinning this variability is required to adequately describe the microbiological characteristics of groundwater ecosystems. © 2013, National Ground Water Association