Pre-Registration Students Reactions To Simulation As An Education Approach Within An Operating Department Practitioner Curriculum – A Qualitative Review

Background The Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) is a key member of the perioperative multidisciplinary health care team in the United Kingdom. To effectively prepare students for this challenging role, simulated learning and assessment is increasingly being built into the ODP curriculum. Owing to a paucity of evidence, a pilot study was undertaken to explore ODP students' experiences and emotional responses to simulation teaching and assessment strategies. Methods A phenomenological qualitative approach using a semistructured focus-group interview, using a purposive sample (n = 5) of ODP students, was conducted and followed up by a questionnaire. Analysis was informed by Braun and Clarke's thematic approach. Results Key findings identified included: emotional responses, learning styles, authenticity, and assessment preparation. Conclusion ODP students responded positively to simulated learning strategies with emphasis to increase the frequency and their exposure to normalize simulated assessment. It is essential, however, to ensure simulation has clinical relevance and authenticity

Intraosseous vascular access in critically ill adults-a review of the literature

Aim & objectives. This literature review aim is to present a detailed investigation critiquing contemporary practices of intraosseous vascular access in adult patients. Specific objectives identified led to the exploration of clinical contexts, IO device/s and anatomical sites; education and training requirements; implications and recommendations for emergency healthcare practice and any requirements for further research. Background. The intraosseous route is an established method of obtaining vascular access in children in acute and emergency situations and is now increasingly being used in adults as an alternative to intravenous access, yet a paucity of evidence exists regarding its use, effectiveness and implementation. Search strategies. An exploratory literature review was undertaken in acknowledgement of the broad and complex nature of the project aim. Five electronic search engines were examined iteratively from June 2013 to February 2014. The search terms were ‘intraosseous’ AND ‘adult’ which were purposely limited due to the exploratory nature of the review. Studies that met the inclusion criteria of primary research articles with adult focus, paediatric lead research were excluded. Primary research international also included. Secondary research, reviews, case reports, editorials and opinion papers were excluded. Conclusion. Intraosseous vascular access is considered an alternative vascular access route although debate considering the preferred anatomical site is ongoing. Documented practices are only established in pre-hospital and specialist Emergency Department settings, however variety exists in policy and actual practice. Achieving insertion competence is relatively uncomplicated following minimal preparation although ongoing skill maintenance is less clear. Intraosseous vascular access is associated with minimal complications although pain is a significant issue for the conscious patient especially during fluid administration. Relevance to clinical practice. The intraosseous route is clearly a valuable alternative to problematic intravascular access. However further research, including cost effectiveness reviews, is required to gain clarity of whole acute care approaches

Burnout in frontline ambulance staff

Background: Staff retention is a significant issue for ambulance services across the globe. Exploratory research, although minimal, indicates that stress and burnout, in particular, influence attrition within the paramedic profession. These need to be understood if their impact on retention is to be addressed. Aims: To determine the presence of and contributory factors for burnout in the ambulance service to inform recommendations for positive change. Methods: A two-phased survey approach was adopted using an adapted Maslach Burnout Inventory and Copenhagen self-assessment burnout questionnaire, to measure levels of burnout, depersonalisation (cynicism) and personal achievement. Open-ended questions explored factors that influenced these. Demographic and comparative analysis identified trends and thematic analysis was carried out on the qualitative data. Results: Ninety-four per cent of ambulance staff in this study (n=382) reported a sense of personal achievement within their professional role; however, more than 50% were experiencing varying levels of burnout with 87% displaying moderate or high levels of depersonalisation towards their work. Causes of stress were complex: themes attributed were a perceived lack of management support, the public's misuse of the ambulance service, involuntary overtime and a poor work-life balance. Conclusions: Burnout poses a genuine threat to retention in the ambulance service and needs addressing. Proactive screening, better communication between practice staff and management and access to counselling services are recommended. This problem of burnout is beginning to be acknowledged but further evidence is needed to understand it in more depth in order for effective solutions to be developed. Abstract published with permissio

Student nurses' experience of simulation in preparation for practice

At the University of Huddersfield the acquisition of skills and underpinning knowledge through simulation has been firmly embedded into the pre-registration nursing curriculum. This workshop will provide a summary of a pilot project on student evaluation, and the outcomes from a phenomenological study involving final year nursing students’ experiences of simulation throughout the curriculum. Simulation took several differing approaches in order to maximize learning opportunities and provide innovative assessment strategie

Developing a Culture of Publication: a joint enterprise writing retreat

Purpose: Many students irrespective of level of study produce excellent course work which, if given support and encouragement could clearly be of a publishable standard. Academic staff are expected to produce quality publications meeting peer review standards although they may be relatively novice authors. All are engaged in some aspects of academic writing practices but not as frequently involved in co-production of publications emanating from student work. This activity is still at the margins of much of the student experience. Design/methodology: Mindful of these issues, we designed and offered a writing programme including a writing retreat. This brought together undergraduate and postgraduate students from a range of applied disciplines (health and art, design and architecture) and their supervisors with the aim of co-producing publications and participating in a community of scholarly practice. The project was delivered over nine months. It involved four days ‘compulsory’ attendance and included a preparatory workshop, a two day off campus writing retreat and a dissemination event. Student and supervisors applied to participate as a team. Kirkpatrick’s (2006) four-stage classic model: reaction, learning, changes in behaviour and real world results was used as a framework for the educational evaluation. Key findings organised thematically were: Supervisor-supervisee relationships; space and time; building confidence enabling successful writing and publication. Originality/Value: This paper will provide an overview of the design, content and approaches used for successful delivery of this innovative project. It will draw on examples that illustrate the different types of joint enterprise that emerged, illuminate experiences of co-production and co-authorship along with recommendations for future ventures

IPS Infection Prevention Society Research Grant Final Report

Infection prevention and control (IPC) practice can help to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) and assist in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (Review on Antimicrobial Resistance, 2016). It is essential, therefore, that all healthcare staff, including healthcare students, have the knowledge and understanding of IPC practices. Research indicates that more traditional IPC training approaches, such as key lectures, do not always translate into good IPC practice (Ward, 2011). Healthcare professional students often learn clinical practice within a simulated environment, making learning more realistic through the use of scenario-based situations, role play and the use of manikins to practice care in low risk settings. In this instance, students tend to be more actively engaged in their learning. In theory, this increases the impact that learning has on clinical practice

International Nurses:Transitional Toolkit

National Health Service England has a rich history of recruiting nurses from international labour markets (Nichols and Campbell, 2010), with nearly one in five nurses currently working in NHS Trusts recruited from overseas (Palmer et al., 2021). The Long Term Workforce Plan indicates that we will continue with current levels of ethical international recruitment in the coming years before reducing its reliance in the medium term over time. The NHS has many attributes that attract international nurses including career advancement, superior pay, prospects on offer in the United Kingdom (UK) and opportunities for continuing professional development (Palmer et al., 2021).The contribution that our overseas colleagues make to the health and care sector should be celebrated and each individual recognised for the wide range of cultures and expertise that they bring to the UK. However, international recruitment is complex, with international nurses facing different opportunities and challenges in the process of joining and integrating into the nursing workforce depending on their experience and recruitment approach (Nichols and Campbell, 2010; Davda et al., 2018; Bond et al., 2020; Pressley et al., 2022). International nurses are recruited from across the globe from many different countries, all with their unique healthcare systems and rich cultural backgrounds. As numbers ofinternational nurses rise, it is imperative to understand the broad range of factors that impact the retention of this increasingly crucial workforce including their backgrounds and previous experiences.The team at the University of Huddersfield embarked on a portfolio of research aiming to understand factors influencing recruitment and retention of international nurse

Changing Operating Lists on the Day of Surgery - a Service Evaluation

This study aims to explore how often the operating list is changed on the day of surgery, and the reasons why this may occur. The purpose being to analyse the wider potential impact of changing the list on the day of surgery has on patient safety, patient satisfaction and theatre efficiency. Survey data was collected across a multi-specialty elective operating department. The findings demonstrated a significant (P <0.001) change in operating lists occurred in 37.3% of sessions with a variety of potentially avoidable reasons. We concluded that improved organisation and communication before the planned session could reduce the occurrence of changes, increasing patient safety, theatre efficiency and potentially reducing incidents

Internationally educated nurses experience of the first two years working and living in England: a mixed methods study

The recruitment of international nurses in England is increasing to fill nursing vacancies and meet the rising demands of healthcare. Progressing recruitment to the oversight of the retention of England’s nursing workforce is a transactional and brittle ineffective plan for both individual international nurses and healthcare systems alike. Migrating to live and work thousands of kilometres away from home, often imposing separation from partners and families, for an undetermined period of time is a significant decision for an international nurse to take (Bond, 2022). Despite the large numbers of international nurses migrating to live and work in England in recent years, there are no studies published that explore their lived experiences during the initial few years’ post migration (Dahl et al., 2022; Palmer et al. 2021). This study therefore builds on the global knowledge of international nurses’ motivations for migration and explores their experiences in the first two years postmigration in England with the intention of laying a foundation of new knowledge in this currently under-investigated phenomenon (Pressley et al., 2022; Buchan et al., 2022)