Clinical psychologists' beliefs about the purpose of their profession in relation to the wider mental health system: a case study of views on new powers of compulsion

Despite the profession’s putative reflexivity, little theoretical or empirical literature addresses British clinical psychologists’ beliefs about the nature of their profession and its relationship with the wider mental health system. This study examined attitudes towards one new development – the adoption of compulsory powers – in order to discover the implicit beliefs that clinical psychologists draw upon in practice. Written comments from 292 clinical psychologists responding to an earlier questionnaire survey were analysed using Grounded Theory, together with data from a focus group. Two contrasting constellations of belief emerged. Some clinical psychologists appeared to believe in the profession’s ability to transform services from the inside by opportunistically accreting power. Others appeared to believe in a need to defend the profession against assimilation, by maintaining separate spaces for more collaborative relationships. These overarching beliefs were associated with different beliefs about specific issues, namely professional identity, its compatibility or otherwise with coercion, where power is located and what drives organisational change. These findings suggest a need for greater professional self-examination. They are considered with reference to organisational, sociological and psychological literature. Limitations and areas for further research are discussed

Roles and responsibilities of the student nurse mentor: an update.

Facilitating the learning of student nurses in the workplace is an integral role of the registered nurse. This article aims to provide an overview of the role and responsibilities of the mentor in supporting pre-registration nursing students in clinical practice. The professional obligations for the mentor to meet the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) standards (NMC, 2008a) will be explored, including the ongoing requirements to keep up to date in mentoring practices. Some of the challenges within the role will be identified, including the importance of recognizing and supporting the failing student. Recent changes to the preparation requirements for sign-off mentors will be discussed. The article concludes by presenting the potential benefits to both the individual and the practice placement provider

Acondicionar edificios para alojar a los refugiados: el Tempelhof de Berlín

A medida que las ciudades europeas siguen seleccionando edificios que ya existen para utilizarlos como alojamiento para refugiados, se hacen evidentes los retos que las idiosincrasias espaciales de estas estructuras presentan para las autoridades que seleccionan los emplazamientos y para quienes deben residir en ellos

Accessibility, Acceptance, and Equity: Examining Disability-Linked Health Disparities as Nursing and Communication Scholars

People with disabilities (PWD) experience health disparities, often related to contextual factors beyond the physical differences in body structure and function. The purpose of this article was to develop a research agenda for nursing and communication scholars that explores how developing accessible and empowering communication environments in healthcare contexts might mitigate disability-linked health disparities. We focused on two broad research objectives: developing both accessible communication environments and empowering communication environments in healthcare settings. Elements proposed as comprising accessible communication environments were: making health literacy accessible, addressing complex communication needs, and communicating the embodied experience of disability. Empowering communication environments were explored in light of various models of disability and their resultant effects on stigma and on promoting empowerment or disempowerment. Finally, an agenda for future research was proposed that considers: barriers to developing accessible communication environments, how communicative patterns in the patient-provider encounter create (dis)empowering communication environments, the ways in which providers draw upon models of disability in their actions with PWD, and the role that providers can play as allies for PWD

The Threat of Returning to “Normal”: Resisting Ableism in the Post-COVID Classroom

The abrupt switch to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted pervasive ableism; accommodations that had been “impossible” were suddenly available. This critical commentary draws from interviews with 16 students and our own ethnographic accounts as student/professor to understand how COVID shaped disabled experiences in the classroom. As a student with a disability, Elizabeth was hyperaware of her vulnerability to illness, but also experienced herself as less impaired online. She could control her learning environment to minimize sensory and mobility challenges. Additionally, professors’ flexible policies helped her to manage energy, time, and symptoms. However, Elizabeth and her peers feared an uncritical return to “normal.” As we witness students’ struggles for inclusion, how might professors resist returning to rigid, ableist practices

Making mentoring work: The need for rewiring epistemology

To help produce expert coaches at both participation and performance levels, a number of governing bodies have established coach mentoring systems. In light of the limited literature on coach mentoring, as well as the risks of superficial treatment by coach education systems, this paper therefore critically discusses the role of the mentor in coach development, the nature of the mentor-mentee relationship and, most specifically, how expertise in the mentee may best be developed. If mentors are to be effective in developing expert coaches then we consequently argue that a focus on personal epistemology is required. On this basis, we present a framework that conceptualizes mentee development on this level through a step by step progression, rather than unrealistic and unachievable leap toward expertise. Finally, we consider the resulting implications for practice and research with respect to one-on-one mentoring, communities of practice, and formal coach education

From traditional to modern: easing students transition to problem-based learning.

Letter to the Edito

Prolonged low flow reduces reactive hyperemia and augments low flow mediated constriction in the brachial artery independent of the menstrual cycle

© 2013 Rakobowchuk et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.Non-invasive forearm ischemia-reperfusion injury and low flow induced vascular dysfunction models provide methods to evaluate vascular function. The role of oestrogen, an endogenous anti-oxidant on recovery from ischemia-reperfusion injury has not been evaluated nor has the impact of prolonged low flow on vascular function been established. Eight healthy women (33610 yr) attended the lab during the follicular, ovulatory and mid-luteal phases of their menstrual cycles. After 30 minutes of rest, brachial artery vascular function was assessed by ultrasound measurements of diameter changes during 5 minutes of forearm ischemia and 3 minutes after. Subsequently, a 20-minute forearm ischemia period was completed. Further, vascular function assessments were completed 15, 30 and 45 minutes into recovery. Flow-mediated dilation, lowflow-mediated constriction, and reactive hyperaemia proximal to the area of ischemia were determined. Flow-mediated dilation was reduced at 15 minutes of recovery but recovered at 30 and 45 minutes (PRE: 7.161.0%, POST15:4.560.6%, POST30:5. 560.7% POST45:5.960.4%, p,0.01). Conversely, low-flow mediated constriction increased (PRE: 21.360.4%, POST15: 23.360.6%, POST30: 22.560.5% POST45: 21.560.12%, p,0.01). Reactive hyperaemia was reduced throughout recovery (p,0.05). Data were unaffected by menstrual phase. Prolonged low flow altered vascular function and may relate as much to increased vasoconstriction as with decreased vasodilation. Reductions in anterograde shear and greater retrograde shear likely modulate the brachial artery response, but the reduced total shear also plays an important role. The data suggest substantial alterations in vascular function proximal to areas of ischemia with potential clinical implications following reperfusion.British Heart Foundation (PG/08/060/25340),a Physiological Society summer studentship to SG, and a Wellcome Trust Vacation Studentship to EP