'Ageing well': Discursive constructions of ageing and health in the public reach of a national longitudinal study on ageing

Established in 2006, the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) investigates the health, economic and social circumstances of a nationally-representative sample of people aged fifty years and older in a series of biennial data collection waves. Irish newspapers have been reporting the results of TILDA for over a decade and a half, and their texts represent reports of scientific research distilled through the pen of journalists. In their totality, their texts constitute a public discourse on ageing and health. Using critical discourse analysis, we examined the discourse within the texts of a purposive sample of two national daily newspapers. As sites of public discourse, newspapers reflect social life and are influential in forming and legitimating public attitudes. Like other sites of discourse, their language-in-use is contextually located, is rarely neutral and may employ strategies to discursively construct, sustain and privilege particular social identities, including ageing identities. Discursively constructed as 'ageing well', our analysis of newspaper texts revealed a discernible meta-discourse on ageing and health in which ageing was framed as a life course stage that may be cultivated, diligently self-nurtured and exploited for its positive aspects. When considered in light of literature on health and social inequalities, the consequences of this broadly positive ageing discourse can, somewhat perversely, frame older adults in unintended negative ways, including homogenising them and attributing to them capacities for ageing well that they may not possess. Discursively constructing older adults as a social and economic resource can also impose unrealistic expectations on them and may legitimise exploitation and demonstrate how normative ideologies of ageism and ableism are conveyed through legitimising language. Despite these potentially unintended consequences, the available media resources associated with TILDA may represent one of the most important contributions of the study, in terms of informing positive public attitudes towards ageing.

The relationship between resilience, moral sensitivity, and cultural competence among nurses

This study aimed to examine the relationships between resilience, moral sensitivity, and cultural competence among nurses. A descriptive correlational design was employed. The study comprises 120 nurses. The resilience total scores and most of its domain scores were significantly and positively associated with the cultural competency total and domain scores. Additionally, the resilience total scores and some of its domain scores were significantly in relation to the moral sensitivity total and domain scores. Resilience total and domain scores were significantly and positively related to the moral sensitivity total and domain scores. The emergent correlations underscore the role that resilience plays in nurses' moral sensitivity and cultural competence. The emergent correlations underscore the role that resilience plays in nurses' moral sensitivity and cultural competence. The present findings suggest that nurse managers should develop delivery models that nurture resilience in nurses.

Uncovering degrees of workplace bullying: A comparison of baccalaureate nursing students' experiences during clinical placement in Australia and the UK

Bullying in health workplaces has a negative impact on nurses, their families, multidisciplinary teams, patient care and the profession. This paper compares the experiences of Australian and UK baccalaureate nursing students in relation to bullying and harassment during clinical placement. A secondary analysis was conducted on two primary cross-sectional studies of bullying experiences of Australian and UK nursing students. Data were collected using the Student Experience of Bullying during Clinical Placement (SEBDCP) questionnaire and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The total sample was 833 Australian and 561 UK students. Australian nursing students experienced a higher rate of bullying (50.1%) than UK students (35.5%). Students identified other nurses as the main perpetrators (Aust 53%, UK 68%), although patients were the main source of physical acts of bullying. Few bullied students chose to report the episode/s. The main reason for non-reporting was fear of being victimised. Sadly, some students felt bullying and harassment was 'part of the job'. A culture of bullying in nursing persists internationally. Nursing students are vulnerable and can question their future in the 'caring' profession of nursing after experiencing and/or witnessing bullying during clinical placement. Bullying requires a zero tolerance approach. Education providers must develop clearer policies and implement procedures to protect students - the future nursing workforce.

Promoting positive perceptions and person centred care toward people with mental health problems using co-design with nursing students

BACKGROUND

People experiencing severe mental health problems often feel excluded from society due to stigmatization and prejudice. They typically experience negativity and lack life opportunities, which can be reinforced by the attitudes of those around them. Health care professionals, especially nurses, have the opportunity to challenge negative perceptions through role-modelling hope and positive expectation, breaking down barriers to participation and challenging discrimination. However, student nurses can enter the profession with attitudes similar to those of wider society and unless addressed can foster life-limiting approaches toward those for whom they are providing care.

AIM

This study aimed to design a person-centred education approach in response to an evaluation of the attitudes of nursing students in Turkey toward people with mental health problems.

METHOD

A qualitative design adopting descriptive phenomenology. Data were collected from 12 undergraduate nursing students by using in-depth semi-structured interviews. Data were transcribed and themes identified which were used to co-design a person-centred education approach.

RESULTS

Three themes emerged from the data; (1) meanings attributed to mental illness, (2) moving from fear to understanding, (3) promoting hope and positive change Students typically demonstrated perceptions/attitudes that could be inhibiting to future practice.

CONCLUSIONS

The pedagogy employed in this study moved away from a focus on signs and symptoms of illness to person-centred approaches. More positive perceptions of mental health can be developed through codesigned, person-centred educational approaches.

Workplace violence experienced by nursing students: A UK survey

AIMS

To appreciate the nature and scope of workplace violence amongst a sample of the UK nursing student population during clinical placement and to recommend strategies universities can implement to successfully manage the impact.

BACKGROUND

Workplace violence is defined as a violent act(s) directed toward workers and can include physical, psychological or verbal behaviour. It is prevalent in nursing and causes victims work-based stress that can affect not only the individual but also the quality of care. Similar negative experiences amongst students can have a direct impact on the development of future professional skills.

DESIGN

This study employed a cross-sectional survey design. Questions were uploaded in the format of a commercial internet survey provider (SurveyMonkey.com) and distributed across a sample of nursing schools in the UK. The survey was voluntary and employed a validated tool to assess workplace violence and was based on a similar study in Australia. The number of respondents was 657. This paper reports on the quantitative results.

FINDINGS

Nearly half of the students (42.18%) indicated they had experienced bullying/harassment in the past year while on clinical placement. One-third (30.4%) had witnessed bullying/harassment of other students and 19.6% of incidents involved a qualified nurse. The unwanted behaviours made some students consider leaving nursing (19.8%). Some respondents said the standard of patient care (12.3%) and their work with others (25.9%) were negatively affected.

CONCLUSIONS

Workplace violence can influence nursing students' attitude toward the profession and their level of satisfaction with the work. Whilst it was reassuring to note that the majority of the participants knew where/how to report, only one fifth had actively reported an episode of bullying/harassment. Current students are the nurses and leaders of the future and have a key role in shaping the culture of generations to come. Universities and clinical providers need to work together to reduce the incidence and impact of workplace violence in order to improve the culture of practice.

Approaches of intensive care nurses towards sensory requirements of patients

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to identify the approaches used by nurses to address the sensory requirements of patients to respond to the concerns and needs in this area.

BACKGROUND

Preventing sensory problems is very important for intensive care nurses as these problems may cause various additional health problems in intensive care patients; however, no study has evaluated the approaches used by nurses in this respect.

DESIGN

The study was conducted as a descriptive study in all internal medicine intensive care units at hospitals located within the borders of the metropolitan municipality in the capital city of Turkey.

METHOD

Data were collected using case forms that were developed through expert opinions to identify the approaches of nurses for the sensory requirements of patients. The study was conducted with 95 nurses who agreed to be involved in the study of the 107 internal medicine intensive care nurses in the research population.

RESULTS

Most of the nurses (86.3%) who took part in this study indicated that intensive care patients had sensory requirements, but 80% clarified that their priority was to maintain life support and to meet their physiological needs. Almost all of the nurses were able to accurately identify the specific sensory problems of the six different ones in cases that were assigned to them. However, this ratio decreased when identifying the proper approach for the given sensory requirement.

CONCLUSIONS

Nurses were able to identify sensory requirements of patients, but they do need support in deciding the appropriate management approach. This study may fill the gap in the literature regarding the approaches of nurses towards sensory requirements and to provide contribution for future research.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

To help intensive care patients with sensory problems, nurses should routinely assess patients' psychology and should do appropriate interventions.