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Assessing numeracy and medication calculations within undergraduate nursing education : a qualitative study
No full textAim: To explore how undergraduate nursing students are assessed on nursing numeracy and medication calculations from the perspective of Australian nurse education leaders. Design: A qualitative study. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 nurse education leaders between November 2022 and January 2023. Braun and Clarke's six phases of thematic analysis were used to analyse the data. Results: Five key themes were identified: (i) high expectations to keep the public safe, (ii) diverse assessment formats, (iii) different ways of managing assessment integrity, (iv) assessment conditions incongruent to the clinical setting and (v) supporting struggling students. Conclusion: Nurse education leaders set high standards requiring students to achieve 100% in numeracy and medication calculation assessments, thus maintaining the reputation of nursing and patient safety. However, students struggled to meet this expectation. Diverse assessment formats were implemented, with some examination conditions contrary to clinical practice. Currently, there is no benchmark or in- dependent point of registration examination in Australia, hence the problem is each university had a different standard to judge students' competence. Gaining insight into how these assessments are conducted provides an opportunity to work towards an evidence-based model or benchmark for the assessment of numeracy. Implications for the Profession: Dosage errors in clinical practice threaten patient safety and the reputation of the nursing profession. The accuracy rate of calculations by undergraduate and registered nurses is deficient worldwide. This research highlights a major educational issue, that being the wide variation in how numeracy assessments are conducted with no clear pedagogical rationale for a standardised method. Such assessments would establish a national standard, contributing to quality assurance, the development of the nursing profession and improve patient safety
Adding 6 months of androgen deprivation therapy to postoperative radiotherapy for prostate cancer : a comparison of short-course versus no androgen deprivation therapy in the RADICALS-HD randomised controlled trial
No full textBackground Previous evidence indicates that adjuvant, short-course androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) improves metastasis-free survival when given with primary radiotherapy for intermediate-risk and high-risk localised prostate cancer. However, the value of ADT with postoperative radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy is unclear. Methods RADICALS-HD was an international randomised controlled trial to test the efficacy of ADT used in combination with postoperative radiotherapy for prostate cancer. Key eligibility criteria were indication for radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer, prostate-specific antigen less than 5 ng/mL, absence of metastatic disease, and written consent. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to radiotherapy alone (no ADT) or radiotherapy with 6 months of ADT (short-course ADT), using monthly subcutaneous gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue injections, daily oral bicalutamide monotherapy 150 mg, or monthly subcutaneous degarelix. Randomisation was done centrally through minimisation with a random element, stratified by Gleason score, positive margins, radiotherapy timing, planned radiotherapy schedule, and planned type of ADT, in a computerised system. The allocated treatment was not masked. The primary outcome measure was metastasis-free survival, defined as distant metastasis arising from prostate cancer or death from any cause. Standard survival analysis methods were used, accounting for randomisation stratification factors. The trial had 80% power with two-sided α of 5% to detect an absolute increase in 10-year metastasis- free survival from 80% to 86% (hazard ratio [HR] 0·67). Analyses followed the intention-to-treat principle. The trial is registered with the ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN40814031, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00541047. Findings Between Nov 22, 2007, and June 29, 2015, 1480 patients (median age 66 years [IQR 61–69]) were randomly assigned to receive no ADT (n=737) or short-course ADT (n=743) in addition to postoperative radiotherapy at 121 centres in Canada, Denmark, Ireland, and the UK. With a median follow-up of 9·0 years (IQR 7·1–10·1), metastasis-free survival events were reported for 268 participants (142 in the no ADT group and 126 in the short- course ADT group; HR 0·886 [95% CI 0·688–1·140], p=0·35). 10-year metastasis-free survival was 79·2% (95% CI 75·4–82·5) in the no ADT group and 80·4% (76·6–83·6) in the short-course ADT group. Toxicity of grade 3 or higher was reported for 121 (17%) of 737 participants in the no ADT group and 100 (14%) of 743 in the short-course ADT group (p=0·15), with no treatment-related deaths. Interpretation Metastatic disease is uncommon following postoperative bed radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy. Adding 6 months of ADT to this radiotherapy did not improve metastasis-free survival compared with no ADT. These findings do not support the use of short-course ADT with postoperative radiotherapy in this patient population
Nutritional composition of plants and preliminary assessment of nutrition in free-ranging bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus)
No full textNutrition is essential for not only survival but also successful growth and reproduction. Dietary demands are increased in a diseased state due to the increased energy and nutritional requirements associated with immune response, inflammation and convalescence. The herbivorous bare- nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) is notably susceptible to sarcoptic mange, a disease caused by the mite, Sarcoptes scabiei, which causes debilitating pruritic skin disease and leads to secondary bacterial infections and increased wombat morbidity and mortality, as well as regionally variable population declines. It is unknown why wombats are so susceptible to sarcoptic mange and if nutrition may play a role in disease expression, particularly relating to seasonality. The objective of this study was to quantify the differences in the nutritive value, over four seasons, of plants (mostly grasses and sedges) that are available as food items for bare-nosed wombats. We collected plants over four seasons from five wombat habitats that were known to have wombats affected by sarcoptic mange. We found seasonal and site differences for macro and micronutrients in the plants analysed. Monitoring the diet quality of wombats in the wild is useful for managing their populations and understanding population dynamics in relation to food resource quality
Investigating the multidrifting behaviour of subpulses in PSR J2007 + 0910 with the FAST
No full textThe multidrifting subpulse behaviours in PSR J2007 + 0910 have been studied carefully with the high sensitivity observations of the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) at 1250 MHz. We found that there are at least six different single emission modes in PSR J2007 + 0910 are observed, four of which show significant subpulse drifting behaviours (modes A, B, C, and D), and the remaining two (modes E1 and E2) show stationary subpulse structures. The subpulse drifting periods of modes A, B, C, and D are P3,A = 8.7 ± 1.6P, P3,B = 15.8 ± 1.2P, P3,C = 21.6 ± 1.3P, and P3,D = 32.3 ± 0.9P, respectively, where P represents the pulse period of this pulsar. The subpulse separation is almost the same for all modes P2 = 6.01 ± 0.18°. Deep analysis suggests that the appearance and significant changes in the drifting period of multidrifting subpulse emission modes for a pulsar may originate from the aliasing effect. The observed non-drifting modes may be caused by the spark point move with a period ∼P2. Our statistical analysis shows that the drift mode of this pulsar almost always switches from slower to faster drifts in the mode change. The interesting subpulse emission phenomenon of PSR J2007 + 0910 provides a unique opportunity to understand the switching mechanism of multidrift mode
Religion and post-secular SDGs
No full textThis article discusses theories of post-secularism, which is emerging in affinity with neoliberalism, and the participation of religions in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study used qualitative research methods with textual analysis approaches. The article argues that the current involvement of religion in achieving the SDGs is a result of religion's return as a recognised actor in the public sphere, as reflected in theories of post-secularism. Religion alone is not capable of achieving all the SDGs, but these SDGs will not be fully achieved without religion either. Indeed, religion is relevant to the SDGs (Schliesser 2023). While there are clear links between different theologies, such as Catholic (Cichos et al 2021) and Muslim (Khan and Haneef 2022), with the SDGs, there are also some points of contention
Adrift down under : an integrative review of international students' experiences in Australian higher education including shaping factors
No full textAustralia is currently one of the leading destination countries for International Students (IS), ranking third in popularity as a study destination. There is sparse research into the experience of IS including the factors influencing their experience within the Australian higher education system. This integrative review aims to synthesize knowledge on the IS’ experience in Australian higher education, including the factors influencing their experience. The review included 15 qualitative studies, three quantitative studies, three mixed methods studies and two literature reviews. IS perceived their study experience in Australia as challenging. They reported English unproficiency, poor academic performance, lack of academic support, low-quality courses, and work-study imbalance as factors that lead to insufficient learning engagement. IS reported difficulties in adjusting to the culture due to language barrier, negative emotions, and stronger acculturation orientation toward their heritage culture. IS reported the difficulties in establishing rapport with both domestic students, university teachers, and obstacles in building meaningful relationships within the local community as factors hindering the development of rapport with these entities. Despite encountering the challenges, IS have recognised the imperative of seeking avenues to foster connections with their fellow peers, their teachers, and the broader Australian community. They noted that their proactive efforts to connect with others, participation in work integrated learning, engagement in extracurricular activities, and prolonged residency in Australia were influential factors that facilitated opportunities for connectedness. These findings emphasise the significance of fostering networks between international students, domestic peers, university educators, and the Australian community. Such networks facilitate cultural understanding, elevate academic achievements, and contribute to the holistic well-being of students. The findings offer valuable assistance in equipping stakeholders and higher educational institutions with essential insights to effectively support IS and address their needs comprehensively. These insights are significant for global education providers aiming to support IS and cultivate a positive study environment. Further research should explore the experiences of international nursing, medical, and healthcare students, considering their involvement with patients and the healthcare team in the Australian system, potentially influencing their experience
Operations of platforms : a global process in a multipolar world
No full textThe outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has engendered a crisis of mobility whose multiple dimensions have affected the movement of people and “stuff,” border regimes and logistical supply chains, the daily life of people in many parts of the world and the organization of labor. In such a conjuncture, digital platforms have emerged as key devices to manage the crisis, in such diverse fields as communication, food delivery, and e-commerce. The booming profits and stock exchange value of companies operating in such fields have been defining features of the economic implications of the pandemic conjuncture, while platforms have become increasingly visible in public discourse. Accordingly, digital platforms have come to figure prominently among those “systems underpinning social and economic life” whose maintenance and reproduction played a key role in defining “essential labor” during lockdowns in different parts of the world. The connection between platforms and mobility management has been apparent in the pandemic conjuncture, while new forms of risk and new hierarchies emerged between people who were often compelled to risk contagion to provide services and people who were allowed to work from home and could do that also due to those services. Working at the intersection between the domains of circulation and social reproduction, the operations of platforms prompt significant mutations of capital and labor, which deserve a detailed investigation. At the same time the chapter follows the call to “de-Westernize platform studies” and connects processes of platformization of capital and labor with the turbulent emergence of a multipolar world (with a specific attention paid to China)
Practice vignettes examining the competencies of rehabilitation nursing : Domain 1 : the rehabilitative approach
No full textThis vignette of practice is a clinical case study to demonstrate the application of the ARNA Competency Standard Domain 1: The Rehabilitative Approach, for the purpose of introducing readers to the applied use of ARNA Rehabilitation Competency Standards for Registered Nurses (2023) to enhance their understanding of the competency standards in action. This vignette has been based on real-life clinical practice as observed by the first author, an experienced clinician and educator. All situational context has been changed, and general information only has been presented with an emphasis on the nurse’s practice and the patient’s responsiveness to the approach. No patient details have been included, injury level has been changed, and fictional names are used only. No specific patient information that would require consent has been used
Advancing Anti-Racism in Western Sydney: Towards a Regional Anti-Racism Framework
No full textWestern Sydney is one of Australia's most culturally diverse regions, with 40.9 per cent of Western Sydney residents being born overseas, 47.5 per cent speaking a language other than English at home, and almost 55,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents. Leveraging critical insights from the Western Sydney Community Forum’s Anti-Racism week and empirical data, the paper evaluates current initiatives, strengths and challenges in Western Sydney and proposes a whole-of-region framework to establish a common language and set of aspirations for local anti-racism efforts
Managing a research project : roles and processes
No full textBeing a research leader confers both great opportunities and responsibilities and, whether one is an undergraduate student with an interest in getting some work as a research assistant or is working in a postdoctoral role, understanding the key issues related to managing research projects is important. After applying for research funding—a time-consuming and large endeavour that often results in not being funded—if the news from the funder is positive there is a flurry of activity to get the project started. Being funded for a research project after many years of applying can be career changing as it offers the researcher an opportunity to generate new and exciting evidence that would otherwise not be possible. Most crucially, however, getting funded is not an end point, and managing a research project is a major responsibility. The onus is on the lead researcher not only to conduct the study in a rigorous manner as outlined in the research proposal, but also to ensure that the research project team operates to the highest ethical standards. Achieving this outcome requires the lead researcher to be more than a content and research design expert. That is, there is a need to be across the detail of signed legal agreements, setting up and monitoring employment contracts and understanding a myriad of employment regulations. Lead researchers manage often large budgets while operating within sometimes complex financial guidelines and ensuring that project milestones are met at specific timepoints over the life of the project. This chapter unpacks some of this detail, not to overwhelm the novice or budding researcher, but rather to offer a glimpse into how being a researcher is an exciting and important career goal that requires many diverse leadership skills. First, the chapter focuses on setting the project up to succeed, then it gives some necessary detail about conducting a research project, and finally it provides an overview of the final stages of a research project. This detail is intersected with some opportunities for critical reflection and some activities for a tutorial-like session