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Examining Mentoring as a Catalyst for Nurse Work Engagement and Professional Development
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Research literature has identified mentoring as a strategic intervention for employee professional development. The Business and Psychology disciplines have used mentoring widely for employee development, but it has not been used extensively in nursing.
Nursing has unique challenges and is constantly changing with a need to meet some of those needs by advancing the development of nurses to serve as leaders and fill positions due to nurse shortages and high turnover rates. Mentoring has also been identified as a vehicle to promote work engagement.
The purpose of this study was to examine mentoring as a catalyst for nurses’ professional development and work engagement. A convenient sample of 142 RNs from the Veteran Administration were recruited to participate in the study. The study used quantitative methods to address the research questions 1) What are nurses’ perceptions of the relationship between mentoring and work engagement? 2) What are nurses’ perceptions of the relationship between mentoring and professional development? 3) What are nurses’ perceptions of the relationships between mentoring activities, professional development, and work engagement in nursing? 4) Are nursing demographic characteristics associated with nurse’s perceptions of the relationships between mentoring activities, professional development, and work engagement in nursing?
The results of the study showed that nurses perceived mentoring activities significantly impacted their professional development and work engagement. More specifically, the results showed that the nurses rated the career functions of mentoring higher in impacting their professional development and work engagement. The psychosocial functions of mentoring relationships were not as significant. The demographic characteristics for age, race, years of experience, level of education, and gender were examined to see if there were differences in the outcomes of work engagement and professional development based on these demographic characteristics. The results of the study showed the demographic characteristics had no significant impact on the outcomes of professional development and work engagement for the nurses.
Limitations of the research study were that the sample only included nurses from VISN 15 of the VA. The study was long with the inclusion of three survey instruments and two questionnaires
The Normativity of Social Role Concepts
Get PDFThis paper argues that social role concepts are both descriptive and normative. A social role concept is any concept that describes a person’s station in life from the point of view of society as a whole. Social roles are usually positions into which one is born and which are difficult if not impossible to renounce from within the conceptual system. Social roles are therefore not mere jobs or descriptions. They place certain obligations upon a person that are meant to apply absolutely. This paper first discusses the normativity of rule-governed practices and the rules involved in concept use. The paper then turns to look at social role concepts proper and argues that social role concepts both prescribe action while also at least purporting to describe some sort of underlying moral reality. This paper ends by giving an account of “objectionable” social role concepts while comparing them to objectionable thick concepts
Optimistic Biases on E-Cigarette Cessation: Examining Competing Theoretical Models for Young Adults with and without Chronic Health Conditions
No full textThe dramatic increase in youth nicotine initiation is an ongoing public health concern and heightens risk for morbidity and mortality, especially among young adults with chronic health conditions. Consequently, there is an urgent need for research exploring potential psychological mechanisms for continued e-cigarette use to aid in the development of targeted cessation interventions and combat the re-emerging nicotine epidemic. Utilizing the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study, the present study modeled the impact of optimistic biases for e-cigarette use on e-cigarette cessation interest among young adults with and without chronic health conditions (n=1,827). Results showed that, regardless of chronic health status, optimistic biases for coping benefits led to decreased e-cigarette cessation interest through reduced risk perceptions and reduced worry for harms of e-cigarettes (i.e., reduced risk responses). Additionally, consistent with stated hypotheses, the impact of optimistic biases on coping benefits in the model for young adults with chronic health conditions was nearly twice as strong, suggesting that perceived harms of e-cigarette use may be outweighed by perceived coping benefits for young adults with greater health stressors. In light of these findings, research examining whether stepped care approaches providing psychoeducation and cognitive-behavioral therapy addressing alternate coping strategies are worthwhile targets for combatting continued e-cigarette use, particularly among young adults with chronic health conditions. Further, to produce greater public health impact, state and federal policies are needed to prevent e-cigarette initiation for adolescents and young adults before nicotine dependence develops
umsllibraries | Posts | 2020-10-31
No full textPosted Text: Happy Halloween!!
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Supply chain strategies in response to a black-swan event: a comparison of USA, French and Polish firms
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Like a well-designed procurement strategy, a well-designed rolling stock strategy promotes the development of a railroad company and contributes to its competitive advantage. Effective implementation of the rolling stock strategy enhances the likelihood of enjoying the benefits of the strategy’s design. A successful implementation relies on the strategy being known, understood, controlled and communicated to the entire organization. Design/methodology/approach
The research consists of an extensive literature review as well as a series of workshops with rolling stock suppliers, railway authorities and representatives and rail users. Findings
This paper presents a collection of solutions for passenger rail rolling stock procurement. The authors offer guidance to the strategic procurement of rolling stock in the European Union (EU) and propose key performance indicators to measure the effectiveness of a rolling stock strategy. Research limitations/implications
While this study presents a thorough evaluation of rolling stock procurement practices, it is limited by its geographic isolation. Future studies should compare the procurement practices discussed here to others in the EU, as well as in North America, South America and Asia. Additionally, this study focused on the passenger rail segment. Passenger transport is an important function of the rail network in the EU, but future research should expand the assessment of rolling stock procurement strategies to freight rail as well. Originality/value
Overall, this work provides visibility into common rolling stock procurement practices in complex EU railway markets. This work expands the literature through a review of these practices and through enabling research into best practices or a commonly accepted procurement model
Radium Girls
No full textRadium Girls & Other Stories is a collection of short stories, flash fiction, and memoir that share a common style and portray overlapping themes. Quite a few of these pieces, “Radium Girls,” “The Culling,” and “Violence,” for example, deal with untraditional female characters and their place in a world made for men. In “Radium Girls” the women embrace their role as pretty fun things to look at. In “The Culling” and “Violence” they reject traditional gender roles and join the boys in their world to do what they want, when they want. Other pieces, like “Plutonium Party,” “Trashy Alchemy,” and “Personal Apocalypse,” contemplate the role of end times and how it plays into interpersonal relationships. Certain pieces, such as “The Culling” and “A Work of Fiction,” and “Modern Problems for Modern Readers” toy with the idea that they are stories – calling readers attention to this fact through a meta-voice. Almost all of these stories tackle alcoholism and partying.
Note: This thesis is under a author requested embargo until 2224, after which it will become available in accordance with end of expected copyright protection. This embargo year is intentional and not an error
The Pivot to Online Learning: A Case Study of EFL Student Teachers’ Learning Experiences and Perceptions in China
Get PDFTeaching and learning online was extensively adopted in English as a foreign language (EFL) teacher education program, as well in education of all levels in China with the advancement of the internet, multimedia information processing, cloud computing, and other information technologies since 1994. However, online education has remained more of a supplement to classroom education, and large-scale normal online education lacks cases and research in China. The COVID-19 pandemic caused profound change in higher education, with closures of campuses globally and migration of learning and teaching practices to online formats. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional teaching and learning activities, meanwhile, creating opportunities for investigating innovative approaches to EFL teacher education. This case study explored the experiences and perceptions of the Chinese EFL student teachers’ online learning, with the COVID-19 lockdown as the context. This study adopted a qualitative research approach (Denzin & Lincoln, 2011; Merriam & Merriam, 2009) consisting of two distinct phases: an open-ended response questionnaire followed by focus group interviews to investigate the Chinese EFL student teachers’ experiences and perceptions of online learning. The participants were EFL student teachers who enrolled in the chosen normal university in China. The data included 148 responses from the open-ended response questionnaire and transcripts from two focus group interviews with 12 participants in total. The findings from this study showed that a majority of participants had online classes for at least two semesters. Analysis of data on their online class experiences revealed four major themes: learner autonomy, digital skills, Internet connectivity, and interactivity. The findings indicated that the Chinese EFL student teachers, to a certain extent, were capable of leveraging digital tools for learning purposes. Meanwhile, the Chinese EFL student teachers expected more comprehensive support in terms of technology troubleshooting, time management skills, self-discipline, and online resource evaluation. This study brought in the Chinese EFL student teachers’ voices on their online learning experiences and perceptions in order to advance EFL teacher education programs in order to promote further development of online learning in China. Keywords: Chinese EFL student teachers, online learning, COVID-19 pandemi
In What Ways Do Perceptions by Faculty, Students, and Advisors in an Urban University Contribute to Undergraduate Student Success?
Get PDFThis study employs a mixed-methods approach to explore perceptions of academic advising among faculty, advisors, and undergraduate students at an urban university in the Midwest, focusing on its implications for student success. Utilizing Creswell’s research design framework, the research integrates quantitative and qualitative data collection methods to understand the relationship between academic advising and student outcomes.
Informed by Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory, the study examines how beliefs, behaviors, and environmental factors shape academic experiences and success. It employs the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) from George Kuh’s student engagement framework as a quantitative tool to measure student engagement and perceptions.
The research aims to investigate differences in perceptions of student success among stakeholders, understand factors influencing academic challenges, and examine the impact of interactions between faculty and advisors on student success. The study involves analyzing NSSE survey data and conducting qualitative exploration through a custom-designed instrument, gathering insights from both students and advisors. Thematic analysis is used to identify patterns and themes, enriching the understanding of academic advising dynamics.
Ethical considerations, including participant confidentiality and compliance with data privacy regulations, are prioritized throughout the research process. The combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches aims to enhance academic advising practices and student success initiatives. The findings are intended to support evidence-based decision-making and improve the educational experience for undergraduate students.
This study highlights the complex interplay of perceptions among faculty, advisors, and students regarding academic advising and its effects on student success. By integrating quantitative data with qualitative insights, the research illustrates how these varied perceptions impact student engagement and retention strategies. The findings emphasize the need for tailored advising approaches that meet the diverse needs of the university community, aiming to boost student outcomes and institutional effectiveness
UMSL Magazine – Spring 2024
Get PDFThe University of Missouri–St. Louis publishes UMSL Magazine for alumni and friends. The spring 2024 issue includes stories on student-athlete successes, innovative research, community engagement in nursing and more.https://irl.umsl.edu/magazine/1000/thumbnail.jp