ORCID Profile
0000-0003-2520-1506
Current Organisation
University of Southern Queensland
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Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 08-2015
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 11-2006
DOI: 10.1258/135763306779379969
Abstract: Videoconferencing has been used for the professional supervision of trainee orthopaedic registrars at the Toowoomba Hospital. We have conducted a qualitative evaluation of the perceptions of those involved. Six focus groups were held with doctors, nurses, patients and other healthcare administration staff. In total there were 12 staff involved and six patients. A qualitative analysis of the transcripts resulted in a set of determinants of the perceived effectiveness of the videoconferencing system. Some were positive and some were negative factors. For ex le, the participants expressed a view that a videoconferencing system was better than the previous system of communication, which was via a telephone or email. However, the participants felt that the system was limited by the technology employed. It appears that there was widespread approval for the use of videoconferencing for remote supervision of orthopaedic trainees. While the participants felt that this could yield benefits, the size of these benefits has yet to be determined.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 05-2022
DOI: 10.2147/COPD.S358254
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 07-2020
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2019-036060
Abstract: Multifarious chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) guidelines have been published by local, national and global respiratory societies. These guidelines subsume holistic evidence based on recommendations to diagnose, treat, prevent and manage acute exacerbation with COPD. Despite the existing comprehensive recommendations, readmission rates and hospitalisations have increased in the last decade. Evidence to date has reported suboptimal clinical guidelines concordance. Acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) is a common hospital presentation due to varied causes such as infective exacerbations, worsening disease condition, medication non-adherence, lack of education and incomprehensive discharge planning. AECOPD directly and indirectly causes economic burden, disrupts health-related quality of life (HRQol), hasten lung function decline and increases overall morbidity and mortality. COPD being a multimodal chronic disease, consistent interdisciplinary interventions from the time of admission to discharge may reduce readmissions and enhance HRQol among these patients and their families. This protocol adheres to the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for mixed methods systematic reviews and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews reporting guidelines. Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods studies will append this study to explore determinants of COPD guidelines concordance. Comprehensive three-tier search strategies will be used to search nine databases (COCHRANE, EBSCO HOST, MEDLINE, SCIENCE DIRECT, JBI, SCOPUS, WEB OF SCIENCE, WILEY and DARE) in May 2020. Two independent reviewers will screen abstracts and full-text articles in consonance with inclusion criteria. The convergent integrative method narrative review will contribute a deeper understanding of any discrepancies found in the existing evidence. Quality of the studies will be reported and Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) will be used as a priori to synthesis data. Identified barriers, facilitators and corresponding clinical behavioural change solutions will be categorised using TDF indicators to provide future research and implementation recommendations. Ethical approval is not required and results dissemination will occur through peer-reviewed publication.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 31-10-2021
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 15-07-2022
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.NEDT.2017.10.014
Abstract: There is growing evidence that online resources used to develop clinical skills among students in the healthcare professions can produce equivalent learning outcomes to traditional face-to-face training methods. Whether clinical competence is retained equally well for online and face-to-face training methods is not yet established. The objective of the study was to compare retention of competence in using an IV infusion pump among nursing students trained in its use using three different protocols. A quasi-experimental design was used. The study was conducted in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at a regional university in Queensland, Australia. Participants were 102 first year nursing students (female=89, male=13) enrolled in a medications course, ranging in age from 18 to 44years. Three groups of participants were trained in the use of an IV infusion pump and competence was assessed following a 26-week period of no access to the pump. Group 1 participants (ONL n=34) were trained online using an Intravenous Pump Emulator (IVPE) Group 2 participants (ONC n=38) were trained on c us using an actual IV pump in a traditional face-to-face setting Group 3 participants (ONL+ONC n=30) were trained both on c us using the actual IV pump and online using the IVPE. As hypothesised, no significant differences in learning outcomes, measured by assessment scores out of 80 points, were found between the ONL (M=68.7±5.9) and ONC (M=65.5±11.5 p>0.05) groups. The ONL+ONC group recorded the highest mean assessment score (M=70.0±5.0) and completed the assessment task significantly faster (p<0.001) than the other two groups. This study suggests that nursing students retained clinical competence in preparing and administrating IV infusions better when face-to-face and online learning were combined.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.NEDT.2016.03.004
Abstract: The expansion of online education for nursing students has created the challenge of finding innovative ways to teach clinical skills. An online intravenous pump emulator (IVPE) modelled on actual IV pumps used in clinical healthcare settings was developed to facilitate online education delivery. The objectives of the study were to implement the online IVPE and evaluate student learning outcomes and perceptions of device use. A mixed method, quasi-experimental design was used. The study was conducted in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at a regional university in Queensland, Australia. Participants were 179 first year nursing students enrolled in a medications course, ranging in age from 18 to 44years, of whom 150 were female. Participants were assigned to one of three groups and trained in the use of IV infusion pumps. Group 1 (n=57) were trained online using the IVPE (ONL) Group 2 (n=73) were trained on-c us using an actual IV pump (ONC) Group 3 (n=49) were trained both on-c us using the actual IV pump and online using the IVPE (ONL+ONC). Competence in using the actual IV pump was assessed for all participants at the conclusion of the training period. No significant differences in learning outcomes, measured by assessment scores out of 80 points, were found between the ONL (M=65.5±9.2) and ONC (M=62.0±14.8 p>.05) groups. Significantly better learning outcomes were evident for the ONL+ONC group (M=68.7±4.9) compared to the ONC group (p<.01). This study highlights that the nursing students became more competent in the skill of preparing and administrating IV infusions when face-to-face and online learning were combined.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-2020
DOI: 10.1111/RESP.13778
Publisher: IEEE
Date: 07-2012
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 12-2017
DOI: 10.11124/JBISRIR-2016-003273
Abstract: : The objectives of the scoping review are to: 1. Examine the characteristics and processes of clinical reasoning as used by registered nurses in clinical practice. 2. Identify factors reported to relate to clinical reasoning use by registered nurses in clinical practice.
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 03-0005
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 22-09-2021
DOI: 10.1186/S12912-021-00672-6
Abstract: Nurses have limited time outside of work for continuing professional development. Consequently, strategies need to be explored to enable them to better maintain their competence. This article describes recent research investigating if nursing behaviours in the use of mobile technologies could be leveraged to better facilitate mobile learning. It addresses a gap in the existing literature around how nurses resource their own professional development and learning in the absence of appropriate learning resources in the workplace. The research employed a classic grounded theory methodology which was conducted with 27 registered nurses from Public and Private Hospitals in Queensland and external postgraduate nursing students from Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory enrolled at the University of Southern Queensland. The Theory of Economising Learning describes how nurses maintain competence with limited resources. Unfavourable staffing levels and a fast-paced workplace mean that nurses rarely prioritise their professional learning while at work. Instead, it requires the nurse to contribute personal resources including time and money. Though the research revealed nurses were unconcerned about using mobile technologies, they were concerned about maintaining competence with limited resources. To counter this, nurses economised their learning by balancing personal resources against their motivation to maintain competence. The process of economising learning begins and ends with the development of the nurse’s personal curriculum in response to what they identify as being the most significant knowledge deficits at work that jeopardise their competence. A learning opportunity that addresses the knowledge deficit is sought. Nurses balance the opportunity to address the deficit against the cost of personal resources, to decide if they will engage with the opportunity and update their personal curriculum accordingly. It is suggested that workplaces need to create reasonable expectations within nurses to address knowledge deficits and provide the resources, including time, to allow them to do so without personal cost. It is also necessary for workplaces to moderate the flow of learning opportunities so as not to overwhelm and demotivate the nurses. Currently, nurses use several strategies to optimise their learning using mobile technologies which could be leveraged in the workplace.
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 05-2015
DOI: 10.11124/JBISRIR-2015-2073
Abstract: Maintaining skin integrity in a community setting is an ongoing issue, as research suggests that the prevalence of skin tears within the community is greater than that in an institutional setting. While skin tear prevention and management principles in these settings are similar to those in an acute care setting, consideration of the environmental and psychological factors of the client is pivotal to prevention in a community setting. Evidence suggests that home environment assessment, education for clients and care givers, and being proactive in improving activities of daily living in a community setting can significantly reduce the risk of sustaining skin tears. The aim of this implementation project was to assess and review current skin tear prevention and management practices within the community setting, and from this, to implement an evidence-based approach in the education of clients and staff on the prevention of skin tears. As well. the project aims to implement evidence-based principles to guide clinical practice in relation to the initial management of skin tears, and to determine strategies to overcome barriers and non-compliance. The project utilized the Joanna Brigg's Institute Practical Application of Clinical Evidence System audit tool for promoting changes in the community health setting. The implementation of this particular project is based in a region within Anglicare Southern Queensland. A small team was established and a baseline audit carried out. From this, multiple strategies were implemented to address non-compliance which included education resources for clients and caregivers, staff education sessions, and creating skin integrity kits to enable staff members to tend to skin tears, and from this a follow-up audit undertaken. Baseline audit results were slightly varied, from good to low compliance. From this, the need for staff and client education was highlighted. There were many improvements in the audit criteria following client and staff education sessions and staff self-directed learning packages. Future strategies required to sustain improvements in practice and make further progress are to introduce a readily available Anglicare Skin Integrity Assessment Tool to the nursing staff for undertaking new client admissions over 65 years, and to provide ongoing education to staff members, clients and care givers in order to reduce the prevalence of skin tears in the community setting. This implementation project demonstrated the importance of education of personal care workers, clients and their caregivers for prevention of skin tears in the community setting. This in turn created autonomy and empowered clients to take control of their health.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 2022
DOI: 10.2147/JMDH.S343277
Publisher: Springer Singapore
Date: 2019
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 08-2019
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2019-030358
Abstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common respiratory condition that causes persistent respiratory symptoms and decline in lung function over many years. This chronic disease significantly affects health-related quality of life and is known to contribute to frequent emergency department (ED) presentations. Multidimensional management of these patients, including interconnecting health disciplinarians will allow holistic care provision in the ED. The purpose of this scoping review is to synthesise current evidence on holistic management and assessment, and referral practices stemming from acute COPD presentation in the ED. Specifically, to determine: (1) What are the known causal factors associated with COPD ED presentations and (2) Is there an identified connection with appropriate healthcare professional assessment within ED presentations and reported referral pathways? The iterative stages of the Arskey and O’Malley, and Levac advanced scoping review framework informs this review. Using published and unpublished studies in English, a three-tiered search strategy will be applied. After duplicates are removed, screen 1 (title and abstract) and screen 2 (full-text) will be conducted by two independent reviewers to determine eligibility of articles. Disputes will be settled through discussion or by using a third reviewer. A data collection tool developed by the authors will inform the data extraction process. Schematic tabular format of results with a narrative summary will depict how the results link with the scoping review objectives. Categorisation of results will be narrowed down as key conceptual findings and will align with the strategic intent of this review. Ethics approval was not required for this study. A multidisciplinary team of authors will participate in dissemination activities (publications, reports, conference presentations, framework development).
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 12-2019
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2019-034094
Abstract: There is limited reliable research available on medication errors in relation to paramedic practice, with most evidence-based medication safety guidelines based on research in nursing, operating theatre and pharmacy settings. While similarities exist, evidence suggests that the prehospital environment is distinctly different in many aspects. The prevention of errors requires attention to factors from the organisational and regulatory level down to specific tasks and patient characteristics. The evidence available suggests errors may occur in up to 12.76% of medication administrations in some prehospital settings. With multiple sources stating that the errors are under-reported, this represents significant potential for patient harm. This review will seek to identify the factors influencing the occurrence of medication errors by paramedics in the prehospital environment. The review will include qualitative and quantitative studies involving interventions or phenomena regarding medication errors or medication safety relating to paramedics (including emergency medical technicians and other prehospital care providers) within the prehospital environment. A search will be conducted using MEDLINE (Ovid), EBSCOhost Megafile Search, the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors trial registry, Google Scholar and the OpenGrey database to identify studies meeting this inclusion criteria, with initial searches commencing 30 September 2019. Studies selected will undergo assessment of methodological quality, with data to be extracted from all studies irrespective of quality. Each stage of study selection, appraisal and data extraction will be conducted by two reviewers, with a third reviewer deciding any unresolved conflicts. The review will follow a convergent integrated approach, conducting a single qualitative synthesis of qualitative and ‘qualitised’ quantitative data. No ethical approval was required for this review. Findings from this systematic review will be disseminated via publications, reports and conference presentations.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2022
DOI: 10.1016/J.RMED.2022.106747
Abstract: The purpose of the scoping review was to examine the extant literature for factors contributing to presentations of Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (AECOPD) to Emergency Departments (ED). The review followed Arksey and O'Malley, and Levac's frameworks supplemented with the PRISMA-ScR checklist. We searched Cochrane Library, CINAHL, JBI, and PubMed from January 1, 2008 to March 23, 2020 for inclusions. We included studies reporting ED presentations for AECOPD among adults (≥18 years). The investigation included: pre-hospital factors ED-related assessment, management and referral practices holistic management (i.e., interdisciplinary) patient outcomes, admission/discharge status, and readmission. Forty-four studies were included. Environmental factors (e.g., air pollution, seasonal change) social determinants (e.g., poor literacy, ethnicity) and physical health (e.g., comorbidities, obesity, poor exercise capacity) contributed to ED presentation/re-presentation, and admission to hospital. Cigarette smoking was associated with hospital admission. Mortality was associated with longer-term oxygen therapy, poor exercise capacity, age, and loss of consciousness. Compliance with clinical guideline recommendations were generally low or mixed. Further, there was a lack of appropriate referral practices upon discharge. While there is considerable literature on factors contributing to AECOPD admission more research is required that investigates the impact that inter-professional care models can have on the discharge planning cycles for patients with COPD who are regular presenters to an ED.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 04-2021
DOI: 10.2147/JMDH.S276702
Publisher: Unpublished
Date: 2014
Publisher: Research Square Platform LLC
Date: 05-11-2019
Abstract: Background Current staffing levels and current care standards have been linked to negative clinical outcomes for Residents in living in Residential aged care. Low levels of confidence have impounded a Registered Nurses ability to meet many acute challenges found in this environment. The utilisation of Emergency Department transfers for acute ill residents is an increasing epidemic. This research project aimed to contemporise, adapt, implement and evaluate a set of Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) and a Nurse Practitioner Role in Residential Aged Care adapted with permission from Waitemata District Health Board New Zealand [1, 2]. The purpose of the CPGs was to empower clinical staff in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs), to recognise early clinical deterioration, provide safe evidence based care to residents, and prevent unnecessary transfers of residents to an acute hospital emergency departments.Methods Action research was chosen for this research because it was not only cyclic articipative in nature, but it provided a progressive evaluation of the CPGs implementation and the current context as it related to past, progressive, and post implementation nurse decision making practices. A total of 4 Focus groups with an average of eight respondents were recruited to this study (Total participants, 16 RNs and 16 PCWs).Results Focus group data showed unequivocal evidence of increased confidence among staff in implementing the care guidelines, communicating with fellow professionals, and assessing incidents. The CPGs and NP intervention was successful in engaging staff and developing their confidence with assessment of acute resident issues. Additional longitudinal research is required to better understand the influences of these interventions on ED presentations.Conclusions Research needs to better explore the direct correlation between PCW knowledge, skills, and training, and a failure to rescue residents experiencing an adverse event. This should also encompass more research scrutiny on the impact of poor communication practices between PCWs and the RN. The role NPs play in reducing ED utilisation needs greater long term evaluation to better ascertain clinical care and economic benefits.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-2020
DOI: 10.1111/IMJ.15014
Abstract: The primary goal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management is to optimise a patient's functional status and quality of life. By encouraging effective patient self‐management within primary healthcare, unplanned and potentially avoidable COPD admissions to the emergency department (ED) can be avoided. The aim of this study is to examine whether distance to hospital influences the rate of ED presentation, hospital admission and hospital length of stay for COPD patients. The 2016 to 2018 resulted in a total of 5253 patient presentations with a primary medical diagnosis code of J44 (COPD). These were at the main hospitals of three Queensland Hospital and Health Services: Toowoomba, Ipswich and Gold Coast. To examine the variations in patient characteristics based on distance, a one‐way ANOVA (analysis of variance) test was conducted. The Kruskal‐Wallis test indicated that there were group differences. This study identified significant variation in COPD‐related hospital length of stay and distance to hospital among COPD patients within three hospitals in South East Queensland, Australia. These results confirm that distance plays an important role in determining duration of hospital stay (in number of days) among COPD patients, with clear evidence of the distance ‘decay phenomenon’. It appears from the findings of the current study that distance to the hospital is not associated with the greater likelihood of ED presentation but may influence length of stay. Several distance‐specific studies have concluded that lower utilisation of hospital care is associated with distance to hospital.
Publisher: IGI Global
Date: 2010
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-60566-266-4.CH020
Abstract: Sleep problems are frequently witnessed in aged care facilities with a large proportion going undetected. Multiple factors are known to contribute many abnormal sleep/wake patterns for residents. A systematic review conducted by Haesler (2004) provided a guide to the direction of future research into sleep in older adults residing in care facilities. This chapter evaluates the effectiveness of implementing the following evidence based recommendation from Haesler (2004): Wrist actigraphy currently represents the most accurate objective sleep assessment tool for use in the population of interest. Factor analysis was utilized to study the patterns of relationship among many dependent variables, with the goal of discovering something about the nature of the independent variables that affect them. Wrist actigraphy showed a disparity between the actual bed time and wake time. One clear difference detected using the device was the increased detection of sleep during the day.
Publisher: International Association of Online Engineering (IAOE)
Date: 05-12-2012
Abstract: Abstractâ??Given the vast coverage area and dispersed population centres in which nursing professionals practice in Australia, Remote Access Laboratory (RAL) based learning activities would seem to be an ideal match. However while they are commonplace in engineering faculties in other disciplines such activities are not widely used. This may well be due to the intricacies of these practicals not being as straightforward and readily reproducible as typical physics or science experiments. In our chosen case, the safe practice of intravenous pump driver operations and related clinical reasoning skills are important components for the training of both registered nurses and nursing students. The aim of this research project is to develop and trial remote access technologies that enable nursing students to test their knowledge, skills, and clinical reasoning with intravenous infusion pump drivers. This has been possible by extending the concept of RAL from a physical and tangible experiment, to more conceptual experimentation in any form conducted remotely. In such a context clinical reasoning becomes possible. This paper discusses a prototype system that has been built with collaborative input from the Faculty of Engineering and Surveying and the Department of Nursing and Midwifery. An initial evaluation with a group of nursing students has been completed to assess if such activities can assist with the training of student nurses. Previous work has identified the need to scaffold learning activities that rely on RAL technology the key conclusion in this paper is that in the context of nursing this has to be taken a step further. RAL activities here require contextualisation to become an effective learning tool.
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Date: 2015
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 17-06-2017
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 2008
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 12-2005
DOI: 10.1258/135763305775124849
Abstract: Many health-care providers in Australia are exploring the use of wireless technology to improve service delivery. It appears that the solutions so far have been dictated by the hardware vendors and that the business case is yet to drive the implementations. A focus group discussion was facilitated with eight senior management staff involved in health care in Western Australia. This resulted in a set of challenges, which were used to invite opinions from nursing staff in Queensland. A total of 31 interviews were conducted. The analysis returned a set of 63 themes, which were grouped. These groupings reflected the challenges as lack of user-friendly applications, unreliable technology, substandard testing, shortage of staff, concerns for security, reliance on technology, existing problems, work schedule, training, outdated health policy, coverage of wireless links, confidentiality and lack of awareness. The interviews clearly indicated the need for training and awareness procedures. The present study provides some of the information necessary to realize an enterprise-wide implementation of wireless technology.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2013
DOI: 10.1016/J.NEPR.2013.03.017
Abstract: In order to maintain high standards of care in practice, renal nurses must become effective utilisers of research and evidence based practice. Many models for effective evidence based implementation have been published in an attempt to encourage a positive cultural shift in meeting this necessary nurse competency. Yet in reality a great disparity still exists between what the profession knows to be an ideal world and what they are actually able to achieve. This paper presents an evaluation of that reality through the eyes of Queensland renal nurses. Initially known barriers to research or evidence based practice utilisation will be discussed in addition to some home grown solutions from those clinicians. Nurses who participated in this study presented some unique perspectives on known barriers to research utilisation, re-affirming those detailed within the literature and conversely revealing new concepts worth additional exploration. New concepts warranting a broader in-depth exploration included the influence of family on nurse decision making and the effect of overseas trained health professionals on necessary change. In addition Queensland renal nurse's overwhelming supported the need for a filtered or a controlled approach to research activity naming this model in post interview discussions "The Spillway Model".
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 04-2023
Publisher: Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation
Date: 28-02-2023
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 27-06-2022
DOI: 10.1080/10903127.2022.2068089
Abstract: There is limited research available on safe medication management practices in emergency medical services (EMS) practice, with most evidence-based medication safety guidelines based on research in nursing, operating theater and pharmacy settings. Prevention of errors requires recognition of contributing factors across the spectrum from the organizational level to procedural elements and patient characteristics. Evidence is inconsistent regarding the incidence of medication errors and multiple sources also state that errors are under-reported, making the true magnitude of the problem difficult to quantify. Definitions of error also vary, with the specific context of medication errors in prehospital practice yet to be established. The objective of this review is to identify the factors influencing the occurrence of medication errors by EMS personnel in the prehospital environment. The review included both qualitative and quantitative research involving interventions or phenomena related to medication safety or medication error by EMS personnel in the prehospital environment. A search of multiple databases was conducted to identify studies meeting these inclusion criteria. All studies selected were assessed for methodological quality however, this was not used as a basis for exclusion. Each stage of study selection, appraisal and data extraction was conducted by two independent reviewers, with a third reviewer deciding any unresolved conflicts. The review follows a convergent integrated approach, conducting a single qualitative synthesis of qualitative and "qualitized" quantitative data. Fifty-six articles were included in the review, with case reports and qualitative studies being the most frequent study types. Qualitative analysis revealed seven major themes: organizational factors (with reporting as a sub-theme), equipment/medications, environmental factors, procedure-related factors, communication, patient-related factors (with pediatrics as a sub-theme) and cognitive factors. Both contributing factors and protective factors were identified. The body of evidence regarding medication errors is heterogenous and limited in both quantity and quality. Multiple factors influence medication error occurrence knowledge of these is necessary to mitigate the risk of errors. Medication error incidence is difficult to quantify due to inconsistent measure, definitions and contexts of research conducted to date. Further research is required to quantify the prevalence of identified factors in specific practice settings.
Publisher: Research Square Platform LLC
Date: 15-07-2020
DOI: 10.21203/RS.3.RS-38283/V1
Abstract: Background Nurses have limited time outside of work for continuing professional development. Consequently, strategies need to be explored to enable them to better maintain their competence. This article describes recent research to ascertain how nurses used mobile technologies to determine if these behaviours could be leveraged for mobile learning. It addresses a gap in the existing literature around how nurses resource their own professional development in the absence of appropriate resourcing in the workplace. Methods The Theory of Economising Learning emerged from research employing a classic grounded theory methodology which was conducted with registered nurses from Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory and postgraduate nursing students at the University of Southern Queensland. Results The Theory of Economising Learning describes how nurses maintain competence with limited resources. Unfavourable staffing levels and a fast-paced workplace mean that nurses rarely prioritise their professional learning while at work. Instead, it requires the nurse to contribute personal resources including time and money.Though the research revealed that nurses were unconcerned about using mobile technologies, they were concerned about maintaining competence with limited resources. To counter this, nurses economised their learning by balancing personal resources against their motivation to maintain competence. The process of economising learning begins and ends with the development of the nurse’s personal curriculum in response to what they identify as being the most significant knowledge deficits at work that jeopardise their competence. A learning opportunity that addresses the knowledge deficit is sought. Nurses balance the opportunity to address the deficit against the cost of personal resources, to decide if they will engage with the opportunity and update their personal curriculum accordingly. Conclusions It is suggested that workplaces need to create reasonable expectations within nurses to address knowledge deficits and provide the resources, including time, to allow them to do so without personal cost. It is also necessary for workplaces to moderate the flow of learning opportunities so as not to overwhelm and demotivate the nurses. Currently, nurses use several strategies to optimise their learning using mobile technologies. These could be leveraged in the workplace to help nurses maintain professional competence.
Start Date: 2011
End Date: 2014
Funder: University of Southern Queensland
View Funded ActivityStart Date: 2005
End Date: 2008
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityStart Date: 2006
End Date: 2009
Funder: Department of Health, Queensland
View Funded ActivityStart Date: 2017
End Date: 2018
Funder: Queensland Emergency Medicine Research Foundation
View Funded ActivityStart Date: 2014
End Date: 2015
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityStart Date: 2008
End Date: 2010
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded Activity