Confronting the cultural challenge of the whiteness of nursing: Aboriginal registered nurses' perspectives.

Abstract This paper presents the findings of a study that interviewed Aboriginal nurses to explore their experiences of the whiteness of nursing. Despite concerted efforts to improve the health of Aboriginal Australians, it still remains equivalent to third world countries. One strategy identified to address this is to increase the participation rates of Aboriginal registered nurses within the Australian healthcare workforce.

Confronting the Cultural Challenge of the Whiteness of Nursing: Aboriginal Registered Nurses' Perspectives.

Abstract This paper presents the findings of a study that that interviewed Aboriginal nurses to explore their experiences of the whiteness of nursing. Despite concerted efforts to improve the health of Aboriginal Australians, it still remains equivalent to third world countries. One strategy to address this that has been identified is to increase the participation rates of Aboriginal registered nurses within the Australian healthcare workforce.

Impact of the mining industry on the mental health of landholders and rural communities in southwest Queensland.

Objective: We aimed to ascertain the extent of mental health problems in rural communities of southwest Queensland.

Methods: Twelve workshops were conducted within this region, asking community members about the issues which were affecting their mental health, the gaps in services and facilities, and suggestions as to how to strengthen their capacity to deal with mental health problems.

Results: The participants highlighted the higher cost of living through increased rental and goods and services costs.

Nursing student's perceptions and understanding of intimate partner violence.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant health issue in the Australian population and nurses have a role in assessment, intervention and support of families. World Health Organization Statistics indicate that as many as 61% of women, under the age of 50 have been physically abused by their partners. As nurses are in a unique position to identify, assist and support women living with IPV a greater understanding of student nurse's knowledge and attitudes may assist undergraduate programs to ensure better preparation of nurses for this role.

Making sense of dementia: understanding amongst indigenous Australians.

Introduction: Dementia is a growing health and social concern for all Australians. Whilst the prevalence of dementia amongst Australia's indigenous people is unclear, there is some evidence that dementia rates are five times that of the general Australian population. To date no studies have examined dementia knowledge levels in indigenous communities.

Didgeridoos, songs and boomerangs for asthma management.

Issue Addressed: In Australia, asthma is more prevalent among Indigenous than non-Indigenous people. Awareness of asthma and compliance with management plans are poor, as is engagement with health services in general. The study explored whether offering culturally appropriate music lessons could enhance asthma awareness and engagement to improve asthma and general wellbeing.

Didgeridoo playing and singing to support asthma management in Aboriginal Australians.

Context: Asthma affects over 15% of Australian Aboriginal people. Compliance in asthma management is poor. Interventions that will increase compliance are required.

Enhancing the knowledge and skills of Advisory and Extension Agents in mental health issues of farmers.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to increase knowledge and skills of Advisory and Extension Agents (AEAs) in recognizing the symptoms of mental disorders, providing initial help, and offering the referral pathway for appropriate professional help.

Method: Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training was provided to AEAs and knowledge and skills pre-training were compared to 6-months post-training.

Results: The MHFA training improved the AEAs' ability to recognize a mental disorder, it increased their confidence level in providing help to someone with a mental health problem, it decreased social distances and positively changed their beliefs about treatment.

Mental health of farmers in Southern Queensland: issues and support.

Objective: To inform the development of an initiative designed to support the mental well-being of farmers in Queensland.

Design: Interactive focus groups.

Setting: Rural and remote Queensland.

Rural men and mental health: their experiences and how they managed.

There is a growing awareness that a primary source of information about mental health lies with the consumers. This paper reports on a study that interviewed rural men with the aim of exploring their mental health experiences within a rural environment. The results of the interviews are a number of stories of resilience and survival that highlight not only the importance of exploring the individuals' perspective of their issues, but also of acknowledging and drawing on their inner strengths.

How young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds experience mental health: some insights for mental health nurses.

This article reports on part of a study that looked at the mental health of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) young people. The research sought to learn from CALD young people, carers, and service providers experiences relevant to the mental health of this group of young people. The ultimate goal was to gain insights that would inform government policy, service providers, ethnic communities and most importantly the young people themselves.

Collaborative voices: ongoing reflections on nursing competencies.

In a rapidly changing Australian health care environment, providers of undergraduate nursing programs are continually upgrading their assessment methods to ensure that graduates are competent and safe to practice. Competence assessment is based on the existing Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMC) Competency Standards for Registered Nurses. It is acknowledged that there are issues surrounding the validity and reliability of current assessment methods, primarily due to organisational constraints both at the University and the service provider level.

Discharge planning from the acute sector for people over the age of 65.

This paper reports the findings relating to discharge planning from a larger study (Hegney et al 2001) that aimed to investigate options to improve care co-ordination between the aged, community, acute and primary care sectors for the elderly residents of a large provincial town. The data, which were collected from a wide variety of aged care stakeholders in the region, are consistent with previous Australian studies. First, it appears that inappropriate discharge from acute hospitals occurs in Toowoomba because there is a perceived lack of information regarding the available community care options and a lack of suitable models to support people's care needs within their own homes.

Why nurses are attracted to rural and remote practice.

This is the second paper of a larger study that examined the factors influencing the decisions of rural and remote area nurses, formerly employed by Queensland Health, to leave or to remain in this area of nursing. The study was a cross-sectional survey that gathered data from nurses who had resigned from permanent positions in Queensland Health during the period February 1999 to May 2000. This paper reports only those factors that influenced their decision to remain in rural and remote area practice, which can be categorised into personal, professional and rural influences.

Why nurses are resigning from rural and remote Queensland health facilities.

This paper presents a selection of the results reported in the study "Factors Influencing the Recruitment and Retention of Rural and Remote Area Nurses in Queensland" (Hegney et al 2001). The main aim of this study was to determine why nurses in those rura and remote areas of Queensland that reported higher than State average turnover rates between February 1999 and May 2000, chose to leave their employment. The study therefore investigated the factors that influenced nurses' decisions to leave rural and remote area practice, the factors that influenced them to remain in practice and those factors nurses considered irrelevant to leaving or staying in rural/remote area nursing.

Retaining rural and remote area nurses. The Queensland, Australia experience.

Because higher-than-average turnover rates for nurses who work in remote and rural areas are the norm, the authors conducted a study to identify professional and personal factors that influenced rural nurses' decisions to resign. Using a mail survey, the authors gathered qualitative and quantitative data from nurses who had resigned from rural and remote areas in Queensland, Australia. Their findings, categorized into professional and rural influences, highlight the importance of work force planning strategies that capitalize on the positive aspects of rural and remote area practice, to retain nurses in nonmetropolitan areas.