Publications by authors named "Vicki Hicks"

We investigated the potential effects of COVID-19 public health restrictions on the prevalence and distribution of (NG) genotypes in our Queensland isolate population in the first half of the year 2020. A total of 763 NG isolates were genotyped to examine gonococcal strain distribution and prevalence for the first 6 months of 2020, with 1 January 2020 to 31 March 2020 classified as 'pre' COVID-19 restrictions ( = 463) and 1 April 2020 to 30 June 2020 classified as 'post' COVID-19 restrictions ( = 300). Genotypes most prevalent 'pre' restrictions remained proportionally high 'post' restrictions, with some significantly increasing 'post' restrictions.

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Objective: Evaluate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSA) of public health nurses (PHNs) related to the eight Domains of the 2011 Quad Council Competencies for Public Health Nurses (QCC-PHN). This manuscript is Part 2 of an exploratory study published in the Public Health Nursing journal on PHNs' knowledge, skills, attitudes, and application of the Quad Council Competencies (Harmon et al., 2020).

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Objective: A collaborative research team of community/public health nursing faculty and public health nurses surveyed public health nurses to explore knowledge, skills, attitudes, and application of the Quad Council Competencies for Public Health Nurses (QCC-PHN).

Methods: Evaluate the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and application of the 2011 QCC-PHN by public health nurses.

Design: A descriptive, cross-sectional design was used to answer the hypothesis related to the study objective.

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Background: Population-focused practice is an essential component of baccalaureate nursing education. The specialty of community/public health nursing (C/PHN) emphasizes prevention and focuses on the multiple determinants of health to improve population health outcomes. This project addressed two problems.

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Background: Concept-based curricula, coupled with conceptual approach to teaching, fosters conceptual learning. There is a need for clarity in the definition of conceptual learning.

Method: Walker and Avant's method of concept analysis was used.

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Unlabelled: A multisite collaborative team of community/public health nursing (C/PHN) faculty surveyed baccalaureate nursing faculty to explore their knowledge, skills, attitudes, and application of the Quad Council Competencies for Public Health Nurses (QCC-PHN).

Objectives: (1) Evaluate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of the 2011 QCC-PHN by academic C/PHN faculty; (2) Evaluate the application of 2011 QCC-PHN by C/PHN faculty in the clinical practicum for undergraduate baccalaureate C/PHN students; and (3) Determine if a significant difference existed in the knowledge for each domain.

Design: A mixed methods descriptive research design was used to answer three specific hypotheses related to the study objectives.

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Background: The Quad Council Competencies for Public Health Nurses are used to guide community and public health nursing course development in baccalaureate nursing programs. As clinical practice has expanded to global settings, the appropriateness of the 2011 Quad Council Public Health Nursing (PHN) Competencies to guide global clinical practice and evaluation was questioned.

Objective: To describe a comparison and analysis of three sets of competencies: PHN competencies, competencies for global health nurses, and interprofessional competencies for health professionals.

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In summary, improved population health, population focused care, and community-based networks are the objectives of health care delivery systems. Community/public health nursing education, practice, and research must be re-examined, re-focused, and re-designed to address the challenges of an expanding 21st century health care delivery to populations and communities. Common standards are in place to be utilized by academia, practice and research.

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Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 6C was first identified in 2007, although retrospective studies have since identified serotype 6C among stored isolates dating back to 1962. We investigated the incidence and genetic diversity of serotype 6C strains isolated from Queensland patients between 2001 and 2011. Isolates were identified by Quellung reaction and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed.

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Implications for practice and education include recognition of the value of clinical outcome studies to clinicians and administrators in clinical agencies, as well as to nursing education. This project provides an example of the opportunity for mutually beneficial education and practice partnerships. Faculty, staff, and students demonstrated their ability to use the basic model for outcome studies developed by the United Way of America (1996).

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Nurses are in an excellent position to assist clients to change behaviors that will improve their health. The client is the expert on what to change and which method will work best. Matching your approach to the client's stage of change will motivate the client to move along the continuum of change.

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