faculty focus
Notes on nursing
Australians are making contributions to research on RNs, ENs and AINs. By Antonia Maiolo
Nurses and midwives use research to provide evidencebased care to enhance health outcomes for individuals, communities and healthcare systems. Evidence-based research can also be used to shape health policy – making a real difference to professionals working in hospitals and other healthcare settings. Here are reports on a few Australian nursing academics leading research in their field.
KAREN-LEIGH EDWARD | MUMS ON SOCIAL MEDIA Social media has become the modern-day mothers’ group. New research shows an increasing number of women are going online to share advice and support.
Associate professor Karen-Leigh Edward, nursing researcher in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the Australian Catholic University led the study, which found that social media provides much easier access to a wealth of parenting advice and emotional support for new mums.
Edward, who is also director at St Vincent’ s Private Hospital Melbourne Nursing Research Unit, says she found that social media can offer psychological benefits. This includes helping mothers transition into parenting, providing women who experience postpartum depression a safe place to connect with one another and receive information, encouragement and even hope.
“ The fast expansion of social media is altering the way people connect, particularly for healthcare purposes,” Edward says, adding that few studies have explored the relationship between social support and social interactions in an online environment during the postnatal period.
The participating hospital in this study established a nurse / midwife-led Facebook page for maternity patients in 2011 and 2013. The page had 3500 followers. The aim of the study was to extend knowledge related to the role of Facebook and the individual difference predictors – emotional and psychosocial variables – and how they relate to new mothers’ perceptions of social connectedness, support and mental wellbeing.
Participants were invited to undertake an online survey through a posting on the page, which measured social factors associated with postnatal depression, friendship network, lack of family support, lack of help from partner and feeling unloved, as well as taking into consideration demographic factors including age and where they lived.
Edward says,“ A social media group such as this Facebook group has the potential for offering a virtual support group that can mediate the negative impact of post-partum psychosocial complications such as maternal support, depression and anxiety.”
The study also found that social media increases accessibility of knowledge and health-related information and support.
“ These findings are encouraging with regards to engaging, supporting and providing health-related information to mothers in this type of forum,” Edward says.
GABRIELLE KOUTOUKIDIS | RNS AND ENS Nursing graduates are entering the workforce not fully understanding the scope of practice of ENs – a cause for concern for industry leaders.
Reports have shown role confusion exists throughout the nursing discipline as a result of various levels of education allowing different points of entry into practice, says Gabrielle Koutoukidis, head of strategic and business development Faculty of Health Science &
Community Studies at Homesglen, in Victoria.
“ Opportunities for registered nursing students, enrolled nursing students and nursing assistant students to work together as a team are rare in education,” she says, adding this is despite nursing personnel being expected to perform as part of a cohesive team straight after graduating.
Previously, recommendations have suggested using simulated scenarios could provide opportunities for students to demonstrate teamwork and an understanding of each other’ s role.
During a recent study, Koutoukidis observed communication between nursing teams at the institute, particularly focusing on
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