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A longitudinal study of 403 Australian nurses who undertook postgraduate studies received 236 responses. Respondents indicated that postgraduate education had an impact on a number of professional behaviors but little or no effect on others, such as autonomy, time management, use of computers, and communication with patients. (Contains 25 references.) (SK)

Reports a comparison of academic achievements in graduate nursing programs between those with undergraduate qualifications and those admitted using a recognition of prior learning (RPL) initiative. Results indicate that the academic achievement of the hospital-trained nurses was similar to those admitted with a formal qualification. (AEF)

A Delphi panel of 28 Australian nurse educators and 42 clinicians identified 58 practice items in which reality was far from ideal. In particular, for 16 items related to patient empowerment, nursing research, and technology policy, clinical behavior was rated below the median. (SK)

Findings of survey responses of 480 nursing students included the following: 42% undertook graduate study for personal or job satisfaction, 22% for professional status, 17% for job opportunities; 40% did not perceive barriers to study; and 49% did not expect employers to hinder study. (SK)

Background: The challenge posed by the worldwide nursing shortage is significant not only for workforce and facility planners, but also for those who educate nurses for practice and nurses themselves. The provision of skilled and competent advanced nurses is clearly a goal of postgraduate education. An increasing shortage of skilled and qualified nursing staff to provide the required level of care is evident in Australia. Objective To determine the impact of graduate education on registered nurses' personal and professional development. Design A longitudinal descriptive and co-relational study of postgraduate nursing students using postal survey. Sample: Five cohorts (1998-2002) of nurses who had graduated from university with a graduate diploma or master of nursing qualification were all surveyed over six years post graduation (n=151). Results: The study showed the greatest motivator to change jobs was greater job satisfaction; self esteem and their ability to carry out their role exceeded their job satisfaction; one quarter wanted to change their career and the strongest facilitator and the strongest barrier to career advancement were their personal situation. Conclusion: This paper focuses on recent career moves, motivation, intentions and influencing factors six years after completion of their tertiary studies. This information is critical in choosing retention strategies and workforce planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasingly, documentation, both formal and Informal, is being undertaken by nurses using a range of modalities. In Australia there is a sense that the demand for this in the aged care sector is increasing in line with requirements of funding agencies. However, the scope of this activity and its impact on nursing workload in aged care facilities has not been rigorously investigated. Funding of aged care facilities in the public hospital system in Australia is dependent on documentation of care. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency and time of day that documentation and transfer of clinical information activities occurred for nurses of all skill levels in two aged care facilities in New South Wales, Australia. Design: Work sampling of direct care, indirect care, unit-related activities and personal time. Setting: Two hospitals with aged care facilities near Sydney, Australia Subjects: One hundred and six nurses. Results: 16,395 observations of nursing activities were recorded. The transfer of clinical information between health care professionals comprises a large part of the nurse's working day. It comprised between 37 and 38% in this study, but the time of day in which it took place differed between the two hospitals. Conclusion: Documentation needs to be seen as an integral part of care by managers and clinicians. Both would wish to ensure that it is undertaken in the most efficient and effective manner to allow the necessary time for direct care. More detailed understanding may allow clinical unit managers to re-structure the workday in terms of documentation to achieve greater efficiencies or effective use of nursing time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As in other countries, the Australian healthcare industry is replete with massive data collections, often not used effectively to generate meaningful information to inform decision making, particularly at the operational or clinical level. While senior administrators and planners may use the data for forecasting or benchmarking, it is imperative that clinicians, including nurses and nurse managers, appreciate the value of the data and develop the knowledge and skills to access, analyze, and use it to inform their decision making. Only in the last decade or so have increasing numbers of nurses moved toward higher levels of information technology competence, particularly as information technology applications entered the healthcare sector. Facility in understanding standard administrative data is an important new skill for nurses who have an interest in information management. It is a skill that can readily be taught and its value becomes clearly evident to the students. This article describes an Australian University's Faculty of Nursing's approach to teaching this material at the master's level.

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) have become a well-established therapy for people experiencing potentially lethal dysrhythmias. Australian recipients' quality of life and adjustment to the device over time, device-related complications, shock and associated sensations, and potential sequelae have not been widely explored. This paper reports a longitudinal prospective study of Australian ICD recipients (n = 74) to determine their responses to the device, health-related quality of life over time and shock experiences. A questionnaire designed for the study and the Medical Outcomes Trust Quality of Life Instrument, the SF36, were completed by recipients prior to and at 3 and 12 months post insertion. Results show that quality of life decreased for general health and social function between 3 and 12 months. Nearly half (49%) of the recipients received shocks within 12 months and the majority (92%) of these experienced sequelae that could make driving hazardous. Half of the population (49%) were driving at 3 months and 69% by 12 months, including 67% of those who had been shocked. Twenty-seven percent were hospitalized with device-related complications. Driving, the shock experience and rehospitalization, the shock experience and driving behaviour are significant issues for those with the implanted device. While it is a limitation of the study that partners and carers were not included, these findings will also be of interest to them.