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Griffin, E., & Walker, J. Best health care practices for women with disabilities from the perspective of three community health practitioners.
Abstract: There is a dearth of information about community-based health promotion ortreatment services for women with disabilities in New Zealand. Little is also knownabout what health care providers perceive are the best ways to provide theseservices.This study examines the question “ What are the best health care practices fordisabled women?” An exploratory, descriptive approach was used to interview threehealth professionals (one nurse and two doctors) working in two different generalpractices, regarding their perspective of this question. These health professionalswere identified by women with disabilities as providing a quality service to them.Data was collected on their philosophy of care, definitions of disability, professionaleducation and range of primary medical and nursing care provided. The data wasanalysed for recurring themes related to each of the semi-structured interviewquestions. The characteristics of 'best health care' were found to include:client-centered care, communication and equality of care. The findings have beendiscussed in relation to the recommendations from the 1993 National AdvisoryCommittee on Core Health and Disability Support Services and feminist literature
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Walker, J. (1998). The transition to registered nurse: the experience of a group of New Zealand degree graduates. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 13(2), 36–43.
Abstract: Since 1991, nursing profession in New Zealand has primarily been through a three year programme. The purpose of this study was to explore the issues faced by a group of degree graduates in their first year of registered nurse practice and to identify if the degree graduatesoutcomes (such as critical thinking, problem solving, reflection on practice, research, independent learning, and using cultural safety knowledge) had mediated this transposition process. Purpose sampling was used to invite five female graduates to take part in two focusgroups, one held at months and the other at 9 months after starting work. Qualitative data were collected using semi-structured questions and the taped interviews were analysed for themes. Five themes were identified: accepting responsibility, accepting their level of knowledge, becoming a team member, professional standards, and workplace conditions. Graduates were using their cultural safety knowledge but they perceived their knowledge of research was linked to further academic. Their ability to critique their own practice was evident but they found it difficult to challenge their colleagues' practice and the wider agency culture. Implications of the study are discussed in relation to nursing education and preceptor programmes and areas for further research are indicated
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Walker, J. (1996). Co-operative learning: an effective teaching method for tertiary education? Ph.D. thesis, , .
Abstract: Tertiary education aims to develop specialist knowledge and the graduates' ability toapply the knowledge and skills to function effectively in their chosen career or work.Employers have criticised tertiary education when graduates cannot workco-operatively or independently in the work setting and teachers look for alternativesto lecturing to help develop these abilities. Cooperative learning (CL) is one suchmethod and this paper reports on a literature review and pilot study which exploredthe use of CL in a tertiary setting. The study was guided by three questions: 1) Whatarea the teacher's conceptions of effective learning and teaching? 2) How are theyusing CL and what is their role? 3) How are they assessing CL classes?Data was collected through in-depth interviews, using semi-structured questions,with three female and one male teacher from different disciplines in an urbanpolytechnic. Responses to each question were analysed thematically for recurringcodes and these were grouped into categories. Effective teaching was seen aswhere teachers facilitated the learning process by selecting appropriate teachingmethods, fostering classroom climate and monitoring learning. Effective learning waswhere students were actively engaged in the learning process and demonstratedtheir understanding and application of knowledge and skills. CL was used in avariety of ways and their role was to use strategies to foster the learning processand monitor learning. Assessment involved both individual and group presentations.Issues related to cooperative learning are discussed and recommendations forteaching made
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Walker, J. (1995). Learning physical assessment skills. Ph.D. thesis, , .
Abstract: Nursing students have only recently learnt in-depth physical assessment skills within degree programmes in New Zealand. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the experience of learning physical assessment skills for the first time from the student's experience. In exploring this experience it was hoped to uncover some of the factors, beneficial or not, which influence their learning process. Data was collected by two methods. Firstly through two non-participant observations of a class of sixteen pre-registration male and female nursing students at an urban tertiary institute. Secondly through taped in-depth interviews with a female and a male student, from the group, individually and then together. The data was analysed using coding categories suggested by Bogdan and Biklen (1992) and emerging themes related to the process of learning new knowledge and skills. The four themes identified were: students working at learning, tutors facilitating learning, students facilitating learning and learning in clinical practice
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Walker, J. (1994). Learning psychomotor skills: Is Kolb's experiential learning cycle effective? Ph.D. thesis, , .
Abstract: The move to nursing degrees has encouraged educators to use student centredteaching methods which develop problem solving skills, critical thinking andreflection. Kola's Experiential learning cycle is proposed as one method to developsome of these skills. The study compared the effectiveness of three differentmethods of teaching the instillation of eye drops and application of an eye pad. Asample of 73 volunteers from a Diploma of Nursing programme were systematicallyassigned to one of three groups. The modified experimental design consisted of acontrol group (tutor demonstration and student practice), Kolb's group (teachingusing the experiential cycle) and the SDL group (self directed learning using writteninformation with no tutor instruction or feedback). Participants rated their confidence,competence and the amount of thinking, analysis, guidance and problem solvingbefore and after each method.Results for instilling eye drops indicated that there were no significant differences onthe pre-test ratings and a marginally significant difference (p=0.06) on the post testratings across the teaching methods. Results for the eye pad showed no significantdifferences on pre-test or post-test ratings across the methods. Students learnt by allmethods and the differences, if there were any, were not large enough to bedetected in this study. There was a significant difference in problem solving and tutorguidance across the methods due to the low ratings of the SDL group. There was nosignificant difference in thinking, analysis or partner guidance across the methods
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Walker, J. Problem based learning: an action research study on the effectiveness of classroom activities.
Abstract: Problem based learning (PBL) has been used in a Bachelor of Nursing course since 1996 and several modifications to this delivery have been made. These changes were in response to concerns from students and tutors that students knowledge level was not appropriate and they were unable to apply this knowledge to their practice. The pure PBL process has been adapted to gradually move from tutor direction to self-direction. This has enabled students to develop critical thinking, problem solving, information retrieval and evaluation skills and group work skills over an 18-week period.However, no rigorous evaluation of these changes had been undertaken and so the purpose of this study was to evaluate how the current format of PBL was meeting students learning needs. An action research method was chosen as most relevant to the context and the questions posed, namely: How useful are the classroom activities in developing students understanding and integration of knowledge? How well do the students perceive they are learning compared to traditional teacher-centred methods?Two cycles of the action research method (Cardno and Piggot-Irvine, 1994) were used, involving four tutors and 17 students. Data was collected both quantitatively and qualitatively. Findings indicated the importance of: explaining the purpose and process of PBL; communicating in detail the role of both students and tutors; keeping communication open between students and tutors; addressing timetabling issues and valuing this method of learning for nursing practice. Implications for nursing education are addressed
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Walker, J., & Bailey, S. (1999). The clinical performance of new degree graduates. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 14(2), 31–42.
Abstract: This study aimed to identify how graduates perceived their clinical performance during their first year of practice. A convenience sample of 30 graduates was surveyed after 3 months and 7 months in practice, using an adapted form of a questionnaire devised by Ryan and Hodson (1992). The results showed that over time, graduates generally required less direction in all areas of clinical competence. After 7 months in practice, the majority of the graduates rated their performance in nursing skills, communication skills, and professionalism at the expected level or above. However, some still required direction with using theory and research in practice, with meeting client's psychosocial needs and with teaching clients. In the leadership competency, after 7 months, most graduates saw themselves functioning at the expected level related to client care and needed less direction in unit management skills. However, many of the unit management skills were rated as 'not applicable' indicating that new graduates are not initially placed in a management role. Implications for nursing education and limitations of the research are discussed.
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Walker, J., Bailey, S., Brasell-Brian, R., & Gould, S. (2001). Evaluating a problem based learning course: An action research study. Contemporary Nurse, 10(1/2), 30–38.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate how the New Zealand style of problem based learning was developing students' understanding and integration of knowledge. The 'pure' problem based learning process has been adapted to move students gradually from teacher direction to taking responsibility for their learning. Two cycles of an action research method were used, involving 4 lecturers and 17 students. Data was collected both quantitatively and qualitatively over a 16-week period. Findings indicated the importance of: explaining the purpose and process of problem based learning; communicating in detail the role of both students and lecturers; keeping communication lines open; addressing timetabling issues and valuing this method of learning for nursing practice. Implications for nursing education are addressed.
Keywords: Nursing; Education; Teaching methods
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