Candidate: Pat Nicholson coordinates the Anaesthetic and Perioperative specialty programs in Nursing at Melbourne and is a PhD candidate in the Melbourne Graduate School of Education.
Abstract
Despite the substantial body of literature examining the psychological factors influencing judgement in the workplace, there is a lack of empirical research into the assessors’ decision-making processes. The aim of the study is to extend development and validation of an instrument (performance based rubrics, which describes levels of quality for each of the criteria, usually on a point scale, intended to be used to rate a performance and decrease the subjectivity involved during the assessment process). The instrument is required for determining the competence of the instrument nurse in the operating suite according to Australian College of Operating Theatre Nurses (ACORN, 2006). The study will explore factors that influence the judgement of the assessors when determining the performance of the instrument nurse in the operating suite.
Candidate: Karen Nightingale is a Senior Lecturer in Nursing at Melbourne and coordinator of the Master of Nursing Science. She is undertaking her professional doctorate in the Melbourne Graduate School of Education.
Abstract
Graduate-entry, accelerated and fast track programs have proliferated in the USA and Canada over the last ten years in a range of discipline areas including medicine, physiotherapy, teaching and nursing. Australia is only now witnessing an increase in the graduate-entry programs. Research into the success or otherwise of these program both here and overseas has been limited. This research study aims to investigate the following questions:
a) Has the introduction of graduate entry programs contributed to reducing shortages in the nursing workforce?
b) What are the predictors of success as measured by course completion, grade point average, award of prizes and first preference match in graduate nurse program?
c) Are advanced practice and leadership roles held by these graduates within a three year postgraduate timeframe?