Publications (2) View all
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Article: Promoting self awareness in undergraduate nursing students in relation to their health status and personal behaviours.
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ABSTRACT: The purpose of this article is to report the experience of facilitating, delivering and evaluating a health assessment workshop as part of Assessing and Promoting Health module on the Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc) General and Intellectual Disability programme. This module is delivered to 65 nursing students (40 general and 25 intellectual disability) undertaking the first year of the four year programme. The aim of the workshop is to promote health awareness among these undergraduate students. The objectives are to provide students with time to self assess their health knowledge and lifestyle practices. From this students' current health behaviours are discussed in conjunction with recommendations from the Department of Health and Children (DOHC) (2005). Students are then provided with an opportunity to assess the stresses they perceive in their own lives and this is followed by a relaxation session guided by the facilitators. The teaching methods focus mostly on active student participation, demonstration and experience sharing.Nurse education in practice 11/2010; 11(4):228-33. -
Article: Communication among nurses and adults with severe and profound intellectual disabilities: predicted and observed strategies.
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ABSTRACT: This study explored communication strategies adopted by staff nurses in a residential centre in Ireland for persons with severe and profound intellectual disabilities. Interactions between staff nurses and service users were video recorded and analysed to determine the frequencies of verbal and non-verbal communication acts. Semi-structured and focus group interviews were carried out with the 10 participating staff nurses. Participants identified staff-related factors, the communicative environment, alternative methods of communication and choice as key elements in communicating with service users. No differences were observed in the frequency of verbal and non-verbal communicative acts. There was a discrepancy between what communicative acts the participants named as their preferred strategies and those observed when they interacted with service users. Most failed to adjust their language to meet service users' needs. The findings suggest that staff nurses do not always adopt optimal strategies in everyday interactions with individuals who use non-verbal communication. Continuing education in communication is recommended.Journal of Intellectual Disabilities 07/2007; 11(2):127-41.
