4 Corners Newsletter - Vol 2 - Central Queensland University

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CQUni addresses nurse shortage CQUniversity is doing its part to inject more nurses into the state health system with a new online course aimed at retraining registered nurses. According to the Queensland Nurses Union (QNI), Queensland will be short about 14,000 nurses over the next two years. CQUniversity’s new Registered Nurse Re-Entry Course (CRNRC) program is the only one of its kind offered in Queensland. The online course is designed for registered nurses who have let their registration lapse or who have not practiced for a minimum of five years. Currently there are 19 students enrolled in the program, who are living in all parts of Australia from Cooktown to Melbourne. CQUni’s Queensland Centre for Professional Health Education Director Deb Austen said the university identified a very strong need for the program. “This program is very important because there are a significant number of nurses seeking re-entry to the workforce, and they are able to be acknowledged for their previous experience while upgrading their knowledge of contemporary practice through a recognised course,” said Austen. The program is scheduled to run three times a year through CQUniversity. For more information on CQUniversity’s CRNRC program, join them on Facebook at www. facebook.com/CqUnicphe or contact Deb Austen d.austen@cqu.edu.au. Engaging online learners Online education for distant students is one of the fastest growing adult learning communities, but it does not mean ‘content is king’, according to the latest research. Funded by DEHub – a central research institute for investigation into best practices in distance education – researchers from content interactions in these courses? The team undertook an action research process that utilised a collective case Central Queensland University (CQUni) study design to reach cross-institution, and the University of Southern Queensland multidisciplinary understandings of the (USQ) investigated learner interaction in computer-mediated environments. “Distance education’s online environments offer an educational domain unique in their potential for interaction, participation and patterns, processes and consequences of learner-content, learner-learner and learnerteacher interaction in online courses. The conclusion from the research project is that learning management system (LMS) collaboration,” said Dolene Rossi, Lecturer, design features continue to favour learnercontent interactions. A major study planned at Noosa campus is a measurement of CQUni. “Still, little is known about the dynamics nurses’ responses and understanding of electrocardiographs (ECGs) and processes of learner interaction and how these relate to learning in online courses, which is why our research is invaluable.” Building upon different studies conducted by members of the project team (Beer, 2012; Rossi, 2010), two key questions were framed as a ‘way in’ to the investigation: How do learners interact in online courses? What are the patterns, processes and consequences of learner-learner, learner-teacher and learner- (From left) Professor Patrick Danahar, USQ; A/ Professor Bobby Harreveld, CQUni; Damien Clark, CQUni; Colin Beer, CQUni; Dr Henriette Van Rensburg, USQ; and Dr Dolene Rossi, CQUni. AGED CARE FORUM CQUniversity Rockhampton hosted a forum for Aged Care nursing professionals in June in partnership with Queensland Centre for Professional Development and the Centre for Professional Health Education – a division within CQUniversity’s School of Nursing. Managers of Aged Care facilities gathered to discuss their training needs, and provided a welcome opportunity for the University to showcase innovative nursing programs. The forum provided a great starting point to develop the training needs of the Aged Care industry, and for industry partners to brainstorm ideas for online short courses and face-to-face workshops. For more information contact Deborah Austen d.austen@cqu.edu.au “Of most interest to the teaching academic is that over-emphasis on content creation and learner-content interaction to engage learners is misguided,” said Dolene, chief investigator for the project. “Time may be better spent focusing on embedding interaction between learners, their peers and teachers in online course designs.” DEHub’s findings indicate that engagement with course content will naturally arise out of directed interaction between learners, their peers, and their teachers. However, the reverse is not necessarily the case, as directed interaction with content does not engage learners with their peers, or their teacher. BDG For more information on the research, contact Dr Dolene Rossi d.rossi@cqu.edu.au For more information on DEHub www.dehub.edu.au/ Director of Centre for Professional Health Education Deborah Austen shows local Managers around the Nursing labs 12
The Lady of the Lamp lights the corridors of CQUni Nursing students and academics at CQUniversity can enjoy walking past a beautiful stained glass window depicting Florence Nightingale – The Lady of the Lamp – thanks to a donation by a prominent obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr Tom Dewar, who created the artwork. Dr Dewar said the location would be fitting, since Florence Nightingale was a practical nurse and nurse educator as well as an academic who excelled at languages, history, philosophy, theology and statistics. Nursing is now a flagship program for CQUniversity. Fittingly, the stained glass window will be displayed in the foyer of the Amy Zelmer Building, which is home to the School of Nursing and Midwifery on Rockhampton Campus. Dr Dewar’s stained glass window was a feature of ceremonies for International Nurses Day on May 12, and it will also be in the spotlight during a conference in October to celebrate 20 years of nursing programs at CQUniversity. Speaking during the May 12 event as be presented the artwork, Dr Dewar said he had been captivated by the concept of light passing through a leadlight panel to tell a story. “The red crucifix signifies the part God played in her (Florence Nightingale’s) life. He called her three times, and this powerful stimulus altered the course of her life and Dr Dewar with the stained glass artwork sustained her,” he said. “History remembers her as The Lady with the Lamp. Florence elevated the status of nursing to a noble profession and initiated a formal training course. “Florence was home-schooled by her father so there was a huge male influence. She understood Latin, Greek, German, Italian, History and Philosophy. “I have used the term Reformer rather than Feminist. Florence was also an administrator and a whistleblower. Florence completed her education by spending several years in Europe. “This Lady did not succumb to the cult of celebrity and refused a State funeral and interment in Westminister Abbey.” ROK CAMPUS ACTIVITIES CAMPUS COMPASS 20 Year Celebration CQUni is celebrating 20 years of graduating Nursing and Midwifery students in October with a conference titled: Learning from one another – Education, Clinical Practice and Research. The conference is attracting nurses and midwives from the alumni and nationally. For more information, contact Conference Organiser, Dr Tony Welch a.welch@ cqu.edu.au on 07 5440 7035. “The premise of this conference - Looking Back to Inform the Future - allows us to revel in past glories and move them forward to inform tomorrow’s nurses,” said Professor Ysanne Chapman, Dean, School of Nursing and Midwifery. “With papers focused on the themes of learning and teaching, research and clinical practice, delegates will be able to catch a glimpse of nursing’s future.” AUGUST 2012 Wound Care Master Class Date: 15 August Venue: CQUni Rockhampton, ROK Building 18, Room 40 Cost: Members $70; Non-members $90 Time: 4-7pm Contact: Nurses for Nurses team 07 41513884 Attendees receive a certificate of attendance (3 CPD hours) OCTOBER 2012 20 years of Nursing and Midwifery conference ROK Learning from one another – Education, Clinical Practice and Research Date: 4-5 October Venue: CQUni Rockhampton Cost: 1 day $125 ($25 students); 2 days $250 ($50 students) Contact: Dr Tony Welch 07 54407035 Nurses in Management and Aged Care (NIMAC) have offered scholarships to four CQUni students to attend their conference at the Gold Coast this July. The students selected were Mary Young from Emerald, Mary Sorensen from Noosa, Lisa Dunkinson from Cooroy and Alissa Heale from Bundaberg. The selection was based on lecturer recommendations and students’ expressions of interest. 6 13
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4 Corners Newsletter - Vol 2 - Central Queensland University

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