Perceptions of the impact of introducing administrative support for nurse unit managers: A qualitative evaluation.

AIM: To evaluate the impacts of introducing administrative support for nurse unit managers. BACKGROUND: Increased administrative load for nurse unit managers causes role stress and reduced opportunities for clinical leadership (state-wide review, Queensland, Australia). In response, a health organisation implemented a clerical 'Nurse Unit Manager Support Officer' position. METHODS: Qualitative descriptive evaluation, convenience sample (37 nurse unit managers and NUM Support Officers) and focus groups (13) provided data that were thematically analysed. RESULTS: Six impacts were identified: (a) improved nurse unit manager well-being; (b) more time to undertake clinical leadership; (c) greater efficiencies in finance, payroll and HR processes; (d) improved capacity for strategic leadership; (e) increased staff satisfaction and improved unit culture; and (f) improved succession planning. CONCLUSION: Findings reveal significant gains and benefits from the introduction of administrative support for the nurse unit manager role for the nurse unit manager and the units they manage. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Nurse unit manager role stress can negatively impact organisational climate, performance outcomes, staff satisfaction and retention. Health organisations need to implement strategies to reduce the administrative burden for nurse unit managers. The introduction of administrative support frees up time for nurse unit managers to engage in clinical leadership, positively impacting organisational climate, performance outcomes, and staff satisfaction and retention.

Bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferation of the metatarsal: a pediatric case report and archival review.

UNLABELLED: Bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferations (BPOP), also known as Nora's lesions, are rare tumors occurring most commonly in the hands and feet. They are benign and rarely exhibit radiological evidence of cortical invasion. We report a case of BPOP showing atypical magnetic resonance imaging features that are inconsistent with BPOP and having a novel chromosomal aberration. We also review the BPOP cases in our regional benign bone tumor database. LEVEL OF CLINICAL EVIDENCE: 4.

An age- and sex-matched comparative study on both-bone diaphyseal paediatric forearm fracture.

PURPOSE: Intramedullary (IM) nailing and plating are recognised fixation methods for both-bone midshaft forearm fractures. Although both methods are effective, IM nailing has recently been the accepted operative treatment for the paediatric population. The aim of the study was to compare the differences in the radiographic and functional outcomes of an age- and sex-matched cohort of children following treatment by IM fixation or plate fixation with screws for an unstable both-bone diaphyseal fracture. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted and 17 age- and sex-matched pairs of patients returned for a research review clinic. The average age of our patients was 11.6 years at follow up, with 11 boys and six girls in each group. The mean follow up was similar in both groups (IM 31.5 months, plating 31.8 months). RESULTS: Plating and IM nailing result in good or excellent functional and radiological outcomes. Radiographs at the review clinic showed complete healing in the plating group, with reconstitution of the radial bow. Three patients in the IM group did not regain the natural radial bow radiographically. There were no significant differences between both groups for maximum radial bow and its location (P > 0.05). However, the maximum radial bow was significantly different from normative values in both groups (P = 0.003 plate, P = 0.005 IM). No non-union or malunion was observed. There were no significant differences in the loss of forearm motion and grip strength between both groups. There was no difference in the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) scores between both groups. The plating group had a significantly worse Manchester scar score than the IM group (P = 0.012). One major complication was observed in each group: osteomyelitis for IM fixation and ulnar never palsy for plating. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that functional outcome is likely to be equivalent, regardless of which method of internal fixation is used.

Rickets in an adolescent girl.

The authors present a case of rickets in an adolescent girl who presented to the emergency department with bone pain. Emergency department staff should be aware that rickets is not just a disease of early childhood.

Developing an innovative undergraduate curriculum--responding to the 2002 National Review of Nursing Education in Australia.

The Australian government responded to the recent global critical shortage of registered nurses by initiating a national review into nursing education. The 36 recommendatons of the review report published in 2002 supported one or more of three strategies: building a sustainable workforce throuh partnership; maximising health outcomes through quaality education; and capacity building. The review drew extensively on the international research literature, invited submissions, previous reviews and commissioned research. This paper articulates the key features of a new innovative undergraduate nursing curriculum that incorporates several of the recommendations of the national review, specifically a new approach in delivery of the clinical component of the curriculum. The curriculum model emerged from a strategically planned partnership between a university and heath care providers committed to improving graduate outcomes and transition into professional practice. The curriculum was implemented in 2004 in a Faculty of Health Sciences that had not previously offered nursing programs. It is anticipated that the newly implemented undergraduate nursing program, modelled on a clinical schools partnership approach, will graduate registered nurses able to face the challenges of a rapidly changing health sector. The objective of this paper is to describe the key features of the program and share new insights that might challenge traditional curriculum approaches in undergraduate nursing.