Other Titles
Trending Issues Within Academia
Abstract
Session presented on Saturday, March 18, 2017:
The article discusses the implementation and results of a participatory action research (PAR) project carried out with baccalaureate nursing faculty from 2013 to 2016 in a private four year college in Northeastern United States. The aim of the project was to identify issues related to work environment according to the guidelines sent forth from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN, 2005) and the National League for Nurses (NLN, 2006). While research has been carried out in clinical practice settings related to work environment and its effects on nurses and patients, there is a paucity of research assessing the entity of work environment in academic settings and it effect on faculty, students and teaching. The participating faculty all had at least one year of teaching full time and were able to identify relevant factors that affect the work environment. Via the study results the researchers noted usage of PAR have led to a deeper and fuller understanding of the factors that shape faculty members' experiences and performance as a nursing educator. The study validates that academic work environments are influenced by multiple and inter-related factors. These factors include the following: recognizing and respecting each other as faculty; creating spaces to share with one another as faculty, developing and acknowledging teaching capabilities and recognizing how they impact the healthy learning environment in the classroom; utilizing 'precious' time, and valuing the efforts of this research. The faculty contend that we must do more to support a healthy work environment by setting high expectations for success, maintaining positive faculty to faculty, faculty to administrator and faculty to student relations, integrating healthy work environment curricula - such as course threads on work life balance, - promoting more creative innovative pedagogies in the classroom, expanding the range of extra-curricular activities for faculty and students, and working more closely with each other to role model for our students and promote positive outcomes in our students. Learning Objectives: The participant will learn about Participatory Action Research as an appropriate research methodology for this study. The participant will recognize challenges in todays academic setting. The participant will describe interventions that were implemented to impact the work environment. The participant will be aware of actions that are needed to sustain a healthy academic work environment.
Sigma Membership
Xi Chi
Lead Author Affiliation
York College of Pennsylvania, York, Pennsylvania, USA
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Collaborations, Academic Work Environment, Nursing Faculty, Undergraduate Nursing Faculty
Recommended Citation
Ruth-Sahd, Lisa A. and Beyer, Norma H., "Participatory Action Research: Learning About Work Environments Among Baccalaureate Nursing Faculty" (2017). Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE). 33.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2017/presentations_2017/33
Conference Name
Creating Healthy Work Environments 2017
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Conference Year
2017
Rights Holder
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Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2017-03-03
Participatory Action Research: Learning About Work Environments Among Baccalaureate Nursing Faculty
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Session presented on Saturday, March 18, 2017:
The article discusses the implementation and results of a participatory action research (PAR) project carried out with baccalaureate nursing faculty from 2013 to 2016 in a private four year college in Northeastern United States. The aim of the project was to identify issues related to work environment according to the guidelines sent forth from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN, 2005) and the National League for Nurses (NLN, 2006). While research has been carried out in clinical practice settings related to work environment and its effects on nurses and patients, there is a paucity of research assessing the entity of work environment in academic settings and it effect on faculty, students and teaching. The participating faculty all had at least one year of teaching full time and were able to identify relevant factors that affect the work environment. Via the study results the researchers noted usage of PAR have led to a deeper and fuller understanding of the factors that shape faculty members' experiences and performance as a nursing educator. The study validates that academic work environments are influenced by multiple and inter-related factors. These factors include the following: recognizing and respecting each other as faculty; creating spaces to share with one another as faculty, developing and acknowledging teaching capabilities and recognizing how they impact the healthy learning environment in the classroom; utilizing 'precious' time, and valuing the efforts of this research. The faculty contend that we must do more to support a healthy work environment by setting high expectations for success, maintaining positive faculty to faculty, faculty to administrator and faculty to student relations, integrating healthy work environment curricula - such as course threads on work life balance, - promoting more creative innovative pedagogies in the classroom, expanding the range of extra-curricular activities for faculty and students, and working more closely with each other to role model for our students and promote positive outcomes in our students. Learning Objectives: The participant will learn about Participatory Action Research as an appropriate research methodology for this study. The participant will recognize challenges in todays academic setting. The participant will describe interventions that were implemented to impact the work environment. The participant will be aware of actions that are needed to sustain a healthy academic work environment.