Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore nursing specific processes associated with communities of practice (CoPs) in specialized acute care settings with a focus on their potential role in Registered Nurse (RN) integration and professional development. The following research questions were formulated to support the achievement of this purpose: (a) What are the key features, roles, and processes of a community of practice (CoP) in specialized acute care nursing practice settings?; (b) What are the social processes that are integral to the integration of RNs into their chosen specialized acute care nursing practice settings; (c) What role, if any, do CoPs serve in the integration process of RNs into their chosen specialized acute care nursing practice settings? Research Design: This research was conducted using a constructivist grounded theory approach. Sample/Setting: The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) has designated 20 areas as specialties, examples of which include Cardiovascular Nursing, Emergency Nursing, Neuroscience Nursing, Perinatal Nursing, Perioperative Nursing, and Oncology Nursing. From these 20 CNA designations, three specialized areas were chosen for this study. To safeguard the confidentiality of study participants, the units are identified only as A, B, and C. These nursing units were situated within the same urban tertiary institution in a mid-sized Western Canadian city. In total, 19 RNs employed in specialized care units participated in this research. Methods/Procedure: The study was conducted from March 2012 through September 2013 following ethical and operational approval from all required institutions. During this 18-month period, 19 RN participants were engaged in a total of 25 interviews and several participants were invited to submit personal reflective journals, with 8 sets of journals submitted and included as part of the study data. Following transcription, the interviews as well as the journal entries were entered into the ATLAS.ti software program to aid with organization of study coding. Data analysis was completed following the constructivist grounded theory approach of Charmaz (2006). Findings: Key findings from this research included the identification of competence in the specialized RN role as a main concern for participants. The achievement of competence was influenced by two Basic Social Processes (BSPs) relating to the transition and integration of new RNs into their specialized environments. For each of these BSPs, there are additional phases that further define the experience. Developing a Sense of Specialized RN Self (transition) included the phases Finding RN Fit, Sharing Passion and Community Values, and Embracing Life-Long Learning. Integrating into Specialized RN Practice (integration) included the phases Learning the Ropes and Settling In. The social context for this development was a CoP in each specialized unit and the particular aspects of these nursing community groups were also uncovered during the course of this research and are detailed in the study findings. Conclusions: These research results have highlighted the importance of delineating the fundamental differences in the processes of RN transition and integration. The findings have also provided a foundation for a newly emerging consideration of CoPs in nursing and their potential role in supporting the transition and integration of RNs. Knowing more about how CoPs function in their workplaces may allow RNs, either newly graduated or new to their specialty areas, to be more successful in their own transition and integration experiences.

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Objective: To determine the readiness of registered nurses (RNs) who provide care for patients with diabetes in a primary care setting for RN prescribing. Setting: Canadian provinces and territories. Participants: Canadian RNs working in primary care settings who provide care to patients with diabetes. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was used to examine the readiness of RNs by measuring the attributes of readiness (value, confidence and willingness). The survey included questions on the demographic profile of participants including their age, education level and whether or not they had obtained additional certifications. This data was used to describe the sample and to determine whether there were differences between RNs who were ready to prescribe and RNs who were not ready to prescribe. Results: Almost 75% of the respondents were "ready" for RN prescribing. There were high positive correlations between "value" and "confidence", "value" and "willingness", and "confidence" and "willingness". There were no statistically significant differences in age, level of education and certifications for respondents who were ready to prescribe compared to those who were not ready to prescribe. Conclusions: The results of the present study indicate that RNs who provide care for patients with diabetes in a primary care setting are ready for prescribing. This practice has the potential to make more effective use of health human resources, allowing RNs to work to their full potential and increase accessibility to care for patients with diabetes.

From its very beginnings, regional science has been open to intellectual exchange with many other scientific disciplines. This has led to cross-fertilization, but also to problems concerning the intellectual identity of regional science. After half a century of history of the field, it is time to ask the question, whether or not regional science has developed into a scientific discipline in these decades. In this paper we use cross-citation data between 464 journals in different disciplines to answer this question. With this data set we attempt to find out, how strongly regional science journals are interconnected by citations as compared to their citation links to journals in neighbouring disciplines. We find that when we consider the raw citation data, regional science becomes fragmented with its journals tied to those from economics, geography, planning, etc. When we standardize the citation information to take into account size differences between journals, however, regional science appears to form a strong and well connected dscientific discipline. / Series: SRE - Discussion Papers

Objective: To determine the readiness of registered nurses (RNs) who provide care for patients with diabetes in a primary care setting for RN prescribing. Setting: Canadian provinces and territories. Participants: Canadian RNs working in primary care settings who provide care to patients with diabetes. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was used to examine the readiness of RNs by measuring the attributes of readiness (value, confidence and willingness). The survey included questions on the demographic profile of participants including their age, education level and whether or not they had obtained additional certifications. This data was used to describe the sample and to determine whether there were differences between RNs who were ready to prescribe and RNs who were not ready to prescribe. Results: Almost 75% of the respondents were "ready" for RN prescribing. There were high positive correlations between "value" and "confidence", "value" and "willingness", and "confidence" and "willingness". There were no statistically significant differences in age, level of education and certifications for respondents who were ready to prescribe compared to those who were not ready to prescribe. Conclusions: The results of the present study indicate that RNs who provide care for patients with diabetes in a primary care setting are ready for prescribing. This practice has the potential to make more effective use of health human resources, allowing RNs to work to their full potential and increase accessibility to care for patients with diabetes.

MACEDO, M. G. de M. Rentabilidade e eficiência econômica de uma pescaria tropical de livre acesso : o caso da frota artesanal de Macau, Nordeste do Brasil. 2015. Dissertação (Mestrado em Ciências Marinhas Tropicais) - Instituto de Ciências do Mar, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, 2015. / Submitted by Geovane Uchoa (geovane@ufc.br) on 2016-09-01T12:19:31Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2015_dis_mgmdemacedo.pdf: 1145919 bytes, checksum: 84a0aef857e24b87236919bd5644bcf4 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Nadsa Cid (nadsa@ufc.br) on 2016-09-02T15:08:36Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2015_dis_mgmdemacedo.pdf: 1145919 bytes, checksum: 84a0aef857e24b87236919bd5644bcf4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-02T15:08:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2015_dis_mgmdemacedo.pdf: 1145919 bytes, checksum: 84a0aef857e24b87236919bd5644bcf4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / This research discusses vessel economic behaviour, applying financial management and microeconomics knowledge to evaluate economic performance of an open access tropical artisanal fishing fleet. A total of 10 engine boats, overall length between 7,5 and 8,8 meters operating in Macau, northeast Brazil, was surveyed with respect to the costs, earnings, profits and economic efficiency in 156 fishing trips between September 2013 and June 2014. Fishing gear used by fishermen were gillnets in a wide range of mesh sizes and hooks of different sizes attached to lines, appropriated to catch target species. The sample calculated economic efficiency was 1,27, with a gross profit margin of 21%, both calculated before taxes and interests. The fishing effort considered was the working of a fisherman in a fishing day. It was found that most of the boats have utilization index close to 60% and, by diminishing port time, economic efficiency could be improved. As fishing time, boats that have fast fishing trips (1 to 3 days) targeting low value species (small pelagic species, as Hirundichthys affinis, Hyporramphus spp., Hemirramphus spp. and Opisthonema oglinum) obtained better profits than longer fishing trips, over 4 days, targeting higher value species (as example, Ocyurus chrysurus, Coryphaena hippurus and Scomberomorus brasiliensis). / Este estudo discute o comportamento econômico das embarcações, aplicando conhecimentos de administração e de microeconomia para avaliar o desempenho econômico de uma frota pesqueira tropical artesanal de livre acesso. Um total de 10 embarcações motorizadas, entre 7,5 e 8,8 metros de comprimento da frota de Macau, Nordeste do Brasil, foi pesquisada quanto aos custos, receitas, lucros e eficiência econômica, em 156 cruzeiros de pesca no período de setembro de 2013 a junho de 2014. Como petrechos de pesca, pescadores utilizam redes de espera de malhas variadas e linha com anzol de diferentes tamanhos, apropriados para a espécie alvo. A eficiência econômica calculada da amostra foi de 1,27, e a margem de lucro foi de 21%, ambas calculadas antes de juros e impostos. A unidade de esforço considerada foi o trabalho de um pescador em um dia de pesca. Foi constatado que a maioria das embarcações apresentam índices de utilização para a pesca próximos a 60% e, através da diminuição do tempo de porto, a eficiência econômica poderia ser melhorada. Quanto ao tempo de viagem, embarcações que realizam viagens mais curtas (1 a 3 dias), voltada para espécies de menor valor comercial (pequenos pelágicos, como Hirundichthys affinis, Hyporramphus spp., Hemirramphus spp. e Opisthonema oglinum), obtêm maiores taxas de lucro do que as embarcações com cruzeiros de pesca mais longos, superior a 4 dias, voltados para a captura de espécies de maior valor (por exemplo, Ocyurus chrysurus, Coryphaena hippurus e Scomberomorus brasiliensis).

Objective: To determine the readiness of registered nurses (RNs) who provide care for patients with diabetes in a primary care setting for RN prescribing. Setting: Canadian provinces and territories. Participants: Canadian RNs working in primary care settings who provide care to patients with diabetes. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was used to examine the readiness of RNs by measuring the attributes of readiness (value, confidence and willingness). The survey included questions on the demographic profile of participants including their age, education level and whether or not they had obtained additional certifications. This data was used to describe the sample and to determine whether there were differences between RNs who were ready to prescribe and RNs who were not ready to prescribe. Results: Almost 75% of the respondents were "ready" for RN prescribing. There were high positive correlations between "value" and "confidence", "value" and "willingness", and "confidence" and "willingness". There were no statistically significant differences in age, level of education and certifications for respondents who were ready to prescribe compared to those who were not ready to prescribe. Conclusions: The results of the present study indicate that RNs who provide care for patients with diabetes in a primary care setting are ready for prescribing. This practice has the potential to make more effective use of health human resources, allowing RNs to work to their full potential and increase accessibility to care for patients with diabetes.

Documentation of care plans by Registered Nurses (RN) within acute care is imperative. There is scant research related to the experiences of nurses with written care plans within this context. The purpose of this study was to describe RN’s experiences with care plan practice. Qualitative descriptive methodology informed by a socio-ecological perspective was used to conduct this inquiry. Ten participants were recruited from four medical/surgical settings. Six RNs, two Clinical Educators and two Health Service Managers participated in semi-structured interviews. Two themes with associated sub-themes were derived utilizing thematic analysis: Unwritten Care Planning and Modernizing Care Planning. Study findings concluded that unwritten care planning was the experience described by participants. Factors influencing participant’s experiences of care planning included unclaimed accountability, care delivery processes and context of care. Participants also described strategies to enhance care planning practice. This research can guide practice improvements and builds upon existing care plan research.