Bridging borders to enhance advocacy education
CQUniversity healthcare educator and researcher Dr Lydia Mainey is bringing a global perspective back to regional Queensland after examining nursing advocacy and activism education in the United Kingdom (UK).
The Cairns-based academic spent three months at the University of Greenwich where she collaborated with Dr Ryan Essex, an Australian bioethicist with experience in refugee and asylum seeker detention centres; Sarah Richardson, a nursing lecturer at the University of Essex; and Associate Professor Jess Dillard-Wright, a nursing philosopher from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
The researchers’ key initiative involved developing an innovative framework which aims to educate undergraduate nursing students about the vital roles of advocacy and activism in healthcare and prepare them for the challenges of modern healthcare.
“During the course of a working day, nurses may encounter situations compelling them to increase people's autonomy, healthcare access, streamline healthcare, mobilise resources, influence policy, and change systems,” Dr Mainey explained.
“These activities, which are inherently political, can be labelled as advocacy and activism. Both advocacy and activism are crucial in driving change within healthcare systems.
“Advocacy is typically associated with more diplomatic activities, influencing people, whereas activism is about overhauling a system. But whether it’s advocacy or activism, both aim to achieve some kind of social justice change.
“These concepts are essential, as nurses often encounter situations where they must champion patient autonomy, improve healthcare access, mobilise resources, and influence policy.”
Dr Mainey, who has long been known for her proactive advocacy and activism engagement in the Australian healthcare community, said the framework is designed to be adapted to people's contexts.
“The ability in which people can legally do advocacy and activism, depends on the country or jurisdiction in which they're in,” Dr Mainey said.
“We created a framework that could be adaptable to different countries.”
She highlighted the significance of the cross-institutional and cross-disciplinary study being undertaken in the UK was to combine different perspectives and expertise from across the globe – with renowned researchers from political environmental science and democratic mental health.
“I was motivated to work with academic leaders in environmental political science, social justice, trade unionism, governance and simulation, and explore if we could design novel teaching activities such as getting political science and nursing students working together.
“Dr Jeremy Moulton from the University of York is really leading advocacy and activism simulations with his political science students. We worked to adapt the simulation to be relevant for nursing students and it is now being used in the UK,” Dr Mainey said.
“People who aren't nurses and healthcare providers make decisions about patients, or without consulting patients. The simulation teaches students how to get involved in political spheres – from a clinical scenario, a community forum, to a governance or political forum.
“While political science and nursing professions wouldn't typically engage, working in synergy with each other opens opportunities to create positive outcomes for both parties.
“The goal is to create a relationship where nurses can hear real issues that nurses face firsthand, and in return provide advice or information to empower future nurses to be strong advocates and activists in their field.”
Currently, the framework is under review by a reference group with experts from Australia, Canada and the United States.
“I hope to diversify to see how well it translates to other cultures and other contexts and try and learn from cultures that value advocacy and activism differently,” Dr Mainey said.
“This curriculum framework is expected to set a new standard in nursing education and inspire similar initiatives worldwide."
Dr Mainey’s trip was completed as part of CQU’s Outside Studies Program (OSPRO) program, which provides opportunities to participate in outside activities in order to develop staff capability and individual professional goals.
She acknowledged the support CQU provided through OSPRO as a testament to the University’s commitment to fostering global partnerships and developing educational programs.
