Debra Jackson | University of Technology Sydney (original) (raw)

Papers by Debra Jackson

Research paper thumbnail of Desperately seeking parenthood: neonatal nurses reflect on parental anguish

Aim and objective. This paper aims to explore the ways in which neonatal nurses understand the ex... more Aim and objective. This paper aims to explore the ways in which neonatal nurses understand the experience of parents who have experienced infertility, conceived a baby via in vitro fertilisation and delivered an extremely premature infant. The chance of a poor long-term outcome for the baby is significant; therefore, parental anguish plays out in the neonatal intensive care. Background. Current literature suggests that infertility is a significant issue for ageing women and many couples experience multiple cycles of invitro-fertilisation (IVF) treatment to achieve a pregnancy. Babies conceived through IVF are more likely to have genetic disorders, and be born prematurely. When the baby is born through IVF and is also born extremely prematurely, it creates a crisis situation for the parents. This paper will focus on the parental anguish of achieving a pregnancy through IVF to see the baby born extremely prematurely (defined as ≤ 24-week gestation). It will examine parental anguish from caregiver perspective of the neonatal nurse who supports the parents through this very difficult time. Design. This study used interviews with neonatal nurses, and drew insights from interpretative phenomenology. Methods. This research used a combination of a questionnaire and a series of interviews in a qualitative study informed by phenomenology. The analysis of the interview data involved the creation of key themes following extensive coding of thematic statements and the analysis of the emerging themes. Results. This paper outlines the neonatal nurses' understanding of parental anguish and overwhelming sadness in parents whose baby was conceived by IVF, and was also born extremely prematurely. The theme of 'seeking parenthood' was synthesised from two sub-themes – 'longing for a baby' and 'the desperation to become parents'. Conclusion. This study identified that neonatal nurses bear witness to parental anguish as their hopes of taking home a live baby might not be realised. The time, effort and money required to achieve a pregnancy does not mean that the baby will be spared the outcomes of extreme prematurity and the risk factors associated with IVF. The parents may be left empty handed. Therefore, the word precious becomes a metaphor for the IVF baby as the neonatal team try desperately to give the parents their much longed baby.

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Research paper thumbnail of Guilt and shame: experiences of parents of self-harming adolescents

Journal of Child Health …, Jan 1, 2007

This paper reports the findings of a qualitative study that used a hermeneutic phenomenological m... more This paper reports the findings of a qualitative study that used a hermeneutic phenomenological methodology to develop insights into the experience of parents of young people who engage in self-harming behaviour. Six mothers (and one father who accompanied his wife) participated in the study. Findings reveal that mothers experienced guilt and shame, and that these feelings shaped their reactions and responses. These mothers described experiencing emotional dilemmas, such as the degree to which they could be responsible, uncertainty about how to understand self harm, and the best course of action to take with their child. They also encountered difficulties in combating the negative emotional effects for themselves and other family members. Findings provide insights that can help nurses and family health workers to understand and assist parents with greater effectiveness; by maintaining a non-judgemental stance, acknowledging the difficulties of their experiences, encouraging confidence in their parenting abilities, and promoting effective stress management strategies.

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Research paper thumbnail of 'If I was in my daughter's body I'd be feeling devastated': women's experiences of mothering an overweight or obese child

Journal of Child Health Care, Jan 1, 2007

Overweight and obesity in children is a major and ongoing public health concern and the negative ... more Overweight and obesity in children is a major and ongoing public health concern and the negative physical, social, and psychological sequelae of childhood obesity are well documented. Parents, particularly mothers, are implicated in discourses around childhood obesity; however, little is known about women's experiences of mothering an overweight or obese child. This article reports findings from a narrative-based study that sought to develop understandings into women's experiences of mothering an overweight or obese child. The findings provide insights into the experiences of mothering an overweight or obese child, and reveals how the climate of blame associated with mothering an overweight or obese child complicated the mothering experience for the women in this study. These insights can assist health, welfare and child care workers to understand the importance of establishing supportive and no-blame relationships with mothers of obese and overweight children, in order to develop supportive therapeutic alliances better.

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Research paper thumbnail of On the use of nursing theory in nurse education, nursing practice, and nursing research in Australia.

Nursing science quarterly, Jan 1, 1999

1. Nurs Sci Q. 1999 Oct;12(4):342-5. On the use of nursing theory in nurse education, nursing pra... more 1. Nurs Sci Q. 1999 Oct;12(4):342-5. On the use of nursing theory in nurse education, nursing practice, and nursing research in Australia. Daly J, Jackson D. Division of Nursing, Faculty of Health, University of Western Sydney Macarthur, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. ...

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Research paper thumbnail of Then suddenly he went right off the rails: mothers' stories of adolescent cannabis use.

Contemp Nurse, Jan 1, 2003

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Research paper thumbnail of “The Worse You Behave, The More You Seem, to be Rewarded”: Bullying in Nursing as Organizational Corruption

… responsibilities and rights …, Jan 1, 2009

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Research paper thumbnail of Using a strengths approach to understand resilience and build health capacity in families

Contemporary Nurse, Jan 1, 2005

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Research paper thumbnail of Through the looking glass: reflections on the authorship and content of current Australian nursing journals

Nursing Inquiry, Jan 1, 1996

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Research paper thumbnail of Mentored residential writing retreats: A leadership strategy to develop skills and generate outcomes in writing for publication

Nurse Education Today, Jan 1, 2009

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Research paper thumbnail of Constructing nursing practice: country of origin, culture and competency

International Journal of Nursing Practice, Jan 1, 1995

This study explored the everyday experiences of a group of overseas qualified female nurses from ... more This study explored the everyday experiences of a group of overseas qualified female nurses from non-English speaking backgrounds (NESB) entering the New South Wales health-care system. Migrant women from a variety of NESB participated by describing their experiences in the hospital environment as qualified nurses. Analysed data suggest that the experience of being a migrant woman has a profound effect on how these nurses construct nursing practice. National wealth and the dominant government ideologies operating in a nurse's country of qualification shape the practice of nurses. Nursing therefore is socially and culturally constructed, yet nurses seeking to practise in New South Wales (and other parts of Australia) are assessed against the Australian Nursing Council (Inc) competencies. Do these competencies support the current ideology of multiculturalism or do they reflect a monocultural view of the world? This paper raises questions concerning the use of competencies as an assessment tool for locally qualified and overseas qualified nurses.

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Research paper thumbnail of Nursing staff shortages: Issues in Australian residential aged care

Australian Journal of …, Jan 1, 2003

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Research paper thumbnail of Mothering and women's health: I love being a mother but... there is always something new to worry about

Australian …, Jan 1, 2003

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Research paper thumbnail of Multi‐faceted palliative care intervention: aged care nurses' and care assistants' perceptions and experiences

Journal of advanced …, Jan 1, 2008

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Research paper thumbnail of Mothers' experiences of parenting a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Journal of advanced nursing, Jan 1, 2009

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Research paper thumbnail of Disrupted sense of self: Young women and sexually transmitted infections

Journal of Clinical …, Jan 1, 2010

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Research paper thumbnail of Using the arts and humanities to support learning about loss, suffering and death.

International journal of palliative nursing, Jan 1, 2005

In this article, the benefits of using the arts and humanities as teaching and learning strategie... more In this article, the benefits of using the arts and humanities as teaching and learning strategies are explored. Their contribution to undergraduate nursing curricula, as a means of promoting a deeper understanding of the experiences of loss, suffering and death, cannot be undervalued. They need to be present equally alongside the physical and social sciences in nursing curricula. More than ever, is the need for all undergraduate nursing students to participate in self-reflection of these experiences, in order that they may meet the needs of their patients and families adequately, in a range of healthcare settings.

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Research paper thumbnail of Older women nurses: health, ageing concerns and self‐care strategies

Journal of Advanced …, Jan 1, 2008

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Research paper thumbnail of Servant Leadership in Nursing: A framework for developing sustainable research capacity in nursing

Collegian: Journal of the Royal College of Nursing …, Jan 1, 2008

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Research paper thumbnail of Current Challenges and Issues Facing Nursing In Australia

Nursing Science Quarterly, Jan 1, 2004

This column is a discussion of nursing in Australia. The authors present current challenges and i... more This column is a discussion of nursing in Australia. The authors present current challenges and issues related to recruitment and retention, an aging workforce, violence and bullying, diversity, undergraduate and graduate education, professional development, information technology, clinical pathways, models of care delivery, and funding models. They also present what is happening in Australia in relation to nursing's scope of practice, development of the nurse practitioner role, nursing leadership, and nursing research.

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Research paper thumbnail of Residential Aged Care: the Last Frontier for Palliative Care

Journal of …, Jan 1, 2006

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Research paper thumbnail of Desperately seeking parenthood: neonatal nurses reflect on parental anguish

Aim and objective. This paper aims to explore the ways in which neonatal nurses understand the ex... more Aim and objective. This paper aims to explore the ways in which neonatal nurses understand the experience of parents who have experienced infertility, conceived a baby via in vitro fertilisation and delivered an extremely premature infant. The chance of a poor long-term outcome for the baby is significant; therefore, parental anguish plays out in the neonatal intensive care. Background. Current literature suggests that infertility is a significant issue for ageing women and many couples experience multiple cycles of invitro-fertilisation (IVF) treatment to achieve a pregnancy. Babies conceived through IVF are more likely to have genetic disorders, and be born prematurely. When the baby is born through IVF and is also born extremely prematurely, it creates a crisis situation for the parents. This paper will focus on the parental anguish of achieving a pregnancy through IVF to see the baby born extremely prematurely (defined as ≤ 24-week gestation). It will examine parental anguish from caregiver perspective of the neonatal nurse who supports the parents through this very difficult time. Design. This study used interviews with neonatal nurses, and drew insights from interpretative phenomenology. Methods. This research used a combination of a questionnaire and a series of interviews in a qualitative study informed by phenomenology. The analysis of the interview data involved the creation of key themes following extensive coding of thematic statements and the analysis of the emerging themes. Results. This paper outlines the neonatal nurses' understanding of parental anguish and overwhelming sadness in parents whose baby was conceived by IVF, and was also born extremely prematurely. The theme of 'seeking parenthood' was synthesised from two sub-themes – 'longing for a baby' and 'the desperation to become parents'. Conclusion. This study identified that neonatal nurses bear witness to parental anguish as their hopes of taking home a live baby might not be realised. The time, effort and money required to achieve a pregnancy does not mean that the baby will be spared the outcomes of extreme prematurity and the risk factors associated with IVF. The parents may be left empty handed. Therefore, the word precious becomes a metaphor for the IVF baby as the neonatal team try desperately to give the parents their much longed baby.

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Research paper thumbnail of Guilt and shame: experiences of parents of self-harming adolescents

Journal of Child Health …, Jan 1, 2007

This paper reports the findings of a qualitative study that used a hermeneutic phenomenological m... more This paper reports the findings of a qualitative study that used a hermeneutic phenomenological methodology to develop insights into the experience of parents of young people who engage in self-harming behaviour. Six mothers (and one father who accompanied his wife) participated in the study. Findings reveal that mothers experienced guilt and shame, and that these feelings shaped their reactions and responses. These mothers described experiencing emotional dilemmas, such as the degree to which they could be responsible, uncertainty about how to understand self harm, and the best course of action to take with their child. They also encountered difficulties in combating the negative emotional effects for themselves and other family members. Findings provide insights that can help nurses and family health workers to understand and assist parents with greater effectiveness; by maintaining a non-judgemental stance, acknowledging the difficulties of their experiences, encouraging confidence in their parenting abilities, and promoting effective stress management strategies.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of 'If I was in my daughter's body I'd be feeling devastated': women's experiences of mothering an overweight or obese child

Journal of Child Health Care, Jan 1, 2007

Overweight and obesity in children is a major and ongoing public health concern and the negative ... more Overweight and obesity in children is a major and ongoing public health concern and the negative physical, social, and psychological sequelae of childhood obesity are well documented. Parents, particularly mothers, are implicated in discourses around childhood obesity; however, little is known about women's experiences of mothering an overweight or obese child. This article reports findings from a narrative-based study that sought to develop understandings into women's experiences of mothering an overweight or obese child. The findings provide insights into the experiences of mothering an overweight or obese child, and reveals how the climate of blame associated with mothering an overweight or obese child complicated the mothering experience for the women in this study. These insights can assist health, welfare and child care workers to understand the importance of establishing supportive and no-blame relationships with mothers of obese and overweight children, in order to develop supportive therapeutic alliances better.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of On the use of nursing theory in nurse education, nursing practice, and nursing research in Australia.

Nursing science quarterly, Jan 1, 1999

1. Nurs Sci Q. 1999 Oct;12(4):342-5. On the use of nursing theory in nurse education, nursing pra... more 1. Nurs Sci Q. 1999 Oct;12(4):342-5. On the use of nursing theory in nurse education, nursing practice, and nursing research in Australia. Daly J, Jackson D. Division of Nursing, Faculty of Health, University of Western Sydney Macarthur, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. ...

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Research paper thumbnail of Then suddenly he went right off the rails: mothers' stories of adolescent cannabis use.

Contemp Nurse, Jan 1, 2003

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Research paper thumbnail of “The Worse You Behave, The More You Seem, to be Rewarded”: Bullying in Nursing as Organizational Corruption

… responsibilities and rights …, Jan 1, 2009

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Using a strengths approach to understand resilience and build health capacity in families

Contemporary Nurse, Jan 1, 2005

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Through the looking glass: reflections on the authorship and content of current Australian nursing journals

Nursing Inquiry, Jan 1, 1996

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Mentored residential writing retreats: A leadership strategy to develop skills and generate outcomes in writing for publication

Nurse Education Today, Jan 1, 2009

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Constructing nursing practice: country of origin, culture and competency

International Journal of Nursing Practice, Jan 1, 1995

This study explored the everyday experiences of a group of overseas qualified female nurses from ... more This study explored the everyday experiences of a group of overseas qualified female nurses from non-English speaking backgrounds (NESB) entering the New South Wales health-care system. Migrant women from a variety of NESB participated by describing their experiences in the hospital environment as qualified nurses. Analysed data suggest that the experience of being a migrant woman has a profound effect on how these nurses construct nursing practice. National wealth and the dominant government ideologies operating in a nurse's country of qualification shape the practice of nurses. Nursing therefore is socially and culturally constructed, yet nurses seeking to practise in New South Wales (and other parts of Australia) are assessed against the Australian Nursing Council (Inc) competencies. Do these competencies support the current ideology of multiculturalism or do they reflect a monocultural view of the world? This paper raises questions concerning the use of competencies as an assessment tool for locally qualified and overseas qualified nurses.

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Research paper thumbnail of Nursing staff shortages: Issues in Australian residential aged care

Australian Journal of …, Jan 1, 2003

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Research paper thumbnail of Mothering and women's health: I love being a mother but... there is always something new to worry about

Australian …, Jan 1, 2003

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Research paper thumbnail of Multi‐faceted palliative care intervention: aged care nurses' and care assistants' perceptions and experiences

Journal of advanced …, Jan 1, 2008

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Research paper thumbnail of Mothers' experiences of parenting a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Journal of advanced nursing, Jan 1, 2009

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Disrupted sense of self: Young women and sexually transmitted infections

Journal of Clinical …, Jan 1, 2010

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Using the arts and humanities to support learning about loss, suffering and death.

International journal of palliative nursing, Jan 1, 2005

In this article, the benefits of using the arts and humanities as teaching and learning strategie... more In this article, the benefits of using the arts and humanities as teaching and learning strategies are explored. Their contribution to undergraduate nursing curricula, as a means of promoting a deeper understanding of the experiences of loss, suffering and death, cannot be undervalued. They need to be present equally alongside the physical and social sciences in nursing curricula. More than ever, is the need for all undergraduate nursing students to participate in self-reflection of these experiences, in order that they may meet the needs of their patients and families adequately, in a range of healthcare settings.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Older women nurses: health, ageing concerns and self‐care strategies

Journal of Advanced …, Jan 1, 2008

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Servant Leadership in Nursing: A framework for developing sustainable research capacity in nursing

Collegian: Journal of the Royal College of Nursing …, Jan 1, 2008

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Current Challenges and Issues Facing Nursing In Australia

Nursing Science Quarterly, Jan 1, 2004

This column is a discussion of nursing in Australia. The authors present current challenges and i... more This column is a discussion of nursing in Australia. The authors present current challenges and issues related to recruitment and retention, an aging workforce, violence and bullying, diversity, undergraduate and graduate education, professional development, information technology, clinical pathways, models of care delivery, and funding models. They also present what is happening in Australia in relation to nursing's scope of practice, development of the nurse practitioner role, nursing leadership, and nursing research.

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Research paper thumbnail of Residential Aged Care: the Last Frontier for Palliative Care

Journal of …, Jan 1, 2006

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