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Abstract |
This study sought to determine the attitudes, beliefs and values towards clinical work organisation of students entering undergraduate medicine, nursing and pharmacy programmes in order to frame questions for a wider study. University of Auckland students entering medicine, nursing and pharmacy programmes completed a questionnaire based on that used by Degeling et al. in studies of the professional subcultures working in the health system in Australia, New Zealand, England and elsewhere. Findings indicate that before students commence their education and training medical, nursing and pharmacy students as groups or sub-cultures differ in how they believe clinical work should be organised. Medical students believe that clinical work should be the responsibility of individuals in contrast to nursing students who have a collective view and believe that work should be systemised. Pharmacy students are at a mid-point in this continuum. There are many challenges for undergraduate programmes preparing graduates for modern healthcare practice where the emphasis is on systemised work and team based approaches. These include issues of professional socialisation which begins before students enter programmes, selection of students, attitudinal shifts and interprofessional education. |
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