Professional support in rural New South Wales: Perceptions of new graduate occupational therapists
- 16 August 2004
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in Australian Journal of Rural Health
- Vol. 12 (4), 160-165
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1854.2004.00590.x
Abstract
To explore the experiences of professional support among new graduates working in rural New South Wales, including the current availability of professional support and the impact of support levels on professional practice. Qualitative, using semistructured face-to-face or telephone interviews. New graduate occupational therapists employed in public and private hospitals and community health services in rural New South Wales. Nine new graduate occupational therapists within their first year of practice. A description of participant experiences of professional support and strategies to enhance the recruitment and retention of occupational therapists in rural areas. Participants reported varied experiences of professional support and emphasised the importance of having access to a wide variety of resources. Participants highlighted that professional support could assist in developing independence and other skills. However, ultimately a lack of support resulted in decreased confidence and subsequent decreased job satisfaction among participants. The findings suggest that greater effort should be directed to ensuring that all new graduates have access to professional support, including structured supervision, and that strategies be explored and adopted to ensure that this occurs.Keywords
This publication has 16 references indexed in Scilit:
- Using adult education theories: facilitating others’ learning in professional practice settingsPublished by Elsevier ,2003
- Role models and mentors: informal and formal ways to learn from exemplary practicePublished by Elsevier ,2003
- Clinical Governance at Gloucestershire Royal NHS Trust Occupational Therapy ServiceBritish Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2000
- A critical essay on professional development in dietetics through a process of reflection and clinical supervisionJournal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 2000
- Basic Grade Occupational Therapists: A Descriptive Evaluation of a Community Rotation SchemeBritish Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2000
- Staff Supervision for Occupational TherapistsBritish Journal of Occupational Therapy, 1999
- The contribution of occupational therapy to the fabric of Australian rural and remote communitiesAustralian Occupational Therapy Journal, 1997
- Developing a Sole Occupational Therapy Position in a Rural AreaAustralian Occupational Therapy Journal, 1992
- Reasons for Attrition From Occupational TherapyAmerican Journal of Occupational Therapy, 1990