Suchergebnisse

Abstract
Higher education attainment has a powerful ability to increase the social and economic mobility of individuals and contribute to the human capital development of diverse communities and nations. Despite the numerous benefits of collegiate attainment, research has shown that opportunities to attain a college degree and advance within the academy are not the same for all students. Specifically, students from nontraditional college-going backgrounds—specifically first-generation college students—are often hindered by structures and norms that devalue their myriad social, cultural, and intersectional experiences and wisdom. While institutions of higher education have increased investment in improving student access and retention at the undergraduate level, comparatively little attention has been paid to the enrollment, persistence, and graduation of first-generation students at the graduate school level. This article examines the experience of "first-gen" graduate students and argues that, in order to undermine rather than replicate civically corrosive structures of class and race inequality over the long term, institutions of higher education must better support first-generation graduate students in their efforts to join the academic ranks.

BACKGROUND: The intimate examination is an important component of the assessment of a patient presenting with obstetric or gynaecological concerns. Ultrasound practitioners, like any other medical practitioner, are in a unique and privileged position. During the examination, the sonographers engage in a very close and personal interaction with an individual whom they have likely never met. They are also most likely unfamiliar with their social situation, cultural background, previous experiences with the healthcare profession and more importantly, any history of sexual trauma. It is an extremely sensitive area of practice which places a great deal of responsibility on the clinician to ensure that they not only protect their patient from psychological distress, but also themselves, from the threat of litigation arising from such distress. AIMS: This paper highlights the current governance requirements for sonographers and makes suggestions to support them in safeguarding their patients and themselves from allegations of unprofessional conduct, until such a regulatory body exists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A wide‐ranging review of the literature exploring the perceptions of female patients regarding intimate sonographic examination was performed using standard search engines. Additionally, grey literature was searched for policy statements and government regulatory documents for guidance on the topic. RESULTS: Although much research has been undertaken in this field across diverse cultures and knowledge in this area is ever increasing; however, the guidelines for sonographers appear to be site specific and variable. At present, there is no overarching governance for sonographers, as there is with practitioners registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. DISCUSSION: While there are practice standards for the purposes of Medicare set out by the Diagnostic Imaging Accreditation Scheme, there is no regulatory professional standard that sonographers are held accountable to. This is problematic ...