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Publications

In the late 1980's while on a community psychiatric nursing course, Hodges' Health Career Model immediately struck me as assessment tool raising fascinating questions, and more to the point very useful in practice. Simply, with two crossed lines, and the knowledge base of the user it helps comprehensively map out the key subject disciplines of nursing - across several fields.

Furthermore, it does this in a very aesthetic; approachable; innovative way, seeking to fuse the scientific and social sciences; the individual and group; the powerful and the powerless.

"Nursing Telemachus and Computers"

The aims of this attempted dialogue entitled 'Nursing Telemachus and Computers' are threefold. First, simply to explore through the minds and voices of two ancient characters, contemporary nursing informatics and telematics issues. Secondly, to test the viability of the dialogue as an alternative format to the usual academic paper. And thirdly, to introduce unfamiliar readers to 'the' master of the dialogue form - Plato. Readers may (hopefully) be stimulated to seek out Plato's works, which are freely available in affordable paperback editions. As health professionals search for ways to reassert values amid unprecedented technical and social change, philosophy is once more on the agenda. This attempted 'dialogue' has two protagonists. Telemachus, who is in name from Homer's Odyssey and other Hellenic literature, here the names appeal arises from the study of telematics, a key branch of informatics research. Epictetus is drawn from the texts of philosophy, but with a fictional biography. Telemachus is a student of the Academy established by Aristotle, starting his third year of nurse training. Epictetus is a professor, a member of the faculty for health. With apologies...

"Where Have All The Nurses Gone?"

The first draft of this story was written in the summer of 1991. The aim throughout its development has been to explore virtual reality (VR) technology, its application and issues that arise now, or may in future when use of VR technology becomes common place. I have tried to emphasize technology, ideas and issues, and not plot or the development of characters and other 'literary' aspects. Readers of WHATNG will appreciate why I'm not about to "give up my day job." Despite this I hope readers feel the story still works? At least in the sense that if you don't know much about VR, then you should certainly know more after investing time here, especially from the bibliographic sources listed at the end.

The influences for this work are so many and span several years. They include TV documentaries, press, and personal studies, such as 'Equinox', 'Horizon', The Independent, Computer Guardian, various computer magazines (especially BYTE; PCW), journals (IEE; BCS and many others), cinema ('Tron;' 'Lawnmower Man;' 'Toy Story') science fiction and non-fiction. The names 'Alsing' and 'West' are stolen from Tracy Kidder's (1983) 'The Soul of a New Machine', Penguin. It's still a good read, about the human side of building a 'new' computer.

If time allowed I would like to turn this story into a multimedia book. It could have a more serious side, a hypertext glossary expanding on terms and concepts in the text. Perhaps there is an on-line project there for people to contribute and develop? A nursing equivalent of FRACTINT a fractal graphics programme written by many contributors. At present the format is not worthy of this medium. Graphics and sound could be used to potentially excellent effect (hardware permitting) to help convey many of the ideas expressed here and elsewhere in the bibliography. Before I close - if you are not already a member - have you thought of joining the British Computer Society - BCS Nursing Specialist Group

Beware Reflex Moves

These pages may be of interest to people who are forced to contemplate moving home. Although people of all ages move house, these pages are focused on 'older' people.

As a mental health nurse my colleagues and I come across frequent disasters, instances where moves have been far from positive. The true picture must be hidden, as mental health services and social service departments are not contacted by those people whose moves work out wonderfully for all concerned. If you are either faced with moving yourself, or have a relative you are concerned about, this site may be of help. The site is not intended to answer the question: "Should I move?" - you must decide - but it may help make you:

- think and beware reflex moves