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Introduction:This paper reports on research into the influence of environmental factors (including crowd size, temperature, humidity, and venue type) on the number of patients and the patient problems presenting to firstaid services at large, public events in Australia. Regression models were developed to predict rates of patient presentation and of transportation-to-a-hospital for future mass gatherings.Objective:To develop a data set and predictive model that can be applied across venues and types of mass gathering events that is not venue or event specific. Data collected will allow informed event planning for future mass gatherings for which health care services are required.Methods:Mass gatherings were defined as public events attended by in excess of 25,000 people. Over a period of 12 months, 201 mass gatherings attended by a combined audience in excess of 12 million people were surveyed through-out Australia. The survey was undertaken by St. John Ambulance Australia personnel. The researchers collected data on the incidence and type of patients presenting for treatment and on the environmental factors that may influence these presentations. A standard reporting format and definition of event geography was employed to overcome the event-specific nature of many previous surveys.Results:There are 11,956 patients in the sample. The patient presentation rate across all event types was 0.992/1,000 attendees, and the transportation-to-hospital rate was 0.027/1,000 persons in attendance. The rates of patient presentations declined slightly as crowd sizes increased. The weather (particularly the relative humidity) was related positively to an increase in the rates of presentations. Other factors that influenced the number and type of patients presenting were the mobility of the crowd, the availability of alcohol, the event being enclosed by a boundary, and the number of patient-care personnel on duty.Three regression models were developed to predict presentation rates at future events.Conclusions:Several features of the event environment influence patient presentation rates, and that the prediction of patient load at these events is complex and multifactorial. The use of regression modeling and close attention to existing historical data for an event can improve planning and the provision of health care services at mass gatherings.

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This investigation confirms the effect of simulation activities on real-life clinical practice, and the comparative learning benefits with traditional clinical practice and university education remain unknown.

The authors of this paper contend that advanced nursing practice differs substantially from other forms of nursing practice, such as expert and specialist practice. Additionally, they contend that the difference residues in the way that advanced nurse practitioners think about, see and experience clinical practice. Historically, nursing in Australia has been strongly influenced by events and ideas generated in North America. The authors argue this has led to the development of an emphasis on the nature, role and function of specialist and expert nursing practice to the detriment of ascertaining and fostering the notion and nature of advanced nursing practice. This influence of North American nursing has also significantly directed and influenced the way in which we use and understand the term 'advanced nursing practice', and further, that the way in which we use the term does not give full regard to the context of Australian nursing. The authors outline some of the key issues and ideas emerging in South Australia with respect to advanced nursing practice and in particular offer beginning theorizations into the different ways in which advanced nurse practitioners think, see and experience nursing practice.

Engaging in some form of paid employment in the final year of undergraduate university study is beneficial. However, it is not pre-registration employment choice per se that is the best predictor of successful transition, but the influence of work factors which new graduates experience in their first year of practice.