Role and Scope Coverage of Speech-Related Professionals Linked to Neuro-Advancements within the Academic Literature and Canadian Newspapers

2019

Societies

Self Cite

Neurosciences and neurotechnologies (from now on called neuro-advancements) constantly evolve and influence all facets of society. Neuroethics and neuro-governance discourses focus on the impact of neuro-advancements on individuals and society, and stakeholder involvement is identified as an important aspect of being able to deal with such an impact. Nurses engage with neuro-advancements within their occupation, including neuro-linked assistive technologies, such as brain-computer interfaces, cochlear implants, and virtual reality. The role of nurses is multifaceted and includes being providers of clinical and other health services, educators, advocates for their field and their clients, including disabled people, researchers, and influencers of policy discourses. Nurses have a stake in how neuro-advancements are governed, therefore, being influencers of neuroethics and neuro-governance discourses should be one of these roles. Lifelong learning and professional development could be one mechanism to increase the knowledge of nurses about ethical, social, and legal issues linked to neuro-advancements, which in turn, would allow nurses to provide meaningful input towards neuro-advancement discussions. Disabled people are often the recipients of neuro-advancements and are clients of nurses, therefore, they have a stake in the way nurses interact with neuro-advancements and influence the sociotechnical context of neuro-advancements, which include neuro-linked assistive devices. We performed a scoping review to investigate the role of narrative around nurses in relation to neuro-advancements within academic literature and newspapers. We found minimal engagement with the role of nurses outside of clinical services. No article raised the issue of nurses having to be involved in neuro-ethics and neuro-governance discussions or how lifelong learning could be used to gain that competency. Few articles used the term assistive technology or assistive device and no article covered the engagement of nurses with disabled people within a socio-technical context. We submit that the role narrative falls short of what is expected from nurses and shows shortcomings at the intersection of nurses, socio-technical approaches to neuro-assistive technologies and other neuro-advancements and people with disabilities. Neuro-governance and neuroethic discourses could be a useful way for nurses and disabled people to co-shape the socio-technical context of neuro-advancements, including neuro-assistive technologies. Lifelong learning initiatives should be put in place to provide the knowledge necessary for nurses to take part in the neuroethics and neuro-governance discussion.

Section: Ethics: Governance and Public Engagementsupporting

confidence: 57%

Neuro-Advancements and the Role of Nurses as Stated in Academic Literature and Canadian Newspapers

Deloria

2019

Societies

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“…Their roles can include influencers of neuroethics and neurogovernance discussions, advocates for their field and their clients within neuroethics and neurogovernance discussions, and researchers on topics related to speech and audiology linked to neuroethics, neurogovernance, and other neuro-policy discussions. However, the role of SLPs and AUs as influencers and knowledge contributors to neuroethics and neurogovernance discussions is not present in academic literature, suggesting that they are not currently seen as potential change agents in society [47] in relation to neuroethics and neurogovernance discussions.…”

Section: Neuroethics and Neurogovernancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…SLPs and AUs can therefore use LL mechanisms to advance their knowledge as professionals and as citizens; however, there is a gap in the literature around using LL mechanisms to teach SLPs and AUs as practitioners and active citizens about ethical, social, and other implications of NA [47].…”

Section: Lifelong Learning Of Slps and Aus As Professionals And Activ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To summarize, given their exposure to NA and roles expected of them as professionals and citizens, SLPs and AUs have a stake in neuroethics and neurogovernance discussions [9,50,105] and should be involved in such discussions; however, they are rarely mentioned in academic literature and media as having a role within these discussions [47]. To better understand the reality of SLPs' and AUs' involvement with neuroethics and neurogovernance discourses, interviews…”

Section: Lifelong Learning Of Slps and Aus As Professionals And Activ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…as educators of the public, and as advocates for their clients and their fields due to the impact of changes of social parameters linked to NA experienced by their clients and their field. However, despite the increasing impact of NA on the fields of speech and audiology, the current understanding of the role narrative of SLPs and AUs linked to NA in academic literature is limited to their role as service providers, with no mention of their role as advocates or educators of the implications of NA [47].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influencing discussions and use of neuroadvancements as professionals and citizens: Perspectives of Canadian speech-language pathologists and audiologists

Villamil

2022

WOR

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BACKGROUND: Early involvement of stakeholders in neuroethics and neurogovernance discourses of neuroscientific and neurotechnological advancements is seen as essential to curtail negative consequences. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and audiologists (AUs) make use of neuroadvancements including cochlear implants, brain-computer interfaces, and deep-brain stimulation. Although they have a stake in neuroethics and neurogovernance discussions, they are rarely mentioned in having a role, whether as professionals or as citizens. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to explore the role of SLPs and AUs as professionals and citizens in neuroethics and neurogovernance discussions and examine the utility of lifelong learning mechanisms to learn about the implications of neuroadvancements to contribute in a meaningful way to these discussions. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews conducted with 7 SLPs and 3 AUs were analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Participants stated that their roles expected from them as professionals and as citizens indicate the importance to be knowledgeable on ethical, legal, and social implications of neuroadvancements and that lifelong learning is not used to learn about these implications. CONCLUSION: More must be done to facilitate the participation of SLPs and AUs in neuroethics and neurogovernance discussions, which would enrich the neuroethics and neurogovernance discourses benefitting patients, professionals, and the public.

Role Expectations for Nurses and Neuroscientific and Neurotechnological Advancements: A Qualitative Study on the Perceptions of Nurses on Their Roles and Lifelong Learning

Deloria

2022

Sage Open

Self Cite

Nurses can understand and evaluate the impact of neuroscientific and neurotechnological advancements (NNA) from multiple standpoints given their roles as patient liaisons, advocates for their profession and their clients, leaders, and educators as well as their interactions with NNA such including deep brain stimulation and neuroimaging. We conducted semi-structured interviews with Canadian nurses to understand their perspectives on their roles in and outside the workplace, their familiarity with NNA and their ethical, legal, and social implications, their participation in NNA governance discussions and how lifelong learning can be applied to empower their participations in NNA governance discussions. Participants felt that nurses had the potential to meaningfully involve themselves in NNA governance discussions if given a greater opportunity. Participants were not offered lifelong learning surrounding the ethical, legal, and social implications of NNA. It would be fruitful to facilitate and empower nurses as contributors to NNA governance and ethics discussions.