Question

Consider the Nomad Machine Company (NMC) problem from class. As the problem stated: "you should develop two flow models" because NMC has sought "to build a new factory to expand its production capacity". Your task was to determine which factory to recommend.

In this discussion assignment, upload the JPG outcome for the optimal solution. Your uploaded solution should have a similar 'look and feel' professionalism as the JPG file on the external site (figure TP-F8). Make sure to use solver so the pink cells are populated. Also, using this optimal site selection, provide the operating costs for Cincinnati, Kansas City, and Pittsburgh.

Answer 1

The majority of candidates are doing it for nursing and large numbers are going to the UK,” she said in an interview.

From October last year – before the test was recognised by the NMC – to the latest registration for the July test, she said there had been an increase of 250% to 300% in candidates taking the test.

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The biggest growth in uptake was coming from South East Asia and countries like the Philippines, South Asia and the Middle East – but numbers had also shot up in the UK.

Around 70% of those taking the test, which covers 12 different healthcare professions in all, were nurses, said Ms Stead.

She said it was too early to say whether or not the test was helping boost international recruitment by NHS trusts desperate to fill nursing vacancies.

However, she said the plan was to carry out some market research in around October next year to assess the impact on staffing.

OET was developed by language specialists at the University of Melbourne in the 1980s, who were commissioned by the government to devise a test in the light of increased demand for foreign healthcare professionals to come and work in Australia.

Typically what nurses are telling us is that they feel more confident taking the test because the content is content they can relate to,” she said.

Creators and supporters said the fact that OET was directly related to healthcare made it more attractive to nurses who were then more likely to practise, prepare and ultimately succeed.

There is also research evidence that preparing for the test helps nurses develop language skills they find useful in practice.

“It has two advantages in that you get through that hoop of NMC registration but also in taking the test you are developing language skills that help you in your profession,” said Ms Stead.

“That is the kind of feedback we often get from candidates – that it is not just a box ticking exercise, but actually the washback effect is quite a positive one,” she said.

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She said the test, which was also recognised by the General Medical Council in March this year, continued to evolve and was regularly updated based on feedback from nursing practitioners and educators “because in healthcare things change all the time”.

Changes to be introduced from September this year include new assessment of “clinical communication” skills in the speaking part of the four-element test, which also includes writing, listening and reading.

In particular, these new assessment criteria are designed to assess how well nurses relate to and communicate with patients and carers.

“These are basically the communication skills healthcare practitioners need to have in order to communicate with patients and carers,” said Ms Stead.