Page 7 - QARANC Vol 14 No 8 2014

Balance Sheet at the year end and Statement of Financial Activities as at 31 December 2013.
Registered Charity Number 270278
Audited Accounts 1 January to 31 December 2013
The accounts of the QARANC Association to 31 December 2013 were audited by Paul Chamberlain of Chamberlains, Chartered Accountants
Central Fund
Income ...........................£214,743.99 Expenditure ....................£157,982.89
There was a gain on investments of £121,595.94 during the year and with a balance of total funds within the Central Fund of £2, 073,880.58 on
31 December 2012, the balance of total funds on 31 December 2013 was £2,252,868.25
Income
Donations and legacies ..£139,711.73 Investment Income ...........£75,032.26 Other income - ............................. NIL
Expenditure
Grants and donations .....£116,041.55 Cost of activities in Furtherance of charity’s objectives............£15,500.05 Management and Administration fees. .........................................£25,041.29 Audit fees ...........................£1,400.00
Benevolent Fund
Income ...........................£151,577.55 Expenditure ......................£66,957.13 There was a gain on investments £75,379.14 during the year and with the balance of £2,021,008.92 on 31 December 2012, the balance on 31 December 2013 was £2,178,008.48.
Income
Donations and legacies ....£74,238.20 Investment Income ...........£77,339.35 Other Income ............................... NIL
Expenditure
Grants and Donations.......£59,456.09 Management and Administration fees ...........................................£9,101.04 Audit fees - ........................£1,400.00
Building Bridges
– Student Nurse
Exchange Program
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has 446 bridges, its geographic location proving to be a vital strategic base for steel production during the Second World War, producing more than many European countries. This industry was the inspiration for the city’s American football team, the Steelers, which is one of the many sports the city follows with gusto.
As traditional industries have declined, Pittsburgh has reinvented it self in education and was ranked the number one smartest city in America this June.
Arriving fresh from basic training to start my nursing degree Birmingham City University (BCU) in the September of 2011, I was enthusiastic to hear about an exchange program available to Pittsburgh. After a selection process I was pleased to be one of eight students to attend the program in September 2013. The exchange began with the hosting of the American students who travelled to Birmingham in May. They spent two weeks in a mixture of lectures and clinical experiences and a little time in Cadbury’s world.
After a seemingly lengthy second year of nursing I was eager to reach the end and jet off over the pond. As many of you who have travelled to the USA will agree, they deliver on scale and the University of Pittsburgh is no different. Dominating a region of Pittsburgh known as Oakland, housing numerous
university buildings and its own
basketball stadium a lengthy shadow is cast by its cathedral of learning which in its 36 floors has a study hall fondly known by students as ‘Hogwarts’ and numerous class rooms which are themed on countries around the world.
During our stay, the exchange encompassed attendance to lectures from all years of study. Their program for nursing undergraduates is a four- year program at University of Pittsburgh however condensed courses can be taken. The academic structure runs various clinical experiences and academic study at the same time. This is possible as the hospitals in which the students are based are integrated with the campus, this means it can easily timetable practical lessons followed by lectures. This is significantly different from BCU’s nine week blocks of placement which the current degree program follows accommodating a 50% practice and 50% academic.
Whilst attending a skills lab I found that anatomy and physiology is taught with a very, hands on approach, using medical cadavers. Using 3D technology to scan a cadaver they also have a separate lab which students wear 3D glasses and the anatomical images can be stripped back layer by layer. The school of nursing has at its disposal a variety of simulation laboratories in which the simulation patients can talk and their vital signs are adapted. Academic staff can manipulate the scenario through the one way mirror so they can observe the students actions.
As part of the course the students
THE GAZETTE QARANC 5