Abstract: The NZNO Younger Nurse survey examined the characteristics of younger nurse members of NZNO (aged under 30) in order to identify potential recruitment and retention strategies for these nurses, and provide information on how best to support younger members to become involved in NZNO activities.
The findings indicate that while most younger nurses enjoy their work and find it rewarding, they also face a range of challenges in the workplace due to their age ? including bullying and poor choice of shifts. Many younger nurses do not feel appropriately paid for the work they do and believe there are insufficient nurses to provide safe care. Over 10 percent of younger nurses are considering leaving the nursing profession. Many younger nurses feel the emotional challenge of nursing was more than they anticipated and that their education did not prepare them well to manage this.
A range of recommendations are made, including the need to improve undergraduate curriculum content on managing the emotional challenges of nursing, the need to implement clinical supervision for all nurses but particularly for those under 30, the need to develop and implement activities to address bullying in the workplace, and the need to improve pay progression scales in employment contracts.

Abstract: This report documents the results of a survey of a random sample of NZNO members.
A 10% sample was drawn by computer from the 45,000 membership, representing nurses and care givers from across New Zealand. Midwives were excluded from the
sample on this occasion.
Issues related to age demographics, low pay, increasing workload, and significant
organisational restructuring continue to contribute to a considerable part of the nursing workforce who will be looking to leave nursing, to nurse overseas, or to retire within the next ten years. These appear to be balanced for now partly by other factors leading to nurses continuing to work long past the normal retirement age.
Changes to the Enrolled Nurse scope of practice (including a drop in employment
opportunities as Enrolled Nurses), difficulties experienced by some newly qualified New Zealand nurses finding suitable employment or supported Nurse Entry to Practice places, and evidence for a drop in the availability of paid access to continuing professional development particularly in the DHB sector, if not addressed urgently, may have longer term implications for the New Zealand nursing workforce and the health service.
Specific issues for nurses under 30 years of age, particularly related to shift work practices and family responsibilities, were explored in more detail in a separate report Young Nurses in Aotearoa New Zealand and specific recommendations made for the long term retention of these skilled and vital health workers.

Abstract: The experience of loneliness within a people-centered profession has supported nursings silencing and invisibility. A literature expedition through communication texts and journals led to an awareness of the paucity of literature which explores and acknowledges how we dialogue together, rather than the more fashionable focus on how we should communicate with others.

Abstract: An emergent theoretical perspective in the nursing literature relates to nursing as a human science and the application of critical social science and feminist frameworks to nursing research. This research adds to the discipline's knowledge base in that it is at the leading edge of exploring how critical case study illuminates critical issues in the practice of nursing.My interest in the research question came from hearing colleagues espouse the view that other than a legal one, there were no differences in practice between enrolled and registered nurses. How accurate was this perception? Without answers to this question, members of the nursing profession in New Zealand were likely to make some major decisions about the future of enrolled nursing which history will show were ill founded. Since I “walk the talk” of both the world of practice and the corridors of nursing power relationships, I sought answers by incorporating the viewpoints of both groups into the research design.Five registered nurses who had previously been enrolled nurses were asked to consider what was different about their present practice compared to their experiences as an enrolled nurse.Through critically reflexive discourse and journalling, Liz, Emma, Kathy, Helen and myself came to reflect on our nursing worlds in order to transform them.Writing about these transformations in a way that kept our voices alive was more difficult. The cases were written as stories, using storytelling as a legitimate academic activity to link the methodology with the theoretical perspectives. This ensured our individual voices were heard rather than silenced by the research process. It also left a clear decision trail for the reader to follow related to issues of rigor. Paradoxically, the identification of patterns across the case studies was facilitated.Two main patterns emerged in answer to the question “what's different in your practice now from when you were an enrolled nurse?” The differences were explicated in the pattern “Becoming a registered nurse” while “She was one of us” exposed the underlying power and control issues. This study found that the enrolled nurse controls practice at the bedside.The nursing profession's stance on the future of enrolled nurses was also explored through case study. Key nursing stakeholders were interviewed using a proposed legislative change to the Nurses' Act, 1977, that would lead to the demise of the enrolled nurses as a category of nurse, as a focus point. These different perspectives expose for critique the socio-political forces that silence the voice of enrolled nurses in determining their own future. At a legislative level, the stakeholders' voices are dominant. The future of enrolled nurses looks increasingly bleak in New Zealand as the nursing profession positions itself legislatively for the 21st century

Abstract: The author describes the use of children's picture books as a flexible learning resource within the undergraduate nursing programme at Otago Polytechnic. This technique is demonstrated by the use of the book 'Mummy Laid An Egg', by Babette Cole, to explore the concept of sexuality with first year nursing students.

Abstract: A thesis submitted to the Otago Polytechnic Dunedin, in partial fulfilment of the degree of Master of Midwifery.