Abstract: Assesses the experiences of registered nurses (RNs)working in aged residential care facilities in Christchurch, in performing interRAI assessments using interRAI MOMENTUM software. Explores the positive and negative aspects of their experiences and the factors affecting performance of interRAI-based comprehensive health assessments. Identifies the aids and barriers faced by RNs in applying and using interRAI. Conducts focus-group interviews with 7 RNs. Highlights the need for a unified standard assessment system.

Abstract: Aims to identify the public health nurses' role with regard to children who are living with a parent who is suffering from a mental illness. Uses a qualitative research design with 8 public health nurses working in rural and urban settings. Conducts focus groups from which data are gathered and analysed thematically using axial coding. Conducts further focus groups with 6 of the participants to evaluate the themes identified.

Abstract: Aims to determine how a brief dietary assessment tool should be designed for use by practice nurses in New Zealand with the intention of providing individualised nutrition advice to reduce individuals' risk of cardiovascular disease (heart healthy eating counselling). Recruits 11 practice nurses from the Auckland region for interview and analyses data from the 2008/2009 NZ adult nutrition survey. Uses an action research approach as the underlying strategy of inquiry for the study.

Abstract: A retrospective descriptive design was used to examine the records of all presentations to the emergency department of patients with COPD over a 3-month period to determine whether there is a subset group of people who present with hypercarbia. There were 114 presentations, amongst those there were 71 individuals, a number presenting more than once within the three months. 80% of the 71 individuals had a smoking history of which 53% were female. Of the 114 presentations, 76 had arterial blood gases taken during their emergency department presentation. Of these 76 presentations 30 had hypercarbia and 46 were non-hypercarbia. These 76 presentations involved 58 individuals, with some individuals presenting five times over the three-month period. Three groups emerged, some who were only hypercarbia (n= 18), some in the non-hypercarbia group (n=35) and 5 individuals who had presentations in both the hypercarbia and non-hypercarbia groups. Data showed that there was no definable subset group of hypercarbia patients within acute exacerbations of COPD presenting to the emergency department according to the variables. However the sample of presentations (with a blood gas) found within the study suffering hypercarbia was much higher (31.1%) than anticipated. Further analysis showed that the hypercarbia group had a significant lower forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and a combination diagnosis of emphysema or asthma and congestive heart failure. An implication to the clinician is that identification of hypercarbia within COPD exacerbation is problematically difficult until the late signs are shown with the individual. By that time effective treatment patterns may have changed from the initial presenting problem. The author concludes that future areas of research within this field needs to lie within the community, and look at when these people start the exacerbation, what leads them to progression presentation to the emergency department, and whether these people are chronic sufferers of hypercarbia or presenting after a period of days exacerbation within their own home.