Abstract: In 1999 primary health care in New Zealand was in the process of change from the current personal health care model, which focuses on general practitioner based care, to a population and community based health care programme. Carryer, Dignam, Horsburgh, Hughes and Martin (1999) submitted a report to the National Health Commission entitled “Locating Nursing in Primary Health Care”. This report envisaged that nurses in primary health care would be part of interdisciplinary teams, act autonomously and undertake community consultation and education. The submission suggested that nurses, currently working in primary health care, were alraedy prepared and able to move across into the new form of primary health care, without further education or training.

Abstract: Margaret May Blackwell Travel Study Fellowship for Nurses of Young Children.
This report discusses the partnership between parents and nurses and its relationship to delivering optimal care to the child.
The author has a background in paediatric nursing in a hospital environment.

Abstract: One of the challenges for research journals is to present material that is directly related to practice and that has the capacity to provoke reflection in practitioners that may in turn lead to change.

Abstract: Report to the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust on Professional Supervision for registered Nurses and Midwives, May 1998.
Objective of Project:
To explore the extent of the development of a model of clinical supervision for nurses in the United Kingdom.
Some of the key points that emerged:
- Clinical supervision is a strong and accepted part of nursing culture in Britain. While not mandatory and not available to, or accepted by, all nurses, it is nevertheless generally known about and discussed at main nursing forums
- The strong support and directives coming from nursing leadership is a major factor in the adoption of clinical supervision as a developmental, support and quality control
- The increasing availability of resource material, courses, and in particular the investment made by the Department of Health and the Scottish Home and Health Office in funding a 23 site evaluation project has stimulated implementation of clinical supervision

Abstract: The aim of this research was to ascertain the opinions of ward nurses (registered and enrolled nurses) on a critical care outreach (CCO) service and the early warning score (EWS) tool and how CCO helps them care for ward patients whose condition is deteriorating. An 18-item Likert scale questionnaire was adapted to gain opinions on three aspects of the service: The usability of the EWS tool and the escalation protocol; the role and usefulness of the critical care outreach nurse (CCON); and education and sharing of critical care skills. The research was conducted in a 270-bed New Zealand hospital with a nurse-led outreach team. The survey was distributed to adult general wards. It found 45 percent of ward nurses found EWS useful in identifying patients whose condition was deteriorating, 58 percent found EWS easy to use and 82 percent found EWS helped them prioritise workloads. On the role and usefulness of the CCON, 41 percent of surveyed nurses found the post-ICU review helpful, 65 said CCONs were approachable, 71 percent found the CCON shift time of 3pm-11pm was useful, 69 percent said the CCON demonstrated sound clinical knowledge, and 54 percent rated CCONs teaching as sufficient for their needs. When CCO was present, nurses were able to formulate an effective management plan for potentially deteriorating patients and acquired critical care skills needed to manage such patients. The results are comparable with other research which sought nurse opinion of CCO. It indicates nurses believe CCO to be instrumental in increasing critical care skills to prevent deterioration in the clinical area.

Abstract: The New Zealand Nurses organsation agreed to become the accrediting body for nurses in NZ in 1994 and Susanne Trim, NZNO Professional Nursing Adviser, worked with the National Practice Nurse Section to develop and pilot a model for accreditation.A consultative process was used to develop a framework and process during 1995 and this was unanimously endorsed in the April 1996 National Practice Nurse Section AGM.Implementation occurred from May 1996 to March 1998 with a comprehensive evaluation of the model collection of data from practice nurse applicants, non-applicants, the Practice Nurse Accreditation Board, National PN Sections and the project co-ordinator.The number of applications received exceeded expectations 212 (14% NZNO practice nurse members). There was a high level of satisfaction expressed by applicants.A number of content issues were identified during the pilot as needing review, clarification and amendment. These were of a minor nature rather than recommended changes to the structure itself.The accreditation Board processes were modified part way through the implementation to improve efficiencies and were found to be satisfactory. The training model and timing were appropriate.Administrative support and central co-ordination through designated NZNO staff member proved to be time consuming but vital.Practice Nurses embraced accreditation however as a group they have some minor unique characteristics. This should caution NZNO to proceed gradually with accreditation of other Section Nurses and monitor progress closely

Abstract: The original aim of the study was to find out through a questionnaire what child health/paediatric nurses in New Zealand/Aotearoa saw as their needs for post-registration education. Nurses were completing courses in the United Kingdom and returning to New Zealand/Aotearoa and realising that their nursing capabilities had improved. They became senior nurses with education responsibilities and exhibited political leadership among their colleagues in the field of child health/paediatric nursing. They were becoming increasingly concerned at the lack of any clinical courses in the specialty of child health/paediatric nursing to promote an appropriate standard of practice. It was intended that a research project about post-registration child health/paediatric education would assist concerned nurses to develop a programme. The time needed for such a project did not fit with a limited research paper. It was decided to reduce the project to a review of the literature on competence in nursing, with some comment on the specialty of child health/paediatric nursing. In order for nurses to find what they need to learn and know, an understanding of competence in nursing practice is required. Competence is defined as the ability of the nurse to carry out specific work in a designated area at a predetermined standard. Issues around competence, defining a scope of practice, development and assessment of competence, and regulation of nursing, are part of the context in which accountability for the practice of nurses sits.