Abstract: Notes an increased demand for research nurses and performs a literature review to define more clearly the role they play coordinating clinical trials and managing associated patient care. Discusses professional issues associated with the role and examines findings against competency requirements for registered nurses as set out by the Nursing Council of New Zealand. Identifies professional issues and perceived barriers as well as potential strategies to strengthen and promote the research nurse role.

Abstract: New Zealand's older population is gradually increasing. This will men the number of people with problems related to psychological and general well-being will also rise. When compared to women, men do not live as long, are more likely to die from intentional injury and use primary health services less. There is a paucity of research on older men, particularly within a New Zealand context. Because nurses work closely with people in primary, secondary and tertiary care settings they are well placed to undertake research and utilise research findings from studies relating to the older adult to promote health and well -being. The intention of the present study was to gain a greater understanding of those factors which impact on the well-being in older men. Based on Wan, Odell and Lewis's (1992) model of general well-being, mental, social and physical well-being indicators were investigated to examine their relationships to overall psychological well-being and physical health.The data for the present study was collected from a non-probability sample of 217 males (over 65 years) residing in the Wanganui area. Multiple regression analysis reveled that of the mental, social and physical indicators only satisfaction with social supports and number of visits to the doctor in the previous 12 months were significantly related to psychological well-being, and number of medications and illness/disabilities were significantly related to physical health as measured by self ratings of health.Findings are discussed in relation to the literature. It ids clear that nurses, and other health professionals, need to be aware of the relationship between objective health status and subjective well-being, and the distinction between the quality and quantity of support in order to provide effective care to older men. Finally the general limitations and future research implications are discussed

Abstract: New Zealand statistics project that the aging population of people aged 65 years and over will more than double in the next decade. This has implications for palliative care providers including hospices and hospitals because long-term inpatient care is not generally provided by hospitals and hospices. When dying patients need long-term care, residential settings become an option. The level of palliative care in these facilities is dependent on staff training and numbers. In general, staff are not trained in palliative care, neither do they provide the multidisciplinary facets that define palliative care as undertaken by hospices. This paper describes a practice development initiative using storytelling as the vehicle for introducing the concept of the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) for the dying patient into residential aged care settings. With the emergence of a reflective paradigm in nursing the concept of storytelling as a teaching/learning tool has grown. Many staff in residential care settings come from diverse ethnic backgrounds where for some, English is their second language. Storytelling therefore can be a useful approach for learning because it can increase their communication skills. The author suggests that the Liverpool Care Pathway for the dying patient is a model that can be translated across care settings, hospice, hospital, and community. It can demonstrate a framework that facilitates multiprofessional communication and documentation and embraces local needs, culture and language to empower health care workers to deliver high quality care to dying patients and their family/whanau and carers. This paper also explores the role of a facilitator as an agent of change and discusses how the interplay of evidence, context and facilitation can result in the successful implementation of the LCP into residential aged care settings.

Abstract: Mothers, whose children had undergone a liver transplant more than one year ago at time of interview and whose children were outpatients of Starship Children's Hospital, were invited to participate in this research. A Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenological approach, informed by the work of van Manen (1990) was used. Three mothers of children who had received a liver transplant were interviewed to reveal the meanings of the phenomenon – what is the meaning of lived experience of mothers in caring for their child who has undergone and recovered following liver transplantation? Little previous study regarding mothers' lived experience of caring for their child, who had recovered from a liver transplant, was found in the literature. The emerging themes were punctuated with stress being a consistent feature. Utilising Ruddick's (1983) concepts of maternal thinking, the emerging themes were merged within the three interests governing maternal practice; preservation, growth and acceptability. The absolute capacity for attentive love draws the experience together. An essential theme identified out of the analysis was the concept of survival relating to the unique features of liver transplantation and the consequences of liver rejection and failure. The findings contribute to the understanding of the phenomenon, emphasising the need for good support systems for families of children who have undergone transplantation; assistance in the establishment of maternal coping strategies and regular feedback on the children's progress acknowledging the role and care provided by mothers.

Abstract: Measures the extent to which health-care students began their training with compassionate attributes. Defines compassion as an awareness of others and a desire to help, using a non-judgmental approach. Highlights the significance of compassion in health care. Provides a self-administered 'compassion to others' psychometric scale to measure compassionate attributes to 146 students enrolled in the first semester of nursing, midwifery and social work at the Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec). Analyses data using the SPSS and ANOVA for descriptive statistics and predictive information.

Abstract: Maternity services in New Zealand have undergone some fundamental and unique changes over the last few years. The promotion of competition among providers for clients have had repercussions on the way that maternity hospitals offers services to women. In adapting to this change, it is important that 'the baby is not thrown out with the bathwater'. Unfortunately the most commonly used indicators, and the standard “Patient Satisfaction Survey”, neither of which contain many valuable clues for maternity facility providers to determine the quality of their service from the consumer's perspective. The need was identified for the development of quality indicators to evaluate maternity hospital care. Closely related to this was the need to determine of how dependable providers are at determining what consumers would describe as an optimal maternity hospital service

Abstract: Margaret May Blackwell Trust Travel Study Fellowship 2009/2010.
This report is an exploration of some current international trends and tools in the delivery of services supporting families with young children that aim to utilise a partnership approach between health providers, families and their communities. The MMB scholarhsip for 2009/2010 included six weeks of international travel in order to consult with a range of people in realtion to services provided to parents with young children in their various communities. My proposal was to explore current policies supporting Family Partnership (FP)approaches in health services; trends relating to FP approaches in practice; tools supporting FP practice for clinicians; as well as recent FP training and initiatives.