Abstract: This phenomenological study described the lived experience of patients within a surgical secondary care setting, and explored patients' perceptions of nurses' practice. The participants in the study were five adult patients who experienced a period of hospitalization within the surgical secondary care setting.This study was influenced by the work of Patricia Benner (1984) who entered the lived world of nurses' practice, through description of nurses' clinical exemplars. In this study, a qualitative research approach was used to enter the lived world of the patient within the surgical secondary setting.The research approach followed Max Van Manen's phenomenological hermeneutic method of 'Researching Lived Experience". This approach includes turning to a phenomenon of concern and interest to the researcher, investigating the experience as it is lived, reflecting on essential themes that emerge from the investigation, describing the phenomenon and bringing it to speech. The data that emerged from the participants stories of their experiences with the surgical secondary care setting, revealed four essential themes. These themes included 'feeling valued', 'human to human contact', 'two way communication', and 'feeling safe'. These themes provided insights into the participants' perceptions of nurses' practice.The participants' stories revealed a range of perceptions about nurses' practice, and the extent to which nurses in their practice valued the patient, had human to human contact, kept the patient informed and ensured patient safety. The themes revealed times when nurses' practice was perceived as dependent and powerless, in the face of, traditional views of womens' work, and the hierarchical and beurocratic constraints of the institution. At times it was also hidden from view, missed or misunderstood. Despite this, nurses' practice was seen as the central and pivotal point, from which the participants were able to make their recovery

Abstract: This action research study explores the experiences of 'patient education' from the perspective of a group comprising two nurses, two people with asthma, and the researcher who is a nurse who has asthma. The method used is emancipatory action research (Grundy, 1990) with critical social theory and feminism as theoretical underpinnings.The focus moves from patient education to a broader view of living and working with asthma. The story of the group is presented in the format of a play. A play within the play tells of living and working with asthma.An action research spiral is formed which reflects the way the group moves through the three modes of action research described by Grundy (1990). The acts of the play represent each of the stages of the action research process. The emphasis moves from power and control through to practice wisdom.The main issues explored are: the nature of patient education by nurses; the implications this has for relationships with patients and nursing education; power and control in the secondary setting; the lived experience of chronic illness and the practice wisdom of nurses and people with asthma. The work concludes with recommendations for change in each of these areas based on the work of the group

Abstract: Aims to explore the influences on health and health care engagement from the experiences of urban Maori women using Kokiri Marae Health and Social Services (KMHSS), Lower Hutt, NZ. Conducts unstructured interviews which are analysed thematically. Employs the nursing theory of cultural safety, Kawa Whakaruruhau, to inform a qualitative approach to the examination of the historical, social, cultural, economic, political, racial and gendered factors contributing to Maori women's health and health-care engagement. Makes recommendations for nursing practice, research site and research.

Abstract: Assesses the impact of environmental changes on patient reportable events (falls and aggression) in older persons' wards, using the Kings Fund Healing the Healthy Environment tool to make small changes to a ward environment in order to create a more 'dementia-friendly' setting. Conducts a comparative analysis of incidents in the wards. Obtains staff perspectives on the changes, which included large-face clocks, identifiction of bed spaces, lavender oil diffusion, and viewing gardens.

Abstract: This study was undertaken in a combined medical/surgical unit in an acute general hospital in New Zealand using the grounded theory research methodology. It aimed at identifying the types of information nurses pass on verbally regarding their patients, but which they do not document in the legal nursing record.