Abstract: The aim of the first phase of this research was to collect simple survey data to describe in general terms the biographical and demographic characteristics of a national cohort of final year students in Comprehensive Nursing Courses

Abstract: This is the third and last phase of a research project following the careers of 30 of the (1986) cohort of Comprehensive Nursing Graduates. The report consists of interview extracts which allow these graduates to 'speak for themselves' about their post registration experience in the nursing workforce. This information should be of interest to those responsible for providing orientation and staff development programs

Abstract: A descriptive survey was utilised to obtain the opinions of Waikato hospital nurses, about the current rostering system, and sequential roistering. Two hundred questionnaires were sent out to staff nurses and enrolled nurses, selected by systematic sample from a random base. A total of 186 (95%) questionnaires were returned for analysis.Results from this research showed a marked difference of opinion between full-time and part-time staff. The current roistering system was favoured by part-time staff, whereas the full-time staff felt they were disadvantaged by this system, and showed a positive interest in trying a sequential roster.Nurses opinions of 6-7 day stretches and short changes and the effects on themselves, support the research done in an American study on circadian rhythms and indicates that the current system is not conducive to optional physical, psychological and emotional well-being. From the results of this study, it would seem appropriate for nurse administrators to recognise and respect nurses' professional standards and eliminate obstacles which prevent the achievement of desired standards of care, and accountability

Abstract: The authors examine gender based disparities for academics with respect to remuneration, academic grading and Perfomance Based Research Fund (PBRF) scores, whereby women do less well than men in each of these areas. In this article individualised explanations for the failure of women to progress are set in the context of a critical exploration of the PBRF evaluation methodology. It is argued that both academia and the PBRF research assessment exercise embody a form of academic masculinity that systematically disadvantages women in general and nursing in particular.

Abstract: This article investigates the process where nurses attempt to understand the experience of patients. The author argues that this transcends particular models of ill-health. Gadamerian hermeneutics, which has been used in nursing research to articulate the process of understanding, is elaborated on. Gadamer's exposition of understanding shows that practitioners need to be aware that understanding of other people is developed through a fusion of one's own history, language and culture with that of the other person. This occurs through a hermeneutic question-answer dialogue in which practitioners put their ideas at risk of being modified or rejected in the process. Understanding then, is a perceptual and conceptual process. In this way, the experience of nurses seeking to understanding those they nurse increases self-awareness, as well as enhancing their ability to further understand others.

Abstract: This study draws upon Gadamer's philosophical hermeneutics to explore the understandings that four men have had of their past suicidal experiences. The interpretations developed in this study, as far as possible, make explicit use of the author's own particular horizon of meaning as researcher and mental health nurse. In addition, by consciously bringing an anti-essentialist perspective of masculinity to this process, he explores the way in which gender impacts on men's suicidality. The primary source of information for this study is in-depth, open-ended conversations with four men of European descent in their middle adult years who were asked to talk about their past experiences of suicidality. The interpretations developed here show that for these men, the hermeneutic fusion of history, language, and sociocultural context, provided limited possibilities with which they were able to construe themselves as 'fitting in' with normative standards. These constraints, that are otherwise taken-for-granted and invisible, became explicit through their experience of ongoing victimisation. Furthermore, early understandings of these experiences became a potent horizon of meaning from which they then came to understand later difficult experiences. Victimisation became constitutive of an understanding of self as fundamentally different and (hierarchically)'less-than' other men. Ultimately, suicidality emerged out of a background of ever-present psychological pain accompanying a construction of self as being unable to see themselves as ever 'fitting in'. These men did not regard themselves as having recovered from suicidality, but remain in a process of recovering. This process did not mean figuring out how to 'fit in', or become 'normal' men, but rather, to live meaningfully as men in spite of not 'fitting in' with the sociocultural ideal. Recovering was a continual and idiosyncratic process, rather than an outcome of a specific technique or knowledge. The position taken in this study is that mental health nursing seeks to engage with people and work with them in collaborative, respectful, human relationships. It is argued that mental health nurses work with an individual's situated understandings rather than delivering prescribed treatment determined by diagnosis. Hence, viewing suicidality as socioculturally situated and historically emergent suggests mental health nurses must closely attend to the way in which we bring ourselves into relationships with our clients so that we are then able to create opportunities for change.

Abstract: Aims to generate a descriptive account of the experiences of district nurses working with people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Conducts a qualitative descriptive study using semi-structured interviews with three district nurses about their role. Reveals three themes related to the district nurses' role: tasks; complexity; barriers/enablers affecting performance. Suggests that the role of district health nurses meeting the needs of people with SCI requires review.