Phillips, B. N. (2007). Nursing care and understanding the experiences of others: A Gadamerian perspective. Nursing Inquiry, 14(1), 89–94.
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.
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Crowe, M. (2006). Psychiatric diagnosis: Some implications for mental health nursing care. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 53(1), 125–131.
Abstract: This article explores some of the functions of psychiatric diagnosis and the implications this has for mental health nursing care. It critiques the psychiatric diagnosis as a categorisation process that maintains oppressive power relations within society, by establishing and enforcing normality through gender, culture and class biases. The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is used to illustrate some of the inherent biases in the diagnostic process. The author argues that mental health nursing practice needs to demonstrate an awareness of the power relations inherent in any diagnostic process and make attempts to redress these at both the individual and sociopolitical levels. To create a true patient-centred partnership in mental health nursing, the nursing focus should be on the patient's experience rather than the psychiatric diagnosis with which the experience is attributed. NB this is a reprint of article first published in Journal of Advanced Nursing, 2000 Mar; 31(3), 583-9.
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Day, W. (2000). Relaxation: A nursing therapy to help relieve cardiac chest pain. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 18(1), 40–44.
Abstract: This article discusses ways in which relaxation, when used as an adjunct to medical therapies, can be a useful nursing management tool for effectively relieving cardiac pain. The available literature suggests that although nurses place a lot of importance on cardiac patients being pain free, it is apparent this is often not achieved. Research and documented case studies suggest that relaxation can play an important role in the treatment and prevention of this distressing symptom. The author advocates for nurses to challenge nursing practice and help patients deal effectively with chest pain in a way that meets each individual's needs.
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Giddings, D. L. S., & Smith, M. C. (2001). Stories of lesbian in/visibility in nursing. Nursing Outlook, 49(1), 14–19.
Abstract: A study of the life histories of five self-identified lesbian women in nursing is reported. A metastory of “In/Visibility” captured the essence of lesbians being the focus of intense scrutiny while at the same time feeling the pressure to keep their lifestyle and identity hidden from others. Seven story themes were elaborated: closeting of lesbianism in nursing, isolating and hiding from self and others, living a double-life, self-loathing and shame, experiencing discrimination from others, keeping safe, and threatening others who are closeted.
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Connor, M. (2004). The practical discourse in philosophy and nursing: An exploration of linkages and shifts in the evolution of praxis. Nursing Philosophy, 5(1), 54–66.
Abstract: This paper, firstly, examines the linkages and shifts in the evolution of of praxis. The concept of praxis, also known as the practical discourse in philosophy, has been expressed in different ways in different eras. However, the linkages from one era to another and from one paradigm to another are not well explicated in the nursing literature. Blurring of the linkages occurred from the popular association of praxis within the emancipatory paradigm. Integral to the concept of praxis, since the time of Aristotle, is the notion of phronesis: a process of moral reasoning enacted to establish the 'good' of a particular situation, often referred to as practical wisdom. Secondly, the paper, promotes and affirms the importance of praxiological knowledge development in the discipline. Furthermore, increased appreciation of the concept of praxis provides an important vehicle for the advancement of nursing as a moral endeavour and the nurse as moral agent.
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Gardner, G., Dunn, S., Carryer, J. B., & Gardner, A. (2006). Competency and capability: Imperative for nurse practitioner education. The author-version of article, available online from Queensland University of Technology ePrints arc, 24(1), 8–14.
Abstract: The objective of this study was to conduct research to inform the development of standards for nurse practitioner education in Australia and New Zealand and to contribute to the international debate on nurse practitioner practice. The research was conducted in all states of Australia where the nurse practitioner is authorised, and in New Zealand. The research was informed by multiple data sources including nurse practitioner programme curricula documents from relevant universities in Australia and New Zealand, interviews with academic convenors of these programmes and interviews with nurse practitioners. Findings include support for masters level of education as preparation for the nurse practitioner. These programs need to have a strong clinical learning component and in-depth education for the sciences of specialty practice. Additionally an important aspect of education for the nurse practitioner is the centrality of student directed and flexible learning models. This approach is well supported by the literature on capability.
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Strickland, A. (2006). Nurse-initiated retinoblastoma service in New Zealand. Insight: The Journal of the American Society of Ophthalmic Registered Nurses, 31(1), 8–10.
Abstract: This article describes the implementation of a nurse-led, dedicated support network and service for children with a diagnosis of retinoblastoma and their families. Nurses with an interest in retinoblastoma at an Auckland Ophthalmology Department realised that the service provided was not meeting the needs of patients and families, particularly since the numbers had increased over the past two years. This article outlines the development of a cost-effective approach that improved the service.
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Flynn, L., Carryer, J. B., & Budge, C. (2005). Organisational attributes valued by hospital, home care, and district nurses in the United States and New Zealand. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 37(1), 67–72.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine whether hospital-based, home care, and district nurses identify a core set of organisational attributes in the nursing work environment that they value as important to the support of professional practice. Survey data, collected in 2002 2003 from 403 home care nurses in the United States and 320 district nurses in New Zealand, were pooled with an existing data set of 669 hospital-based nurses to conduct this descriptive, nonexperimental study. The importance of organisational attributes in the nursing work environment was measured using the Nursing Work Index-Revised (NWI-R). The authors found that at least 80% of hospital-based, home care, and district nurses either agreed or strongly agreed that 47 of the 49 items comprising the NWI-R represented organisational attributes they considered important to the support of their professional nursing practice. Mean importance scores among home care nurses, however, were significantly lower than were those of the other two groups. The authors conclude that the overall, hospital-based, home care, and district nurses had a high level of agreement regarding the importance of organisational traits to the support of their professional practice. The intensity of the attributes' importance was less among home care nurses. Further research is needed to determine whether this set of organisational traits, measured using the NWI-R, is associated with positive nurse and patient outcomes in home care and district nursing practice, as has been shown in acute care settings.
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Bland, M. F. (2002). Patient observation in nursing home research: Who was that masked woman? [corrected] [published erratum appears in Contemporary Nurse 2002 Apr; 12(2): 135]. Contemporary Nurse, 12(1), 42–48.
Abstract: This article discusses the issues that one nurse researcher faced during participant observation in three New Zealand nursing homes. These include the complexity of the nurse researcher role, the blurring of role boundaries, and various ethical concerns that arose, including the difficulties of ensuring that all those who were involved in the study were kept informed as to the researcher's role and purpose. Strategies used to maintain ethical and role integrity are outlined, with further debate and discussion around fieldwork issues and experiences for nurse researchers called for.
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Wilkinson, A. (2007). New age informatics & the management of perioperative nursing documentation. Dissector, 35(1), 20–23.
Abstract: Investigates the requirements for documentation by nurses. Research by Millar & Araquiza (1999) suggests that nurses spend an estimated 30% of their time documenting patient care.
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Fisher, M. (2007). Resuscitation guidelines: Managing change in practice. Pediatric Intensive Care Nursing, 8(1), 7–10.
Abstract: This article describes the effect of an education programme for Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) staff, developed as part of the roll out of revised clinical guidelines. In 2005, the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation released advisory statements and a revised universal algorithm for Infant, Child and Adult Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Subsequently the New Zealand Resuscitation Council developed and disseminated revised guidelines for use within the New Zealand Healthcare System. Within the PICU the challenge of integrating new practice standards whilst ensuring compliance with CPR guidelines, was how to disseminate information to over 80 staff nurses working 12 hour shifts. Following implementation of an education programme, a survey completed by 20 staff members demonstrated that staff felt well supported with the introduction of the new CPR guidelines (90%) and confident that they understood the changes to the resuscitation guidelines (90%). Staff identified that the poster display (95%) and the mail sleeve “flyer” (80%) helped them understand the changes to CPR.
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DeSouza, R. (2005). Transforming possibilities of care: Goan migrant motherhood in New Zealand. Contemporary Nurse, 20(1), 87–101.
Abstract: This paper reports on a study of the maternity care experiences of women from Goa (India) in Auckland. Multiple research strategies were incorporated into the process to prevent reproduction of deficiency discourses. Interviews were carried out with Goan women who had experiences of migration and motherhood. The findings revealed that as a consequence of motherhood and migration, migrant mothers were able to reclaim and re-invent innovative solutions. Nurses and other health professionals can have a significant role in supporting women and their families undergoing the transition to parenthood in a new country and develop their knowledge and understanding of this dual transition.
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Corbett, A. (2004). Cultural safety: A New Zealand experience. Journal of the Australasian Rehabilitation Nurses Association, 7(1), 14–17.
Abstract: The Indigenous Nursing Education Working Group report “Gettin em n keepin em”, was presented at the Australasian Nurse Educators Conference held in Rotorua, New Zealand. The practicalities of the implementation of this report were challenged in light of the experiences of New Zealand nurse educators in implementing the concepts of cultural safety into undergraduate nurse education in New Zealand. The experiences of one Maori family with the Australian health system is given to illustrate the points made.
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Goodyear-Smith, F., & Janes, R. (2008). New Zealand rural primary health care workforce in 2005: More than just a doctor shortage. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 16(1), 40–46.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to obtain a 2005 snapshot of the New Zealand rural primary health care workforce, specifically GPs, general practice nurses and community pharmacists. A postal questionnaire was distributed to rural general practice managers, GPs, nurses, community pharmacy managers and pharmacists in November 2005. The self-reported data included information on demographics, country of training, years in practice, business ownership, hours worked including on-call, and intention to leave rural practice.
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Darbyshire, P. (2008). 'Never mind the quality, feel the width': The nonsense of 'quality', 'excellence', and 'audit' in education, health and research. Collegian: Journal of the Royal College of Nursing Australia, 15(1), 35–41.
Abstract: The author contends that health care and education have been colonised by 'The Audit Society' and managerialism. It is argued that under the benign guise of 'improving quality' and 'ensuring value for money' a more Orwellian purpose operates. Academics had to be transformed into a workforce of 'docile bodies', willing to scrutinise and survey themselves and their 'performance' as outcome deliverers and disciples of the new 'Qualispeak'. This paper critiques the current obsession with audit and performativity, and the constant and often pointless 'change' that is held to be so self-evidently 'a good thing' and identifies policy discussion as a linguistic wasteland.
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