Abstract: This chapter explores the concept of islands particularly in relation to rurality, individual and community identities, and nursing. The author argues that all New Zealanders are islanders, and considers the implications of this on personal and community values, when they are shaped by geographic isolation and structural separateness. She explores commonalities between islanders and rural peoples in areas such as identity, isolation, and health, and outlines the impacts this has on rural nursing practice and competencies. A case study of a nurse on Stewart Island is briefly discussed.

Abstract: In New Zealand, the physical assessment of a patient has traditionally been the domain of the medical profession. Recent implementation of advanced practice roles has expanded the scope of practice and nurse practitioners may now be expected to perform physical assessments. The aim of this literature review was to discover what could be learnt from the experiences of Western countries. Nurses from the USA, Canada and Australia readily incorporate physical assessment skills into their nursing practice as a component of health assessment. The international literature identified that any change to the nurse's role in health assessment, to include physical assessment skills, requires strategies that involve the regulatory, educational and practice components of nursing.

Abstract: A discussion of the increased use of 'casual' nursing staff (those nurses employed on a casual or 'per diem' basis) is presented. Reference is made to related literature, together with consideration of the implications associated with this trend. This issue has international significance, with the increased use of casual staff being widely recognised. A New Zealand perspective is included, with the provision of nursing care at Christchurch Hospital presented to illustrate certain aspects of the discussion. The impact of changing health-care systems and increased emphasis on efficiency and accountability are identified. This change to workplace practice will inevitably affect nursing; possible future developments are considered.

Abstract: The present paper reports on the results of a telephone survey of 217 alcohol and drug treatment clinicians on their beliefs and practice, in relation to service provision for women. Nurses comprised the second largest professional group surveyed. Seventy-eight percent of clinicians believed that women's treatment needs differed from men's and 74% reported a range of approaches and interventions, such as assisting with parenting issues and referral to women-only programmes. Several differences emerged in relation to approaches and interventions used, depending on clinician gender, work setting and proportion of women on clinicians' caseload. Implications for mental health nursing include the need to more systematically incorporate gender-based treatment needs into practice and undergraduate and postgraduate education and training programmes.

Abstract: This study compared the perceptions that registered psychiatric nurses have of their roles with their actual practice. Following the closure of large scale psychiatric institutions in New Zealand, there was was an increased demand for limited beds in acute inpatient facilities for acutely mentally ill patients. This change in location and downsizing of acute inpatient beds challenged traditional roles of mental health nursing, resulting in confusion over what roles mental health nurses should now perform in the new context of care. This qualitative descriptive exploratory study observed nursing practice on three selected wards and used focus group interviews to establish from registered nurses what they perceived their roles to be. A key finding of this study was that many of the nursing roles related to delivering care from a crisis management perspective, which covers aspects such as assessment, stabilisation of symptoms and discharge planning. Participants also believed that the therapeutic relationship was a fundamental role in inpatient care. Nurses used any opportunity to make it a reality such as kitchen organisation, medications, or dealing with a challenging patient. This study highlighted the complexity of the roles that nurses performed and went some way to give voice to what at times seems an invisible practice.

Abstract: The objectives of this research were to determine how many registered nurses are working as 'responsible clinicians', under what phases of the legislation they are functioning, and to describe the enabling processes and barriers to nurses undertaking this statutory role. An anonymous descriptive survey was distributed to the 11 nurses who were currently responsible clinicians as well as five senior nurses selected from each of the 21 district health boards and the Auckland Regional Forensic Psychiatry Services (n=121). The response rate was 88.4% (n=107). The survey questioned respondents on statutory roles currently undertaken. Respondents were asked whether the responsible clinician role was a legitimate one for nurses and whether they were motivated to attain it. They were also asked which competencies of the role they believed they met, their perceptions of credentialing processes and the educational requirements needed to achieve the role. Of the approximately 395 responsible clinicians nationally, 11 (2.8%) are nurses. Most nurses viewed the role as legitimate. However, many were unaware of competencies for the role and credentialing processes, and were somewhat ambivalent about achieving the role due to current workload, role conflict and lack of remuneration. Competency deficits were highlighted. The authors conclude that there are grounds to encourage nurses as responsible clinicians given the intent of the legislation. This will require the promulgation of appropriate mental health policy, and a concerted effort by major stakeholders in mental health service delivery.

Abstract: This paper discusses the utility of Consumer Notes Clinical Indicators (CNCI) as a means to monitor mental health nursing clinical practice against the Australian and New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses' (ANZCMHN) Standards of Practice for mental health nursing in New Zealand. CNCI are statements describing pivotal mental health nursing behaviours for which evidence can be found in the nurses' case notes. This paper presents 25 valid and reliable CNCI that can be used to monitor mental health nursing practice against the ANZCMHN's Standards of Practice for mental health nursing in New Zealand. The bicultural clinical indicators were generated in focus groups of Maori and non-Maori mental health nurses, prioritised in a three-round reactive Delphi survey of expert mental health nurses and consumers, pilot tested, and applied in a national field study. This paper reports the development and validation of the CNCI, for which achievement is assessed by an audit of the nursing documentation in consumer case notes. The CNCI were tested in a national field study of 327 sets of consumer case notes at 11 district health board sites. The results of the national field study show wide variation in occurrence of individual indicators, particularly in the areas of informed consent, information about legal rights, and provision of culturally safe and recovery-focused care. The authors discuss the implications of using the CNCI to assess the professional accountability of mental health nurses to provide quality care. Recommendations are made regarding the application of the clinical indicators and future research required, determining appropriate benchmarks for quality practice. The CNCI could be adapted for application in other mental health nursing and other mental health professional clinical settings.

Abstract: This qualitative study explores the perceptions of mental health nurses regarding assessment in an acute adult inpatient setting in Central Auckland. Fourteen mental health nurses took part in semi-structured interviews answering five open-ended questions. The analysis of data involved a general inductive approach, with key themes drawn out and grouped into four categories (roles, attitudes, skills and knowledge) in order to explore the meaning of information gathered. The outcome of the study acknowledged the importance of contextual factors such as the physical environment and bureaucratic systems, as well as values and beliefs present within the unit. The participants expressed concern that their input to assessment processes was limited, despite belief that 24-hour care and the nature of mental health nursing generally suggested that a crucial role should exist for nurses. In order for nurses to be established as central in the assessment process on the unit the study concludes that a nursing theoretical framework appropriate for this acute inpatient setting needs to be developed.