Abstract: One proposed method for addressing concerns about a `theory-practice gap' in nurse education and perceived clinical shortcomings in beginning practitioners, is improved collaboration between education and practice. This paper is about a New Zealand nursing initiative to promote optimal learning outcomes for nursing students through supported hospital clinical experiences. It is implemented through a contractual partnership between Lakeland Health Limited in Rotorua, and Waiariki Institute of Technology. An associated “Clinical Nurse Educator Programme”, developed by lecturers at Waiariki's nursing school, prepares hospital nurses to be Clinical Nurse Educators. These “C.N.Es” replace and enhance the clinical role formerly provided by nursing lecturers, and short term contracted nurses. The programme is entering its fourth year with positive evaluations, and has extended into another hospital. Literature suggests that although educators are important, students may consider hospital nurses much more significant for their clinical learning and developing confidence 'in the real world'. These nurses are on hand, and generally have clinical credibility not afforded to academic staff. However, ward nurses, like contracted nurse teachers, have reported not having enough curriculum knowledge, nor teaching skills to optimise student learning. This C.N.E programme addresses these shortcomings through its selection of experienced nurses in current practice, and 50 hours of theoretical and practical course content, to prepare them for the role. This paper provides a clinical and personal perspective of the C.N.E programme, its beginnings, how it works locally, and process for its ongoing development. Not only does this programme provide a bridge between theory and practice for students during their clinical practicum placements, but communication, consultation and collaboration between education, practice and the workplace have also improved. Nurses in both sectors are confident that through the developing partnerships, students and future practice will benefit from the aim to provide students with 'the best of both worlds'.

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.

Abstract: The author reviews the report 'Fitness for Practice' by the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (UKCC) noting many areas of relevance for New Zealand educators in outlining possible strategies for nursing education. Discussion of some of the recommendations is put in the context of a strategic review of undergraduate nursing education recently commissioned by the Nursing Council of New Zealand. Issues such as recruitment and access to education; retention; clinical assessment and placements; clinical skill acquisition and partnership are valid concerns for educators here also. Internationally, the author suggests, the commonalties in issues of concern lend validity to the concept of the global village and the necessity for a global perspective in health care workforce planning, including educational preparation.

Abstract: Death education encompasses many complex realities, for both the students and lecturers involved. This quantitative research explored the experiential and didactic preparation of nursing students through a content analysis, of one New Zealand, three year Bachelor of Nursing programme, in relation to death education. The Otago Polytechnic Bachelor of Nursing programme incorporates compulsory and optional courses, with the courses taught as an integrated programme with a progressive, sequential approach. This approach builds on content, deepening understanding from year to year, as well as providing opportunities for experiential learning and broadening of understanding. The literature review discusses three dominant themes of undergraduate death education: education, death, and transition. The data collection tool incorporates eighteen key terms, ten teaching methods and ten assessment methods. The programme and individual course documents, which define course content, teaching and assessment were scanned and analysed. The findings initially showed limited evidence of death education in course documents, however deeper analysis of the documents showed further evidence over the three year programme. The existence of death education is implied rather than overt throughout many course documents, through the use of broad practice statements. Content analysis is one way of shedding light on programme content in relation to death education. Limitations of the content analysis approach mean measuring experiential and didactic learning is not fully achievable from documentation analysis only. Further development of Bachelor of Nursing death education is an ongoing challenge, with current programmes very full and possibly lacking the capacity to increase content. Bachelor of Nursing programmes are discussed, highlighting the need for student focused learning with emphasis on acquiring and processing information, rather than mastery of content.

Abstract: This study used a curriculum inquiry framework to investigate the perceptions of 184 nursing students and nurse educators in relation to bioscience in the nursing curriculum. Nursing students were found to have significantly more positive attitudes to bioscience in nursing education than nurse educators, and nurse educators were not found to have significantly better self-efficacy in bioscience than the students, although this might have been expected. The results of focus group discussions, used to investigate this in more depth, suggested that some nurse educators and clinical preceptors may not have sufficient science background or bioscience knowledge, to help nursing students apply bioscience knowledge to practice. As a result of this, it is suggested that the aims of the intended and prescribed nursing curricula are not being fulfilled in the implemented curriculum.