Abstract: The diagnosis of childhood cancer has a profound impact on the family. How nurses understand family affects their practice with families facing the diagnosis of childhood cancerShaped by Heideggerian phenomenology, van Manens methodology for hermeneutic phenomenology was used to construct an understanding of family from the experiences of family members facing the diagnosis of childhood cancer. Seven family members from two families, one mother, two fathers, two siblings, and two grandparents were interviewed about their experience of facing the diagnosis of childhood cancer.From the participants experience the meaning of family was interpreted as being-with-others, for-the-sake-of-others, who one might not distinguish from oneself. This understanding of family is recognisable, yet different from traditional definitions of family and may help nurses and family members to act more thoughtfully and tactfully with each other

Abstract: This study identifies, describes and generates a theoretical explanation of what it means to be a Nurse educator in New Zealand in the 1990's. It explores individual experiences within the broader social context. Sixteen participants from three Schools of Nursing in New Zealand were interviewed over a four month period. Constant comparative analysis of data eventuated in the identification of four conceptual categories named as : being a teacher, settling down, finding a place and coping with change. They were then drawn into the core category – Being – in- Becoming. Being – in- Becoming, means in this study, that a person is the Nurse teacher simply because that person has taken on the work of a teacher. In being a teacher, the person is adapting, changing and learning how to become a teacher. Being – in- Becoming, is a process which is on going, never ending, and constantly changing. The essence of this study is that the teacher's experience of Being – in- Becoming. is influenced by personal development and the way the person comes to 'know' about the world of Nursing education who is also intimately connected to the way Nursing curriculum is defined and experienced by individual teachers. These findings have implications for Nursing education , in recognition of teacher's concerns, background meanings and problems which influence a person's experience of being a Nurse educator. Expectations that feelings should be 'managed' therefore ignored is consistent in a group which claims caring as the essence of Nursing practice. Excessive workloads are constantly cited as a major problem for worker. The organisation has the responsibility to acknowledge the human experience of those who work within this area and to undertake to respond in ways which can improve the situation for all

Abstract: The question for this study arose from the observation that health care often does not match the client's self-determined needs and desires, and hence is wasted care. As a result, the study proposed to discover what elements are involved when women with dependent children make health care choices and what they want in the way of health care.The exploratory study was conducted using strategies of grounded theory. Fourteen in-depth interviews, involving eleven women, were conducted. The selection of participants and of the questions for the interviews was basef on theoretical sampling. Constant comparative analysis and integrative diagramming were used to analyse the data.The theory that emerged from the data was Bonded Caring and its two essential categories; Interconnectedness and Caring. Bonded Caring requires an intimate and ongoing relationship in which there is development of in-depth knowledge of the unique characteristics of the person(s) involved. It is characterised by a strong and enduring effective quality, and by a concern, worry and serious attention to the needs of the person(s) involved. This concern necessitates the gathering of information about the nature of the needs, and making the best possible choices concerning their management.During this research for knowledge and skills needed to carry out health care, women assess their own knowledge and experience; the level(s) of health care needed by each individual; the availability, competence and expected response of the resource person or health care consultant; the perception of risk associated with a health concern; and the family's culture and life style. The women considered these elements within a structural framework of finite material and personal resources. The women juggled the distribution of these resources in a way that allowed them to select the avenues of health care that provided the best degree of safety and protection of development within the context of their circumstances