Abstract: Maintains that duty to care is a fundamental basis of nursing practice. Explores the historical origins and development of the concept, alongside nurses' legal, ethical and professional parameters associated with duty of care. Identifies major concepts including legal and common-law definitions of duty of care, duty of care as an evolving principle, the moral commitment to care, and the relevance of duty of care to nursing practice in NZ.

Abstract: Undertakes research to explore how oncology nurses perceive cancer pain in patients. Presents the findings of semi-structured interviews with a sample of 5 registered nurses working in a NZ oncology ward, who reported their responses to under-treatment of cancer pain. Highlights the need to explore cancer pain management with patients.

Abstract: This social-cultural history explores the changing context, culture, and identity of psychiatric nurses working in New Zealand public mental hospitals between 1939 and 1972. Primary documentary sources and oral history interviews provided the data for analysis. The thesis is divided into two periods: 1939 to 1959 when asylum-type conditions shaped the culture of the institutional workforce, and 1960 to 1972 when mental health reform and nursing professionalisation challenged the isolation and distinct identity of mental hospital nurses. Between 1939 and 1959 the introduction of somatic treatments did not substantially change nursing practice in mental hospitals. Overcrowding, understaffing and poor resources necessitated the continuance of custodial care. The asylum-type institutions were dependent on a male attendant workforce to ensure the safety of disturbed male patients, and the maintenance of hospital farms, gardens, and buildings. Although female nurses provided all the care and domestic work on the female side, the belief that psychiatric nursing was physically demanding, potentially dangerous, and morally questionable, characterised the work as generally unsuitable for women. Introduction of psychiatric nursing registration which was a move toward professionalisation did little to change the dominance of a male, working-class culture. From 1960 to 1972 psychiatric nurses' identity was contested. New therapeutic roles created the possibility of the nurses becoming health professionals. Their economic security and occupational power, however, was tied to an identity as unionised, male workers. As psychiatric nurses were drawn closer to the female-dominated nursing profession through health service changes and nursing education reform, both men and women acted to protect both their working conditions and their patients' welfare. To achieve these ends, they employed working-class means of industrial action. By accepting the notion that psychiatric nurses' identity was socially constructed, this thesis provides an interpretation that goes beyond the assumption that nursing is a woman's profession. Instead, it presents psychiatric nursing as a changing phenomenon shaped by contested discourses of gender, class and professionalisation. Nursing in public mental hospitals attracted ordinary men and uncommon women whose collective identity was forged from the experience of working in a stigmatised role.

Abstract: A qualitative descriptive approach was undertaken to explore the experience of eight registered nurses and two hospital play specialists who care for children hospitalised with burn injuries. The research participants were recruited from a paediatric ward that offers centralised specialty care to children with burns. Emerging out of the data was the over-arching theme of 'passionate dedication' that shows the nurses and hospital play specialists genuine compassion and commitment to meet the needs of the children with burns. The findings of the study reveal that the participant's dedication is shaped and determined by a dynamic process that involves having professional integrity and in-depth knowledge of caring for children and burn management. The nurses and the hospital play specialists have a common understanding of what their role entails and the skills required to provide quality care and support to the children and the children's family. On a personal and professional level the participants encounter several challenges in this care context that are physically and emotionally overwhelming. Despite becoming overwhelmed the participants are revealed as being resourceful and resilient in their aptitude to find ways that enable them to cope and get through. The author suggests that this study supports international literature that suggests that caring for children with burns is equally rewarding, as much as it is physically and emotionally demanding. The author identifies that the implication in this study for the organisation is to seriously consider issues regarding productivity and efficiency of the workforce with acknowledgement that nurses and hospital play specialists cannot do this emotional work without effective systems of support in place.

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: Asserts that bullying is common in nursing, and particularly in mental health nursing. Conducts a literature review before administering a mixed-method online survey to registered nurse (RN) inpatient mental health nurses, of whom 38 responded.

Abstract: An essential part of nursing practice for the nurse on the surgical floor is to relieve the discomfort of post operative pain for patients in their care. Post operative pain management encompasses a series of processes from assessing pain, providing relief, assessment of measures used to relieve pain through to documentation in the patient record. Yet literature, both internationally and from Australia and New Zealand, suggests that post operative pain continues to be poorly managed despite having the means to provide more than adequate relief. Events leading up to the commencement of this study indicated that locally, post operative pain assessment, including documentation in the patient record may be substandard. The objective of this study was to develop and test an audit tool; undertake a retrospective audit of nursing records, including nursing notes and the nursing care plan, in respect of what postoperative pain assessments nurses document in the patient record; evaluate data and make recommendations for practice. Methodology: A five part, 23 question Likert scale audit tool, designed specifically for this study was used to collect data over a period of two months. In total 40 patient records that met the inclusion criteria were audited.The results indicate that local practice reflects poor documentation standards found in other studies. The most complete recordings were those entered on specifically designed charts such as the Patient Controlled Analgesia and Epidural charts (N 28) but this did not carry over into the patient record. Despite that fact that the patient's self reports of pain is said to be the single most reliable indicator of pain, there was only four occasions when the patient's verbal response to pain was recorded. None of those responses were according to any type of pain rating scale. Evidence of evaluation following measures used to relieve pain was more likely to be recorded if pain was poorly controlled or when side effects such as nausea were experienced by the patient. The author concludes that overall the audit has highlighted many gaps in what is or is not recorded in the patient record in respect of post operative pain assessment and has highlighted the need to develop standards of practice that will improve post operative pain management practices.