Abstract: This literature review critically examines contributing factors to the current nursing shortage in New Zealand, centering on recruitment and retention of registered nurses. There is a dramatic widening between the supply of registered nurses and the demand for their services. All regions in New Zealand are reporting difficulty in hiring experienced and specialty nurses, and recruiting time is lengthening. This report suggests that the shortage is closely linked to factors in the nursing care environment. As a result of multiple factors during the centralising, cost-containing, acuity-increasing decade of the 1990s, the care environment has driven practising nurses out of acute care settings and discouraged new students from entering the profession. The availability of numerous alternative career opportunities has heightened the effect. Continuing causes to the non-selection of nursing as a profession are the influences of wage compression and limited career progression over the lifetime of the nurse, and insufficient orientation and mentoring of new nurses. Recent changes in the health care system have gone unevaluated and without oversight by nursing regulatory agencies – a situation not in the best interests of patients or nurses. A number of both literature-supported and resourceful approaches, including recommendations towards addressing the nursing shortage are proposed in this review.

Abstract: The authors examine gender based disparities for academics with respect to remuneration, academic grading and Perfomance Based Research Fund (PBRF) scores, whereby women do less well than men in each of these areas. In this article individualised explanations for the failure of women to progress are set in the context of a critical exploration of the PBRF evaluation methodology. It is argued that both academia and the PBRF research assessment exercise embody a form of academic masculinity that systematically disadvantages women in general and nursing in particular.

Abstract: The author discusses the impact of 'new genetic knowledge' on society and how molecular and clinical genetics are having an increasing influence on routine health care. Increasingly, nurses will be exposed to this new genetic knowledge and challenged to integrate it into their clinical practice in order to ensure that patients and families receive the best health care available. The paper reports the percentage of undergraduate nursing curricula devoted to teaching about genetics and considers how the fundamental principles of molecular genetics and the clinically relevant areas of genetics can be incorporated into pre- or post-registration education.

Abstract: This thesis investigates the relationship between language, 'discourse' and professional knowledge and power in a specific context; that of surgical nurses' “talk” about their work managing pain in hospitalised patients. This thesis argues that the work of 'caring for' hospitalised surgical patients who report pain is influenced by discourses which are predicated on different readings/understandings of the body/patient, and from which different knowledge is constructed. Of interest to this thesis are the discourses of biomedicine and nursing, and their role in constructing a particular reality/ies which determine the ways in which surgical nurses talk about their work managing pain. Using the method of critical discourse analysis, the “texts” of transcribed audio-taped conversations with four registered nurses working in surgical specialties were analysed to uncover 'discourses of pain management'. The results of the analysis indicate that the biomedical construction of pain, and approaches to pain management, remain the dominant influence over surgical nurses' practice. There was evidence of nursing discourses with an emphasis on nurse-patient relationships also playing a role. These discourses were critically examined for what they reveal about relations of professional knowledge and power in this specific context of the nurses' practice. The implications for nursing and nursing research are considered significant because the study critically (re)presents a different perspective on, and reality for surgical nurses' pain management practices. In so doing, it elucidates an explanation for, and understanding of, why surgical nurses take care of patients reporting pain in particular ways.

Abstract: Abstract
Aim. This paper is a report of a study to explicate the phenomenon of ginger
compresses for people with osteoarthritis.
Background. Osteoarthritis is claimed to be the leading cause of musculoskeletal
pain and disability in Western society. Management ideally combines non-pharmacological
strategies, including complementary therapies and pain-relieving
medication. Ginger has been applied externally for over a thousand years in China
to manage arthritis symptoms.
Method. Husserlian phenomenological methodology was used and the data were
collected in 2007. Ten purposively selected adults who had suffered osteoarthritis
for at least a year kept daily diaries and made drawings, and follow-up interviews
and telephone conversations were conducted.
Findings. Seven themes were identified in the data: (1) Meditative-like stillness
and relaxation of thoughts; (2) Constant penetrating warmth throughout the
body; (3) Positive change in outlook; (4) Increased energy and interest in the
world; (5) Deeply relaxed state that progressed to a gradual shift in pain and
increased interest in others; (6) Increased suppleness within the body and (7)
More comfortable, flexible joint mobility. The essential experience of ginger
compresses exposed the unique qualities of heat, stimulation, anti-inflammation
and analgesia.
Conclusion. Nurses could consider this therapy as part of a holistic treatment for
people with osteoarthritis symptoms. Controlled research is needed with larger
numbers of older people to explore further the effects of the ginger compress
therapy.

Abstract: The purpose of this thesis is to give voice to school nursing as a primary health care specialty, and to promote the development of school nursing in New Zealand. School nursing is an invisible practice specialty that is largely funded from within the education sector, to address the health needs of student clients. School nursing is a significant primary health care initiative that can positively influence student health outcomes. The author presents her own school nursing practice experience and philosophy, prior to reflecting upon the history of school nursing, and the health concerns present within the student population. The work then moves to review and critique school nursing literature from New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This thesis highlights the need for collaborative policy and practice development initiatives including a legislative requirement for school nurses, school nursing competencies and standards, school nurse to student ratios, postgraduate training, professional liaison, practice funding, and research. A discourse on the reflective topical autobiographical method introduces autobiographical poetry from school nursing practice and reflective inquiry, as the central research endeavour of this thesis. Autobiographical poetry is offered as a window to this specialty practice, and accompanying reflections allow access to a further layer of practice knowledge.

Abstract: This dissertation is a review of evidence underpinning the recommendations for pressure ulcer prevention from four national guidelines frequently used as a foundation for best practice. The focus is on grade-1 pressure ulcer prevention for “at risk” patients, in the acute environment. Rationale: Prevention is better than cure. While preventive strategies maybe effective are they supported by evidence? Results: The strongest evidence for best practice appears to be limited to an established fact that standard hospital mattresses should at least be replaced by high specification foam, pressure reducing mattresses for patients “at risk” or vulnerable to pressure ulcer development. Repositioning, skin assessment, skin protection and maintenance, traditionally the basis of pressure ulcer prevention, appear to have a paucity of strong supportive evidence. Further evidence is emerging on clinically important areas such as erythema and mattresses. Implications for Nursing: The organisational or ministerial support for education of the multidisciplinary team, especially nurses in risk assessment and prevention strategies. This support is required both in release time and finances for education and in adequate funding for preventive strategies. The author concludes that strong evidence to support the recommendations of the guidelines appears to remain limited, particularly in the acute environment. Expert opinion would appear to remain the basis for current best practice for pressure ulcer prevention. The volume and consistency of this evidence worldwide is substantial and adds validity to the recommendations. Best practice includes firstly risk assessment, skin assessment, maintenance of skin temperature, moisture, and condition, and the importance of repositioning, in conjunction with an appropriate support surface. However gaps remain in the supportive evidence in many of these fields. Advances in practice include pressure relief or reduction considerations for all surfaces the patients encounter. There appears to be no gold standard for prevention of pressure ulcer development.