Abstract: The author, a district nurse, describes the experiences of a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease requiring long-term oxygen therapy and characterised as a carbon dioxide retainer whose overall health was improved by a carbohydrate restricted diet. The literature on carbohydrate intake and respiratory disease is briefly reviewed.

Abstract: Employs the concept of 'life in the round', drawn from social network theory and the model of information dissemination, including the supporting theories of information poverty and normative behaviours, to explore the information behaviours of marginalised populations participating in small institutionalised worlds. Uses the context of residential aged care as an exemplar for the application of the theory of 'life in the round' and provides examples to support application of these concepts to the information practices of health-care assistants.

Abstract: Homosexuality has been practiced since ancient times, but through the centuries this expression of sexual identity has moved from being acceptable to unacceptable and finally regarded in a contemporary era as a mental health problem that needed to be, and it was thought could be, cured. This paper focuses on the barriers that lesbian women perceive when wanting to access health care. Most of the research about lesbian women has been conducted in the United States with some in the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand. Through reviewing the available literature and grouping common themes, the author identifies three main barriers to health care that exist for lesbian women. Firstly, ignorance or insensitivity of the health care professional about the specific health care needs of this client group; secondly, homophobia or heterosexism that may be present in the health care environment; and thirdly the risk of disclosing one's sexual orientation. These barriers are discussed using the concepts of cultural safety and nursing partnership. The author concludes that the negative health care experiences that lesbian women encounter leave them feeling vulnerable and fearful. This fear and stigmatisation has resulted in lesbian women becoming an 'invisible' community. It is the assumption of heterosexuality that immediately places the lesbian woman at a disadvantage and this potentially may produce missed opportunities to provide individualised care to the lesbian client. The purpose of this work is to encourage discussion within nursing to challenge attitudes and the approach to women who identify as lesbian. The author hopes that this paper will contribute to the increasing body of knowledge in regard to this client group.

Abstract: Explores the experiences of discharged liver transplant recipients as they leave the hospital experts and return home. Adopts a sequential, exploratory mixed-method design, with a qualitative component: in-depth interviews with 17 liver transplant recipients. Explores their perspectives on quality of life post-operation in order to develop key concepts of post-operative wellbeing.

Abstract: Making the transition to an area of specialist nursing practice is challenging for both the learner and staff who are responsible for education and skill development. This study uses grounded theory methodology to explore the question: “How do nurses learn critical care nursing?” The eight registered nurses who participated in this study were recruited from a range of intensive care settings. The criteria for inclusion in the study included the participant having attained competency within the critical care setting. Data was collected from individual interviews. This study found that nurses focus on two main areas during their orientation and induction into critical care nursing practice. These are learning to do (skill acquisition) and learning to be (professional socialisation). The process of transition involves two stages: that of learning to do the tasks related to critical care nursing practice, and the ongoing development of competence and confidence in practice ability. The relationship of the learner with the critical care team is a vital part of the transition to competency within the specialist area. This study identifies factors that influence the learner during transition and also provides an understanding of the strategies used by the learners to attain competency. These findings are applicable to educators and leaders responsible for the education and ongoing learning of nurses within critical care practice. The use of strategies such as simulated learning and repetition are significant in skill acquisition. However attention must also be paid to issues that influence the professional socialisation process, such as the quality of preceptor input during orientation and the use of ongoing mentoring of the learner.

Abstract: The move to nursing degrees has encouraged educators to use student centredteaching methods which develop problem solving skills, critical thinking andreflection. Kola's Experiential learning cycle is proposed as one method to developsome of these skills. The study compared the effectiveness of three differentmethods of teaching the instillation of eye drops and application of an eye pad. Asample of 73 volunteers from a Diploma of Nursing programme were systematicallyassigned to one of three groups. The modified experimental design consisted of acontrol group (tutor demonstration and student practice), Kolb's group (teachingusing the experiential cycle) and the SDL group (self directed learning using writteninformation with no tutor instruction or feedback). Participants rated their confidence,competence and the amount of thinking, analysis, guidance and problem solvingbefore and after each method.Results for instilling eye drops indicated that there were no significant differences onthe pre-test ratings and a marginally significant difference (p=0.06) on the post testratings across the teaching methods. Results for the eye pad showed no significantdifferences on pre-test or post-test ratings across the methods. Students learnt by allmethods and the differences, if there were any, were not large enough to bedetected in this study. There was a significant difference in problem solving and tutorguidance across the methods due to the low ratings of the SDL group. There was nosignificant difference in thinking, analysis or partner guidance across the methods

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.