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 report presents a longitudinal research study which evaluated the effectiveness of the twelve months New Graduate Orientation Programme introduced at Capital Coast District Health Board's Wellington Hospital in March 1998. The programme was implemented to assist new nursing graduate's transition into the role of registered nurse. The evaluation project took place over a three-year period. Three annual intakes of new graduates enrolled in the New Graduate Orientation Programme were surveyed by questionnaire on their completion of the programme.

Abstract: This thesis examines the forces influencing the development of contemporary advanced nursing practice in New Zealand. It begins with an historical approach to explore the various meanings of advanced nursing practice from the late 1800s through the first years of the 21st century. Seven historical understandings of the meaning of 'advanced' nursing practice emerge. The author's analysis of the broad scope of New Zealand nursing history, including a case study of the development and implementation of the nurse practitioner, draws on theoretical perspectives from sociology, political science, and nursing. She develops a “framework of critical factors for nursing to take into account when considering how to ensure the profession is able to deliver on its great potential to improve the health of New Zealand communities”. Examining the work of a range of nursing leaders, past and present, and drawing on the work of political scientist, John Kingdon, the author describes the work of several nurses as “policy entrepreneurship.”

Abstract: The concepts of self care of health (the goal of self care) are explored in relation to the self care nursing model. It is a basic premise of this model that the client be involved to the fullest possible extent in regarding or developing self care skills. It is proposed that individuals differ in respect to their readiness of such involvement and effort in their own health work and, hence, inability to benefit from the application of the self care nursing model. The study aimed at developing a means of identifying and predicting these differences. It was hypothesised that the individuals perceptions and beliefs about heath, his attribution about the location of blame for illness and the extent to which he perceives himself as having control over the contingencies of his behaviour, would all systematically influence his readiness to engage in self care. A health questionnaire designed to obtain data on individual health related beliefs and practices was constructed. This was mailed to a random sample of non-academic staff from one of the universities. A combination of univariate and multivariate analyses of the 86 completed questionnaires showed four major variables to be significantly interrelated. The pattern of relationships which emerge between responses to other items in the questionnaire cast further light on the complex determinants of health behaviour. Of particular interest is the suggestion that the way health is defined is a crucial factor. Use of the principal axes method of factor allowed a shortened version of the original questionnaire to be produced. The profile yielded by scores on this instrument, not only describes the client in terms of four major health related variables, but can also be used to predict readiness to benefit from a self care nursing approach