Pirret, A. M. (2003). A preoperative scoring system to identify patients requiring postoperative high dependency care. Intensive & Critical Care Nursing, 19(5), 267–275.
Abstract: The incidence of postoperative complications is reduced with early identification of at risk patients and improved postoperative monitoring. This study describes the development and effect of a nursing preoperative assessment tool to identify patients at risk of postoperative complications and to reduce the number of acute admissions to ICU/HDU. All surgical patients admitted to a surgical ward for an elective surgical procedure (n=7832) over a 23-month period were concurrently scored on admission using the preoperative assessment tool. During the time period studied, acute admissions to ICU/HDU reduced from 40.37 to 19.11%. Only 24.04% of patients who had a PAS >4 were identified by the surgeon and/or anesthetist as being at risk of a postoperative complication, or if identified, no provision was made for improved postoperative monitoring. This study supports the involvement of nurses in identifying preoperatively patients at risk of a postoperative complication and in need of improved postoperative monitoring. The postoperative monitoring requirements for the PAS >4 patients were relatively low technology interventions.
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Spence, D. (2004). Advanced nursing practice through postgraduate education, part one. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 20(2), 46–55.
Abstract: In New Zealand the clinically focused postgraduate papers and programmes, available through universities and polytechnics, are evaluated from an educational perspective but little evaluation of the implications for practice has been undertaken. This paper is Part One of a report on a study that sought to illuminate the impact of clinically focused postgraduate education on advancing nursing practice. Hermeneutic methodology provided a framework for analysing both the perspectives of nurses who had undergone such education and those who had directly employed and worked alongside these nurses. Emerging themes are described here. In a second article the findings will be discussed in relation to literature. Constraining factors will be identified and strategies designed to maximise the benefits of education for advancing nursing practice will be recommended.
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Spence, D. (2004). Advancing nursing practice through postgraduate education, part two. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 20(3), 21–30.
Abstract: This paper continues presentation of the findings of a North Island based research project that explored the impact of clinically focused postgraduate education on advancing nursing practice. Like their international counterparts, increasing numbers of New Zealand nurses are enrolling in advanced practice programmes. Yet, despite international evidence supporting the usefulness of Masters level preparation for advancing clinical practice, questions about the need for such development persist. This paper argues that postgraduate education contributes to the development of courage and that this, in turn, is essential to overcoming the barriers that currently constrain the advancement of nursing practice.
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Mortensen, A., & Young, N. (2004). Caring for refugees in emergency departments in New Zealand. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 20(2), 24–35.
Abstract: This paper outlines some of the special health needs of people from refugee backgrounds who present in the emergency department, and the role of emergency department nurses in improving care for refugee and migrant peoples. Refugees and asylum seekers represent a significant proportion of attendees in emergency departments in Auckland Hospitals. Culture and ethnicity are a major factor to be considered in addressing the health care needs of this population. Other factors such as the physical and psychological sequelae of the refugee experience, health care experience prior to arrival in New Zealand, poverty, language, and the trauma of resettlement also have a major impact on health care seeking behaviours.
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Drake, M., & Stokes, G. (2004). Managing pre-registration student risk: A professional and legislative minefield. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 20(1), 15–27.
Abstract: This article reports data from 15 schools of nursing, surveyed to identify difficulties experienced by nurse educators with respect to entry, progression and programme completion of undergraduate nursing students. Risk assessment, along with a lack of clear policy and procedures were found to be the main problem areas. Difficulties were exacerbated for educators when there were challenges to their professional judgement, either from the Nursing Council of New Zealand or from within their own institution. The authors argue for more recognition of the dual role of nurse educators, and greater clarification of the Nursing Council of New Zealand role in regulating the student's programme entry and progression, and ultimate admission to the Register. It is suggested that the recently passed Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (2003) provides nursing with an opportunity to address some of these issues.
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Phillips, B. N. (2005). A survey of mental health nurses' opinion of barriers and supports for research. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 21(1), 24–32.
Abstract: This paper reports the findings of a preliminary survey of two district health boards, which shows that high workloads and lack of relief staffing appear as the greatest hurdles to mental health nurses participating in practice-based nursing research. A further constraint on their participation is lack of research expertise and experience. Consultative discussions with senior mental health nurses support these conclusions. In this paper, mentoring and flexible research designs are promoted as possible ways of overcoming these barriers.
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O'Brien, A. J., Hughes, F., & Kidd, J. D. (2006). Mental health nursing in New Zealand primary health care. Contemporary Nurse, 21(1), 142–152.
Abstract: This article describes the move in mental health from institutional care to community arrangements. It draws on international literature and New Zealand health policy, which gives increased emphasis to the role of the primary health care sector in responding to mental health issues. These issues include the need for health promotion, improved detection and treatment of mild to moderate mental illness, and provision of mental health care to some of those with severe mental illness who traditionally receive care in secondary services. These developments challenge specialist mental health nurses to develop new roles which extend their practice into primary health care. In some parts of New Zealand this process has been under way for some time in the form of shared care projects. However developments currently are ad hoc and leave room for considerable development of specialist mental health nursing roles, including roles for nurse practitioners in primary mental health care.
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Smillie, A. (2006). Historical investigations: Risk management in a New Zealand hospital, 1888-1904. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 22(2), 33–38.
Abstract: This article examines historical events within one hospital and compares them with contemporary risk management practices. The examples involve a nurse sustaining injury in the course of her work, a fire in the hospital and two instances of patient complaints – one concerning nursing care and the other relating to a time lag between admission to hospital and receiving medical attention. Analysis of the processes followed in investigating these occurrences reveals that these historic investigations were small in scale and less bureaucratic than contemporary practice, and were based on a culture of blame. This is contrasted with modern risk management practices which are more focused on understanding what can be learned from the incident with respect to preventing recurrence.
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Carryer, J. B., & Russell, L. (2007). Nurses' understandings of the Professional Development Recognition Programme. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 23(2), 5–13.
Abstract: Professional Development and Recognition Programmes (PDRP) for nurses have developed out of the Clinical Career Pathways (CCP) of the 1990s. The Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (2003) has now required all health professionals to provide evidence that their practice meets criteria set by the individual regulatory body, which, for nursing, is the Nursing Council of New Zealand. In 2002 a tool was developed to measure knowledge and attitudes of the then CCP which was tested with 239 nurses. This paper is a report on the second application of the tool in the same hospital in New Zealand. Results show that knowledge and attitudes of the PDRP are similar to those found in the previous study. It also suggests that greater understanding of the PDRP and the implementation process increases the likelihood of a positive response to the programme.
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Spence, D., & Wood, E. E. (2007). Registered nurse participation in performance appraisal interviews. Journal of Professional Nursing, 23(1), 55–59.
Abstract: This article presents the findings of an interpretive study that explored and documented the meaning and impact of nurse participation in performance appraisal interviews. Data gleaned from nine New Zealand registered nurses employed by a single district health board provide evidence that nurses are often disappointed by the process of performance appraisal. Although they believe in the potential value of performance appraisal interviews, they seldom experience the feedback, direction, and encouragement necessary for an effective appraisal process. It is suggested that changes to the current professional development program and its accompanying performance appraisal will require skilled commitment on the part of nurses, managers, and the employing organisation to improve and develop the assessment and promotion of nursing practice.
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Slight, C., Marsden, J., & Raynel, S. (2009). The impact of a glaucoma nurse specialist role on glaucoma waiting lists. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 25(1), 38–47.
Abstract: Reports on the effect of a 'nurse-led' glaucoma clinic at a large metropolitan hospital, in which patients were recruited from specific categories of glaucoma patients on the waiting list. Audits the impact on the waiting list over a two-year period.
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Manning, L., & Neville, S. (2009). Work-role transition : from staff nurse to clinical nurse educator. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 25(2), 41–53.
Abstract: Presents the findings of a study describing Clinical Nurse Educators' experiences, as they recall their transition from staff nurse to the Clinical Nurse Educator role, within a New Zealand District Health Board (DHB). Employs a qualitative descriptive methodology utilising transition theory as a conceptual framework. Interviews a sample of eight Clinical Nurse Educators about their transition from experienced staff nurse to inexperienced senior nurse. Analyses data using a general inductive approach.
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Harding, T. (2009). Swimming against the malestream : men choosing nursing as a career. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 25(3), 4–16.
Abstract: Reports on one aspect of a larger study, which used qualitative methods to critically explore the social construction of men as nurses. Draws upon literature pertaining to gender and nursing, and interviews with 18 NZ men, to describe the factors underpinning decisions to turn away from 'malestream' occupations and enter a profession stereotyped as 'women's work'. Outlines the five thematic groupings revealed to be significant with respect to the decision-making process.
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Foster, P., & Neville, S. (2010). Women over the age of 85 years who live alone : a descriptive study. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 26(1), 4–13.
Abstract: Explores and describes experiences of older women who live alone in the community, and who are often perceived by both society and health professionals as frail and dependent. Employs a qualitative descriptive methodology to underpin a survey of 5 older women living alone in their own homes, and analyses the data using a general inductive approach. Identifies 3 themes that emerge from the data.
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Mahoney, L. (2010). Children living with a mentally ill parent : the role of public health nurses. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 26(2), 4–13.
Abstract: Aims to identify the public health nurses' role with regard to children who are living with a parent who is suffering from a mental illness. Uses a qualitative research design with 8 public health nurses working in rural and urban settings. Conducts focus groups from which data are gathered and analysed thematically using axial coding. Conducts further focus groups with 6 of the participants to evaluate the themes identified.
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