Abstract: This action research study explores the experiences of 'patient education' from the perspective of a group comprising two nurses, two people with asthma, and the researcher who is a nurse who has asthma. The method used is emancipatory action research (Grundy, 1990) with critical social theory and feminism as theoretical underpinnings.The focus moves from patient education to a broader view of living and working with asthma. The story of the group is presented in the format of a play. A play within the play tells of living and working with asthma.An action research spiral is formed which reflects the way the group moves through the three modes of action research described by Grundy (1990). The acts of the play represent each of the stages of the action research process. The emphasis moves from power and control through to practice wisdom.The main issues explored are: the nature of patient education by nurses; the implications this has for relationships with patients and nursing education; power and control in the secondary setting; the lived experience of chronic illness and the practice wisdom of nurses and people with asthma. The work concludes with recommendations for change in each of these areas based on the work of the group

Abstract: This research project, a descriptive study using narratives, explored the application of cultural safety theory and philosophy to clinical nursing practice. This application was illustrated through the stories of four experienced Pakeha,Tauiwi registered nurses in Aotearoa/New Zealand, who described their realities of applying cultural safety to daily clinical practice. The incentive for this study had been identified in light of the current political climate, pragmatic realities and in keeping with the current state of knowledge.Cultural safety was first identified by Maori nursing students and subsequently described and articulated by Maori nurses, as being a potential solution to improving Maori health statistics in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Many Maori and Pakeha/Tauiwi in this country accept that the Treaty of Waitangi, a covenant signed between Maori and the Crown in 1840, is the incentive for giving cultural safety status and credibility. While the Nursing Council of New Zealand has supported this concept and made it a requirement for all nursing education, there is little literature written concerning its application to practice from a Pakeha/Tauiwi perspective.The perceptions and insights of these nurses were heard when they were invited to describe how they saw cultural safety as part of their daily clinical practice and recount their struggles, realities, practice and experience. The literature review supported the use of narratives as an appropriate method for this study. The philosophy and assumptions of narrative appear to match the oral tradition of nursing and thus it was considered possible to contemplate the fit of narrative to nursing research.The stories of these nurses, gave examples of best nursing practice in which cultural safety was integral to practice, and provided exemplars of possible beginnings and possible endings. The depiction of cultural safety in practice surfaced as the weaving of four themes which were consistent in all the stories – themes of reflection, reverencing, the environment, and hidden blessings and healing. The research evidence suggested that cultural safety was visible in practice in many diverse ways; it emphasised the complexity of the concept; accented its evolving status; and identified a relative consistency in defining cultural safety despite the varied contexts of practice.Although this study was limited by the small sample, the findings indicated that there were potential implications for nursing education, research, nurses and nursing practice as well as for other health care providers working in the current health care system. They suggested that actions from nurse educators, nurse managers, health care managers and clinical nurses themselves, would be needed to ensure that cultural safety continued to be part of nursing practice and contribute to the improvement of all health statistics in this country as well as to encourage an increased development in the focus on Maori health issues.Further nursing research suggested by the findings include studies to appraise cultural safety from a patient's perspective, and consideration given to the evaluation and assessment of nurses and their culturally safe practice. In addition, exploration and research could ascertain the benefits and rewards of culturally safe practice and identify ongoing educational needs as well as examining the views of other members of the multi-discipline team