Abstract: A Heideggerian Hermeneutical Analysis (HHA) approach was used for a study of returning registered nurse students (RRNS) from a nursing/health management context. In essence a descriptive interpretive study the intent has been to unveil the common meanings embedded in the lived experience of RRNS return to formal (advanced) studies. The phenomenon or issue of interest was pursued in the form of a question: What is meaningful and significant for participant RRNS in their everyday world on re-engaging in formal (advanced) nursing studies?Research from the RRNS viewpoint is scarce, so the focus of the study was to understand what RRNS themselves found to be the highlights of the experience. Participants included RRNS coming from a management background and, therefore, very much at the cutting edge of rapid and continuing change in health care provision. In addition to personal and professional reasons for returning to study, what the narratives disclosed was the compelling need experienced by the RRNS to increase understanding of changing requirements in the workplace. They looked for new possibilities to transform management of nursing/health services and for learning experiences favorable to that purpose. A key aspect of their concern related to the interactive nature of their lived experience as a RRNS with the entire context of their everyday world, that is, with the connections and relations between the study-work-homespace.Fourteen RRNS from an established university nursing programme participated in an expended non-structured interviews lasting 60 – 90 minutes. The interviews were held during 1993 in places selected by participants, some in the home but mostly in the work setting. With the consent of the participants interviews were audiotaped and then transcribed. The texts (transcriptions) were analysed hermeneutically using Heideggerian phenomenology, a particular tradition of philosophy whose concern is the meaning of Being. The concern is to make visible participants' experience of their 'world'. In this instance, it was the everyday 'world' of the participant RRNS and the lived meanings of what they experienced on return to formal (advanced) studies. Hence everyday lived experience is the focus of attention in Heiedeggerian phenomenology. In this research approach what is sought is understanding not explanation. It is a premise of phenemenology that, in general, an understanding of the meaning and significance of the lived experience can be required from the 'things' (the phenomena under study) themselves. Approaching a participant as an expert by virtue of directly experiencing the phenomenon, is basic to phenomenology. Hermeneutic analysis of the texts of the participant RRNS affirmed the authenticity of those assumptions.The study revealed several common or major themes, two relational themes and one constitutive pattern were identified through the process of textual interpretation. The constitutive pattern expressing the full complexity of the relations and connections between the themes, was found to be present in all fourteen texts; the nature of a constitutive pattern being 'that it's always there'. The constitutive pattern 'Nursing is Dwelling in Thoughtful Concern as Context Calls Forth', emerged as the major finding of the study. This pattern witnesses to the pragmatism that is inherent in nursing and commonly found in nurses' responses to the challenges presented by continuing and rapid change. For the participant RRNS nursing had become a way of engaging their energies in the workplace as appropriate to a given place, time and culture. The two relational themes accent particular aspects of the constitutive pattern. 'Nursing' is a whole pile of things'; and 'Curriculum: Reflective Openness' reveal the inherent meanings of the constitutive pattern. Firstly, that nursing is diverse in practice and has many dimensions; and,, secondly, that a curriculum befitting the diversity of nursing requires us to constantly challenge ad test the learning experiences we provide for RRNS.The fourteen participants traversed diverse pathways to acquire the understanding and skills required for altered health care structures. Adopting new relationships and 'leaping-ahead' (Heidegger, 1962), to be able to see the whole picture of what was being experienced in nursing/health care, reveals the RRNS becoming-as interpreters for both colleagues and clients. Leaping-ahead is reflective of thoughtful concern as the pattern of responding to presenting need. This way of living a life transforms work. The participant RRNS disclose that, dwelling in such a way in nursing/health work opens up a future of possibilities which brings all the presenting needs into focus. Sharing the story of their lifeworld as RRNS, the participants have exemplified the ' reflective openness' Senge(1990) advocates, as being a pre-requisite for 'learning organisations'. Contemporary oganisations require us to challenge our own thinking as well as being free to speak our minds ('participant openness'). Since, however much we value our daily life practices and understandings, they need to be 'always subject to test and improvement'. In effect, what the participants have bestowed on us is that, within the framework of a curriculum for RRNS and the content learning of a given course, we must generate a process of learning amenable to both individual and group requirements

Abstract: Eighty alcohol and/or drug dependent women who were consecutive admissions to an outpatient alcohol and drug service were interviewed with the aim of gathering information regarding childhood adversity, psychiatric comorbidity and alcohol and drug history, including extent of treatment and alcohol and drug related criminality. A secondary aim of the study was to investigate associations between both the multiplicity of alcohol and drug dependence diagnosis and the presence of psychiatric comorbidity in relation to exposure to childhood adversity, including sexual, physical and emotional abuse.The data demonstrate that the study sample was a relatively severe group of alcohol and drug dependent women. A sizeable percentage came from backgrounds characterised by parental separation, conflict and alcohol and drug problems. Many were regularly exposed to physical abuse perpetrated by both parents or main parental figures and over two-thirds were exposed to some form of sexual abuse within their first 15 years. Sixty percent had been dependent on more than one psychoactive substance, with half having undergone previous alcohol and drug treatment. The women also presented with substantial histories of criminal convictions, with a quarter having served a prison sentence. The results indicate the presence of extensive psychiatric comorbidity in the sample. Two-thirds of the women met current DSM-IV criteria forat least one of the following Axis I disorders: major depressive syndrome, social phobia or bulimia nervosa, while nearly half had antisocial personality disorder. More importantly, significant associations were found regarding the presence of psychiatric comorbidity in relation to four measures of severe childhood adversity, i.e. childhood sexual, physical and emotional abuse and parental problems. Multiplicity of alcohol and drug dependence diagnosis was associated with severe emotional abuse, severe parental problems andpsychiatric comorbidity. Emotional abuse during childhood was the most pervasive indicator of comorbidity and multiplicity of alcohol and/or drug dependence. The main implication for clinical practice arising from the results of this study is the need for the development of a broader approach to alcohol and drug service provision. In order to achieve positive treatment outcomes, alcohol and drug service may need to routinely screen and plan treatment for unresolved childhood trauma, psychiatric disorder and other problems related to alcohol and drug use in all clients presenting for alcohol and drug treatment

Abstract: The paper reviews, as a case history, the progress (to 1980) of the development of a Nursing Manpower Plan for Wellington Hospital Board.The main features of protocol are delineated.The prime requirement for the development of a manpower plan are perceived of as having available, reliable, quantifiable and comparable data.Discussion indicates the methods of collection, analysis and use (actual and potential) of quantifiable data.The use of quantifiable data indicated the potential, for the use of “nursing hours per patient per day”

Abstract: The aim of this study was to identify some nursing students' perceptions of how the process of journalling helps them to learn about nursing. The study sample were three students enrolled full time in a Bachelor of Nursing programme and at the end of their first year. Each student volunteer participated in a semi-structured audio-taped interview, guided by the opening question “What is journalling like for you?” The tapes were transcribed, coded and analysed for general themes. Each participant received a copy of her transcript and was invited to alter, add or delete any information. The findings highlighted the difficulties of beginning to journal, learning how to journal, personal growth through journalling, the journal as a critical document of oneself, a love-hate relationship with journalling, and what journalling is like now

Abstract: A dual presentation. This abstract gives only the research section of the presentation.A description of the data base components for Wellington Hospital Board Nursing Manpower Planning, which includes;Patients-: population based, bed based, best estimate, average daily bed occupancy andcategories.Nurses-: categories, whole time equivalents, attrition, nursing hours available, nursing hours lost.Finance.Assumptions for patient and nursing staff projections to 1986 are given.Financial constraints and the “buying” of nurses.A proportion of nursing positions are fixed by establishments and policy. The degree of flexibility remaining to “buy” differing categories of nursing staff

Abstract: The purpose of this grounded theory study was to identify, describe and provide a conceptual explanation of the process of care offered by midwives and the effects of that care on women's experiences of childbirth on hospital. Ten couple participants and their attendant midwives provided the major source of data. The primary data collection methods used in this study were participant observation during each couple's experience of labour and birthing, antenatal, hospital and postnatal interviews with couples along with formal and informal interviews with midwives.Constant comparative analysis of data eventuated in the identification, in the context of this study denotes a process that is engaged in by both midwives and birthing women in order to establish practice, and the experience of giving birth, as being individually genuine and valid.Authenticating is multifaceted and is seen to include the intertwined and simultaneously occurring phases of 'making sense', 'reframing', 'balancing' an 'mutually engaging'.The process of authenticating is proposed as a possible conceptual framework for midwifery practice. It identifies the unique contribution the midwife can make to a couple's experience of childbirth and serves in a conceptual way to unite the technical and interpersonal expertness of the midwife. The conceptual framework of authenticating legitimizes 'being with' women in childbirth and facilitates a women-centred approach to care with consequent implications for practice, education and research