Abstract: Nurses at a New Zealand Metropolitan Hospital were surveyed to determine whether the following factors affected their desire to participate in continuing education. Age, Family responsibilities, reading of Journals/Health literature related to Nursing, attendance of in service/staff development programs, careers aims and intended number of years to remain in Nursing. 30 Nurses were requested to participate in the research project. They were either registered General and Obstetric Nurses or Registered Comprehensive Nurses and 15 worked full time while 15 worked part time. Null hypotheses were formulated and tested because it is recognised that Nurses have a professional responsibility to maintain their knowledge and expertise and to do this in a Health Care system and society that is continually changing there must be a commitment to life long continuing education. Therefore , I thought it would be of interest to determine whether certain factors influenced Nurses' desire to participate in continuing education. With the factors of Age, Family responsibilities, hours of work, number of years registered reading of Journals/Health literature related to Nursing, and intended number of years to remain in Nursing there was no significant difference (p> 0.10) in the desire to participate in continuing education, as was Nurses basic qualification (p< 0.05) With the factor of attendance of in service/ Staff development programs there doesn't appear to be any significant difference and with career plans the sample expected frequencies were too small for statistical analysis

Abstract: A telephone survey on peoples' perceptions of health services in the Nelson district. Conducted in conjunction with Graeme Taylor (Psychologist) and other members of NZNA,

Abstract: Extensive treatment requirements for patients in I.C.U. frequently result in interruption of their sleep. Sleep interruption can become sleep deprivation with physiological and psychological effects. To determine the amount of sleep patients in the I.C.U. received, a brief study was done in the form of a questionnaire to nursing staff. Noise levels in the I.C.U. were recorded over a period of time. From the study it was concluded the majority of patients were sleep deprived

Abstract: The basic research question was " Do people find a spiritual dimension important in defining health and if so what is their understanding of a spiritual dimension in health and healing? A descriptive cross section survey was carried out using a questionnaire to gather data from different groups of people including providers, consumers and teachers of health and health care

Abstract: The purpose of this paper was to observe the effectiveness of continuous intravenous narcotic infusions as a means of pain relief in the first 48 hours post operatively. 12 patients who had experienced major thoracic or abdominal surgery participated in the study. Pain was assessed at rest and on activity on visual analogues at 5 specific times daily for up to 48 hours post operatively. Data was also collected from a structured interview within the first 48 hours and a retrospective interview when the infusion was discontinued. Results indicated- 1. Very little correlation of changes in pain relief dose to the assessment of pain intensity. 2. Documentation and assessment was not always thoroughly completed. 3. Inadequate treatment of pain post operatively was evident especially on activity. It should be emphasised that pain management could be improved through a focus in interdisciplinary consultation, continuing in service education on pain management and accountability in procedure.