Abstract: This article looks at the role of technology in nursing, and the interaction between it and human compassion and caring. The interface between critical care technologies and caring is explored, along with the social and political issues facing critical care areas.

Abstract: This article examines influences that impact on the work of the Emergency Departments (EDs). EDs are noticing increased attendance of patients with minor or non-urgent conditions. This increase in patient volume, together with on-going fiscal constraints and restructuring, has placed an added strain on the functioning of EDs. New Zealand nurses need to question the role currently given to EDs and identify the issues surrounding the increased use of these departments for primary health care.

Abstract: Pain management practices within emergency departments require a more patient focused approach due to extended waiting times for analgesia. This dissertation questions current methods of providing timely and appropriate delivery of analgesia. Nurses represent the biggest resource in emergency departments therefore are in a position to be able to access patients in a timely fashion. A review of the literature pertaining to nurse initiated analgesia protocols has been evaluated and information relating to efficiency and safety utilised to discuss the processes for planning and implementation of a similar protocol. The author finds that the literature provides no evidence that nurse initiated analgesic practices prior to medical assessment compromises patient safety or delays diagnosis. A discussion of the benefits to patients, nurses and the institution has been included to highlight the appropriateness of extending nursing roles.

Abstract: Explores emergency nurses? perspectives and practices about the quality, importance and value of emergency nursing documentation in relation to their personal beliefs, past experiences and preferred systems of documentation; the practical and contextual factors that influence documentation practices within an emergency department (ED); their interests in documentation tools or systems; and their interests in relation to further development of documentation practices and systems. Conducts a qualitative descriptive study in which ten emergency nurses from one ED in New Zealand were interviewed using interactive interview methods, and asked to complete a Likert scale to identify the relevance of internationally- recognised general influences on documentation to their own practices in the context of an ED. Includes recommended routes to development through partnership, participation and process engagement, and strategies including document development, knowledge advancement and support.

Abstract: Family violence is common and there are significant long-term negative health effects from victimisation. Health professionals are now recognised as key providers of family violence intervention. The Hawke's Bay District Health Board HBDHB) launched a Family Violence Intervention Programme in the emergency department in 2002, in accordance with national directives. The Family Violence Intervention Programme includes routine questioning for partner abuse within social history assessments for all women 16 years and over who seek healthcare services. Nurses assumed responsibility for implementing this programme into emergency department practice. Establishing partner abuse screening in practice requires an organisational and attitudinal change. Achieving and sustaining this change can be difficult. Evaluation was considered an essential aspect of the systems approach adopted within the HBDHB Family Violence Intervention Programme to support change. The aim of this study was to identify the enablers and barriers to routine questioning in the emergency department one year after the programme was launched and the strategies to address these barriers. The staff who have responsibility for routinely questioning women were considered well placed to provide this information. The methodology selected was evaluation research using semi-structured interviews. The design included member checking and triangulation of the findings. Eleven emergency department staff members participated in five (two group and three single) interviews. The interviews revealed that routine questioning for partner abuse is difficult in the emergency department setting. Barriers to questioning exist and enablers can eliminate or minimise these. Enablers such as policy and training support routine questioning. Barriers identified included the lack of privacy and time. Participants suggested strategies to overcome these. These barriers, enablers and solutions were either personal or organisational in origin and all had a common theme of safety. An outcome of the study was the development of a model of barriers and enablers to ensure safety when routinely questioning women for partner abuse. This evaluation has utility within the HBDHB as it informs programme progression. However, the evaluation has wider implications. The experiences of the emergency department staff led to the emergence of key themes that may inform the development of comparable programmes. Introducing routine questioning requires a practice change; a multifaceted approach focusing on safety can assist staff to achieve that change.

Abstract: Explores what NZ Emergency Department (ED) nurses perceive as the biggest challenges to nursing care and staff safety during an influenza pandemic, in order to provide information on how to ensure the engagement of these nurses at the frontline of the pandemic response. Uses a qualitative descriptive design to allow an examination of the first-hand perspectives of ED nurses, gaining meaningful insights into a phenomenon little explored. Interviews 16 ED nurses about future pandemic planning at ED, DHB and government level.