Abstract: Seeks to understand how clinical nurse managers build positive culture in their workplace, while identifying leadership attributes and actions for generating positive workplace culture. Interviews 10 clinical nurse managers from one secondary hospital in the North Island about their strategies to build positive workplace culture: preparation for their role; maintaining perspective, and intention to enhance collaborative behaviour.

Abstract: The purpose of the research was an evaluation of practice exemplars as a reflective process in teaching and learning about cultural safety. Six Maori, two Pacific and five Pakeha students, ranging in age from 30 to 40, took part in the research. The research findings revealed five sub themes: personal safety, power/ powerlessness, reflection, teaching and learning and cultural safety. The presentation, while acknowledging that cultural safety shared some commonalities with culture care theory, highlighted differences between the two. These included that cultural safety was explicit in identifying the inherent power of the nurse in health care relationships; related to the experience of the recipient of nursing care, and extended beyond cultural awareness and sensitivity; provided consumers of nursing services with the power to comment on practices; and contributed to the achievement of positive outcomes and experiences for them. It outlined the characteristics of a culturally safe nurse as a nurse who had undertaken a process of reflection on her/his own cultural identity and who recognised the impact their personal culture had on client care.

Abstract: This thesis explores the customary kaupapa of Matauranga Maori or Maori knowledge, which the author identifies as the appropriate technique to determine how health care should be maintained by and for Maori. The research highlights the need to meld these kaupapa with that of a contemporary Maori viewpoint, to focus more on a deeper enhancement of these kaupapa, and develop an understanding of the social, cultural, educational, political and economic contexts these concepts have on Maori as a people. This research identified six Maori registered women nurses, who shared their experiences regarding Matauranga Maori and its importance to their nursing practice. Over a period of one year, in-depth conversations unfolded and produced data on what Matauranga Maori involves and how the six participants in the study believe it influences their nursing practices. All were currently practicing nurses within various health settings such as psychiatric and comprehensive nursing. From the inception of this study, the focus was to introduce Matauranga Maori as the epistemological framework of choice. The author notes that the findings of this research indicate that a collection of key kaupapa, namely whakapapa, whanaungatanga, te reo Maori, wairuatanga, tuurangawaewae, manaakitanga and rangatiratanga are crucial to the health and wellbeing of Maori as a people. These kaupapa enable Maori to determine and strengthen their worldview, which in turn reflects the concept of being Maori thereby contributing to the health and status of their whanau, hapu and iwi. She goes on to say that the findings support the view that there is a substantial collection of kaupapa, which are inherent in Matauranga Maori as being able to provide a framework for theoretical research. These kaupapa will provide a framework for nursing practice and educational curricula that will develop and maintain nursing standards to meet the needs of Maori.

Abstract: This study explores the phenomenon of a personal exploratory field visit to HIV programmes in Malawi and how that informs the author's future plans to work cross-culturally with HIV. He uses hermeneutic phenomenology with the guidance of Heidegger and Gadamer, and draw on Ackermann, Hill, Maluleke, Moltmann, and Thielicke for theological direction. This study analyses how personal formation takes place and how the meaning of that experience can inform future cross-cultural interaction. The data of this study is drawn from a range of people interviewing 'me'. This includes a pre and post interview in relation to the author's three week exploratory visit to Malawi, and recorded daily reflections during the visit. Upon return he was interviewed about the experience by ten people from the following areas: nursing, counselling, development, theology, business, medicine, clergy, an Expatriate Malawian, and a women working from a Maori paradigm. These interviews focused on the author's experience with questions framed from the interviewer's specialty area. The transcripts become further data for this study. The findings of this thesis suggest that people wishing to work cross-culturally need to understand their motivation for their work, and understand who they are before entering a foreign land. This transformative journey also needs to continue as part of the process of working with people because we can only be effective with change if we are listening and hearing the other's perspective. It is in being open to this difference between persons that we continue to find ourselves. While perhaps we have a tendency to want to make everybody like us, we can only grow into our full potential in relationship with truly different others. Tensions experienced demonstrate that there is a complex need to understand how the context controls how HIV is perceived. This requires uncovering some of the deeper issues of HIV and culture, and knowing how to conceptualise these in both positive and informative ways. This thesis asks four key questions for the global-co-worker to work through before embarking on cross-cultural mission: 1. How do you know you should go?; 2. How are you going to make a difference?; 3. Who are you going to be?; and 4. What will sustain your involvement? The author's own experience has drawn me into a deeper awareness of the need for a vital connectedness of faith, hope and love underpinning the everydayness of such an experience.

Abstract: Identifies early-career nurses' perceptions of their first two years of clinical practice, and how the organisational climate at a District Health Board (DHB) within NZ impacts on their success in clinical practice. Determines the relationship between three aspects of organisational climate -- nursing relationships, charge-nurse manager leadership, and staff organisation -- and early-career nurses' perceptions of job satisfaction and burnout. Receives 91 responses to a mixed-method survey. Identifies significant themes that emerged from thematic analysis: supervisor support, emotional labour, workload and staffing relations.

Abstract: This study explored the perspectives of Pacific nurses on what it is like for them to work in a Pacific community mental health (PCMH) service within a district health board. Five Pacific Island nurses who worked in the three Pacific community mental health services based in the Auckland region participated in the project. The study employed narrative inquiry to gather data through focused storytelling method. The results of the study have indicated that PCMH nursing is a unique nursing field as well as highlighting significant practice issues for nurses. Complex service infrastructure and language have been found to be the major contributing practice constraints. The findings suggest the need for district health board authorities, Pacific mental health service management, professional nursing education and development programs to consider addressing these practice issues to prevent further increase in the problem of PCMH nurses shortage and enhance recruitment and retention of these nurses.

Abstract: This dissertation considers the implications of the relationship between nurses and the patient's family, when family members visit intensive care units (ICUs) following the acute admission of a relative there. In particular it explores the issues of power and control, nurses might have in this setting, the culture that supports that, and the implications this has for practice in the New Zealand context. A comprehensive literature review on the perspective of nurses in relation to relatives visiting adult intensive care units was conducted. The author concludes that nurses modify policies related to visiting access for family members to suit themselves, and the needs of their patient. Nurses use a variety of tactics to maintain a position of power and control by looking out for themselves first, their patient second, and relatives third. The need of the patient and their families is not well understood by nurses, and nurses feel they have inadequate skills to cope with the needs and stresses of visiting relatives. The author suggests that for nurses to provide family focused care in ICU they must develop a therapeutic relationship with all concerned. ICU nursing culture affects nurses ability to focus on caring for their patients and their families. Nurses in ICU appear to need to maintain power and control over their environment but further research is needed to identify the current situation in New Zealand ICUs.