Abstract: In 1999 primary health care in New Zealand was in the process of change from the current personal health care model, which focuses on general practitioner based care, to a population and community based health care programme. Carryer, Dignam, Horsburgh, Hughes and Martin (1999) submitted a report to the National Health Commission entitled “Locating Nursing in Primary Health Care”. This report envisaged that nurses in primary health care would be part of interdisciplinary teams, act autonomously and undertake community consultation and education. The submission suggested that nurses, currently working in primary health care, were alraedy prepared and able to move across into the new form of primary health care, without further education or training.

Abstract: This study using action research involving twelve registered nurses worked toward improving nursing care in an acute mental health in-patient service. Following focus groups with consumers, families, nurses, doctors, and allied health professionals, the action research group developed projects over eighteen months to improve continuity and consistency of nursing care. There was a subsequent restructuring of nursing service to better define leadership, accountability and to strengthen care delivery. The second half of the thesis involves a critical social analysis of the research data and produces a theory of mental health nursing which, the author suggests, has wide application in practice.

Abstract: This thesis is a study of the experiences of four cultural safety lecturers in nursing education in Aotearoa / New Zealand. A review of literature reveals the recent and turbulent evolution of cultural safety. The media which documented this journey in a negative light in the 1990s prompted ministerial inquiries and the publication of the Nursing Council of New Zealand's guidelines for cultural safety in nursing and midwifery education (1996). Action research methods enabled the participants to implement change in their practice and gain positive personal involvement in the study. Reflective diaries provided the major tool in this process as participants were able to achieve at least one action research cycle by identifying issues, planning action, observing the action and reflecting. The findings of the research revealed that the participants not only coped with every day stressors of teaching but they were also required to formulate knowledge of cultural safety. For the Maori participants their stress was confounded with recruiting and retaining Maori students and macro issues such as commitments to iwi. Lack of support to teach cultural safety was identified to be a key theme for all participants. An analysis of this theme revealed that it was organisational in nature and out of their immediate control. Action research provided a change strategy for participants to have a sense of control of issues within their practice. Recommendations have been made which focus on supporting cultural safety educators to dialogue on a regular basis through attendance at related hui; the introduction of nurse educator programmes; paid leave provisions for cultural safety educators to conduct and publish research so that a body of knowledge can be developed; and that Maori cultural safety educators be recognised for their professional and cultural strengths so that they do not fall victim to burn out.

Abstract: ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Emergency nursing is a specialty concerned with the care of people of all ages, with either perceived or actual unwellness presenting to the emergency department(ED) for assessment, resuscitation, investigation, treatment and review of their illness or injury. Emergency nurses apply specialty knowledge and expertise in the provision, delivery and evaluation of emergency nursing care. Over recent decades social, political and professional changes have affected nursing care delivery and nursing education. In particular the 21st century has witnessed the development of state funded postgraduate nursing education programmes, developing nurses specialty or advanced nursing knowledge, quality patient/client care and nursing practice within the tertiary education system.
AIM: The aim of this study is to investigate emergency nurses? perceptions of the impact of postgraduate education on their practice in New Zealand (NZ).
METHODS: This study utilises critical social theory as the overarching framework, informed by the writing of Jürgen Habermas (b.1929- ). It is the three phases of
Habermas?s practical intent of critical social theory; namely enlightenment, empowerment and emancipation, that this study is concerned with. This descriptive research study employs both quantitative and qualitative methods and is therefore known as mixed-methods research. Data collection took place over 12 weeks, from August to November 2006, using a survey questionnaire obtained with permission from Ms Dianne Pelletier, Sydney, Australia. The sample included 105 emergency nurses from District Health Board (DHB) emergency departments in NZ, 10 respondents from this sample self-selected to be interviewed by telephone. Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the University of Otago Ethics Committee for research involving human participants. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).
RESULTS: Two main themes arose from the thematic analysis; these being positive and negative, these themes were further divided into 10 sub-themes. The results indicate that postgraduate study (PGS) has increased nurses? perception of their knowledge; leadership and understanding on the quality of patient care delivered, increased their academic and research skills and increased their confidence/self-esteem and recognition by their colleagues and team. Therefore the majority of respondents perceive postgraduate education has been an instrument of liberation and a process of empowerment and emancipation. A smaller percentage of respondents perceived that PGS had no effect on various aspects of patient care and another significantly smaller percentage of respondents reported negative results from PGS. This research identified similarities between this study and that of Pelletier and colleagues? (2003; , 2005; , 1998a; , 1998b) Australian study.
CONCLUSION: This study adds to the existing literature on postgraduate studies undertaken by nurses. No known study has previously investigated solely emergency nurses?perceptions of the effects of PGS, either nationally or internationally. The results of this study offer enlightening information regarding emergency nurses? perceptions of their PGS within NZ and offers a platform from which other studies may be undertaken. It also has the potential to inform nurses contemplating PGS and educators facilitating these programmes,as well as provide implications for policy development by the Nursing Council of NZ, NZ Universities, DHBs and the Ministry of Health.

Abstract: A paper presenting the findings of a small research project involving a group of self-selected senior nurses of Wellington Hospital to explore the nature of nursing practice in the care and management of hospitalised patients and to formalise the language that would acknowledge its significance in the current effort of hospitals to define patient care pathways. The nature of hospital nursing practice was described in themes of a generic process of nurse-patient care that articulates a distinct specialism of hospital nursing, whatever the hospital department in which nurses hold positions.

Abstract: The New Zealand nursing workforce is increasingly made up of overseas trained nurses. There is extensive literature from elsewhere in the world on the impacts of international nurse recruitment and migration on individual nurses and on health services. The literature also portrays evidence of abuse and exploitation, yet few studies are available relating to the experiences of migrant nurses in New Zealand. This research conducted a survey of overseas-trained nurses, specifically focusing on those nurses for whom English is not their first language, to understand the experiences and factors affecting migrant registered nurses in New Zealand. Given the importance to the New Zealand workforce of overseas-trained nurses, this research highlighted that more warnings and advice regarding recruitment agencies and information about nursing in New Zealand and the Nursing Council requirements for registration should be made available to nurses prior to their migration. Nursing leaders should be particularly alert to any evidence of bullying or discrimination based on race or overseas origin.

Abstract: It has been shown that intensive management of diabetes with type 2 diabetes is effective and has led to wider use of insulin. The conversion of patients from oral medication to insulin is usually managed in primary care. The study discussed here aimed to explore how patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) perceived insulin. The study was conducted in 2009 in an urban general practice in a large town in New Zealand with more than 300 patients with type 2 diabetes. A qualitative study was conducted with face-to-face interviews with 13 participants. The question focused on insulin initiation, lifestyle and routine. The transcribed responses were subject to thematic anaylsis. Interviews showed participants felt restricted by the prospect and eventuality of the routine and restrictions of being on insulin. Results show there needs to be a greater emphasis on the disease being progressive. This study provides the ground work for developing resources that will benefit patients with T2DM.