Abstract: This paper explores the relationships within teaching, learning and practice development in critical care nursing and questions the popular assumption that 'post graduate (Master's level) education fits all'. The need for critical care nurses to apply advanced knowledge and technical skills to complex and dynamic practice situations necessitates the development of critical thinking and a problem-solving approach to clinical practice that can be fostered through education and experience. Discussion focuses on the successful development and implementation of graduate level education for critical care nurses in the South Island of New Zealand and how this development is challenging existing approaches to the provision and evaluation of formal critical care education in New Zealand.

Abstract: This article presents an integrated approach to pharmacology education for nurses aligned with constructivist learning theory, as taught at the School of Nursing, University of Auckland. The weaving of pharmacology through the three-year undergraduate curriculum is described, showing the development of a pharmacology curricula thread. The significance of supporting curricula content in areas such as communication skills, law and ethics, as well as sound biological science and physiology knowledge are highlighted.

Abstract: This paper describes how a new framework for clinical nursing education was introduced at Counties Manukau District Health Board. The project was initiated in response to the significant legislative and post registration nursing education changes within New Zealand. The journey of change has been a significant undertaking, and has required clear management, strong leadership, perseverance and understanding of the organisation's culture. The approach taken to managing the change had four stages, and reflects various change management models. The first stage, the identification process, identified the impetus for change. Creating the vision is the second stage and identified what the change would look like within the organisation. To ensure success and to guide the process of change a realistic and sustainable vision was developed. Implementing the vision was the third stage, and discusses the communication and pilot phase of implementing the nursing education framework. Stage four, embedding the vision, explores the process and experiences of changing an education culture and embedding the vision into an organisation. The paper concludes by discussing the importance of implementing robust, consistent, strategic and collaborative processes that reflect and evaluate best educational nursing practice.