Stewart, R. (2005). Opportunistic chlamydia testing: Improving nursing practice through self-audit and reflection. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 21(1), 43–52.
Abstract: This article details how an individual family planning nurse's practice concerning opportunistic testing for sexually transmitted chlamydia was improved through an audit of her testing rates and reflection on the outcome. The leading curable sexually transmitted infection in New Zealand, chlamydia, (including the incidence and spread of the infection and why it is a public health issue) is discussed, and the audit examined. The first audit of fifty consecutive client visits exposed a lack of opportunistic testing. The second looking at a similar but more recent group of client visits, made after the results of the first (zero opportunistic testing) were known, shows an increase in testing and education about chlamydia. Important clinical issues concerning chlamydia testing and treatment are considered. In conclusion the article challenges other nurses in the community to take a lead in raising awareness of the consequences of undiagnosed chlamydial infection and find ways of increasing opportunistic testing for chlamydia within their practice.
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Spence, D. (2012). Preparing registered nurses depends on 'us and us and all of us'. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 28(2), 5–13.
Abstract: Reports on the qualitative findings of a collaborative study undertaken to monitor implementation of a new model of clinical education for undergraduate nursing students. Describes the development of a clinical education model devised by 3 District Health Boards (DHBs) and 2 universities, based on the inclusion of student nurses in team nursing.
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Spence, D., & Smythe, E. (2007). Courage as integral to advancing nursing practice. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 23(2), 43–55.
Abstract: This paper focuses on the illumination of courage in nursing. The authors suggest it is a fundamental component of nursing, yet it is seldom mentioned or recognised in the literature, or supported in practice. Data from a hermeneutic analysis of nurses' practice stories is integrated with literature to assist deeper understanding of the meaning of courage in contemporary nursing practice. The purpose is to make visible a phenomenon that needs to be actively fostered if nursing is to effectively contribute to an improved health service.
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Spence, D., & Anderson, M. (2007). Implementing a prescribing practicum within a Master's degree in advanced nursing practice. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 23(2), 27–42.
Abstract: This article reports the implementation of a collaborative project undertaken to monitor and improve the effectiveness of the prescribing practicum papers delivered within two Master's degree programmes in advanced nursing practice. The recent introduction of Nurse Practitioner registration in New Zealand has resulted in the development of a number of Master's degree programmes in which students can complete a Nursing Council of New Zealand approved programme for prescribing. For the study, a developmental action research approach was used. Data were collected through interviews with practicum students, their medical supervisors and academic staff. Formative findings were progressively used to refine delivery of the practicum papers and a thematic analysis of summative findings identified areas for further improvement. The findings suggest that the processes being implemented are developing well. The researchers recommend that further education is required to clearly differentiate medical and advanced nursing roles. They recommend that greater attention needs to be paid to the preparation of medical supervisors and, most significantly, revision of funding is required to more equitably support the ongoing development of nurses for advanced practice roles.
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Spence, D. (2004). Advanced nursing practice through postgraduate education, part one. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 20(2), 46–55.
Abstract: In New Zealand the clinically focused postgraduate papers and programmes, available through universities and polytechnics, are evaluated from an educational perspective but little evaluation of the implications for practice has been undertaken. This paper is Part One of a report on a study that sought to illuminate the impact of clinically focused postgraduate education on advancing nursing practice. Hermeneutic methodology provided a framework for analysing both the perspectives of nurses who had undergone such education and those who had directly employed and worked alongside these nurses. Emerging themes are described here. In a second article the findings will be discussed in relation to literature. Constraining factors will be identified and strategies designed to maximise the benefits of education for advancing nursing practice will be recommended.
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Spence, D. (2004). Advancing nursing practice through postgraduate education, part two. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 20(3), 21–30.
Abstract: This paper continues presentation of the findings of a North Island based research project that explored the impact of clinically focused postgraduate education on advancing nursing practice. Like their international counterparts, increasing numbers of New Zealand nurses are enrolling in advanced practice programmes. Yet, despite international evidence supporting the usefulness of Masters level preparation for advancing clinical practice, questions about the need for such development persist. This paper argues that postgraduate education contributes to the development of courage and that this, in turn, is essential to overcoming the barriers that currently constrain the advancement of nursing practice.
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Spence, D. (2001). The evolving meaning of 'culture' in New Zealand nursing. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 17(3), 51–61.
Abstract: The author traces the nursing definition of biculturalism as it has evolved from the colonial period to the present. An examination of nursing literature demonstrates that local understandings of culture have matured beyond anthropological interpretations to a sociopolitical definition of Maori culture. The author suggests that, in nursing, culture has come to mean cultural safety.
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Smythe, L. (2008). Re-collecting and 'thinking' the story of New Zealand's postgraduate nursing scholarship development. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 24(3), 27–40.
Abstract: Looks at the history of postgraduate scholarly nursing study over the past 40 years. Performs hermeneutic analysis of nurse scholars' reflections on nursing finding its own body of knowledge and moving into research.
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Smillie, A. (2006). Historical investigations: Risk management in a New Zealand hospital, 1888-1904. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 22(2), 33–38.
Abstract: This article examines historical events within one hospital and compares them with contemporary risk management practices. The examples involve a nurse sustaining injury in the course of her work, a fire in the hospital and two instances of patient complaints – one concerning nursing care and the other relating to a time lag between admission to hospital and receiving medical attention. Analysis of the processes followed in investigating these occurrences reveals that these historic investigations were small in scale and less bureaucratic than contemporary practice, and were based on a culture of blame. This is contrasted with modern risk management practices which are more focused on understanding what can be learned from the incident with respect to preventing recurrence.
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Slight, C., Marsden, J., & Raynel, S. (2009). The impact of a glaucoma nurse specialist role on glaucoma waiting lists. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 25(1), 38–47.
Abstract: Reports on the effect of a 'nurse-led' glaucoma clinic at a large metropolitan hospital, in which patients were recruited from specific categories of glaucoma patients on the waiting list. Audits the impact on the waiting list over a two-year period.
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Shih, L. - C., & Honey, M. (2011). The impact of dialysis on rurally based Maori and their whanau/families. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 27(2), 4–15.
Abstract: Explores the impact of dialysis on Maori and their whanau/families. Examines the experiences of 7 rural Maori dialysis outpatients, who are interviewed along with their whanau. Identifies and discusses four themes emerging from the findings.
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Scott, S.(and others). (2011). The graduate nursing workforce : does an international perspective have relevance for New Zealand? Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 27(3), 4–12.
Abstract: Reviews studies of nursing graduates that use local, regional or national populations of graduates to explore reasons for turnover over periods of time longer than the first twelve months of transition to practice. Identifies the reasons for mobility within nursing and out of the profession altogether.
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Scott, S. (2011). A tripartite learning partnership in health promotion. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 27(2), 16–23.
Abstract: Describes a partnership between a NZ nursing programme and a community trust whereby nursing students enrolled with youth at a local high school that promoted health. Argues that the strategy contributes to the students' acquisition of the collaborative skills required to develop nursing partnerships within communities.
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Schroyen, B., & Finlayson, M. (2004). Clinical teaching and learning: An action research study. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 20(2), 36–45.
Abstract: Using an educational action research model, a nursing lecturer based in a polytechnic and ten students formed a research group to address one issue that was important to them. The research group chose to plan, implement and evaluate a practical change strategy aimed at improving the teaching and learning relationship between students and staff nurses in clinical settings. A sample of five staff nurses working closely with five students in the group was invited to join the study in order to gain their perspectives on the issues. The findings were that contract learning provides a strategy which, under certain conditions, offers both students and staff nurses an opportunity to improve the effectiveness of their interactions.
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Roy, D., Gasquoine, S., Caldwell, S., & Nash, D. (2015). Health professional and family perceptions of post-stroke information . Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 31(2), 7–24.
Abstract: Conducts a mixed-methods descriptive survey to ascertain information needs of stroke families, as part of a longitudinal research programme, Stroke Families Whanau Programme. Asks 19 family members and 23 practitioners via interviews their opinions on current resources, and the appropriateness, accessibility, timeliness or omissions in the information provided, following a stroke. Identifies barriers to information provision.
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