Abstract: The health status of indigenous peoples is a global concern with mortality and hospitalisation data indicating that the health of indigenous groups falls below that of other ethnic groups within their countries. The preliminary findings of grounded theory research project undertaken with a group of 23 New Zealand Maori women about their health priorities and 'mainstream' health service needs provide the foundation for an exploration of issues impacting on the health status of indigenous people. The role that nursing and nurses have in improving access and use of health services by indigenous people is discussed. Strategies are suggested that nurses can utilise within their practice when working with local indigenous groups.

Abstract: By describing and gaining insight into one rural nurse's experience working with dying people in a highly, remote rural area, this project seeks to advance nursing practice. Key findings indicate that, through community partnership and teamwork, nurses can act to assist rural people by: increasing public awareness of health resources; exposing barriers to access; and identifying different health service needs. The author makes a case that some rural nurses may feel insufficiently prepared for rural nursing. To understand death and dying, key ideas from Kuebler-Ross's (1969) framework for dying are examined: denial, fear of dying, spirituality, hope, depression and how to die well. Nurses require a blend of end-of-life and rural nursing postgraduate education and skills, to manage well. Key findings imply that dying people can be helped by: improving function and independence to promote autonomy; encouraging faith, hope, and love within the person's personal concept of spirituality; listening to dying people, to oneself, to one's own reactions, and knowing oneself. Parse's theory (1981) indicates nurses can help rural dying people by the following key factors: encouraging the person to live life to the full while dying; accepting humans cannot be separated from their perspectives, circumstances or environments; focusing on quality of life from the person's perspective: encouraging the person to live life fully while dying; and offering new possibilities. The author goes on to say that Parse's human-universe-health process aids nurses to live their beliefs indicating Parse's theory could guide and advance nursing practice.

Abstract: The author looks at the value of using reflective storytelling as a teaching/learning tool in the hospice setting and examines constructs that provide a theoretical underpinning. She also outlines processes that support the implementation of storytelling practice and the creation of a safe space for storytelling. At the end of the chapter, discussion questions are provided by Janice McDrury.

Abstract: Death education encompasses many complex realities, for both the students and lecturers involved. This quantitative research explored the experiential and didactic preparation of nursing students through a content analysis, of one New Zealand, three year Bachelor of Nursing programme, in relation to death education. The Otago Polytechnic Bachelor of Nursing programme incorporates compulsory and optional courses, with the courses taught as an integrated programme with a progressive, sequential approach. This approach builds on content, deepening understanding from year to year, as well as providing opportunities for experiential learning and broadening of understanding. The literature review discusses three dominant themes of undergraduate death education: education, death, and transition. The data collection tool incorporates eighteen key terms, ten teaching methods and ten assessment methods. The programme and individual course documents, which define course content, teaching and assessment were scanned and analysed. The findings initially showed limited evidence of death education in course documents, however deeper analysis of the documents showed further evidence over the three year programme. The existence of death education is implied rather than overt throughout many course documents, through the use of broad practice statements. Content analysis is one way of shedding light on programme content in relation to death education. Limitations of the content analysis approach mean measuring experiential and didactic learning is not fully achievable from documentation analysis only. Further development of Bachelor of Nursing death education is an ongoing challenge, with current programmes very full and possibly lacking the capacity to increase content. Bachelor of Nursing programmes are discussed, highlighting the need for student focused learning with emphasis on acquiring and processing information, rather than mastery of content.

Abstract: This paper reports a study to explore Well Child nurses' perceptions of outcomes resulting from the use of solution-focused conversations in their telephone consultations with clients. The standard problem-solving approach used to address physical issues is less effective for various non-physical concerns, where different communication strategies may be helpful. In this qualitative, action-oriented study, a small group of Well Child telenurses in New Zealand was introduced to a specific communication strategy, called 'solution-focused conversations', during 2005. They applied this approach in their practice and then reflected together on their experiences in focus groups. The nurses considered that the solution-focused conversations enabled clients to: recognise the nature of the parenting issue of concern that had motivated their call; identify more effective parenting practices to address specific issues with their child; increase their confidence in their own parenting capabilities. This study suggested the value of learning a specific communication strategy for the practice of a group of Well Child telenurses.

Abstract: Reports nurses' perspectives on their role in the extended Well Child/Tamariki Ora service to teenage mothers which has been delivered by the Royal NZ Plunket Society since 2011 to adolescent mothers in Hawke's Bay. Focuses on what nurses consider necessary for this client population and the challenges nurses face. Evaluates the service at two intervals : first when the babies were six months old, and second when they were three years. Conducts interviews to identify the factors essential to successful service delivery : trusting nurse/client relationships, strong inter-agency relationships, team-work and support.

Abstract: M-Learning compliments and supports E-Learning and incorporates technologies such as the use of mobile phones, PDAs and pod casting. A sub function of M-Learning is M-Support which is the provision of support for the mobile student. This paper describes a pilot project using short message service – mobile technology -to M-support nursing students in primary health care clinical placements. Forty one students took part in a mixed methods study to assess the project against a pre determined set of criteria. The results indicated that students did feel supported by the messages, cost was not prohibitive, flexibility in communication was appreciated, and the acceptance was high.

Abstract: Mobile computing is rapidly becoming a reality in New Zealand health care settings. Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) are the most frequently used of these mobile technologies, giving nurses access to clinical learning resources, including drug references, medical encyclopaedias and diagnostic information. The implementation of mobile computing at Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) will ensure graduates of our Bachelor of Nursing Programme are able to meet health care service demands for knowledge in contemporary information technologies as well as the information technology requirements defined by the Nursing Council of New Zealand and the Health Practitioners Competency Assurance Act 2003 for registration as a nurse in New Zealand. This paper presents strategies for the implementation of mobile computing as a core element of the curriculum for the Bachelor of Nursing Programme at Wintec in Hamilton.