Abstract: This thesis presents a study of the every-day moral decision making of experienced nurses. Eight experienced registered nurses participated in the completed research that is based on data gathered through interviews, document audit and literature review. A grounded theory approach was used to analyse the extensive data gathered for the study. This methodology generated a theoretical description involving the antecedents, processes and consequences of nursing moral decision making.Nursing practice has moral content, if not an entirely moral purpose, and moral decision making is the central component of this practice, yet the ethical aspects of nursing practice remain a comparatively recent field of study. It is therefore essential to nurses and their patients that this process is adequately studied and theorised. To date, very few studies have been undertaken in this area in New Zealand. This study aims to at least partially redress this situation by offering insights through conceptualisation and theoretical description of nursing moral decision making.The findings of the study reveal that antecedents such as personal moral development, upbringing and social experiences, contribute to a 'nursing ethic' in the moral decision making of experienced nurses. Furthermore, the study shows that the context and individual and shared perceptions of moral events influence the degree of nursing involvement in ethical situations. Finally, the study maintains that an intrinsic and persistent nursing ethic guides ethical decision making in nursing. This ethic is an undeniable phenomenon of considerable significance to nursing practice and education

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine if there was commonality amongst teachers, in perceptions of the role of student self-assessment in the nursing programme. Four nurse educators, who were teaching and supervising students undertaking self-assessment in clinical practice, participated in a semi-structured interview. Three focus questions guided the interviews and addressed the individual teachers perception of self-assessment, what the teacher considered the benefits of self-assessment to be, and how the teacher used student's self-assessment's in their role as clinical supervisor. The taped interviews were transcribed, and coded and general themes identified. The findings revealed a high degree of consensus amongst the teachers in regard to the co-operative nature of self-assessment, and the teacher's role as a facilitator. The need for students to develop skills of analysis and reflection on their performance as well as the need to furnish students with clear guidelines on what to self-assess, were highlighted

Abstract: This research aims to illuminate the reality of health and health maintenance as four postmenopausal women understand and experience it. The research employs feminist methodology, informed by postmodern feminist writers, in order to allow maximum flexibility and to be congruent with supporting the exploratory nature of the research. The women in the study self-nominated as postmenopausal, and functioned equally as co-researchers with the researcher in a focus group which met twice for one-hour audiotaped interviews. The resultant combined statement on health was produced after thematic analysis of the data and individual reflection, and represents the values these women hold, that health is largely attitudinal.“Health is not what happens to you physically, emotionally or mentally, but how you deal with it.”It is notable that the women did not mention nurses as having a role in their health maintenance, nor were other health professionals considered to be essential. As well, hormone replacement therapy – a common theme in women's conversation and lay women's literature – was not mentioned as being an integral to the women's health maintenance. The methodological approach means that the research in non-generalisable. However the findings may add to existing knowledge about prevailing health concerns of postmenopausal women, may enhance the discourse, and may identify the need for further research

Abstract: Discourse about women assuming greater control over their childbirth experience has received much attention in contemporary childbirth and womens' studies publications. Research in the domain of childbirth has shown that a sense of control over one's birth experience is related to childbirth satisfaction. More specifically, studies have used Locus of Control measures and have found a significant relationship exists between expectations for control and choice of birth place. Choice of birth place features in some articles as a factor that determines the degree to which control can be exercised. Home, as a place of birth, is considered a setting in which a woman can have optimum control over her experience. Many women are discouraged from taking up this option, based on fears about safety. Reflection on why women continue to pursue a home birth against the wishes of their care giver rekindled and interest in Locus of Control. This study was undertaken to explore the relationship between urban women's choice of birth place setting and their scores on two different measures of Locus of Control (LOC). The aims of the study were: to test whether LOC scores predict choice of birth place for women who chose hospital, home or a birthing centre as their place of birth; to test which of the two LOC scales (Levenson's generalised measure or Wallston et al's more specific scale) is the most useful in predicting the influence of LOC and choice of birth place and to explore the relationship between choice of birth place LOC, demographic and contextual factors surrounding pregnancy. The method used in the study was a descriptive correlational design. One hundred and ninety four pregnant urban women who accessed a range of maternity care providers in the greater Auckland , Wellington , Christchurch and Dunedin cities responded to a “Birth Choice Survey” between April and June 1996. Tests of significance found significant differences for powerful others and chance Locus of Control among the three groups of women who chose hospital, home or a birthing center as a place of birth. Differences were significant at p = 0.05. No significant differences were ffound in the scores for internal Locus of Control for women in the three groups. Limitations in the sample sixe prevented linear discrimination being successful in predicting the influence and choice of LOC variables and choice of birth place for both scales. A classification tree was employed to identify key variables which might affect choice of birth place and indicated that women who were extremely happy with their birth place choice were more likely to be those who chose home birth. Locus of Control measures are interesting, and if used specifically, may be helpful in relation to understanding a women's choice of birth place. However general assessment of the contextual factors appears just as relevant. Implications of this study are the while women may differ in how they perceive their outcomes are determined, an overwhelming majority of women who participated in this study value their ability to make choices about their birth location. Identifying consumer perceptions about control and the contextual factors that influence women's choice of their birth place has the potential to clarify women's preferences for responsibility in their birth experience. Limitations of the study were addressed and included suggestions to improve response rates and thus generalizability of findings. Implications for further research were also considered