Abstract: The Plunket orientation programme, first implemented in 1994, aims to prepare new Plunket Nurses for autonomous practice within the complexity of community based nursing. This study seeks to identify what new Plunket Nurses feel are their orientation needs. An evaluation research approach was used. An examination of the literature explored how orientation is conducted and the needs of nurses in orientation. Key aspects in relation to orientation were identified as including socialisation, job change, new graduates, preceptorship, orientation frameworks and retention. A focus group followed by a postal survey were utilised to collect data from new Plunket Nurses nationwide to ascertain what they thought their orientation needs were. Data analysis was completed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. The results of the study identified key orientation needs for new Plunket Nurses. These were an orientation programme, preceptorship, clinical skills teaching, time in own area and beginning autonomous practice, administration needs and support needs. The participants recommended quality preceptorship and early clinical teaching from the Clinical Educator. There was a general dissatisfaction with orientation as it stands in preparing them for their role as a Plunket Nurse. Recommendations to the Plunket Management Team were made based on the results of this study.

Abstract: A thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy, The University of Massey.

Abstract: Reports the approach to child and family health nursing in Canada, the US, and the UK. Divides the report into health policy, primary health care services, nursing education and the development of primary health care nurse practitioners, and nursing leadership in primary health care. Part of the Margaret May Blackwell Scholarship Reports series.

Abstract: This article explores the complex nature of liability in the case of standing orders and vicarious liability by employers, and also when nurses and doctors are in management roles. The authors address misconceptions about medico-legal responsibility for nursing practice with the advent of nurse prescribers and nurse practitioners. They refer to the submission made by the College of Nurses Aotearoa (NZ) on the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (2003), and discuss practice liability and nurse-physician collaboration.

Abstract: In this paper the author argues that the term interdisciplinary team leadership should be embraced cautiously. Preliminary research suggests that interdisciplinary team leadership is a model of shared leadership that requires more development if it is to become the cornerstone of interdisciplinary team practice in a radically reforming health sector. Stewardship is proposed as a potential philosophy for interdisciplinary team leadership, and a new, shared leadership role of practice leader is suggested.

Abstract: In the acute hospital setting, nurses provide care twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Due to the ever-changing nature of the patient's situation, nurses need quality information at the beginning of each eight-hour shift to plan and implement patient care effectively. It is claimed that handover is central for maintaining the continuity and the quality of patient care. This qualitative descriptive study was undertaken to identify what core information needs to be exchanged at nursing handover to ensure quality and continuity of patient care. Five consumers who had experience of recurrent hospital admissions shared their perceptions of handover practice through individual interviews. Three focus group meetings of seven nurses from a secondary care setting discussed handover practice from their professional perspectives. Both nursing and consumer voices are integral to the overall understanding of this study but the consumer voice is the privileged and dominant voice. Through the process of thematic content analysis the central themes of communication, continuity and competence emerged for the consumers. Consumers expect to be kept informed and involved in their healthcare. They want continuity of nurse, information and care and expect that nurses involved in the delivery of healthcare are competent to manage their situation. The 'importance of knowing' is the overarching construct generated in this research. Knowing is identified as the foundation on which quality and continuity of care is built and is discussed under the subheadings of: not knowing, knowing the patient as a person, knowing takes time, hidden knowing, knowing consumers' rights, oral knowing, knowing involves more than handing over patient care and knowing the economics. Recommendations have been developed for future research, nursing practice, education and management. These centre on ways to develop a more consumer-focused approach to contemporary healthcare.

Abstract: The incidence of postoperative complications is reduced with early identification of at risk patients and improved postoperative monitoring. This study describes the development and effect of a nursing preoperative assessment tool to identify patients at risk of postoperative complications and to reduce the number of acute admissions to ICU/HDU. All surgical patients admitted to a surgical ward for an elective surgical procedure (n=7832) over a 23-month period were concurrently scored on admission using the preoperative assessment tool. During the time period studied, acute admissions to ICU/HDU reduced from 40.37 to 19.11%. Only 24.04% of patients who had a PAS >4 were identified by the surgeon and/or anesthetist as being at risk of a postoperative complication, or if identified, no provision was made for improved postoperative monitoring. This study supports the involvement of nurses in identifying preoperatively patients at risk of a postoperative complication and in need of improved postoperative monitoring. The postoperative monitoring requirements for the PAS >4 patients were relatively low technology interventions.