Abstract: Undertakes an analysis of past issues of Kai Tiaki over the five decades following its establishment in 1908 to identify the antecedents to the development of research in NZ nursing from the 1970s. Demonstrates how the journal fostered nurses' awareness of research and promoted nursing scholarship, by publishing case studies, holding essay competitions, and published nurses' articles on practice or professional issues.

Abstract: Examines whether the Family Partnership model could be considered a model for cultural responsiveness while simultaneously providing a platform for more accurate assessment of the cultural competence of Plunket nurse practice. Determines the relationship between Family Partnership training for Plunket nurses and Maori child health outcomes. Distributes an online survey to Plunket nurses who had completed the training and to a group who had not. Conducts 10 observations and interviews with Plunket nurses and Maori clients. Presents the findings in three areas: Plunket nurse practice, client experience, and the impact of Family Partnership training on Plunket as an organisation.

Abstract: This study describes the impact of a sudden, traumatic natural disaster on a bachelor of nursing programme, and the capacity and processes required to minimise disruption to programme delivery and student learning. This descriptive case study, undertaken across 2011-2012, collected data through interviews, a survey and artefact collection. Six key themes emerged from the inductive and descriptive statistical analyses: context; communication; leadership and followership; decision making; the need to balance shifting priorities around professional responsibilities and personal imperatives; and taking action and action plans. The conclusions reached emphasise safety as the first priority, encourage personal risk mitigation, and emphasise the importance of ongoing support and flexibility for all staff and students as well as the need for clear communication and decision-making. What is perhaps most important to take from this experience is that a plan does not, by itself, equal preparedness; every institution must look to its own context, consider its own priorities, and formulate its own approach to preparedness.

Abstract: The aim of this research was to ascertain the opinions of ward nurses (registered and enrolled nurses) on a critical care outreach (CCO) service and the early warning score (EWS) tool and how CCO helps them care for ward patients whose condition is deteriorating. An 18-item Likert scale questionnaire was adapted to gain opinions on three aspects of the service: The usability of the EWS tool and the escalation protocol; the role and usefulness of the critical care outreach nurse (CCON); and education and sharing of critical care skills. The research was conducted in a 270-bed New Zealand hospital with a nurse-led outreach team. The survey was distributed to adult general wards. It found 45 percent of ward nurses found EWS useful in identifying patients whose condition was deteriorating, 58 percent found EWS easy to use and 82 percent found EWS helped them prioritise workloads. On the role and usefulness of the CCON, 41 percent of surveyed nurses found the post-ICU review helpful, 65 said CCONs were approachable, 71 percent found the CCON shift time of 3pm-11pm was useful, 69 percent said the CCON demonstrated sound clinical knowledge, and 54 percent rated CCONs teaching as sufficient for their needs. When CCO was present, nurses were able to formulate an effective management plan for potentially deteriorating patients and acquired critical care skills needed to manage such patients. The results are comparable with other research which sought nurse opinion of CCO. It indicates nurses believe CCO to be instrumental in increasing critical care skills to prevent deterioration in the clinical area.

Abstract: One of the challenges for research journals is to present material that is directly related to practice and that has the capacity to provoke reflection in practitioners that may in turn lead to change.

Abstract: Seeks to develop a better understanding of the undergraduate nursing students' experience of their clinical placement in mental health, and to identify the influences on student learning in an acute adult mental health service. Enrols a cohort of 13 nursing students to analyse their lived experiences through their written reflections on practice, which offered important insights into the students' experience of their first mental health clinical placement. Identifies six themes by means of thematic analysis.

Abstract: Surveys nurses at two hospitals during April and May of 2012. Uses bivariate correlations, group comparisons, analysis of variance and multiple regression to analyse the results. Notes that nurses were still experiencing negative emotional effects of the earthquakes and aftershocks of the preceding 18 months. Finds empathy levels and burnout levels were lower than the normative mean, and that empathy and burnout were negatively correlated with age and experience.