ABSTRACT
This paper reports the preliminary findings of a study of women planning a pregnancy and perinatal women with respect to their information needs and the sources of information they use. Fifty women, 7 planning a pregnancy, 30 pregnant and 13 postnatal, completed a questionnaire including questions about who they had approached for information about pregnancy issues, who had given them advice and why it was or was not useful, what they would currently like to know, and what they wished they had known during the previous three months. Results highlighted differences in the type of information provided by various sources: doctors and specialists were seen as primarily providing factual information; midwives also supplied information but more importantly gave reassurance and support; partners did not provide information but were valued for their support in a shared experience; and mothers and friends were primarily useful due to their own experiences. The findings also suggested the importance of information that is relevant to the women’s current stage of pregnancy.
Keywords:
Pregnancy, information needs, information sources
EXPERT PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING
PRACTICE:
A COMPLEX TAPESTRY
Leonie Gallaher, RGON, MA (Hons)
Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Northland Health
ABSTRACT
The research outlined in this paper used Heideggerian phenomenology, as interpreted and utilised by Benner (1984) to examine the phenomenon of expert public health nursing practice within a New Zealand community health setting. Narrative interviews were conducted with eight identified expert practitioners who are currently practising in this speciality area. Data analysis led to the identification and description of themes which were supported by paradigm cases and exemplars. Four key themes were identified which captured the essence of the phenomenon of expert public health nursing practice as this was revealed in the practice of the research participants. The themes describe the finely tuned recognition and assessment skills demonstrated by these nurses; their ability to form, sustain and close relationships with clients over time; the skilful coaching undertaken with clients; and the way in which they coped with the dark side of their work with integrity and courage. It was recognised that neither the themes nor the various threads described within each theme exist in isolation from each other. Each theme is closely interrelated with others, and integrated into the complex tapestry of expert public health nursing practice that emerged in this study. Although the research findings supported much of what is reported in other practice, differences were apparent. This suggests that nurses should be cautious about using models or concepts developed in contexts that are often vastly different to the New Zealand nursing scene, without carefully evaluating their relevance.
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Key words:
Expert, public health nursing, Benner
NEONATAL NURSE PRACTITIONERS -
A MODEL FOR EXPANDING THE BOUNDARIES
OF NURSING CULTURE IN NEW ZEALAND
Bronwyn Jones, RGON, Graduate Diploma in Advanced Nursing
Masterate Student (Massey University)
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Middlemore Hospital
ABSTRACT
The development and terminology of what constitutes advanced practice nursing roles in New Zealand has been the subject of recent debate within nursing. This article outlines the development of the neonatal nurse practitioner role in New Zealand as an example of one advanced practice nursing role. A model of how nursing culture changes to include roles that incorporate components that historically have been considered the domain of other health professionals is proposed. This article outlines some of the issues surrounding the neonatal nurse practitioner role, including the educational requirements for this role in New Zealand.
KEY WORDS:
Neonatal nurse practitioner, advanced practice, nursing culture
Factors influencing health and well-being in
the older adult
Stephen Neville, BA(Nursing), MA(Hons), RCpN, MCNA(NZ).
Senior Academic Staff Member, Faculty of Health and Sciences, Christchurch Polytechnic.
Fiona Alpass, BA, MA(Hons), Ph.D.
Senior Lecturer/Research Co-ordinator, School of Health Sciences,
Massey University, Palmerston North.
ABSTRACT
Both in New Zealand and internationally there are increasing numbers of people living well into their senior years. Not only are more individuals reaching late adulthood, more are living beyond this stage. Because of corresponding increases in illness and/or disability this phenomenon has implications for the provision of health care to communities. This article offers a literature review of selected factors influencing the health and well-being of older people, with a particular emphasis on the older male. Implications for nursing practice in New Zealand are discussed.
KEY WORDS:
Older adult, older men, well-being, gerontological nursing
