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Nursing Praxis in New Zealand
Vol. 23 No.2 - 2007
EDITORIAL
ARTICLES
Jenny Carryer, Anne Russell & Claire Budge
Nurses’ Understandings of the Professional Development Recognition Programme
Chiquita Hansen, Jenny Carryer & Claire Budge
Public Health Nurses’ Views on their Position within a Changing Health System
Deb Spence & Maxine Anderson
Implementing a Prescribing Practicum within a Master’s Degree in Advanced
Nursing Practice
Deb Spence & Liz Smythe
Courage as Integral to Advancing Nursing Practice
NURSES’ UNDERSTANDINGS OF THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RECOGNITION PROGRAMME
Jenny Carryer, RN, PhD, FCNA(NZ), MNZM, Professor of Nursing, MidCentral District Health Board & Massey University, Palmerston North
Anne Russell, RN, PG Dip., PDRP Co-ordinator, MidCentral Health,
Palmerston North
Claire Budge, PhD (Psychology), Research Associate
Abstract
Professional Development and Recognition Programmes (PDRP) for nurses have developed out of the Clinical Career Pathways (CCP) of the 1990s. The Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (2003) has now required all health professionals to provide evidence that their practice meets criteria set by the individual regulatory body, which, for nursing, is the Nursing Council of New Zealand. In 2002 a tool was developed to measure knowledge and attitudes of the then CCP which was tested with 239 nurses. This paper is a report on the second application of the tool in the same hospital in New Zealand. Results show that knowledge and attitudes of the PDRP are similar to those found in the previous study. It also suggests that greater understanding of the PDRP and the implementation process increases the likelihood of a positive response to the programme.
Key Words: Professional development recognition programme, competency review, knowledge and attitudes.
Article Order Code: 232 A
PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES’ VIEWS ON THEIR POSITION WITHIN A CHANGING HEALTH SYSTEM
Chiquita Hansen, RN, MPhil (Nursing), Director of Nursing, Primary Health Care, MidCentral District Health Board, Palmerston North
Jenny Carryer, RN, PhD, FCNA(NZ), MNZM, Professor of Nursing,
MidCentral District Health Board & Massey University, Palmerston North
Claire Budge, PhD (Psychology), Research Associate
Abstract
To date nursing research exploring the relevance of the practice environment has focused substantially on the experiences of hospital-based nurses. More recently greater attention has been paid to the community nursing environment and nurses involved in primary health care. This study considers the context of public health nursing in New Zealand, firstly by exploring the creation and development of the public health nursing role and secondly by presenting the results of a survey of nurses’ views of their practice environments and of their professional positioning at the time of the introduction of Primary Health Organisations (PHOs). One hundred and sixty seven public health nurses across New Zealand firstly provided quantitative ratings of aspects of their practice environment (utlising the Nursing Work Index Revised (NWR-I)), and secondly gave written responses to: (a) the aspects of a work environment that make it a good place to practice as a public health nurse; (b) preferences for employment within Public Health Units, in PHOs or with Maori health providers; and (c) advantages and disadvantages of all three settings. This paper focuses on the qualitative questions only as the NWI-R findings will be reported elsewhere. Findings suggested the importance of good leadership, education/orientation, support, recognition and resources within a public health nursing environment. The main preference of the participants was for working within a District Health Board Public Health Unit, although disadvantages were acknowledged.
Key Words: Public health nursing, primary health care, practice environment, Primary Health Organisation (PHO).
Article Order Code: 232 B
IMPLEMENTING A PRESCRIBING PRACTICUM WITHIN A MASTER’S DEGREE IN ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE
Deb Spence, RN, RM, PhD, Joint Head of Nursing, School of Health
Care Practice, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland
Maxine Anderson, RN, MPhil., Previously Senior Lecturer,
Eastern Institute of Technology, Hawke’s Bay
Abstract
The recent introduction of Nurse Practitioner registration in New Zealand has resulted in the development of a number of Master’s degree programmes in which students focus clinically and can complete a Nursing Council of New Zealand approved programme for prescribing. This article reports the implementation of a collaborative project undertaken to monitor and improve the effectiveness of the prescribing practicum papers delivered within two Master’s degree programmes in advanced nursing practice. A developmental action research approach was used. Data were collected through interviews with practicum students, their medical supervisors and academic staff. Formative findings were progressively used to refine delivery of the practicum papers and a thematic analysis of summative findings identified areas for further improvement. The findings suggest that the processes being implemented are developing well. Further education is required to clearly differentiate medical and advanced nursing roles. Greater attention needs to be paid to the preparation of medical supervisors and, most significantly, revision of funding is required to more equitably support the ongoing development of nurses for advanced practice roles.
Key Words: Nurse Practitioner, postgraduate education, nurse prescribing, action research.
Article Order Code: 232 C
COURAGE AS INTEGRAL TO ADVANCING
NURSING PRACTICE
Deb Spence, RN, RM, PhD, Joint Head of Nursing, School of Health
Care Practice, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland
Liz Smythe, RN, RM, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Health
Care Practice, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland
Abstract
Courage is an elusive but fundamental component of nursing. Yet it is seldom mentioned in professional texts and other literature nor is it often recognised and supported in practice. This paper focuses on the illumination of courage in nursing. Data from a hermeneutic analysis of nurses’ practice stories is integrated with literature to assist deeper understanding of the meaning of courage in contemporary nursing practice. The purpose is to make visible a phenomenon that needs to be actively fostered or ‘en-courage-d’ if nursing is to effectively contribute to an improved health service.
Key Words: Courage, nursing practice, philosophical hermeneutics.
Article Order Code: 232 D
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