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Nursing Praxis in New Zealand
Vol. 26 No. 1 - March 2010
CONTENT
EDITORIAL
ARTICLES
Pam Foster & Stephen Neville
Women over the Age of 85 Years who Live Alone: A Descriptive Study
Erica Gleeson & Jenny Carryer
Nursing Staff Satisfaction with the Acute Pain Service in a Surgical Ward Setting
Fiona Unac, Bob Marshall & Ruth Crawford
Nurse Practitioner Access to Radiology and Laboratory Services
WOMEN OVER THE AGE OF 85 YEARS WHO LIVE
ALONE: A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY
Pam Foster, RN, MN (Adult and Older Adult) (Hons.), Lecturer,
School of Nursing and Health Studies, BOP Polytechnic, Tauranga
Stephen Neville, RN, PhD, FCNA(NZ), Senior Lecturer & Postgraduate
Programme Co-ordinator, School of Health and Social Services,
Auckland Campus, Massey University, Auckland
Abstract
New Zealand as a society is ageing. This translates to an increasing number of people particularly women, over the age of 85 years. Despite many older women living alone, they are often perceived by both society and health professionals as frail and dependent. This qualitative study was designed to explore and describe experiences of older women who lived alone in the community. A qualitative descriptive methodology underpinned the study. A sample of five older women who lived alone in their own homes was interviewed. Data were analysed using a general inductive approach. Three themes emerged which reflected the reality ofliving by themselves: “active participation”, “keeping control”, and” healthy living”. The information gained from describing the lives of this group of women suggests that many older women are able to live full and successful independent lives in the community. This research provides nursing with a better understanding of the realities for older women who live alone. Finally, this paper will provide nurses with some ideas about how best to support this group of people as they age.
Key Words: Independence, older women, gerontological nursing, living alone.
NURSING STAFF SATISFACTION WITH THE ACUTE
PAIN SERVICE IN A SURGICAL WARD SETTING
Erica Gleeson, RN, MN, Clinical Nurse Specialist – Pain,
MidCentral Health, Palmerston North
Jenny Carryer RN, PhD, FCNA(NZ), Clinical Chair of Nursing,
Massey University/MidCentral Health, Palmerston North
Abstract
Over the last 20 years significant advances in the management of pain have been made. Specifically, establishment during the 1990s of Acute Pain Services (APS) within hospitals both nationally and internationally resulted in improved awareness and management of pain. However there has been little research into staff satisfaction with the service, and no studies have been undertaken at a local hospital level. Nurses play a major role in the assessment and treatment of acute pain; therefore it is useful to determine the level of their satisfaction following introduction of APS. The purpose of the present study was to explore, by means of a survey, the level of nursing staff satisfaction with the APS in a large hospital in New Zealand (NZ). Questionnaires, predominantly quantitative in form, were distributed to 58 nursing staff who worked alongside the APS. Thirty six (62%) responded. The findings showed that while, overall, respondents were very satisfied, or satisfied with the APS, responses to open-ended section of the questionnaire brought to light areas that the researchers see as warranting further attention.
Key Words: Nursing, pain, acute pain service, staff satisfaction.
NURSE PRACTITIONER ACCESS TO RADIOLOGY
AND LABORATORY SERVICES
Fiona Unac, RN, MN, Clinical Nurse Specialist,
Radiology Department, Hawke’s Bay District Health Board, Hastings
Bob Marshall, PhD, Research Professor,
Eastern Institute of Technology, Taradale, Hawke’s Bay
Ruth Crawford, RN, MPhil (Nursing), Principal Lecturer,
Eastern Institute of Technology, Taradale, Hawke’s Bay
Abstract
With the advent of the New Zealand nurse practitioner (NP) role in 2001, ordering, conducting and interpreting diagnostic and laboratory tests became part of the NP scope of practice. However, anecdotal literature suggests there are national inconsistencies, barriers and limitations for some nurse practitioners in accessing diagnostic services. This paper is a report on a quantitative descriptive survey completed in 2008 exploring NP access to radiology and laboratory services. A purposive sample of all New Zealand registered NPs invited to participate (n=47). The response rate was 79% (n=37). The findings demonstrated some positive trends particularly in accessing laboratory tests, but generally there are barriers, inconsistencies and limitations for NPs when ordering tests. The majority of respondents directly order laboratory tests (75%, n=27) that are processed under their own name. Access to radiology services is variable. Only 44% (n=15) of respondents order plain x-rays/ultrasounds and 9% (n=3) order advanced radiology tests that are processed under their own name. The research highlighted the need for national consistency and improved NP access to radiology and laboratory services.
Key Words: New Zealand nurse practitioner, radiology tests, laboratory tests,
barriers.
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