scholarly journals Woven Threads: A Case Study of Chemotherapy Nursing Practice in a Rural New Zealand Setting

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Glynnis Geraldine James

<p>This descriptive case study was undertaken to provide an account of chemotherapy practice in a nurse-led clinic located within a rural New Zealand area. The researcher, an oncology nurse specialist, worked along side colleagues for thirteen months to enable practice development. This clinic developed out of a need to have services closer to rural patients in order to address issues of equity, access, care integration and the fiscal and social constraints associated with the cancer burden of care. The research provides a vehicle for the voice of the nurses to be heard who provide treatment to these patients. It is also an opportunity for me as the researcher to use the case study to articulate my own narrative and experiences of working and living in this area. Capturing the range of data applicable to this case; the ability to conceptualise it as a service within its context was possible using case study research methods. Four nurses involved in the chemotherapy clinic were participants in this study. The findings of this study reveal that what could be perceived as barriers to outcomes and practice can in essence be turned into opportunities to develop new ways of caring for the patient and supporting nursing practice. These nurses view their practice as safe within the clinic despite resource constraints. They work in many ways to support each other and to cushion the patient from the impact of situational and contextual influences. Nursing practice was shown to evolve as a direct result of internal and external influences which were the impetus for nurses taking responsibility for their own competency. This study also explored what it meant to be an experienced nurse but novice in a speciality practice. It challenges previously held assumptions that, to deliver chemotherapy successfully, a nurse needs to be operating from a previously held body of oncology nursing knowledge. Many challenges are faced on a day to day basis in a rural practice environment to just maintain consistent care and promote good patient outcomes. The nurses are well aware of their role in contributing to patients' quality of life and the roles they take to meet the growing needs of the patient as a consumer. This study delves into the multifarious nature of this nurse-led clinic and discusses the processes and relationships that are forged to deliver care.</p>

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Glynnis Geraldine James

<p>This descriptive case study was undertaken to provide an account of chemotherapy practice in a nurse-led clinic located within a rural New Zealand area. The researcher, an oncology nurse specialist, worked along side colleagues for thirteen months to enable practice development. This clinic developed out of a need to have services closer to rural patients in order to address issues of equity, access, care integration and the fiscal and social constraints associated with the cancer burden of care. The research provides a vehicle for the voice of the nurses to be heard who provide treatment to these patients. It is also an opportunity for me as the researcher to use the case study to articulate my own narrative and experiences of working and living in this area. Capturing the range of data applicable to this case; the ability to conceptualise it as a service within its context was possible using case study research methods. Four nurses involved in the chemotherapy clinic were participants in this study. The findings of this study reveal that what could be perceived as barriers to outcomes and practice can in essence be turned into opportunities to develop new ways of caring for the patient and supporting nursing practice. These nurses view their practice as safe within the clinic despite resource constraints. They work in many ways to support each other and to cushion the patient from the impact of situational and contextual influences. Nursing practice was shown to evolve as a direct result of internal and external influences which were the impetus for nurses taking responsibility for their own competency. This study also explored what it meant to be an experienced nurse but novice in a speciality practice. It challenges previously held assumptions that, to deliver chemotherapy successfully, a nurse needs to be operating from a previously held body of oncology nursing knowledge. Many challenges are faced on a day to day basis in a rural practice environment to just maintain consistent care and promote good patient outcomes. The nurses are well aware of their role in contributing to patients' quality of life and the roles they take to meet the growing needs of the patient as a consumer. This study delves into the multifarious nature of this nurse-led clinic and discusses the processes and relationships that are forged to deliver care.</p>


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Lisa Thompson

<p>Provision for adolescent mental health in New Zealand is in its infancy. CRHS-City is the first Ministry of Education funded initiative that addresses adolescent mental health and transition back to school in New Zealand. This thesis examines the experiences of students and their families attending CRHS-City and how they were supported to transition back to school or further education. This research is important as it focuses on a growing need and documents Central Regional Health School’s attempt to address it. The methodological approach was a multiple case study underpinned by a constructivist paradigm. A qualitative approach was appropriate for this study as the research wanted to capture the impact attending CRHS-City had on a specific group of students and their transition back to a regular school or further education. Three students and their families identified they would be willing to be interviewed as part of this study. Eight overarching themes emerged from the research. Participants described positive outcomes from their experience of attending CRHS-City. This study has found being at CRHS-City helped the participants explore different ways of managing their mental health condition and gain confidence in their abilities to do so, which in turn supported the overall goal of a return to school or further education. However this was not an easy process for either the students or their parents. The findings from this research identified recommendations specific to CRHS-City and for the education sector in general to support students who have a mental health condition continue with their education goals. Support for the student’s family and the regular school is an essential part of this process. Research into effective interventions within mainstream schools to support students who have mental health needs is seen as a logical next step.</p>


2001 ◽  
pp. 181-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malcolm Tull ◽  
Tom Polacheck

Malcolm Tull, Tom Polacheck, and Neil Klaer examine the primary sources - particularly printed statistical sources - and secondary literature in order to understand the impact of commercial fishing and harvesting of fish across Australia and New Zealand - including a case study of the multi-species Southeast Australain Trawl Fishery. The authors note that fisheries in Australia and New Zealand have historically been managed by small, family operations, so the records pertining to them are sparse. As a result, most of the records in this chapter come from governmental sources - such as reports and inquiries into Australasian fisheries.


2019 ◽  
pp. 1066-1082 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn MacCallum ◽  
Heather R. Bell

This chapter discusses the findings of an ethnographic case study investigating the implementation of mobile learning at an early childhood centre in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. The study describes how mobile technology is being used to support children's learning and communication. The findings show that the devices are an integral part of the learning culture of the centre. The devices are being used to actively engage children in the learning environment and support teaching inquiry. As one of the early studies to investigate how mobile technology is being used in early childhood education, the current study provides pedagogically sound examples and insight on how mobile technology can be embedded into early childhood. The study is seen as a starting place for more in-depth investigations into the impact of mobile learning on young children's learning.


1992 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 255-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Meek

Gangs became a permanent feature of New Zealand prisons during the 1980s. Surveys indicate that more than 20% of inmates have past or present gang affiliations. This article looks at the gang phenomenon both in the community and in prisons. A case study looking at the impact of gangs at Auckland Maximum Security Prison (Paremoremo) is included; a unique inmate subculture was destroyed and inter-gang conflict resulted in the prison being run on a unit basis. Using information from the 1989prison census, including unpublished material, the article examines the level of gang membership and compares gang members and unaffiliated inmates over a range of variables. Gang members were found to be more likely to be younger, classified as requiring medium or maximum security custody, convicted of violent offences and serving longer sentences. The article also looks at management approaches to gangs in prisons and a fresh approach being adopted by the Department of Justice.


2013 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith Cox ◽  
Deme Karikios ◽  
Jessica K. Roydhouse ◽  
Kate White

Objectives This case study evaluates the oncology nurse practitioner (NP) role in a chemotherapy unit. Background The NP works in the cancer centre of a major metropolitan public hospital. The NP role was established in the chemotherapy unit in 2007. The NP reviews all patients that have an unscheduled presentation to the unit, with symptoms relating either to their disease or treatment. Methods All unscheduled occasions of service provided by the NP in the chemotherapy unit over 6 months were recorded. Data were collected on patient demographic characteristics, medical problems and reason for presentation. Data on duration of care, interventions and outcomes administered by the NP were captured. Results There were 87 occasions of service (72 patients) during the study period. Nausea, vomiting or dehydration were the most common presenting problems and most presenting problems were moderate or severe (n = 73, 84%). The median time to review for the NP was 5 min and nearly all consultations (n = 83, 96%) took 30 min or less. Following NP consultation, most occasions of service did not require subsequent hospital admission (n = 52, 60%), medical advice (n = 61, 70%) or medical review (n = 75, 86%). Conclusions The NP is a valuable asset to a busy department, increasing access to timely and appropriate healthcare for patients on chemotherapy. What is known about the topic? Models of care for oncology NP roles are being developed in Australia, but few published reports and descriptions of the work of oncology NP exist. What does this paper add? This paper presents a description and evaluation of occasions of service for an oncology NP in a chemotherapy unit and the impact of the NP’s role on the hospital and clinical workload. What are the implications for practitioners? This paper can inform the development of other oncology NP roles in Australian chemotherapy units, and highlights potential areas of evaluation for new NP roles in cancer care.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara J. Hansen ◽  
Alice Stephan ◽  
David B. Menkes

Abstract Background Several countries have reported increased demand for eating disorder services during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for adolescents. Within New Zealand, anecdotal and media reports suggest similar changes but are limited in scope and detail. We assessed eating disorder service demand in the Waikato district in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We retrospectively analysed records of eating disorder admissions and referrals for both children (< 18 years) and adults (≥ 18 years) during 2019 and 2020 in the Waikato, a mixed urban–rural province in northern New Zealand (population 435,000). We analysed medical admission and outpatient referral rates, and referral acuity, in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic using Welch’s t- and chi-square tests. Results 106 medical admissions met inclusion criteria (n = 37 in 2019; 69 in 2020). Admissions for eating disorders increased markedly following nationwide lockdown in March 2020 (RR = 1.7, p = 0.01), largely driven by increases in adult admissions (RR 2.0, p = 0.005). The proportion of ‘new patient’ admissions showed comparable increases for both children (RR = 2.0, p = 0.02) and adults (RR = 2.3, p = 0.03). Following lockdown, outpatient referrals increased in acuity (RR = 1.8, p = 0.047) and volume (RR = 1.6, p = 0.076) for children but not for adults. Conclusions Our study confirms a pandemic-related increase in demand for eating disorder services in the Waikato region of New Zealand, consistent with findings reported overseas. We observed contrasting increases in admissions for adults and outpatient referrals for children, exacerbating resource constraints for already stretched services and compromising provision of timely care. Plain English summary The COVID-19 pandemic has been linked to increased numbers and worsening severity of eating disorders in several settings. In New Zealand, similar trends have been noted anecdotally. We assessed clinical records to calculate rates of eating disorder-related hospital admissions and outpatient referrals during 2019 and 2020. We found significant increases in hospital admissions related to COVID-19, particularly for adults, and greater proportions of both children and adults having a first-ever eating disorder-related admission. In outpatient services, young people were referred more frequently during the pandemic and were more physically unwell when referred. These results indicate increased demand for eating disorder services as a result of the pandemic and complement findings reported overseas.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Robyn Grover

<p>My research examined how professional development impacts on teachers' use of an interactive whiteboard in New Zealand primary classrooms. The research, in the form of a survey and qualitative case study, specifically looked at the professional development experienced by teachers with an IWB and contextual factors that enhance and constrain the introduction of an IWB for teachers learning to use it in their class programme. It also explored how an IWB is used in the classroom programme. Sociocultural theory provided the theoretical framework to analyse the data. The findings of the research showed that professional development featured as both an enhancing and constraining factor. This was determined by the content of the activity. Sustained professional development appeared to have the most impact on teachers' IWB use. The data examined how and why teachers like to use an IWB, and the impact of the unique and multi-media features of the IWB had on teacher pedagogy and students. Recommendations are made for effective professional development for IWB users and areas for further research are discussed.</p>


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