Development and evaluation of a matrix for assessing fatigue-related risk, derived from a national survey of nurses' work patterns.

Background: Multiple aspects of nurses' rosters interact to affect the quality of patient care they can provide and their own health, safety and wellbeing.

Objectives: (1) Develop and test a matrix incorporating multiple aspects of rosters and recovery sleep that are individually associated with three fatigue-related outcomes - fatigue-related clinical errors, excessive sleepiness and sleepy driving; and (2) evaluate whether the matrix also predicts nurses' ratings of the effects of rosters on aspects of life outside work.

Design: Develop and test the matrix using data from a national survey of nurses' fatigue and work patterns in six hospital-based practice areas with high fatigue risk.

Fatigue and nurses' work patterns: An online questionnaire survey.

Background: Fatigue resulting from shift work and extended hours can compromise patient care and the safety and health of nurses, as well as increasing nursing turnover and health care costs.

Objectives: This research aimed to identify aspects of nurses' work patterns associated with increased risk of reporting fatigue-related outcomes.

Design: A national survey of work patterns and fatigue-related outcomes in 6 practice areas expected to have high fatigue risk (child health including neonatology, cardiac care/intensive care, emergency and trauma, in-patient mental health, medical, and surgical nursing).

Surgical Management of Multiple Rib Fractures Reduces the Hospital Length of Stay and the Mortality Rate in Major Trauma Patients: A Comparative Study in a UK Major Trauma Center.

Objectives: To investigate and assess the effectiveness of surgical fixation of rib fractures in complex traumatic chest injuries compared with traditional nonoperative management.

Design: Retrospective observational comparative study.

Setting: Level 1 Major Trauma Centre in North West England.

Nurses as family caregivers - barriers and enablers facing nurses caring for children, parents or both.

Aims: To examine the dual caregiving and nursing responsibilities of nurses in New Zealand with a view to identifying potential strategies, policies and employment practices that may help to retain nurses with caregiving responsibilities in the workplace.

Background: As the nursing workforce ages, child-bearing is delayed and older family members are living longer, family caregiving responsibilities are impacting more on the working life of nurses. This may complicate accurate workforce planning assumptions.

The case for end-user involvement in design of health technologies.

This paper reports a subset of data from a mixed methods project interviewing community nurses and nurse leaders/managers to explore the views, expectations, practice and attitudes of registered nurses working in the community concerning electronic health records and the use of mobile devices. Nurses displayed excellent understanding of privacy and consent concerning electronic patient records and health information technology (e-health). With targeted, individualised education, nurses use e-health and telehealth effectively.

Integrating technology into practice.

A recent NZNO study has shown patchy use by nurses of electronic devices and files. Nurses need more education and support if e-health is to be integrated successfully into nursing practice.

The juxtaposition of ageing and nursing: the challenges and enablers of continuing to work in the latter stages of a nursing career.

Aims: To identify why some nurses cope well with continuing to work as they age and others struggle.

Background: There is a need to understand better the challenges older nurses face and how they manage them.

Design: Secondary analysis of existing data.

Nursing roles and responsibilities in general practice: three case studies.

Introduction: Primary care nursing teams may now comprise registered nurses (usually termed practice nurses), nurse practitioners, physician assistants, enrolled nurses, and primary care practice assistants, clinical assistants, or nursing assistants. There is a need to understand how practitioners in the different roles work with patients in the changed environment. The aim of this study was to describe the different configurations of health professionals' skill-mix in three dissimilar primary care practices, their inter- and intra-professional collaboration and communication, and to explore the potential of expanded nursing scopes and roles to improve patient access.

Walking in two worlds.

It has been nearly quarter of a century since nursing educator Irihapeti Ramsden wrote the guidelines on cultural safety (Kawa Whakaruruhau), ratified in 1992 and subsequently much revised (most recently in 2011) by the Nursing Council. The Te Puna Hauora Kaupapa Nursing Service at Tauranga Hospital has been in existence for more than 18 years. Despite this, the experiences of Māori nurses described here, and the lack of adoption of truly bicultural nursing services in other parts of the country, indicate far more investment is needed in Māori nursing.

Nurses aged over 50 and their perceptions of flexible working.

Aim: To explore the experiences and needs of older nurses in relation to flexible working and the barriers and facilitators to implementation within workplaces.

Background: An ageing nursing workforce and anticipated nursing workforce shortages require effective approaches to workforce retention.

Method: A mixed method approach (focus group and individual interviews) with nurses aged over 50 (n = 46) combined with analysis of district health board (DHB) flexible working policies.

Nurse perceptions of the Diabetes Get Checked programme.

Aim: The Diabetes Get Checked programme provided a free annual diabetes check to people diagnosed with diabetes. The aim of the present study was to ascertain the impact this programme had on the practice of nurses; identify factors that nurses consider contributed to the success or failure of the programme in their work setting; and to elicit nurses' suggestions for future improved management and outcomes for people with diabetes.

Method: An observational study utilising an online survey was undertaken.

Maori nurses and smoking: what do we know?

Aim: A research partnership between NZNO, Whakauae Research, and Taupua Waiora aimed to determine Maori registered and student nurses' smoking behaviours and attitudes to smoking cessation.

Methods: We analysed a national web-based survey that explored the behaviours and views of 410 NZNO Maori nurses, student nurses and other health workers using descriptive statistical analysis.

Results: Findings confirm a smoking prevalence rate of 21.

Nurses aged over 50 years and their experiences of shift work.

Aim: The Late Career Nurse project examined views and characteristics of nurses working in New Zealand who were born before 1960. This paper focuses on the experiences of such nurses who undertake shift work.

Background: The mean age of registered nurses in New Zealand has been rising steadily, and 40% are now aged 50 years or over.

The health of nurses aged over 50 in New Zealand.

The mean age of registered nurses in New Zealand has been rising steadily, and 40% are now aged 50 or over (Nursing Council of New Zealand [NCNZ], 2010). However little is known of this cohort's health-related quality of life. An anonymous on-line survey was emailed to nurses aged over 50 years and members of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation in February and March 2012.