http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/services/Feed ${session.getAttribute("locale")} 5 http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:10926 Objective: This paper aims to retrospectively explore client decision making via two case studies prompting us as nurses to reflect on the factors that lead to this. Clients do not always act in ‘their own best interests’ as ‘defined by health professionals’. Our response and understanding of this is key if we are to support and devise strategies encouraging more appropriate decisions and improved outcomes. Setting: Sole nurse practitioner in community health practice in isolated rural Australia. Primary Argument: In the rush of daily chronic care caseload management, factors affecting client decision making are often overlooked. Client decisions around care often result in poor outcomes for isolated rural clients. Improved client outcomes can be gained if nurses, (aware of these decision making factors), are able to assist clients to overcome their decision making barriers. Conclusion: In rural nursing practice client decision making is multifactorial. By reflecting on clients decisions and addressing barriers in this context, short term and long term strategies can be implemented to improve the decision making process resulting in improved outcomes for isolated rural clients. 2012-06-19T00:36:43.543Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:7351 In response to the "Closing the Gap" campaign, a collaboration was established between the University Department of Rural Health (Tamworth) and the Mothers and Babies Research Centre (Newcastle) in 2007 that aimed to improve outcomes for Aboriginal mothers and their infants. Through community consultation surrounding a program of scientific research, community members shared the need for a supportive place for pregnancy issues to be discussed for expectant Aboriginal mothers. It was suggested that in addition to working with mothers in a research program, that we, the scientists, need to be putting something back into the community. This story is about the beginnings of the Gomeroi gaaynggal program. When first discussed, staff at Aboriginal health services talked about how Aboriginal mums are often younger and easily intimidated by health services generally. Community members talked extensively of the need for a place and a function where mums could go to meet with other expectant mums to talk about their pregnancy. A group of health staff suggested we run a program that used the local love of the arts to create a non-threatening environment for Aboriginal mothers. As a scientist, this idea seemed quite frightening. However, everywhere it was discussed, the eyes of local people lit up. It seemed that the scientist was about to learn a whole new way of doing business. 2011-03-10T21:40:26.287Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:7139 Underage pregnancy in the Aboriginal population of Australia represents a serious set of physical, social, and mental problems. The shifts that have taken place in the population make-up of the communities due to this birth pattern are having detrimental effects on the well-being of individuals and families, including a destabilising of the sense of identity and belonging. The paper looks at the social and medical problems involved and summarises a project which aims to address them through the arts. It also considers the moral and ethical aspects of the situation, including the difficulties of any sort of intervention. It also considers the issue of duty for both medicine and the arts in such situations. 2011-02-02T23:10:44.765Z ]]>