Search

© 2017 Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Inc. Children who have lived with parental mental illness experience long-standing reduced health and social outcomes, alongside ongoing personal distress. While there has been some dialogue regarding interventions to support children who are living with parental mental illness, there remains a paucity of knowledge regarding adult children's experiences and potential needs. Given this, the aim of the present study was to establish parenting narratives of adult children who had experienced childhood parental mental illness. This included their experiences of being parented alongside their own subsequent parenting roles. Three men and 10 women, ranging from 30 to 78 years old, met individually with a researcher to tell their stories. Narratives were thematically analysed to establish themes. The findings of the study demonstrated that individuals who have lived with childhood parental mental illness dehumanized their parent with mental illness. The authors argue that all mental health services should be underpinned with a whole of family assessment and care philosophy. There is also a need for all mental health services to consider how policies and procedures might inadvertently dehumanize clients who are parents, which could contribute to familial dehumanization. This could prevent the dehumanization of parents who experience mental illness to preserve parental and child relationships.

© 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd The experiences of children who live with parental mental illness are becoming increasingly recognized. However, there remains a limited body of knowledge in relation to an individual's longer term experiences. This study sought adult children's experiences of childhood parental mental illness. It generated reflections of 13 adult children who had lived with parents with mental illness during their childhood. The narrative design of the study facilitated a voice for participants. The paper presents one main theme of the findings. The findings offer a unique insight into childhood awareness of social stigmas and children's behavioural changes to avoid disclosure of parental mental illness. Participants noted that they were aware of social stigmas associated with mental illness during their childhood. This contributed to their fear of disclosure to others that fuelled a culture of familial secrecy, reinforcing the children's own sense of difference. Further work is required to enhance community understanding about the familial journeys of parental mental illness and the impact of negative-natured stigmas.

If work-integrated learning (WIL) is intended by universities to meet the demand for work-ready graduates, identification of skill requirements for development on placements is a critical part of the learning process. Health services management specific employability skills perceived to be important by managers and recent graduates working in the field and their perceptions of skills they need to improve are not readily available in the literature. This research acknowledges the context specific nature or employability skills. Senior managers and recent graduates working in health services management were identified from a placement data base used at a NSW university, and were emailed a common questionnaire. A total of 38 senior managers and 42 recent graduates completed emailed surveys, rating importance and skills observed for 44 employability skills items. Items were informed by the literature and content analysis of advertisements for graduate health management positions. There was strong agreement between the two groups on important employability skills, and the top seven items on which they agreed were all generic in nature. Skill gaps were also revealed, many of which recent graduates did not appear to recognize.

© 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Aim: To explore the experiences of Australian nurses and midwives who perceived themselves as resilient. The focus of this paper is to report the strategies used by a group of nurses and midwives to develop and maintain their resilience, despite encountering serious workplace adversity. Background: Despite the potentially adverse effects of nursing work, many nurses and midwives thrive through exercising self-efficacy and coping skills. The relationship between thriving and resilience is clear, as resilience refers to the ability to cope well with adversity and change. Methods: The participants were part of an instrumental, collective case study investigation of personal resilience amongst nurses and midwives. Prior to an innovative, work-based intervention including workshops and mentoring, participants were interviewed to collect baseline perceptions and experiences of personal resilience and workplace adversity. Interview transcripts were analysed thematically. Results: Participants attributed their ability to thrive in the workplace to three major influences: support networks, personal characteristics and ability to organise work for personal resilience. Conclusions: Participant insights contributed to a deeper understanding of personal resilience and highlight future initiatives to enhance the ability of nurses and midwives to thrive within health organisations and systems. Implications for nursing management: It is vital that resilience-enhancing initiatives, such as peer mentoring and tailored work options to increase autonomy, are implemented at earlier career phases.

This study aimed to explore the experiences of other mothers in de novo or planned lesbian-led families in Australia to elaborate on one theme: legitimizing our families. Little is known or understood about how lesbians construct mothering within their families. Even less is understood about the experiences of the often marginalized and invisible other mother; that is, the non-birth mother in lesbian families. Fifteen self-identified lesbian couples participated in semistructured, in-depth interviews (as couples) using a story-sharing approach, undertook journaling, and completed a demographic data collection sheet. To be included in the study, participants had to have planned, conceived, birthed, and be raising their children together. A process of constant comparative analysis was used to analyse the data and generate themes and subthemes. Legitimizing our families was described by participants in terms of several subthemes, including the following: the role of the other mother in planning, conception, pregnancy, and birth; symbols of family connection; and negotiating health care. Other mothers participating in the study were acutely aware that people in society generally did not perceive them as genuine parents. This finding was consistent with the concepts of Others and Othering. To this end, other mothers sought to legitimize their role within their families by establishing symbols and using ceremonies, names, and other methods of formal recognition to justify their role as an authentic mother and signify legitimate de novo family connections. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Aims and objectives. This study reports the intimate partner violence experiences of West African women living in Australia. Background. Increasing diversity in Australia's population presents new and complex challenges to nurses and other health care providers, particularly in relation to the health needs of immigrant women. Design. A qualitative naturalistic inquiry design was used. Method. A convenience sample of 21 West African immigrant women in Australia who were 18years and over were engaged in face-to-face, in-depth interviews and asked to talk about their health experiences. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. Intimate partner violence was revealed as a major theme in this analysis. Results. Data revealed that eighteen of the women had experienced intimate partner violence. The women's accounts of intimate partner violence were dominated by two subthemes 'suffering in silence' and 'reluctance to seek help.' Conclusion. Findings revealed intimate partner violence as a significant issue for the newly migrated African women who participated in this study. Relevance to clinical practice. Intimate partner violence is associated with significant adverse physical and psychological health outcomes. It is important that nurses understand the cultural barriers that can impede immigrant women's ability to seek out and receive appropriate support and intervention and provide opportunities for women to disclose experiences of intimate partner violence. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Aim. To describe the experiences of women who have had an emergency hysterectomy following a severe postpartum haemorrhage and the impact on their early mothering experiences. Background. Postpartum haemorrhage and subsequent hysterectomy is a traumatic birth event. Traumatic birth experiences have the potential to impact on a woman's experience of motherhood and her initial relationship with her baby. The relative rarity of this event makes it easy to dismiss the experiences of women having a hysterectomy following childbirth. Little is known about a woman's early mothering experience in the context of having an emergency hysterectomy. Design. Qualitative naturalistic inquiry approach. Method. Data were collected through semi-structured qualitative interviews from 21 Australian women who had an emergency hysterectomy following a severe postpartum haemorrhage. Results. Findings revealed three themes in relation to early mothering experiences in the context of having a hysterectomy following a severe postpartum haemorrhage. They were 'initial separation: lost bonding time', 'feelings of failure' and 'relinquishing care of the infant'. Conclusions. This paper highlights the ways undergoing emergency hysterectomy following childbirth can impact on the experience of early mothering in the postnatal period. Relevance to clinical practice. Greater recognition and attention to the specific needs of women who have an emergency hysterectomy following childbirth is required. Providing women with an opportunity to talk, debrief and ask questions related to their birthing experiences, will help women to reconcile their feelings. Giving women the opportunity to have their infants with them in intensive care unit, together with ongoing emotional support and anticipatory guidance, may also be useful approaches in assisting women during this difficult and traumatic time. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Settling in a new country exposes immigrants to various health risk factors, and the existing literature alludes to immigrant women being more vulnerable than men. This article highlights some of the difficulties faced by West African women while settling into life in Australia. A qualitative design was used to explore the experiences of West African immigrant women living in Sydney, Australia. Data were collected using audiotaped face-to-face interviews, and narratives were transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed. Twenty-one West African women participated in this study. The findings revealed the many challenges that participants faced after immigrating to their new country, and these are presented under the following themes: beginning again and experiencing loneliness and isolation. Participants encountered difficulties in developing social networks and obtaining employment, and as a result, they felt lonely and isolated. Therefore, nurses and health care professionals need to incorporate screening for precursors of emotional and social well-being issues when caring for this population. © 2012, SAGE Publications. All rights reserved.

Aim. To explore the experiences of prospective adolescent fathers regarding their impending fatherhood. Background. Several studies indicate adolescent fatherhood is associated with multiple risk factors. Despite this, it is well documented that these young males have a potentially vital role in the lives of their child/ren and partners. Adolescent pregnancy has often been viewed with a particular emphasis on the mother and relatively little is known about the experiences and expectations of young males facing imminent fatherhood. Design. Narrative methods were used to collect qualitative data. Method. Narratives were elicited through in-depth interviews with seven adolescent expectant fathers aged 16-22years. Results. Impending fatherhood presented these young men with mixed emotions and many challenges. The pregnancies were all unplanned and though participants were all willing to face the responsibilities associated with fatherhood, they also reported feeling ill-prepared for the challenges that lay ahead. Impending fatherhood had caused the young men to reflect on the quality of fathering they had received themselves. The young men were hoping to provide their own infant with a better quality of fathering than they had experienced. Conclusions. Nurses and midwives are ideally placed to provide support to young men facing impending fatherhood to better prepare them to meet the demands of their forthcoming role. Relevance to clinical practice. Prenatal classes should include specific sessions for prospective fathers and provide opportunities to assist young men to discuss their thoughts and concerns about impending fatherhood. It could also be useful to encourage young expectant fathers to engage in discussions with their own fathers and grandfathers. For those young men who do not have effective relationships with their own fathers, it could be useful to organise mentoring with experienced mature men who have successfully engaged in the fatherhood role. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Aims and objectives. This article presents a qualitative meta-synthesis that explores the experiences of adult children of parents with a mental illness. Background. There has been growing interest in the experiences of children whose parents have mental illness. However, little literature explores the experiences of adult children. Design. Qualitative meta-synthesis. Method. A review of English language literature search engines was undertaken and identified 905 relevant articles. Articles were excluded if they used quantitative methodology, had other methodological issues or had a focus on parental drug/alcohol issues. Twelve articles were identified as using qualitative or mixed methods studies, which were reviewed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (Public Health Resource Unit 2006). Following this, seven studies were included in the meta-synthesis. The main findings and themes identified by the original study authors were extracted from the results and discussions sections and further categorised into four main themes using content analysis methods. Results. There were 26 themes identified by the meta-synthesis, which were collated into four wider categories and concepts. Issues related to family relationships, external familial relationship changes, the adult child's emotional reflections and illness-related concepts were identified. Conclusions. There is a paucity of qualitative research that considers adult children's experiences of parental mental illness. In the available studies, issues related to family relationships, external familial wider relationship changes, the adult child's emotional reflections and illness-related concepts were identified as being of concern to adults who experienced parental mental illness during childhood. Relevance to clinical practice. There is a need for all health and social care services to be aware of the experiences/needs of adult children who have experienced parental mental illness. Adult children of parents with mental illnesses should be provided with opportunities to discuss their stories to validate their experiences. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Analysis of Australian nursing research output is becoming more important as academic institutions move into implementing quality programs of research output. Notable in determining research quality is the publication of research papers in journals with a high ranking within the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) or Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA). This paper reports an analysis of Australian nurse researcher output in journals highly ranked by the ISI and ERA. Research abstracts were analysed for topic, sources of data, location of research and methodological paradigm. A total of 530 articles from five Australian and from five USA and UK journals were analysed. There was an increase in output from the period of prior analyses in 2000. Practice issues are the most common topic followed closely by nurse education. While most studies used nurses as sources of data there were more studies in which consumers of nursing care were the point of inquiry. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were utilised. Given the importance of rationalising nursing practice and adding new knowledge to evidence based care, it is imperative for the nursing profession to disseminate research findings. Failure to do this may result in poor return in investment outcomes for the future of nursing in Australia and internationally. © 2011.

Aim The aim of this paper is to reveal the experiences and meaning of confidentiality for Australian nurses in the context of whistle blowing. Background Despite the ethical, legal and moral importance of confidentiality within the health-care context, little work has addressed the implications of confidentially related to whistle-blowing events. Methods The study used qualitative narrative inquiry. Eighteen Australian nurses, with first-hand experience of whistle blowing, consented to face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Results Four emergent themes relating to confidentiality were identified confidentiality as enforced silence confidentiality as isolating and marginalizing confidentiality as creating a rumour mill; and confidentiality in the context of the public's 'right to know'. Conclusions The interpretation and application of confidentiality influences the outcomes of whistle blowing within the context of health-care services. Conversely, confidentially can be a protective mechanism for health-care institutions. Implications for nursing management It is beholden upon nurse manager to carefully risk manage whistle-blowing events. It is important that nurse managers are aware of the consequences of their interpretation and application of confidentiality to whistle-blowing events, and the potentially competing outcomes for individuals and the institution. © 2011 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

To highlight and illuminate the emotional sequelae of whistleblowing from whistleblowers and subjects of whistleblowing complaints. Background. Whistleblowing has the potential to have a negative impact on individuals' physical and emotional well-being. However, few empirical studies have been conducted using qualitative methods to provide an in-depth exploration of the emotional consequences for those involved in whistleblowing incidents. Design. Qualitative narrative inquiry design. Method. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants who had been involved in whistleblowing incidents. During interviews participants' accounts were digitally recorded and then transcribed verbatim. Data were then analysed by two researchers until consensus was reached. Results. Findings revealed that participants' emotional health was considerably compromised as a result of the whistleblowing incident. Analysis of the data revealed the following dominant themes: 'I felt sad and depressed': overwhelming and persistent distress; 'I was having panic attacks and hyperventilating': acute anxiety; and, 'I had all this playing on my mind': nightmares, flashbacks and intrusive thoughts. Conclusions. While it has been previously acknowledged that whistleblowing has the potential to have a negative impact on all aspects of an individual's life, this study notably highlights the intensity of emotional symptoms suffered by participants as well as the extended duration of time these symptoms were apparent. Relevance to clinical practice. As professionals, nurses, as well as organisations, have a responsibility to identify those who may be suffering the emotional trauma of whistleblowing and ensure they have access to appropriate resources. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Aims and objectives: This paper reports the benefits and challenges of a mentoring programme through which retired and senior nurses continued to support and nurture nurses and midwives currently working in the health system. Background: Nursing has an ageing workforce and faces significant loss of expertise because of retirements. Previously, mentoring programmes have been instituted in a range of nursing contexts and they have been a retention strategy for older nurses and midwives. Design: Mentors and their mentees worked together towards mutually agreed on professional and personal goals. They were asked to meet or speak together a minimum of twice per month for at least six months. Method: As part of a collective case study, 15 mentoring dyads were established. Participants and mentors took part in qualitative, semi-structured interviews about their perceptions and experiences of the mentoring programme. Interviews were audio-taped, transcribed and analysed thematically. Results: Mentors reported the mentoring experience to be rewarding experience that enabled them to re-connect with nursing-related activities and brought new challenges in retirement. They perceived the mentees were visibly helped by their support and influence. Conclusions: The mentors studied reinforced a positive self-concept as nurses and midwives in their mentees and assisted their development. Retired nurses and midwives in particular may have several characteristics that make them effective mentors. Relevance to clinical practice: Potential benefits are demonstrated for nurses and midwives vulnerable to workplace adversity, especially those new to Australia who may have limited professional and social networks. For health organisations, mentoring programmes may be an innovative method of retention that engages both mid-career nurses and midwives and those recently retired. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Aim: This study presents the findings a meta-ethnographic study reporting women's perceptions and experiences of traumatic birth. Background: Childbirth is viewed by many as a life transition that can bring a sense of accomplishment. However, for some women, birth is experienced as a traumatic event with a minority experiencing post-traumatic stress. A traumatic birth experience can have a significant impact on the physical and emotional well-being of a woman, her infant and family. Data source: The CINAHL, MEDLINE, Scopus and PubMed databases were searched for the period January 1994 to October 2009 using the keywords birth trauma, traumatic birth, qualitative research, birth narrative and birth stories. Review methods: A meta-ethnographic approach was used. Quality appraisal was carried out. An index paper served as a guide in identifying particular findings and comparing them with other findings. This 'reciprocal translation' process started with a search for common themes, phrases and metaphors. Results: Ten qualitative studies were included in the final sample. Six major themes were identified: 'feeling invisible and out of control', 'to be treated humanely', 'feeling trapped: the reoccurring nightmare of my childbirth experience', 'a rollercoaster of emotions', 'disrupted relationships' and 'strength of purpose: a way to succeed as a mother'. Conclusions: It is evident that a small percentage of women experience a traumatic birth. Although some women who experience a traumatic birth do not necessarily have physical or psychological adverse outcomes, others identify a significant personal impact. Healthcare professionals must recognize women's need to be involved in decision-making and to be fully informed about all aspects of their labour and birth to increase their sense of control. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Aim: This paper is a report of a study conducted to explore the reasons behind the decision to blow the whistle and provide insights into nurses' experiences of being whistleblowers. Background: Whistleblowing is a stigmatized and hidden activity that carries considerable ramifications to all concerned. In the health sector, when episodes of poor practice or service provision are identified, it is frequently nurses who are the whistleblowers. Despite this, there is remarkably limited literature that explores nurses' experiences of whistleblowing. Methods: Qualitative narrative inquiry design. Data were collected in 2008 from 11 nurse whistleblowers using in-depth semi-structured interviews. Findings: Participants were drawn from a range of general and specialty clinical areas and experienced whistleblowing as highly stressful. The findings were clustered into three main themes, namely: (i) Reasons for whistleblowing: I just couldn't advocate, (ii) Feeling silenced: Nobody speaks out, and (iii) Climate of fear: You are just not safe. Conclusion: The whistleblowing nurses believed they were acting in accordance with a duty of care. There is a need for greater clarity about the role nurses have as patient advocates. Furthermore, there is need to develop clear guidelines that create opportunities for nurses to voice concerns and to ensure that healthcare systems respond in a timely and appropriate manner, and a need to foster a safe environment in which to raise issues of concern. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Aim and objective: This study sought to explore the nature of bullying in the Australian nursing workplace. Background: While there is widespread concern about the extent and consequences of bullying among nurses, to date, there have been no published reports cataloguing the types of behaviours that constitute bullying. Design: Reported here are findings from the first stage of a three-stage sequential mixed methods study. Methods: The first, qualitative stage of this study employed in-depth, semi structured interviews with 26 nurses who had experienced bullying from two Australian area health services. Content analysis of the verbatim interview transcripts was performed using the nvivo 7 software program. Results: The analysis identified six major categories and constituent sub-categories. The typology of bullying behaviours reported here is one of these major categories. Conclusion: The typology of behaviours developed from the study provides detailed insights into the complexity of bullying experienced by nurses. The behaviours were labelled: personal attack, erosion of professional competence and reputation, and attack through work roles and tasks. These themes provide insight into the construct of bullying by providing a detailed catalogue of bullying behaviours that show that bullying is frequently masked in work tasks or work processes and focused on damaging the reputation and status of targets. Relevance to clinical practice: The detailed catalogue of bullying behaviours draws attention to the breadth of the bullying experience. It is anticipated the typology will be of use to nurses, managers and other professionals who are interested in responding to the problem of bullying in nursing. © 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

vallido t., wilkes l., carter b. & jackson d. (2010) Mothering disrupted by illness: a narrative synthesis of qualitative research. Journal of Advanced Nursing 66(7), 1435-1445. Title.: Mothering disrupted by illness: a narrative synthesis of qualitative research. Aim.: This paper is a report of a literature review of qualitative empirical research investigating women's experiences of mothering disrupted by illness. Background: As a primary identity, motherhood is endangered by illness. Illness can interfere with a woman's ability to mother her child/children. Healthcare professionals regularly fail to acknowledge a woman's dual identities of mother and patient. Data Sources.: CINAHL, Medline, PsychInfo, Scopus and Sociological abstracts were searched 1980-2009. Methods.: A narrative synthesis was used, with quality appraisal guided by the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme method. Concepts were analysed thematically, explicating common experiences of women disrupted in their mothering by illness. This allowed for both descriptive and narrative synthesis to occur. Results.: Thirteen papers were included in the final review. Themes identified were: mechanism of disruption; reframing the mother role; protecting the children; experiencing guilt or shame; problems with healthcare professionals; and living to mother, mothering to live. Conclusion.: Women disrupted in their mothering by illness view themselves as a mother first and a patient second. Women found themselves unsupported in their mothering role by healthcare professionals, and this may have left them reluctant to broach difficulties they had relinquishing mothering duties when ill. Nurses are well-positioned to support women in illness by acknowledging the importance of their identity as mothers, offering them opportunities to discuss how illness is disrupting their ability to mother, providing support to help them negotiate the social/emotional distress experienced when mothering is disrupted and, where necessary, referring them to other members of the healthcare team, such as social workers. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Violence against nurses is an on-going issue in healthcare settings, and is regularly documented in the literature. Assessing the potential for violence against nurses in the emergency department is essential to maintain their safety. The aim of this study was to develop a violence assessment tool by refining a list of predictive cues identified from both a previous study and existing literature. Using the Delphi technique, a panel of 11 expert nurse academics and clinicians developed a 37-item questionnaire and used three rounds of Delphi to refine the violence assessment questionnaire. The resulting tool comprises 17 cues of potential violence that can be easily observed and requires no prior knowledge of the perpetrators' medical history.

This paper reports on existing literature on family members' experiences after placing their aged relative in a nursing home. The literature reports that family members commonly experience feelings of guilt, failure and concern for their older relative's wellbeing after they have been placed in a nursing home. In addition, factors such as dealing with guilt, coping with loneliness, loss of identity, role ambiguity and worry for wellbeing of the aged person and generic institutional care result in post placement carer stress. Very little support or counselling is provided to family members during and after placement in a nursing home. Despite a growing body of research that examines post placement stress for family members, there are not many support strategies or interventions to help family members cope with this stressful situation

This paper reports on an extensive literature review that focuses on family members' experiences of placing an older relative into residential care. Specific issues in the literature associated with the decision making process, including the decision to place a relative into a nursing home, are discussed. The search for a nursing home through to relocation of a relative into the facility and family members' emotional journeys through the entire relocation process are described. Placing a relative into a nursing home is a complex issue with family members being vulnerable after placement and often experiencing distress, loneliness, guilt and role confusion with unrelenting doubts about the placement decision and concern for their relatives' wellbeing. There is a clear need to pursue this research topic in the Australian context

Overweight and obesity in children is a major and ongoing public health concern and the negative physical, social, and psychological sequelae of childhood obesity are well documented. Parents, particularly mothers, are implicated in discourses around childhood obesity; however, little is known about women's experiences of mothering an overweight or obese child. This article reports findings from a narrative-based study that sought to develop understandings into women's experiences of mothering an overweight or obese child. The findings provide insights into the experiences of mothering an overweight or obese child, and reveals how the climate of blame associated with mothering an overweight or obese child complicated the mothering experience for the women in this study. These insights can assist health, welfare and child care workers to understand the importance of establishing supportive and no-blame relationships with mothers of obese and overweight children, in order to develop supportive therapeutic alliances better. © 2007 SAGE Publications London, Los Angeles, New Delhi and Singapore.

The findings from the first, qualitative stage of a larger sequential mixed method study of bullying in the Australian nursing workplace are reported. Interviews with twenty-six nurses, recruited from two health care organizations, were analysed using the constant comparative method. Participants described informal organizational networks as the mechanism through which predatory, cooperative, and planned group bullying acts were promulgated. These predatory alliances enabled the co-option of legitimate organizational systems, the concealment of bullying, and the protection and promotion of perpetrators. By identifying the manner in which workplace bullying can be embedded within informal organizational networks, this research has important implications for further research in this field. © eContent Management Pty Ltd.

In-depth interviews with nurses who have been bullied depict bullies masking their bullying behavior behind the cloak of legitimate organizational processes, resulting in extensive harm to targets. © 2005 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.

Sixty articles in five Australian women's magazines were analyzed for journalistic qualities, metaphors, narrative features and accuracy of clinical facts related to risk, early detection and treatment of breast cancer.The storieswere features, news features or soft news stories.The stories reflected the `good news'editorial style of women'smagazines.A dominantthemeinthe storieswas that earlydetection of breast canceris crucialandequals survival.While therewere fewinaccuracies inthe stories, therewas little detailof treatment modalities, an emphasis on lifestyle as a risk factor and a prevailingmessage that a genetic history of breast cancermeans youwill get it. Amajor implication of the findings is that nurses, who provide information towomen, must be aware of the goals of journalists and the educational power of narrative logic of stories in women's magazines.