Skip Links
Their article, Cultural Safety and Equity in Surgical Pathways for New Zealand Māori: An Integrative Literature Review, has been released in the Journal of Transcultural Nursing.
As Sarah celebrates this major achievement she says that, looking back, having her work recognised by her tutor as publication-worthy was an honour in itself.
“When Karla first proofread my paper and told me it was worthy of publishing, I couldn't believe it,” she says. “Maybe it's imposter syndrome, but I wouldn’t have seen this coming. I am so grateful to Karla for her support.”
Dr Breen Rickerby says she was interested in developing this research assignment to a publication-level standard because of the quality of Sarah’s work and because the topic aligned closely with her commitment to cultural safety and Māori health equity.
“I am passionate about encouraging student research and its potential to contribute meaningfully to professional and academic fields,” Dr Breen Rickerby says. “I believe that students’ experiences and reflections are valuable in shaping cultural safety and strengthening clinical nursing practice.”
After graduating from NMIT in 2022, Sarah quickly secured a position as a theatre nurse at Nelson Hospital. With Sarah adjusting to full-time practice, Dr Breen Rickerby took the lead on preparing the article for publication.
“Karla’s encouragement played a huge part in this outcome,” Sarah says. “When my time became more limited I couldn’t have done this without her.”
Sarah’s interest in the Māori experience of inequity in surgical pathways was informed by her own background as a Canadian with Indigenous ancestry and her desire to specialise in intraoperative and postoperative care.
“My great-grandparents are Indigenous, and with Canada having a similar colonial history to Aotearoa, I wanted to educate myself about Māori culture and Aotearoa’s history,” she says. “Throughout my degree I reflected a lot on Māori health equity and wanted to understand what I could do in intraoperative care to support Māori patients.”
She says the research has been deeply relevant to her current practice.
“It showed me how the system often makes it challenging to deliver equitable care. You have to continuously reflect on your practice and challenge policies that act as barriers for Māori patients.”
The publication has also informed Dr Breen Rickerby’s current work as a Remote Area Nurse in Australia, where she collaborates with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners and community leaders to provide primary health care.
“While Indigenous communities in Aotearoa and Australia have distinct cultures and histories, this research reinforced core principles of cultural safety that guide my practice,” Dr Breen Rickerby says. “These include privileging Indigenous knowledge, recognising the impacts of colonisation on health, building meaningful relationships, and practising continuous reflexivity.”
Student work at NMIT are more than assignments, they're opportunities to make a genuine impact in in both professional practice and academic circles. Having access to tutors who bring real industry experience and strong professional networks creates opportunities that go well beyond classroom learning.
Explore what's possible. A career in Nursing puts you at the frontline of healthcare and the cutting edge of research that makes a difference.
